Bahá’í World/Volume 11/Definitions of Oriental Terms used in Bahá’í Literature
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DEFLNHHONSOF(HHENTALTERMS
USEDINBAHA’
‘Abé: Cloak or mantle. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Servant of Bahá. Afllén: Muslim call to prayer. Adib: literally “the learned.”
Agllsén: literally “branches.” Denotes sons and descendants of Bahá’u’lláh.
Afnán: literally “twigs.” Denotes the relations of the Báb.
A.H.: “After Hijirah.” Date of Muhammad’s migration from Mecca to Me dina, and basis of Muhammadan chronology. Akbar: “Greater.”
‘Amé: literally “light cloud,” symbolizes the “First Invisible Substance.” Amin: literally “the trusted.”
Amir: “Lord,” “prince,” “commander,” “governor.” Aqé: “Master.” Title given by
Bahá’u’lláh to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. A‘zam: “The greatest.”
Báb: “Gate.” Title assumed by Mirzá ‘Ali-Muhammad, after the declaration of His Mission in Shiréz in May, 1844 AD.
Bábi: Follower of the Báb.
Badi‘: literally “the wonderful.”
Bahá: “Glory,” “splendor,” “light.” Title by which Bahá’u’lláh (Mirzá Husayn—‘Ali) is designated.
Bahá’í: Follower of Bahá’u’lláh.
Bahjí: literally “delight.” Denotes that part of the Plain of ‘Akká where the Shrine and the Mansion of Bahá’u’lláh are situated.
Bani-Hésllim: The family from which ,Muhammad descended.
Baqiyyatu’lláh: “Remnant of God”; title applied both to the Báb and to Bahá’u’lláh.
Bayén: “Utterance,” “explanation.” Title given by the Báb to His Revelation, particularly to His Books.
iLITERATURE
Big: Honorary title, lower title than Iglén.
Bishérét: literally “Glad—tidings.” Title of one of the Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh.
Caravansarai: An inn for caravans.
Dérfig_hih: “High constable.” Dawlih: “State,” “government.”
“Endowed with constancy”; a title given to Prophets who revealed a book and instituted religious laws.
Farmén: “Order,” “command,” “royal decree.”
Farrési]: “Footman,” tendant.”
FarrésLh—Béslli: The head-farrés_1_1.
Farsalgn Unit of measurement. Its length differs in different parts of the country according to the nature of the ground, the local interpretation of the term being the distance which a laden mule will walk in the hour, which varies from three to four miles. Arabicised from the Persian “parsang,” and is supposed to be derived from pieces of stone (sang) placed on the roadside.
“Fourth Heaven”; one of the stages of the invisible Realm.
“Guarded Tablet”: Denotes the Knowledge of God and of His Manifestation.
H
“lictor,” at Hájí: A Muhammadan who has performed the pilgrimage to Mecca.
Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds: Bahá’í Headquarters.
Hijirah: literally “migration.” The basis of Muhammadan chronology. The date of Muhammad’s migration from Mecca to Medina.
Héwdah: A litter carried by a camel, mule, horse or elephant for traveling purposes.
fl: “Clan.”
Imém: Title of the twelve shi’ih successors of Muhammad. Also applied to Muslim religious leaders.
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[Page 649]
DEFINITIONS OF ORIENTAL TERMS
Imém-Jum‘ih: The leading imém in a town or city; chief of the mullés.
Imém-Zédih: Descendants of an imém or his shrine.
I'qén: literally “Certitude.” The title of Bahá’u’lláh’s epistle t0 the uncle of the Báb.
Ishréqét: literally “efiulgences.” Title of one of the Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh.
Isréfil: The Angel whose function is to sound the trumpet on the Day of Judgment.
Jéhiliyyih: The dark age of ignorance among the Arabs before the appearance of Muhammad.
J amél-i-Mubérak: literally “the Blessed Beauty,” applied by certain Bahá’ís t0 Bahá’u’lláh.
Jamél—i—Qidam: literally “the ancient Beauty.” Applied by certain Bahá’ís to Bahá’u’lláh.
Jubbih: An outer coat.
Ka‘bih: Ancient shrine at Mecca. Now recognized as the most holy shrine of Islém.
Kabir: literally “great.”
Kar—Iflmdé: Chief of a ward or parish in a town; headman of a village.
Kalantar: “Mayor.”
Kalim: “One who discourses.”
Kalimét: literally “words.” Title of one of the Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh.
Karbilá’i: A Muhammadan who has performed the pilgrimage to Karbilá.
Kawfllar: A river in Paradise, whence all the other rivers derive their source.
Khén: “Prince,” “10rd,” “nobleman,” “Chieftain.”
Kitáb—i—Aqdas: literally “The Most Holy Book.” Title of Bahá’u’lláh’s Book of Laws.
Kuléh: The Persian lambskin hat worn by government employees and civilians.
Madrisih: Religious college.
Man—Yuzhiruhu’lláh: “He Whom God will make manifest.” The title given by the Báb to the Promised One.
Masilhadi: A Muhammadan who has performed the pilgrimage to Mashhad.
Mashriqu’l-Adhkár literally “the dawn 649
ing place of the praise of God.” Title designating Bahá’í House of Worship.
Masjid: Mosque, temple, place of worship.
Maydén: A subdivision of a farsalgL A square or open place.
Mihdi: Title of the Manifestation expected by Islém.
Mihréb: The principal place in a mosque where the imém prays with his face turned towards Mecca.
Mi‘réj: “Ascent,” used with reference to Muhammad’s ascension to heaven.
Mirzá: A contraction of Amir-Zédih, meaning son of Amir. When affixed to a name it signifies prince; when prefixed simply Mr.
Mishkin-Qalam: literally scented pen.”
Mu’ad_hd_hin: The one who sounds the A(flién, the Muhammadan call to prayer.
Mujtahid: Muhammadan doctor—of-law. Most of the mujtahids of Persia have received their diplomas from the most eminent jurists of Karbilá and Najaf.
Mullá: Muhammadan priest.
Mustaghém: “He Who is invoked.” The numerical value of which has been assigned by the Báb as the limit of the time’fixed for the advent of the promised Manifestation.
“the musk Nabil: “Learned,” “noble.”
Naw-Rúz: “New Day.” Name applied to the Bahá’í New Year’s Day; according to the Persian Calendar the day on which the sun enters Aries.
Nuqtih: “Point.”
Pahlavén: “Athlete,” “champion”; term applied to brave and muscular men.
Qédi: Judge; civil, criminal, and ecclesiastical.
Qá’im: “He Who shall arise.” Title designating the promised One of ISIém.
Qalyén: A pipe for smoking through water.
Qiblih: The direction to Which people turn in prayer: especially Mecca, the Qiblih of a1] Muhammadans.
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Qurbén: “Sacrifice. ’ ’
Riḍván: The name of the custodian of Paradise. Bahá’u’lláh uses it to denote Paradise itself.
Sadratu’l-Muntahé: the name of a tree planted by the Arabs in ancient times at the end of a road, to serve as a guide. As a symbol it denotes the Manifestation of God in His Day.
Séhibu’z-Zamén: “Lord of the Age” one of the titles of the promised Qá’im.
Salsabil: A fountain in Paradise.
Samandar: literally “the phoenix.”
Sarkér-i—Aqé: literally the “Honorable Master,” applied by certain Bahá’ís to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
“Seal of the Prophets”: One of the titles of Muhammad.
“Seventh Sphere”: The highest stage of the invisible Realm. Denotes also the Manifestation of Bahá’u’lláh.
Shahid: “Martyr.” Plural of martyr is Shuhadé.
Shaykhu’1—Islém: Head of religious court, appointed to every large city by the Shéh.
THE Bahá’í
WORLD
Sirét: literally “bridge” or “path,” denotes the religion of God.
Siyyid: Descendant of the Prophet Muhammad.
Sfirih: Name of the chapters of the Qur’án.
Tajalliyét: literally “splendors.” Title of one of the Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh.
Tarézét: literally “ornaments.” Title of one of the Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh.
Tfimén: A sum of money equivalent to a dollar.
‘Urvatu’l—Vuthé: literally “the strongest handle,” symbolic of the Faith of God.
Vali-‘Ahd: “Heir to the throne.”
Varaqiy-i‘Ulyé: literally “the most exalted Leaf,” applied to Bahíyyih Khánum, sister of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
Varqé: literally “the dove."
Viléyat: guardianship.
“White Path”: Symbolizes the Religion of God.
Zédih: “Son.”
Zaynu’l-Muqarrabin: literally “the Ornament of the favored.”
