Bahá’í World/Volume 15/Oriental terms

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[Page 755]

ORIENTAL TERMS

III

1. TRANSLITERATION OF ORIENTAL WORDS FREQUENTLY USED IN Bahá’í LITERATURE

‘Abé.

Abédih ‘Abbés ‘Abdu’l-Bahá ‘Abdu’l-Hamid ‘Abdu’l-Husayn ‘Abdu’lláh Abhá Abu’l-Fadl ‘Adasiyyih Aghzin Ad_hirbayjan Afnán

Aghsén

‘Ahd

Ahmad Ahsé’i

Ahvéz

Akbar

‘Akká

‘Alé’

‘Ali ‘Ali-Muhammad Alláh-u—Abhá Alváḥ Alváḥ-i-Salétin Amatu’l-Bahá Amin

Amir Amir-Nizém Amru’lláh Amul

Anzali

Aqé

Aqdas ‘Arabistén Asmá.’ ‘Avéfiiq Ayédi

Azal

‘Azamat

‘Aziz

Báb

Bábi Bábu’I-Báb Baghdad Bahá Bahá’í Bahá’u’lláh Bahíyyih Bahjí Balfigistén Bandar-‘Abbés Béqir Baqiyyatu’lláh Bérfunish Basrih Bétum Bayén

Bayt

Big

Birjand Biflérét Bismi’lláh Bukhéré Burfijird Bagihr Bahá’í Buflruyih

Qihriq

Dalé’il-i—Sab‘ih Dérfighih Dawlat—Abéd Qabl’h Duzdéb

Faré’id Férén Farmén

Farréfl-Bésfii Férs

Farsak_h Fath-‘Ali Firdaws

F irdawsi

Ganjih Gilén Gul Gulistén Gurgin

Habib

Hadim

Hadrat

Hájí

Hájí Mirzá Áqásí Héjj

Hamadén Ḥaram

Hasan Haydar-‘Ali Haykal Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds Hijéz

Hijrat Himmat—Abéd Hujjat

Husayn Huvaydar

Ibrahim ú ‘1 lm Imam Imém-Jum’ih Imém—Zédih iqén Trén ‘Iráq

755

‘Iráqi ‘Iráq-i-‘Ajam Isféhén ‘Ishqábád

I shréqét Ifltihérd Islém Islamic Ismé‘iliyyih Istarébéd ‘Izzat

J alél Jamédiyu’l-Avval Jamal Jamél—i-Mubérak Jamél-i-Qidam Jésb

J ubbih

Ka‘bih Kad-jfludé Kaléntar Kalimét Kamél Karand Karbilá Kéflén Kaflkul Kawmu’s—Sa‘éyidih Kawmar Káẓim Káẓimayn K__hallgh_él Lhén Khéniqayn K_hay1i flab flurésén K_huy Kirmén Kirménfléh

[Page 756]756

Kitáb-i-‘Ahd Kitáb-i-Aqdas Kitáb—i—Asmá’ Kitáb—i-Badi‘ Kitáb-i-iqén Kuléh Kurdistan

Léhijén Lér Lawh Luristén

Madrisih Mahbt’lbu’sh-Shuhadé Mahd-i-‘Ulyé Méh—KL’I Mahmud Maléyir Man-Yuzhiruhu’lláh Maqém Maréghih Marhabé

Marv

Masé’il Maflhad Maghiyyat Mashriqu’l-Adhkár Masjid

Maydén Mézindarén Mihdi

Mihréb

Milén

Mi‘réj

Mirzá Mishkín-Qa1am Mu’aflflin Mufti Muhammad Muhammad-‘Ali Muhammarih Muharram

THEBAHA’iWORLD

Mujtahid

Mulk

Mullá

Munirih Mustafé Mustaghém Muzaffari’d—Din

Nabil Nabil-i—A‘zam Najaf Najaf-Abéd Néqidin Nasir Nésiri’d-Din Navvéb Naw-RL’Iz Nayriz NiflépUr Nuqtih

Nlir

Pahlavi Pérén

Qédi Qédiyén Qahqahih Qá’im

Qéjér Qalyén Qamsar QaSr-i-flirin Qawl Qayyt’lm Qany’lmu’l-Asmá Qazvin Qiblih QL’1<:_hén Quddús Qudrat

Qum

Qur’án

a

Qurbén Qurratu’l-‘Ayn

Rafsinjén Rahim Rahmén Rahmat Ra’is Ramadan Raflt Rawhém’ Riḍván Ruhu’lláh

Sabzivér Sadratu’l-Muntahé Séhibu’Z-Zamén Sahifatu’l-Ḥaramayn Sa‘id

Salsabil Samarqand Sangsar

Séri

Saysén

fia‘bén

fléh

shahid flahmirzéd ghéhrfid

flaraf

Shari‘ah

&ayfl flayfl-Tabarsi fiayflu’l-Islém Shi‘ih

fliréz

Shu$tar Simnén

Sistén Siyéh-Qél Siyyid

SL’xfi

Sulaymén

Sukén Sultén-Abéd Sulténu’sjl-fluhadé’ Sunni Sfiratu’l-Haykal Sfirih SL’lriy-i-Damm Sfiriy-i-.G_hu$n SL’Iriy-i-Ra’is SL'Iriy-i—Sabr

Tabarsi Tabríz Táhirih Tajalliyét Tékur Taqi Tarézét Tarbiyét Taflkand Tawhid T_hurayyé Ṭihrán Tfimén Turkistán

‘Ulamé Urumiyyih ‘Ummén

Vahid

Vali

Vali-‘Ahd

Varqé

Vazir (also Vizir)

Yé-Bahá’u’l—Abhá. Yaḥyá Yazd

Zanjén Zarand Zaynu’l-Muqarrabin

[Page 757]ORIENTAL TERMS

757

2. GUIDE TO TRANSLITERATION AND PRONUNCIATION OF THE PERSIAN ALPHABET

u" ,,,,,, 5‘15 ...... k Lib ...... dJ """ g

. (.3 ...... n

K—Jfi ..... th ) ...... z E, ...... ‘

. ...... v

'C ’5 ‘ j 0

...... J WE Erwgh ......l‘l .. J . ,4: . ..... Q . ...... s d ...... f 6 ...... y .. 0'. Q.

i ...... h L)“ ..... §h 0 ...... q g ...... ’ a...asin l i...as(e)in ) u...as(o)in 1 aw...asin account l best i short mown a...asin i...as(ee)in ‘ L'i...as(oo)in

arm meet moon

The “i” added to the name of a town signifies “belonging to.” Thus flirézi means native of

fliréz.

3. NOTES ON THE PRONUNCIATION OF PERSIAN WORDS

The emphasis in Persian words is more or less evenly distributed, each syllable being equally stressed as in French. For example, do not say Tabríz or Tabarsz’; stay as long on one syllable as on the next; Tabríz; Tabarsi. (While there are many exceptions to this rule, it is the most generally correct method of treating the question ofstress.)

A frequent mistake is the failure to distinguish between broad and flat “a’s.” This differentiation makes the language especially musical and should be observed: in the word Afnán, for

example, pronounce the first “a” as in account,

and the second sylla ble to rhyme with on. Americans are apt to pr onounce short “a” plus “r” like the verb form are; this is a mistake; “ar” should be pro nounced as in the word hurry—cf. Tarbiyat.

The same difl‘eren tiation should be observed in the case of long and short “i” and long and short “u”. As the guide to the transliteration indicates, short “i” is like “e” in best, and long “i" like “ee” in meet; for example, Ibréhim is pronounced Eb-réheem; Islém is Ess—lahm. Short “u” being like “0” in short, and long “L'l” like “00” in moon, the following would be

[Page 758]758 THEBAHA

pronounced: Quddt’is—Qod-dooss; Barfurt’ifl —Bar-foroosh.

Pronounce “aw” to rhyme with low, or mown; Naw-Rúz is Now-Rooz.

The following consonants may be pronouncedlikez:fl,z,z,d.

The following consonants may be pronounced like $5 : m, s, s.

All is pronounced like the “s” in pleasure. K_h is pronounced like “ch” in Scottish loch or German nacht. Do not pronounce it as “k”. Westerners often experience difficulty pronouncing “g_” and “q”; a guttural French “r” will serve here; otherwise use hard “g” as in good.

H and h, approximately like the English aspirate “h”, should never be dropped. Tihran is Teh-ron; madrisih is mad-res-seh; Mihrab is Meh-rob.

lWORLD

In the case of double letters pronounce each separately: ‘Ab-bés.

The character transliterated (’) represents a pause;it is not unlike the initial sound made in pronouncing such a word as every. The word Bahá’í is phonetically as follows: “a” as in 1 as ee

as in hall; (’), pause; “"’

55'”

account; a in meet.

The character transliterated (‘) may also be treated as a pause.

N.B. As Persian often indicates no vowel sounds and as its pronunciation differs in different localities throughout Persia and the Near East as well as among individuals in any given locality, a uniform system of transliteration such as the above, which is in use by Bahá’í communities all over the world, is indispensable to the student.

‘ .‘ 2": ' 3'1, ' p.‘ m r ,J -l

Mishkín-Qalam (“musk-scenred pen"), described by ‘Abdu’l-Ba/ui as “the leading calligrapher ofPersia” who “enjoyed a specialposition among the court ministers of Tihran” and who served bath Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in ‘Akká.

[Page 759]ORIENTAL TERMS

759

4. DEFINITIONS OF SOME OF THE ORIENTAL TERMS USED IN BAHA’T LITERATURE

Ab: Father

Abé, Abfi, Abi: Father of.

‘Aba: Cloak or mantle.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Servant of Baha.

Abhá: Most Glorious.

Aghén: Muslim ca11to prayer.

Adib: literally “the learned”.

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

Aghsan: literally “branches”. Denotes sons and male descendants of Bahá’u’lláh.

A.H.: “Anno Hejirae”. Year of Muhammad’s migration from Mecca to Medina, and the beginning of the Muslim era.

‘Ahd: Covenant.

Ahsanu’l-Qisasz One of the commentaries on the Qur’án revealed by the Báb, on the Stirih ofJoseph, translated by Táhirih.

Akbar: “Greater”, “greatest”. (See “Kabir”.)

A’lé: “The Most Exalted One”, a title of the Báb.

‘Alé’: “Loftiness”. Nineteenth month of the Badi‘ calendar.

‘Ali: The first Imam, the rightful successor of Muhammad; also the fourth Caliph.

Allah: “God”.

Alláh-u-Abhá: “God is All-Glorious”. The Greatest Name, adopted during the period of Bahá’u’lláh’s exile in Adrianople as a greeting among Bahá’ís.‘

Allah-u-Akbar: “God is the Most Great”. Superseded by “Alláh-u-Abhá” during the Adrianople period.2

Al-Madinah: The city to which Muhammad migrated. (See “A.H.”)

Amin : literally “the trusted”. Trustee.

Amir: “Prince”, “ruler”, “commander”, “governor”.

Aqé: “Master”. Title given by Bahá’u’lláh to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Also “Mister” when preceding a name.

Aqdas: “The Most Holy”.

Asma’: “Names”. Ninth month of the Badi‘ calendar.

Ayyém: (See Ha).

A‘zam: “The greatest”.

‘Azamat: “Grandeur”. Fourth month of the Badi‘ calendar.

1 GodPassesBy,p. 176. 2ibid., p. 18.

Bab: “Gate”. Title assumed by Mirza ‘AliMuhammad, after the declaration of His Mission in Shíráz in May, 1844 AD.

Babi: Follower of the Báb.

Bábu’l-Báb: “The Gate of the Gate”. Title of Mullá Ḥusayn, the first Letter of the Living.

Badi‘21iterally “the wonderful”.

Baha: “Glory”, “splendour”, “light”. Title by which Bahá’u’lláh (Mirzá Husayn-‘Ali) is designated. Firstmonth of the Badi‘calendar.

Bahá’í: Follower of Bahá’u’lláh.

Bahá’u’l-Abhá: “The Glory of the Most Glorious”.

Bahá’u’lláh: “The Glory of God”. Title of Mirza Husayn-‘Ali; born Tihran, Persia, Nov. 12, 1817; ascended Bahjí, Palestine, (now Israel) May 29, 1892.

Bahjí: literally “delight”. Denotes that part of the Plain of ‘Akká (Israel) where the Shrine and the Mansion of Bahá’u’lláh are situated.

Bani-Ha$im: The family from which Muhammad was 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, and to two of His Writings, one in Persian the other in Arabic.

Baytu’l-‘AdLi-A‘zam: The Universal House of Justice.

Big: Honorary title: lower title than fian.

Biflérét: literally “Glad-tidings’i Title of one of the Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh.

Caravansary (also “caravanserai”, “ sera”): An inn for caravans.

Dért’tghih: “High constable”.

Dawlih: “State”, “government”.

D_hi’b: “The Wolf”, flayfl MuhammadBaqir.

thkr: “Remembrance", “commemoration”, “mention”; praise or glorification of God; recital of His Names; religious exercise or ceremony;(pluvralag1hkar).

El—Abhá: “The Most Glorious”.

caravan Farman: “Order”, “command", “royal decree”. Farrash: “Footman”, “lictor”, “attendant”.

Farrasj—Béfli : The head-farré$.

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Farsafl: Unit of measurement. Approximately three miles or five kilometres.

Fatva: Sentence or judgement by Muslim mufti.

ghusn: “Branch”. Son or male descendant of Bahá’u’lláh.

Ha, (Days of ): Ayyém-i—Ha. The Intercalary Days, so named by Baha’u’llah in the Book of Aqdas, where He also ordained that they should immediately precede the month of ‘Alé’, i.e. the month of fasting which closes the Bahá’í year. Every fourth year the number of the Intercalary Days is raised from four to five.

Hadim: Tradition. The whole body of the sacred tradition of the Muslims is called the hadim. (Plural ahadim.)

Hadrat: literally “threshold”. Courtesy title sometimes translated as “His Holiness”.

Haji: A Muslim who has performed the pi]grimage to Mecca.

Ḥaram-i-Aqdas: The Most Holy Sanctuary, a designation given by the Guardian to the north-western quadrant of the garden surrounding the Shrine ofBaha’u’llah.

Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds: “The Sacred Fold”, official title designating headquarters of Bahá’í administrative activity.

Hijrat (also “Hijra”, “Hegira”.): 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. Ḥuqúqu’lláh: “Right of God”; payment by believers instituted in the Kitab-i-Aqdas. Husayniyyih: Place where martyrdom of

Husayn is mourned, or where Muslim passion plays may be presented. Designation given by fli‘ahs to Baha’u’llah’s Most Great House in Baghdad, forcibly occupied

by them.

Ibn: “Son”.

Tl : “Clan”.

‘ilm: “Knowledge". Twelfth month of the Badi‘ calendar.

Imam: Title of the twelve shi‘ah successors of Muhammad. Also applied to Muslim religious leaders.

lmam-Jum‘ih: Chief Ofthe mullés, who recites the Friday prayers for the sovereign.

lmam-Zadih: Descendant of an Imam or his shrine.

Infla’allah: “IfGod wills it”.

THE Bahá’í WORLD

iqén: literally “certitude”. The title of Bahá’u’lláh’s Epistle to one of the uncles of the Báb

Iflraqét: literally “splendours”. Title of one of the Tablets of Baha’u’llah.

lsréfil: The Angel whose function is to sound the trumpet on the Day ofJudgement. \

‘Izzat: “Might”. Tenth month of the Bad‘i‘ calendar.

Jéhiliyyih: The dark age of ignorance among the Arabs before the appearance of Muhammad.

Jalal: “Glory”. Second month of the Badi‘ calendar.

Jamal: “Beauty". Third month of the Badi‘ calendar.

JaméI-i-Mubarak: literally “the Blessed Beauty”, applied to Bahá’u’lláh.

Jamal—i—Qidam: literally “the Ancient Beauty”, applied to Bahá’u’lláh.

Jihad: Holy war, as specified in Qur’án.

Jináb: Courtesy title sometimes translated “His Honour”.

Jubbih: An outer coat.

Ka‘bih: Ancient shrine at Mecca. Now recognized as the most holy shrine of Islam.

Kabir: literally “great”. (See “Akbar”.)

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

Kalantar: “Mayor”.

Kalim: “One who discourses”.

Kalimu’llah: “One Who converses with God". Title given to Moses in the Islamic dispensation.

Kalimét: “Words”. Seventh month of the Badi‘ calendar.

Kamél: “Perfection”. Eighth month of the Badi‘ calendar.

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

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

fladimu’llah: “Servant of God”, title of Mirza Aqa Jan.1

Khán: “Prince", “lord”, “nobleman”, “chieftain".

Qan : similar to a caravansary.

K_hidr: literally “The Green One”.

K_hutbih: Sermon delivered on Fridays at noon in Islamic religion.

Kitáb: “Book”.

Kitab-i-Aqdas: literally “The Most Holy Book”. Title of Bahá’u’lláh’s Book of Laws.

lGod Passes By,p. 115.

[Page 761]ORIENTAL TERMS

Kuléh: The Persian lambskin hat worn by government employees and civilians.

Madrisih: “Seminary”, “school”, “religious college”.

Man-Yuzhiruhu’lláh: “He Whom God will make manifest”. The title given by the Báb to the Promised One.

Marhabé: “Bravo! Well done !”

Masé’il: “Questions”. Fifteenth month of the Badi‘ calendar.

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

Mashiyyat: “Will”. Eleventh month of the Badi‘ calendar.

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

Masjid: Mosque; Muslim place of worship.

Maydén : A square or open place.

Mihdi: Title of the Manifestation expected by Islam.

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 afiixed to a name it signifies prince; when prefixed, simply mister.

Miflkin-Qalam: literally “the musk-scented pen”. Title applied to a famed Bahá’í calligraphist.

Mu’aghflin: The one who sounds the Aflén, the Muslim call to prayer.

Mufti: Expounder of Muslim law; gives a fatvé or sentence on a point of religious jurisprudence.

Muharram: First month of the Muslim year, the first ten days of which are observed by fli‘ahs as part of their mourning period for the lméms. The tenth day, ‘Asht’lré’, is the day of the martyrdom of Husayn.

Mulk: “Dominion”. Eighteenth month of the Badi‘ calendar.

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.

761

Mutisarrif: “Governor”.

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”.

NL’ir: “Light”. Fifth month of the Badi‘ calendar.

Pahlavén: “Athlete”, “champion”; term applied to brave and muscular men.

Péshé: Honorary title formerly given to officers ofhigh rank in Turkey.

Pishki$: “Present”, “tip”, “douceur”.

Qédi: “Judge”; Civil, criminal and ecclesiastical.

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

Qaiyén : A pipe for smoking through water.

Qawl: “Speech". Fourteenth month of the Badi‘ calendar.

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".1

Qurbén: “Sacrifice”.

Qudrat: “Power“. Thirteenth month of the Badi‘ calendar.

Qur’án: “The Reading”; “that which ought to be read”. The Book revealed by Muhammad.

Rabb-i-A’lé: “Exalted Lord”. One of the designations of the Báb.

Rahmat: “Mercy". Sixth month of the Badi‘ calendar.

Ra’is: “President”, “head". LaWh-i-Ra’is, a Tablet addressed to the Prime Minister of Turkey by Bahá’u’lláh.

Riḍván: “Paradise”; also the name of the custodian of Paradise. The holiest and most significant of all Bahá’í festivals commemorating Bahá’u’lláh’s Declaration of His Mission to His companions in 1863, a twelve-day period beginning on April let and celebrated annually.

Sadratu’l-Muntahé: The Divine Lote Tree; the Tree beyond which there is no passing.

Sadr-i-A‘zan1:“Prime Minister”.

Séhibu’z—Zamén: “Lord of the Age"; one of the titles Ofthe promised Qá’im.

Salém: “Peace", “salutation”. Muslim greeting. Word used to end a thesis.

1ibid., pp. 110, 277

[Page 762]762

Salsabil: A fountain ofParadise.

Samandar: literally “the phoenix”.

Sarkér—Aqa: literally “The Honourable Master”, applied to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.

flab: “King”, especially ofPersia.

fléh-Bahrém: World Saviour and Promised

One of the Zoroastrians. Fulfilled by Bahá’u’lláh. flahid: “Martyr”. Plural Of martyr is “§huhadé”h

Sharaf: “Honour”. Sixteenth month of the Badi‘ calendar.

flari‘ah, flari‘at: Muslim canonical law. The law.

flayflz Venerable old man; man of authority; elder, chief, professor, superior of a dervish order,etc.

flayfli: School founded by Shay1_<_h—Ahmadi-Ahsé’i. Among his doctrines, in addition to the imminent dual Advent, was that the Prophet Muhammad’s material body did not ascend on the night of the Mi‘raj.

flaykhu’l-Islam: Head of religious court, appointed to every large city by the Shah.

fli‘ah, Shi‘ih, Shi’ite: Party (of ‘Ali). Partisan of ‘Ali’ and of his descendants as the sole lawful “Vicars Of the Prophet”. The fli‘ahs reject the first three Caliphs, believing that the successorship in Islam belonged rightfully to ‘Ali (first Imam and fourth Caliph) and to his descendants by divine right. Originally, the successorship was the vital point of difference, and Islam was divided because Muhammad’s (albeit verbal) appointment of ‘Ali was disregarded.

Sirét: 1itera11y“bridge” or “path”; denotes the religion of God.

Siyah-Qélz Black Pit in Tihran where, in August 1852, Bahá’u’lláh was chained in the darkness three flights of stairs underground, with some 150 thieves and assassins. Here He recei\ ed the first intimations of His world Mission. Holiest place in Persia’s capital.

Siyyid: Descendant of the Prophet Muhammad.

Stifi’: Mystics or mystical doctrine in Islam.

Sultan: “Sovereignty”. Seventeenth month of the Badi‘ calendar.

Sunni, Sunnite: From “Sunna” (the Way or Practice of the Prophet, as reported in the hadim.) By far the largest sect of Islam, this includes the four so—called orthodox sects: Hanbalites, Hanafites. Malikites, Shafiites.

THE Bahá’í WORLD

Stirih: Name of the chapters of the Qur’án.

SL’triy-i—Mult’tk: “Stirih of Kings”; Tablet revealed by Baha’u’llah in Adrianople.

Ta: Letter “T”, standing for Ṭihrán.

Taj: literally “crown”; tall felt headdress adopted by Baha’u’llah in 1863, on the day oins departure from His Most Holy House.

Tajalliyét: literally “effuigences”. Title of one of the Tablets ofBaha’u’llah.

Takyih: Religious establishment: usual place of observance of the martyrdom of Imam Husayn.

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

Ttimén: Unit ofIranian currency.

‘Ulamé: Plural of “one who knows”; “learned”, “a scholar".

‘Urvatu’l-Vuthqa: literally “the strongest handle”; symbolic of the Faith of God.

Va’thid: 1. A “unity” or section of the Bayan. The Persian Bayan consists of nine Véhids of nineteen chapters each, except the last, which has only ten chapters. 2. The eighteen Letters of the Living (constituting the Báb’s first disciples) and the Báb Himself. 3. Each cycle of nineteen years in the Badi‘ calendar. The word, signifying unity, symbolizes the unity of God. The numerical values of the letters ofthis word total nineteen.

Vahid: “Unique”.

Véli: "Governor”.

Va]1’:“Guardian”.

Vali-‘Ahd: “Heir to the throne”.

Varaqiy-i-‘Ulya: literally “the Most Exalted Leaf”, applied to Bahá’íyyih (Bahíyyih) Khánum, sister of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.‘

Varqa: literally “the dove".

Vilayat: “Guardianship”.

Waqf: Muslim endowments; in Persia, the landed property of the expected Imam.

“White Path": Symbolizes the religion of God.

Yé: “O”——e.g., Ya Baha’u’l—Abhá (O Thou the Glory of the Most Glorious !)

Zédih: “Son”.

Zawra: “Black mountain”; the land of Rayy.

Zaynu’l-Muqarrabin: literally “the Ornament of the favoured”.

Zamzam: Sacred well within the precincts Of the Great Mosque at Mecca. Though salty, its water is much esteemed for pious uses, such as ablutions, and drinking after a fast.

1 The Balm"! World, vol. v, p. 205 “Genealogy of Baha’u’iléh".

[Page 763]ORIENTALTERMS 763

-\..-. ; A; g; ; win .T.‘ a a ,W. M.

The first and last verses Q/‘Bahá’u’lláh’s The Hidde