Dervish Poems
Bahá’u’lláh revealed eight Persian poems which He signed as Dervish during His time in Sulaymáníyyih. Some do not have titles, and are referred to by the opening verse. None of them have been officially translated into English, but some Provisional translations have been made.
The poems are:
- Báz Áv-u Bi-Dih Jámí, which roughly translates to Come back and proffer a chalice. This poem is listed as one of the best known Works of Bahá’u’lláh in Bahá’í World.
- Sáqí az Ghayb-i-Baqá, which roughly translates to The Cup-bearer of the hidden Realm. This poem is listed as one of the best known Works of Bahá’u’lláh in Bahá’í World.
- ‘Ishq az Sidriy-i-A‘lá ámad, which roughly translates to Love came from the loftiest Tree.
- Bi-Jánán ján hamí dar-yáft rah, which roughly translates to The soul hath found its way to the Beloved.
- Sáqí, bi-dih ábí zán shu‘liy-i-rúhání, which roughly translates to O Cup-bearer, give me a drop of the mystic flame. Julio Savi suggests that Bahá’u’lláh alludes to His mystic encounter with the Most Great Spirit while imprisoned in the Siyah-Chal in this poem.[1]
- Mast-and bulbulán, which roughly translates to Nightingales get inebriated.
- Sahar ámad bi bistar-am yár, which roughly translates to At dawn the Friend came to my bed. This poem is structured as a dialogue between God and the Poet as lovers.
- But-i-má ámad bá battí-u bádih, which roughly translates to Our Charmer came with a glass and wine.
History[edit]
God Passes By, written by Shoghi Effendi, indicates that these poems were revealed during the early part of the Sulaymáníyyih period, when Bahá’u’lláh was residing in Sar-Galú, and in contact with nearby Sufi communities. He was known to them as Dervísh Muhammad.[2]
The poems were published in Persian by the Iranian Bahá’í scholar ‘Abdu’l-Hamid Ishraq Khavari in a multi-volume anthology of the Writings titled Má’idiy-i-Asmání. They were also included in an anthology titled Majmú’iy-i-Áthár.
Provisional Translations[edit]
- Provisional Translation of Sahar ámad bi bistar-am Yár by Julio Savi
- Provisional Translation of Sáqí, bi-dih ábí zán shu‘liy-i-rúhání by Julio Savi
- Passages of Bi-Jánán ján hamí dar-yáft rah, Mast-and bulbulán, and Sáqí, bi-dih ábí zán shu‘liy-i-rúhání translated in Stephen Lambden's Sinaitic Mysteries. (pdf link)
