Bahá’í World/Volume 13/Definitions of Oriental Terms used in Bahá’í Literature

From Bahaiworks

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IV

DEFINITIONS OF ORIENTAL TERMS USED IN BAHA’T LITERATURE

‘Abé: Cloak or mantle.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Servant of Bahá.

Aghén: Muslim call to prayer.

Adib: literally “the learned.”

Afnán: literally “twigs.” Denotes the relations of the Báb.

Aghsén: Literally “branches.” Denotes sons and descendants of Bahá’u’lláh.

A.H.: “Anno Hejirae.” Date of Muhammad’s migration from Mecca to Medina, and basis of Islamic chronology.

Akbar: “Greater.”

‘Amé: literally “light cloud,” symbolizes the “First Invisible Substance.”

Amin: literally “the trusted.”

Amir: “Lord,” “prince,” “governor.”

Aqé: “Master.” Title given by Bahá’u’lláh to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.

A‘zam: “The greatest.”

“commander,”

Báb: “Gate.” Title assumed by Mirzá ‘AliMuhammad, after the declaration of His Mission in fliréz in May, 1844 AD.

Bábi: Follower of the Báb.

Badi‘: literally “the wonderful.”

Bahá: “Glory,” “splendour,” “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-Héflim: The family from which Muhammad descended.

Baqiyyatu’lláh: “Remnant of God”; title applied both to the Báb and to Bahá’u’lláh.

Bayén: “Exposition,” “explanation.”

Title given by the Báb to His Revelation, particularly to His Books.

Big: Honorary title, lower title than flan. Bishérét: literally “Glad-tidings.” Title of one of the Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh,

Caravansarai: An inn for caravans.

Dérfighih: “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.”

Parrish: “Footman,” “lictor,” “attendant."

Farrégh-Béfii: The head-farrém

Farsak_h: 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.

Hájí: A Muslim who has performed the pilgrimage to Mecca.

Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds: The Sacred Fold. Official title designating headquarters of Bahá’í administrative activity.

Hijrat: literally “migration.” The basis of Islamic chronology. The date of Muhammad‘s migration from Mecca to Medina.

Howdah: A litter carried by a camel, mule, horse or elephant for travelling purposes.

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i1: “Clan.”

Imém: Title of the twelve §l_i1"ih successors of Muhammad. Also applied to Muslim religious leaders.

Imém-Jum‘ih: The leading imém in a town or city; chief of the mullés.

Imém-Zédih: Descendant of an imém or his shrine.

iqén: literally “Certitude.” The title of Bahá’u’lláh’s epistle to the uncle of the Báb.

IfIráqét: literally “splendours.” 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.

Jéhih’yyih: The dark age of ignorance among the Arabs before the appearance of Muhammad.

Jamél—i—Mubérak: literally “the Blessed Beauty,” applied to Bahá’u’lláh.

Jamél-i-Qidam: literally “the ancient Beauty.” Applied 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.”

Kad-_K_l1udé: Chief of a ward or parish in a town; headman of a village.

Kaléntar: “Mayor.”

Kalim: “One who discourses.”

Kalimét: literally “words.” Title of one of the Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh.

Karbilá’i: A Muslim who has performed the pilgrimage to Karbilá.

Kawmar: A river in Paradise; whence all the other rivers derive their source.

Khan: “Prince,” “lord,” “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.

Maflhadi: A Muslim who has performed the pilgrimage to Maghhad.

Mashriqu’l-Adhkár: literally “the dawning place of the praise of God.” Title designating Bahá’í House of Worship.

THE Bahá’í WORLD

Masjid: Mosque, temple, Muslim place of worship.

Maydén: A subdivision of a farsafl. A square or open place.

Mihdi: Title of the Manifestation expected by Islém.

Mihréb: The principal place in a mosque where the imam 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.

Mighkin-Qalam: literally “the musk-scented pen.”

Mu’aflflin: The one who sounds Aihén, the Muslim call to prayer. Mujtahid: Muslim doctor-of—law. Most of the mujtahids of Persia have received their diplomas from the most eminent jurists

of Karbilá and Najaf.

Mullá: Muslim 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

Nabil: “Learned,” “noble.”

Naw—Rt'iz: “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: J udge; Civil, criminal, and ecclesiastical.

Qá’im: “He Who shall arise.” Title designating the Promised One of Islém.

Qalyén: A pipe for smoking through water.

Qiblih: Point of Adoration; prayer—direction, toward which the faithful turn in prayer. The Most Holy Tomb of Bahá’u’lláh at Bahjí’ is “the Heart and Qiblih of the Bahá’í world.”

Qurbén: “Sacrifice.”

Riḍván: Paradise. Also the name of the custodian of Paradise.

Sadratu’l-Muntahé: The name ofa tree planted by the Arabs in ancient times at the end

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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 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.

§L1ahid: “Martyr.” Plural of martyr is Shuhadé’.

flayQU’Hslém: Head of religious court, appointed to every large city by the mm.

Sirét: literally “bridge” or “path,” denotes the religion of God.

Siyyid: Descendant of the Prophet Muhammad.

SL’xrih: Name of the chapters of the Qur’án.

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Tajalliyét: literally “efl‘ulgences.” Title of one of the Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh.

Tarézét: literally “ornaments.” Title of one of the Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh.

Tfimén: Unit of Iranian currency.

‘Urvatu’l-Vugqé: 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 K_h2’mum, 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 favoured.”