Bahá’í World/Volume 10/Bahá’í Calendar, Festivals and Dates of Historic Significance
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BAHA'l CALENDAR, FESTIVALS AND
DATES
OF HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE
FOREWORD
BY DR. J. E. ESSLEMONT
From Babzi’u’lla'la and the New Era
AMONG different peoples and at different times many different methods have been adopted for the measurement of time and fixing of dates, and several different calendars are still in daily use, e.g., the Gregorian in Western Europe, the Julian in many countries of Eastern Europe, the Hebrew among the Jews, and the Muhammadan in Muslim countries.
The Báb signalized the importance of the dispensation which He came to herald, by inaugurating a new calendar. In this, as in the Gregorian Calendar, the lunar month is abandoned and the solar year is adopted.
The Bahá’í year consists of 19 months of 19 days each (i.e., 361 days) , with the addition of certain "intercalary days” (four in ordinary and five in leap years) between the eighteenth and nineteenth months in order
BAHA’I FEASTS,
to adjust the calendar to the solar year. The Bab named the months after the attributes of God. The Bahá’í New Year, like the ancient Persian New Year, is astronomically fixed, commencing at the March equinox (March 21), and the Bahá’í era commences with the year of the Báb’s declaration (i.e.. 1844 A.D., 1260 A.H.).
In the not far distant future it will be necessary that all peoples in the world agree on a common calendar.
It seems, therefore, fitting that the new age of unity should have a new calendar free from the objections and associations which make each of the older calendars unacceptable to large sections of the world’s population, and it is difficult to see how any other arrangement could exceed in simplicity and convenience that proposed by the Báb.
ANNIVERSARIES
AND DAYS OF FASTING
Feast of Riḍván (Declaration of Bahá’u’lláh), April 21—May 2, 1863. Feast of Naw-Rúz (New Year), March 21.
Declaration of the Báb, May 23, 1844.
The Day of the Covenant, November 26. Birth of Bahá’u’lláh, November 12, 1817.
Birth of the Báb, October 20, 1819. Birth of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, May 23, 1844.
Ascension of B'aha’u’lláh, May 29, 1892.
Martyrdom of the Báb, July 9, 1850.
Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, November 28, 1921.
Fasting season lasts 19 days beginning with the first day of the month of ‘Alé’, March 2—the feast of Naw-Ri’iz follows immediately after.
425
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426
Bahá’í
Nona:
THE Bahá’í WORLD
HOLY DAYS ON WHICH WORK SHOULD BE SUSPENDED
The first day of Riḍván,
The ninth day of Riḍván,
The twelfth day of Riḍván,
The anniversary of the declaration of the Báb, The anniversary of the birth of Bahá’u’lláh, The anniversary of the birth of the Báb,
The anniversary of the ascension of Bahá’u’lláh, The anniversary of the martyrdom of the Báb, The feast of NaW-Rfiz.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá, in one of His Tablets addressed to a believer of Nayriz, Persia, has written the following: "Nine days in the year have been appointed on which work is forbidden. Some of these days have been specifically mentioned in the Book. The rest follows as corollaries to the Text. . . . Work on the Day of the Covenant (Féte Day of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá), however, is not prohibited. Celebration of that day is left to the discretion of the friends. Its observation is not obligatory. The days pertaining to the Abhá Beauty (Bahá’u’lláh) and the Primal Point (the Báb), that is to say these nine days, are the only ones on which work connected with trade, commerce, industry and agriculture is not allowed. In like manner, work connected with any form of employment. whether governmental or otherwise, should be suspended.”
As a corollary of this Tablet it follows that the anniversaries of the birth and ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá are not to be regarded as days on which work is prohibited. The celebration of these two days, however, is obligatory.
Bahá’ís in East and West, holding administrative positions, Whether public or private, should exert the utmost effort to obtain special leave from their superiors to enable them to observe these nine holy days.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL GLEANED FROM
NABiL’S NARRATIVE
(VOL. II), REGARD ING THE BAHA'I CALENDAR
The Badi‘ Calendar (Bahá’í Calendar) has been taken by me from the Kitáb-i-Asma”, one of the works written by the Báb. As I have observed in these days that certain believers are inclined to regard the year in Which Bahá’u’lláh departed from Baghdad to Constantinople as marking the beginning of the Badi‘ Calendar, I have requested Mirzá Aqé Jan, the amanuensis of Bahá’u’lláh, to ascertain His will and desire concerning this matter. Bahá’u’lláh answered and said: ‘The year sixty A.H. (1844 A.D.), the vear of the Declaration of the Bib, must
be regarded as the beginning of the Badi‘ Calendar.’ The Declaration of the Báb took place on the evening preceding the fifth day of Jamédiyu’l-Avval, of the year 1260 A.H. It has been ordained that the solar calendar be followed, and that the vernal Equinox, the day of Naw-Rt'lz, be regarded as the New Year’s Day of the Badi‘ Calendar. The year sixty, in Which the fifth day of Jamadiyu’l-Avval coincided with the sixty-fifth day after Naw-Rúz, has accordingly been regarded as the first year of the Badi‘ Calendar. As in that year, the day of NaW-Rfiz,
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Bahá’í
the vernal Equinox, preceded by sixty-six days the date of the Declaration of the Báb, I have therefore, throughout my history, regarded the NaW-Rfiz of the year sixty-one A.H. (the Naw—Rfiz immediately following the Declaration of the Báb) as the first Naw-Rúz of the Badi‘ Calendar. I have accordingly considered the NaW—Rfiz of this present year, the year 1306 A.H., which is the 47th solar year after the Declaration of the Báb, as the 46th Naw-Rúz of the Badi‘ Calendar.
Dayx Arabic N amc lst Jalél
2nd Jamél
3rd Kamél
4th Fidél
Sth ‘Idél
6th Istijlél
7th Istiqlél
CALENDAR AND FESTIVALS
427
Soon after Bahá’u’lláh had left the fortress of ‘Akká and was dwelling in the house of Malik, in that city, He commanded me to transcribe the text of the Badi‘ Calendar and to instruct the believers in its details. On the very day in which I received His command, I composed, in verse and prose, an exposition of the main features of that Calendar and presented it to Him. The versified copy, being new unavailable, I am herein transcribing the version in prose. The days of the week are named as follows:
English N a me Transla tion Saturday Glory Sunday Beauty Monday Perfection Tuesday Grace Wednesday Justice Thursday Majesty Friday Independence
The names of the months, which are the same as the days of each month, are as
follows:
Month Arabic N ame lst Bahá 2nd Jalél 3rd Jamil 4th ‘Azamat 5 th NL’u‘ 6th Rahmat 7th Kalimét 8th Kamél 9th Asmá’
10th ‘Izzat
1 1th Masluiyyat 12th ‘Ilm 13th Qudrat 14th Qawl
1 5th Masé’il 16th flaraf 17th Sultén 1 8th Mulk 19th ‘Alé’
Translation First Days Splendor March 2 1 Glory April 9 Beauty April 2 8 Grandeur May 1 7 Light June 5 Mercy June 24 Words July 13 Perfection August 1 Names August 20 Might September 8 Will September 27 Knowledge October 16 Power November 4 Speech November 2 3 Questions December 12 Honor December 31 Sovereignty January 19 Dominion February 7 Loftiness March 2
Ayyém—i-Hé (Intercalary Days) February 26 to March 1 inclusivefour in ordinary and five in leap years.
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The first day of each month is thus the day of Babel, and the last day of each month the day of ‘Alé’.
The Bill) has regarded the solar year, of 365 days, 5 hours, and fifty odd minutes, as consisting of 19 months of 19 days each, with the addition of certain intercalary days. He has named the New Year’s Day, which is the Day of Naw—Rt’iz, the day of Bahá, of the month of Bahá’í. He has ordained the month of ‘Alé’ to be the month of fasting, and has decreed that the day of Naw-Rúz should mark the termination of that period. As the 13:31:) did not specifically define the place for the four days and the fraction of a day in the Badi‘ Calendar, the people of the Baya'n were at a loss as to how they should regard them. The revelation of the Kitáb-iAqdas in the city of ‘Akká resolved this problem and settled the issue. Bahá’u’lláh designated those days as the “Ayyém-i-Hé” and ordained that they should immediately precede the month of ‘Alé’, which is the month of fasting. He enjoined upon His followers to devote these days to feasting, rejoicing, and charity. Immediately upon the termination of these intercalary days, Bahá’u’lláh ordained the month of fasting to begin. I have heard it stated that some of the people of the Baya’n, the followers of Mirzá Yaḥyá, have regarded these intercalary days as coming immediately after the month of ‘Ala’, thus terminating their fast five days before the day of Naw-Ri'iz. This, notwithstanding the explicit text of the Baya’n which states that the day of NawRt’iz must needs be the first day of the month of Bahá, and must follow immediately after the last day of the month of ‘Alzi’. Others, aware of this contradiction, have started their fasting on the fifth day of the month of ‘Alé’, and included the intercalary days within the period of fasting.
Every fourth year the number of the intercalary days is raised from four to five. The day of Naw-Rúz falls on the let of March only if the vernal Equinox precedes the setting of the sun on that day. Should the vernal Equinox take place after sunset, Naw-Rúz will have to be celebrated on the following day.
The Báb has, moreover, in His writings, revealed in the Arabic tongue, divided the
THE BAHA’T WORLD
years following the date of His Revelation, into cycles of nineteen years each. The names of the years in each cycle are as follows:
1. Alif A.
2. Ba’ B.
3. Ab Father.
4. Dél D.
S. Bab Gate.
6. Vév V.
7. Abad Eternity. 8. Jéd Generosity. 9. Bahá Splendor. 10. Hubb Love.
11. Bahhéj Delightful. 12. Javéb Answer. 13. Ahad Single.
14. Vahhéb Bountiful. 15. Vidad Affection. 16. Badi Beginning. l7. Bahi Luminous. 18. Abhá Most Luminous.
19. Véhid Unity.
Each cycle of nineteen years is called Véhid. Nineteen cycles constitute a period called Kull—i~Shay’. The numerical value of the word “Véhid” is nineteen, that of "KullL&ay’” is 361. "Véhid" signifies unity, and is symbolic of the unity of God.
The Báb has, moreover, stated that this system of His is dependent upon the acceptance and good-pleasure of ”Him Whom God shall make manifest.” One word from Him would suffice either to establish it for all time, or to annul it forever.
For instance, the date of the let of April, 1930, which is the first day of Riḍván. and which according to the Kitáb—i-Aqa’as must coincide with the “thirteenth day of the second Bahá’í month,” and which fell this year (1930) on Monday, would, according to the system of the Ba'di‘ Calendar, be described as follows:
“The day of Kamél, the day of Qudrat, of the month of Jalél, of the year Bahhéj, Of the fifth Véhid, of the first Kull-i-fiay’.”
BAHA’I
CALENDAR AND FESTIVALS
429
HISTORICAL DATA GLEANED FROM NABiL’S
NARRATIVE
(VOL. Bahá’u’lláh
II)
REGARDING
A. BAEDAD
arrival latter part Jamédiyu’thThéni, 1269 A.H.
March lZ-April 10, 1853 A.D.
departure for Sulayméniyyih on Wednesday, April 10, 1854 A.D.Rajab 12, 1270 A.H.
B. SULAYMANI'YYIH
Before reaching Sulayméniyyih, He lived for a time on the Sar~Galfi mountain.
During His absence from Baghdád, His family transferred their residence from House of Hájí ‘AliMadad to that of Sulaymén—iG_hanném.
Nabil arrived at Baghdád 6 months after Bahá’u’lláh’s departure for Sulayméniyyih.
C. BAG_HD/\D
arrived from Sulayméniyyih on Wednesday, March 19, 1856 A.D.Rajab 12, 1272 A.H.
departure from Mazra‘iy—i-Vasi'igbésl'i: Thursday, March 26, 1863 A.D.—&avvél 5, 1279 A.H.
Tablet of the Holy Mariner revealed while in the Mazra‘iy-i-Vasjpllégh.
Works Revealed During This Period
Houses Occupied During This Period
Qullu’t~Ta‘ém
Prayers
Qasidiy-i-Varqé‘iyyih
Saqiyas~§hayb—iBaqé
Tafsir-i-Hun'lfét-iMuqatta’ih Sahifiy-i—fia’ttiyyih Haft—Védi (Seven Valleys) Tafsir-i-Hfi LaWh—i—Hfiriyyih Kitáb-i-iqén Kaiimét—i-Makminih (Hidden Words) Subhéna-Rabbiya’l‘Alé fihikkar-ihikanLhavand Hfir—i-‘Ujéb Halih—Halih-Yé Bishérat Qhulému’l—Ehuld Az—Bégh-i-Iléhi
House of Hájí ‘AliMadad (in. old Baghdád)
House of Sulayméni-Qilanném
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430
I
THE BAHA’I WORLD
C. BAEDAD—L‘Ofltinued
departure from Baghdád for Constantinople, Wednesday afternoon (first day of Riḍván), April 22, 1863 A.D.—D_hi’l-Qa‘dih 3, 1279 A.H.
Sfiriy-i-Sabr revealed on first day of Riḍván.
arrival at Garden of Najibiyyih (Garden of Riḍván), April 22, 1863 A.D.~D_hi’l-Qa‘dih 3, 1279 A.H.
arrival of Bahá’u’lláh’s Family at Garden of Riḍván on eighth day after first of Riḍván.
departure from Garden of Riḍván for Constantinople last day of Riḍván, at: noon on Sunday, May 3, 1863 A.D.—D_hi’l-Qa‘dih 14, 1279 A.H.
length of overland journey from Garden of Riḍván to Samsfin on Black Sea: 110 days.
Firayjét (arrival early afternoonstayed seven days), arrived on Sunday, May 3, 1863 A.D.—th’lQa‘dih 14, 1279 A.H. (Firayjét is about 3 miles distant from Baghdád)
Judaydih,
Dili—‘Abbés,
Qarih-Tapih,
Saléhiyyih (stayed two nights) ,
Dfist—Ehurmétfi,
Téwuq,
Karkfik (stayed two days).
Irbil,
Zéb River,
Bargallih,
Mosul (stayed 3 days),
Zélfilfi,
Jazirih,
Ni§ibin,
Hasan-Aqfi,
Works Revealed Houses Occupied
During This During This Period Period
Bézévu—Bidih-Jémi
Malláhu’l-Quds (Holy Mariner)
Sdriy-i-Sabr
Mérdin,
Diyér-Bakr,
Ma‘dan-Mis,
K‘hérpfit (stayed 2 or 3 days),
Ma‘dan-Nuqrih,
Dilik—Tésb.
Sivés.
Tfiqét.
Amasia, (stayed 2 days)
Iléhiyyih (while approaching Saimst'm, "LaWh—i-Hawdaj” was revealed), (last day of overland journey),
Sa’msfm (stayed 7 days), Black Sea port. Sailed in a Turkish steamer about sunset for Constantinople
Sinope (arrived next day about noon), Black Sea port; stayed few hours,
Anyébuli (arrived next day).
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Bahá’í
431 7 ¥ _2,__._,,,,,,,, H _;__i_ 7 :2” V 7 i 2 Works Revealed Dur-, Houses Occu led Dur- I . I). CONSTANTINOPLE P . ing This Period 1 ing This Period i Duratlon arrival at noon onl Subhénika-Yé-Hfi House of Shamsi Big 1 month Sunday, August 16, Lawh—i-‘Abdu’l-‘Aziz (2-scory, near Khir1863, AI). Va-Vukalé gih $_haraf Mosque) Rnbi‘u’l-Avval 1, 1280 A.H. g I Length of sea voyage House of Visi P1151121 3months from Sémsfm to (3-story, near SulConstantinople 3 ; 5: n M uhammad days. Mosque) Length of journey from Constantinople to Adrianoplc 12 days. 1. Kficilik-glakmaghih (3 hours from'Constantinople—spent one night) 2. Buyfik—Qhakmaglih (arrived about noon) 3. Salvari 4. Birkés 5. Bábé-iski E. ADRIANOPLE We‘rks ReYealed. Dur- Hou.ses OcFupiefl Dur— Duration mg Thls Penod mg T1115 Perlod arrival on Saturday, Sfiriy—i-A5héb 1. Ehén-i—‘Aréb 3 nights December 12, 1863 (caravanserai, tWOA.D.—Rajab 1, 1280 story, near house A.H. Lawh-i—Hajj I of ‘IZZat-Aqé) Length of stay: 4 years, 8 months, 22 days. " " " 11 Length of overland Kitáb-i-Badi‘ 2. House in Murédiyyih 1 week journey from Con- Sfiriy—i-Mulka quarter, near Takstantinople to Adri— (Tablet of the yiy-i—Mawlavi anople: 12 days. Kings) Departure from Adri- Sfiriy—i-Amr 3. Houscin Murédiyyih 6months anople on Wednes— SL’u‘iy—i—Damm quarter,near house day, August 12, Alváḥ—i-Laylatu’l- 2 1868 A.D.—Rabi- Quds 4. Qéniy-i—Amru’lláh ‘u’tla—Ihéni 22, Munéjéthéy—i-Siyém (several stories, 1285 A.H. (Prayers for Fast- near Sulyan—Salim ing) Mosque) Lawh-i-Sayyéh 5. House of Ridé Big 1 year
CALENDAR AND FESTIVALS
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432
THE Bahá’í
E. ADRIANopLE—ronlimmz’
l. Uzfin-Kupri
Works Revealed During This Period
LaWh—i-Népulyfin I (First Tablet t0 Napoleon III)
LaWh—i—Sultén (Tablet to the S_‘1.’1h of Persia)
Lawh-i-Nuqtih
W O R L D Houses Occupied Dur— . D
ing This Period uratlon 6. House of Amru’lláh 3 months?
(3-story. North
of Sultan - Salim
Mosque) 7. House of ‘Izzat-Aqfi 11 months
2. Kasiu’mih (arrived about noon. Lawh-i-Ra’is (Tablet of Ra’is) was revealed
in this place)
3. Gallipoli
(length of journey from Adrianople t0 Gallipoli about 4 days)
(after a few days’ stay sailed before noon in Austrian steamer for
Alexandria, Egypt) 4. Madelli (arrived about sunset—left at night) 5. Smyrna (stayed 2 days, left at night) 6. Alexandria (arrived in the morning, transshipped and left at night for Haifa) 7. Port Said (arrived morning, left the same day at night) 8. Jaffa (left at midnight) 9. Haifa (arrived in the morning, landed and after a few hours left on a sailing vessel for ‘Akká) ( , Works Revealed Dur- Houses Occupied Dur— . F. A KKA ing This Period ing This Period Duratlon arrival on Monday, Kitáb-i-Aqdas 1. Barracks 2 years, 2 August 31, A.D. LaWh-i-Népulyfin II months, 1868 — Jamé‘diyu’l- (Second Tablet to 5 days Avva112,1285A.H. Napoleon III) Lawh-i-Malikih 2. House of Malik 3 months (Tablet to Queen 3. House of Rébi‘ih Victoria) LaWh—i-Malik-i-Rfis 4. House of Mansfir 2 or 3 Purest Branch died on (Tablet to the months
Thursday, June 23, 1870 A.D.—Rabi‘u’l-Avval 23, 1287 A.H.
Passed away May 29, 1892 A.D.
Czar) Sfiriy-i—Haykal LaWh-i—Burhén Lawh—i—Ru’yé Lawh-i-Ibn-i-D_hi’b
(Epistle to Son of
the Wolf) LaWh—i—Pép
(Tablet t0 the
Pope)
5. House of ‘Abbfid (where Kitáb-iAqdas was revealed)
6. Mazra‘ih
7. Qasr (Mansion, where He passed away)
[Page 433]
Bahá’í CALENDAR AND FESTIVALS
433
DATES OF HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE
DURING THE FIRST Bahá’í
Declaration of the Mission of the Báb in
fliréz ............... May 23, 1844 Departure of the Báb on his pilgrimage to Mecca .............. September 18 44 Arrival of the Báb in Mah- Kfih, Ad_hirbéyjan ............... Summer 1847 Incarceration of the Báb 1n §_hihriq, A(fllirbéyjén .................. April 1848 Conference of Badaght ....... June 1848 Interrogation of the Báb in Tabríz, Acflfirbéyja’m .................. July 1 848 Martyrdom of the Báb in Tabríz, Adhirbéyjén ................ July 9, 1850 Attempt on the life of Nésiri’d-Din Shéh ................... August 15, 1852 Imprisonment of Bahá’u’lláh in the Siyéh£11511 of Ṭihrán .......... August 185 2 Banishment of Bahá’u’lláh to Baghdád ...................... Jan. 12, 1853 Withdrawal of Bahá’u’lláh to Kurdistén .................... April 10, 1854 Return of Bahá’u’lláh from Kurdistén .................... March 19, 1856 Declaration of the Mission of Bahá’u’lláh ..................... April 22, 1863 Arrival of Bahá’u’lláh in Constantinople ................... August 16, 1863 Arrival of Bah"u’lláh in Adrianople ...... ................. December 12,1863
Departure of Baha’ u’llah from Adrianople
................... August 12, 1868 Arrival of Bahá’u’lláh in ‘Akká ......... ................... August 31, 1868 Death of the Purest Branch ............. ..................... June 23, 1870 Ascension of Baha’ u’llah. May 29,1892
First public reference to the Faith 1n Amer ica .............. September 23,1893 Establishment of the first Bahá’í centre in the West ............. February 1894
Arrival of the first group of Western pilgrims in ‘Akká’t . . . .December 10, 1898 Arrival of the Báb’s remains in the Holy Land ............. January 31, 1899 Reincarceration of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in ‘Akká ................... August 20, 1901
CENTURY
Commencement of the construction of the Mashriqu’l-Acfllkér of ‘Isllqébéd. . 1902 Release of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá from His incarcer ation ............... September 1908 Interment of the Báb’s remains on Mt. Carmel ............. March 21, 1909 Opening of the first American Bahá’í Convention ............ March 21, 1909 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s departure for Egypt ...... .................... September 1910 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s arrival in London .......... .................. September 4, 1911 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s arrival in America ........ ..................... April 11, 1912
Laying of the corner—stone of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár in Wilmette, III. by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá ................. May 1, 1912
‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s return to the Holy Land .................. December 5, 1913
Unveiling of the Tablets of the Divine
Plan .................... April 1919 Commencement of the construction of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár in Wilmette, Ill ...... .................... December 1920 Passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá ................. ................ November 28, 1921
Verdict of the Muhammadan Court in Egypt denouncing the Faith to be an independent religion .............. May 10, 1925
Martha Root’s first interview with Queen Marie of Rumanja. . .January 30, 1926
Resolution of the Council of the League of Nations upholding the claim of the Bahá’í community to the House of Bahá’ u’lláh in Baghda'td ...... March 4, 1929 Passing of the Greatest Holy Leaf ........ ......................... July 1932 Inception of the Seven—Year Plan ......... ........................ April 1937 Completion of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár in Wilmette, Ill. ......... December 1942
Centenary celebration and opening of first
AlI-American Bahá’í Convention ....... ................... May 19-25, 1944
