Bahá’í World/Volume 17/Oriental terms

←Previous

The Bahá’í World Volume 17

Next→

Proofread once

[Page 595]

1. TRANSLITERATION OF ORIENTAL WORDS FREQUENTLY USED IN BAHÁ’Í LITERATURE

‘Abá Ábádih ‘Azíz Fárs Isfahan Farsakh ‘Abbás Báb Fath-‘Ali ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Bábí Firdaws ‘Ishqábád Isbrágát Ishtihárd ‘Abdu’l-Ḥamíd Bábu’l-Báb Firdawsí Islám ‘Abdu’l-Husayn Baghdad Ismá‘ílíyyih ‘Abdu’lláh Bahá Ganjih ‘Izzat Abhá Bahá’í Gílán Abu’l-Fadl Bahá’u’lláh Gul Jalál ‘Adasiyyih Bahíyyih Gulistán Jamádíyu’l-Avval Adhán Bahjí Gurgin Jamál Adhirbayján Baluchistán Jamál-i-Mubarak Afnán Bandar-‘Abbas Habib Jamál-i-Qidam Aghsán Báqir Hadith Jásb ‘Ahd Baqiyyatu’lláh Hadrat Jubbih Aḥmad Bárfurush Hájí Absá’í Basrih Hájí Mírzá Áqásí Ka‘bih Ahváz Bátám Hájj Kad-Khudá Akbar Bayan Hamadán Kalántar ‘Akká Bayt Haram Kalimát ‘Alá’ Big ‘Alí Birjand ‘Alí-Muḥammad Bishárát Hasan Kamál Hawdaj Karand Haydar-‘Alí Karbilá Alláh-u-Abhá Bismi’lláh Haykal Káshán Alváh Bukhara Haziratu’l-Quds Kashkul Alváh-i-Salátín Burujird Hijáz Kawmu’s-Sa’ayidih Amatu’l-Bahá Búshihr Hijrat Kawthar Amín Bushrú’ Himmat-Ábád Kázim Amír Bushrúyih Hujjat Amir-Nizam Husayn Amru’lláh Chihriq Ámul Ibráhím Anzalí Dalá’il-i-Sab’ih f1 ‘Ilm Aqá Dárúghih Imám Aqdas Dawlat-Ábád Imám-Jum’ih ‘Arabistán Dhabih Imám-Zádih Asmá’ Duzdáb Kázimayn Khalkhál Khán Khánigayn Khaylí Khúb Khurásán Khuy Kirmán Kirmánsháh Astarábád Íqán ‘Aváshiq Fará’id Irán ‘Iráq Ayádí Fárán ‘Iráqí Azal Farmán ‘Iraq-i-‘Ajam ‘Azamat Farrásh-Báshí Kitáb-i-‘Ahd Kitáb-i-Aqdas Kitáb-i-Asmá’ Kitáb-i-Badí Kitáb-i-İqán [Page 596]Kuláh Mustafa Kurdistán Mustagháth Raḥím

Rafsanjan Sultánu’sh-Shuhada" Sunní Muzaffari’d-Din Raḥmán Súratu’l-Haykal Láhíján Rahmat Súrih Lár Nabíl Ra’ís Súriy-i-Damm Lawh Nabil-i-A’zam Ramadán Luristán Najaf Najaf-Abád Rasht Rawhání Súriy-i-Ghusn Súriy-i-Ra’is Súriy-i-Sabr Madrisih Náqiḍín Ridván Mahbubu’sh-Shuhada Nasir Rúhu’lláh Tabarsí Mahd-i-‘Ulyá Náşiri’d-Din Tabriz Máh-Kú Sabzivár Navváb Táhirih Mahmud Naw-Rúz Sadratu’l-Muntahá Tajalliyát Malayir Nayríz Sahibu’z-Zamán Tákur Man-Yuzhiruhu’lláh Nishapúr Şahifatu’l-Haramayn Taqi Maqam Nuqtih Sa’id Tarázát Marághih Núr Salsabil Tarbiyat Marbabá Samarqand Táshkand Mary Sangsar Masá’il Pahlaví Tawhid Sárí Mashhad Párán Thurayyá Saysán Mashiyyat Sha‘bán Mashriqu’l-Adhkár Qádí Shah Ţihrán Túmán Turkistán Masjid Qádiyán Shahid Maydán Qabqahih Shahmírzád ‘Ulamá Mázindarán Qám Shahrúd Urúmiyyih Mihdí Qájár Sharaf Mibráb Qalyán Shari‘ah Mílán Qamsar Shaykh Mi‘raj Qasr-i-Shirin Shaykh-Tabarsí Mírzá ‘Uthmán Vahid Valí Qawl Shaykhu’l-Islám Mishkin-Qalam Qayyum Shi‘ah (Shi‘ih) Valí-‘Ahd Mu’adhdhin Qayyumu’l-Asmá Shíráz Mufti Qazvin Shúshtar Vargá Vazir (also Vizir) Muḥammad Qiblih Simnán Muḥammad-‘Alí Qúchán Sístán Yá-Bahá’u’l-Abhá Muhammarih Quddús Siyah-Chál Yahyá Muharram Qudrat Siyyid Yazd Mujtahid Qum Șúfí Mulk Qur’an Sulaymán Zanján Mullá Qurbán Sultán Zarand Munírih Qurratu’l-‘Ayn Sultán-Abád Zaynu’l-Muqarrabín [Page 597]

2. GUIDE TO TRANSLITERATION AND PRONUNCIATION OF THE PERSIAN ALPHABET

á a ... as in account á ... as in arm b p th j ch b kh k d g z m n gh v h q i ... as (e) in best í ... as (ee) in meet u ... as (o) in short aw ... as in mown ú ... as (oo) in moon

The 'i' added to the name of a town signifies 'belonging to'. Thus Shírází means native of Shíráz.

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 Tabriz or Tabarsí; stay as long on one syllable as on the next; Tabriz; Tabarsi. (While there are many exceptions to this rule, it is the most generally correct method of treating the question of stress.)

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 syllable to rhyme with on.

Americans are apt to pronounce short 'a' plus 'r' like the verb form are; this is a mistake; 'ar' should be pronounced as in the word hurry-cf. Tarbiyat.

The same differentiation 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 'í' like 'ee' in meet; for example, Ibráhím is pronounced Eb-ráheem; Islám is Ess-lahm. Short 'u' being like 'o' in short, and long 'ú' like 'oo' in moon, the following would be pronounced: [Page 598]Quddús—Qod-dooss; Bárfurúsh—Bár-foroosh.

Pronounce ‘aw’ to rhyme with low, or mown; Naw-Rúz is No-Rooz.

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

The following consonants may be pronounced like z: dh, z, z, d.

The following consonants may be pronounced like ss: th, s, s.

Zh is pronounced like the ‘s’ in pleasure. Kh is pronounced like ‘ch’ in Scottish loch or German nacht. Do not pronounce it as ‘k’. Westerners often experience difficulty pronouncing ‘gh’ 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. Tihrán is Teh-ron; madrisih is mad-res-seh; Miḥráb is Meh-rob.

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 account; ‘á’ as in hall; (’), pause; ‘í’ as ee 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.

تك تالار

Calligraphic arrangement of part of the opening sentence of the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: ‘All Praise to Him Who, by the Shield of His Covenant, hath guarded the Temple of His Cause.’ [Page 599]

DEFINITIONS OF SOME OF THE ORIENTAL TERMS USED IN BAHÁ’Í LITERATURE

Ab: Father.

Abá, Abú, Abí: Father of.

‘Abá: Cloak or mantle.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Servant of Bahá.

Abhá: Most Glorious.

Adhán: Muslim call to prayer.

Adib: literally ‘the learned’.

Afnán: literally ‘twigs’. Denotes the relations of the Báb.

Aghṣán: literally ‘branches’. Denotes sons and male descendants of Bahá’u’lláh.

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

‘Ahd: Covenant.

Ahsanu’l-Qisas: One of the commentaries on the Qur’an revealed by the Báb, on the Súrih of Joseph, translated by Táhirih.

Akbar: ‘Greater’, ‘greatest’. (See ‘Kabir’.)

A’lá: ‘The Most Exalted One’, a title of the Báb.

‘Alá’: ‘Loftiness’. Nineteenth month of the Badí’ calendar.

‘Alí: The first Imám, the rightful successor of Muḥammad; also the fourth Caliph.

Alláh: ‘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.¹

Alláh-u-Akbar: ‘God is the Most Great’. Superseded by ‘Alláh-u-Abhá’ during the Adrianople period.²

Al-Madinah: The city to which Muḥammad migrated. (See ‘A.H.’)

Amín: literally ‘the trusted’. Trustee.

Amír: ‘Prince’, ‘ruler’, ‘commander’, ‘governor’.

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

Aqdas: ‘The Most Holy’.

Asmá: ‘Names’. Ninth month of the Badí’ calendar.

Ayyám: (See Há).

A’zam: ‘The greatest’.

‘Azamat: ‘Grandeur’. Fourth month of the Badí’ calendar.

Badí’ calendar.

Báb: ‘Gate’. Title assumed by Mírzá ‘Alí-Muḥammad, after the declaration of His Mission in Shíráz in May 1844 A.D.

Bábí: Follower of the Báb.

Bábu’l-Báb: ‘The Gate of the Gate’. Title of Mullá Husayn, the first Letter of the Living.

Badí’: literally ‘the wonderful’.

Bahá: ‘Glory’, ‘splendour’, ‘light’. Title by which Bahá’u’lláh (Mirza Husayn-’Alí) is designated. First month of the Badí’ 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 Mírzá Husayn-’Alí; born Tihrán, Persia, 12 Nov. 1817; ascended Bahjí, Palestine (now Israel), 29 May 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.

Baní-Háshim: The family from which Muḥammad was descended.

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

Bayán: ‘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-’Adl-i-A’zam: The Universal House of Justice.

Big: Honorary title; lower title than Khán.

Bishárát: literally ‘Glad tidings’. Title of one of the Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh.

Caravansary (also ‘caravanserai’, ‘caravansera’): An inn for caravans.

Dárúghih: ‘High constable’.

Dawlih: ‘State’, ‘government’.

Dhi’b: ‘The Wolf’, an appellation applied by Bahá’u’lláh to Shaykh Muḥammad-Baqir.

Dhikr: ‘Remembrance’, ‘commemoration’, ‘mention’; praise or glorification of God; recital of His Names; religious exercise or ceremony; (plural adhkár).

El-Abhá: Properly, al-Abhá, ‘The Most Glorious’.

Farmán: ‘Order’, ‘command’, ‘royal decree’.

Farrásh: ‘Footman’, ‘lictor’, ‘attendant’.

¹ God Passes By, p. 176. ² ibid., p. 18. [Page 600]Farrásh-Báshí: The head-farrásh.

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

Fatvá: Sentence or judgement by Muslim muftí.

Ghusan: ‘Branch’. Son or male descendant of Bahá’u’lláh.

Há, (Days of): Ayyam-i-Há. The Intercalary Days, so named by Bahá’u’lláh in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, where He also ordained that they should immediately precede the month of ‘Alá’, 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.

Hadith: Tradition. The whole body of the sacred tradition of the Muslims is called the hadith. (Plural ahadith.)

Hadrat: literally ‘threshold’. Courtesy title sometimes translated as ‘His Holiness’.

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

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

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

Hazíratu’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 Muḥammad’s migration from Mecca to Medina.

Huqúqu’lláh: ‘Right of God’; payment by believers instituted in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas.

Husayniyyih: Place where martyrdom of Husayn is mourned, or where Muslim passion plays may be presented. Designation given by Shi’ahs to Bahá’u’lláh’s Most Great House in Baghdád, forcibly occupied by them.

Ibn: ‘Son’.

Íl: ‘Clan’.

‘Ílm: ‘Knowledge’. Twelfth month of the Badí calendar.

Imám: Title of the twelve Shi’ah successors of Muḥammad. Also applied to Muslim religious leaders.

Imám-Jum’ih: Chief of the mullás, who recites the Friday prayers for the sovereign.

Imám-Zádih: Descendant of an Imám or his shrine.

Insha’allah: ‘If God wills it’.

Íqán: literally ‘certitude’. The title of Bahá’u’lláh’s Epistle to one of the uncles of the Báb.

Ishrágát: literally ‘splendours’. Title of one of the Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh.

Isráfíl: The angel whose function is to sound the trumpet on the Day of Judgement.

‘Izzat: ‘Might’. Tenth month of the Badí calendar.

Jáhilíyyih: The dark age of ignorance among the Arabs before the appearance of Muḥammad.

Jalál: ‘Glory’. Second month of the Badí calendar.

Jamál: ‘Beauty’. Third month of the Badí calendar.

Jamál-i-Mubárak: literally ‘the Blessed Beauty’, applied to Bahá’u’lláh.

Jamál-i-Qidam: literally ‘the Ancient Beauty’, applied to Bahá’u’lláh.

Jihád: Holy war, as specified in Qur’an.

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 Islám.

Kabír: literally ‘great’. (See ‘Akbar’.)

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

Kalántar: ‘Mayor’.

Kalím: ‘One who discourses’.

Kalímu’lláh: ‘One Who converses with God’. Title given to Moses in the Islamic dispensation.

Kalimát: ‘Words’. Seventh month of the Badí calendar.

Kamál: ‘Perfection’. Eight month of the Badí calendar.

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

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

Khádimu’lláh: ‘Servant of God’. Title of Mírzá Aqá Ján.’

Khán: ‘Prince’, ‘lord’, ‘nobleman’, ‘chieftain’.

Khán: similar to a caravansary.

Khiḍr: literally ‘The Green One’. Said to have lived at the time of Abraham, drank from the

’God Passes By, p. 115. [Page 601]

ORIENTAL TERMS

fountain of life, and is called its custodian. He is also said to symbolize the true guide. His name does not occur in the Qur’an, but some commentators identify him with the mysterious personage referred to in Qur’an 18:59-81.

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

Kitáb: ‘Book’.

day of the martyrdom of Husayn.

Mulk: ‘Dominion’. Eighteenth month of the Badí’ calendar.

Mujtahid: Muslim doctor-of-law. Most of the mujtahids of Persia have received their dip- lomas from the most eminent jurists of Kar- bila and Najaf.

Mullá: Muslim priest.

Mustagháth: ‘He Who is invoked’, the numeri- cal value of which has been assigned by the Báb as the limit of the time fixed for the advent of the promised Manifestation.

Mutisarrif: ‘Governor’.

Kitáb-i-Aqdas: literally ‘The Most Holy Book’. Title of Bahá’u’lláh’s Book of Laws.

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

Madrisih: ‘Seminary’, ‘school’, ‘religious college’.

Nabíl: ‘Learned’, ‘noble’.

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

Marḥabá: ‘Bravo! Well done!’

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’.

Masá’il: ‘Questions’. Fifteenth month of the Badí’ calendar.

Núr: ‘Light’. Fifth month of the Badí’ calendar.

Mashhadí: A Muslim who has performed the pilgrimage to Mashhad.

Mashiyyat: ‘Will’. Eleventh month of the Badí’ 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.

Maydán: A square or open place.

Mihdí: Title of the Manifestation expected by Muslims.

Miḥráb: The principal place in a mosque where the Imám prays with his face turned towards Mecca.

Mi’raj: ‘Ascent’. Used with reference to Muḥammad’s ascension to heaven.

Mírzá: A contraction of ‘Amír-Zádih’, mean- ing son of Amír. When affixed to a name it signifies prince; when prefixed, simply mis- ter.

Mishkin-Qalam: literally ‘the musk-scented pen’. Title applied to a famed Bahá’í callig- raphist.

Pahlaván: ‘Athlete’, ‘champion’; term applied to brave and muscular men.

Páshá: Honorary title formerly given to officers of high rank in Turkey.

Pishkish: ‘Present’, ‘tip’, ‘douceur’.

Qádí: ‘Judge’; civil, criminal and ecclesiastical.

Qá’im: ‘He Who shall arise’. Title designating the Promised One of Islám.

Qalyán: A pipe for smoking through water.

Qawl: ‘Speech’. Fourteenth month of the Badí’ 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’.’

Qurbán: ‘Sacrifice’.

Qudrat: ‘Power’. Thirteenth month of the Badí’ calendar.

Qur’án: ‘The Reading’; ‘that which ought to be read’. The Book revealed to Muḥammad.

Rabbi-i-A’lá: ‘Exalted Lord’. One of the designations of the Báb.

Rahmat: ‘Mercy’. Sixth month of the Badí’ calendar.

Mu’adhdhin: The one who sounds the Adhán, the Muslim call to prayer.

Mufti: Expounder of Muslim law; gives a fatvá or sentence on a point of religious jurispru- dence.

Muharram: First month of the Muslim year, the first ten days of which are observed by Shi’ahs as part of their mourning period for the Imáms. The tenth day, ‘Áshúrá’, is the

Ra’ís: ‘President’, ‘head’. Lawḥ-i-Ra’ís, a Tab- let addressed to the Prime Minister of Tur- key by Bahá’u’lláh.

Ridván: ‘Paradise’; also the name of the custo- dian of Paradise. The holiest and most significant of all Bahá’í festivals com- memorating Bahá’u’lláh’s Declaration of ‘God Passes By, pp. 110, 277. [Page 602]His Mission to His companions in 1863, a twelve-day period beginning on 21 April and celebrated annually.

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

Şadr-i-A’zam: ‘Prime Minister’.

Sáḥibu’z-Zamán: ‘Lord of the Age’; one of the titles of the promised Qá’im.

Salám: ‘Peace’, ‘salutation’. Muslim greeting. Word used to end a thesis.

Salsabíl: A fountain of Paradise.

Samandar: literally ‘the phoenix’.

Sarkár-Áqá: literally ‘The Honourable Master’, applied to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.

Sháh: ‘King’, especially of Persia.

Sháh-Bahrám: World Saviour and Promised One of the Zoroastrians. Fulfilled by Bahá’u’lláh.

Shahid: ‘Martyr’. Plural of martyr is ‘Shuhada’.

Sharaf: ‘Honour’. Sixteenth month of the Badí calendar.

Shari’ah, Shari’at: Muslim canonical law. The law.

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

Shaykhí: School founded by Shaykh-Aḥmad-i-Aḥsá’í. 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 Mí’ráj.

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

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

Şirát: literally ‘bridge’ or ‘path’; denotes the religion of God.

Siyah-Chál: Black Pit in Tihrán 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 received the first intimations of His world Mission. Holiest place in Persia’s capital.

Siyyid: Descendant of the Prophet Muhammad.

Súfi: Mystics or mystical doctrine in Islám.

Sultán: ‘Sovereignty’. Seventeenth month of the Badí’ calendar.

Sunní, Sunnite: From ‘Sunna’ (the Way or Practice of the Prophet, as reported in the hadith.) By far the largest sect of Islám, this includes the four so-called orthodox sects: Hanbalites, Hanafites, Malikites, Shafiites.

Súrih: Name of the chapters of the Qur’an.

Súriy-i-Mulók: ‘Súrih of Kings’; Tablet revealed by Bahá’u’lláh in Adrianople.

Tá: Letter ‘T’ standing for Tihrán.

Táj: literally crown’; tall felt headdress adopted by Bahá’u’lláh in 1863, on the day of His departure from His Most Holy House.

Tajalliyát: literally ‘effulgences’. Title of one of the Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh.

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

Tarázát: literally ‘ornaments’. Title of one of the Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh.

Túmán: Unit of Iranian currency.

‘Ulamá: Plural of ‘one who knows’; ‘learned’, ‘a scholar’.

Urvatu’l-Vuthqá: literally the strongest handle’; symbolic of the Faith of God.

Váhid: 1. A ‘unity’ or section of the Bayán. The Persian Bayán consists of nine Váḥids 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 Badí’ calendar. The word, signifying unity, symbolizes the unity of God. The numerical values of the letters of this word total nineteen.

Vaḥíd: ‘Unique’.

Váli: ‘Governor’.

Valí: ‘Guardian’.

Valf-’Ahd: ‘heir to the throne’.

Varaqiy-i-’Ulyá: literally ‘the Most Exalted Leaf’, applied to Bahá’íyyih (Bahiyyih) Khánum, sister of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.¹

Varqá: literally ‘the dove’.

Vazír (Vizir, Vizier): Minister of State. Grand Vazír; Prime Minister.

Viláyat: ‘Guardianship’.

¹The Bahá’í World, Vol. V, p. 205; ‘Genealogy of Bahá’u’lláh’. [Page 603]Waqf: Muslim endowments; in Persia, the landed property of the expected Imám.

Yá: ‘O’—e.g., Yá Bahá’u’l-Abhá (O Thou the Glory of the Most Glorious!)

Zádih: ‘Son’.

Zawrá’: A term signifying Baghdád.

Zaynu’l-Muqarrabín: 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. [Page 604]Calligraphic arrangement by Mishkín-Qalam of the invocation: ‘Praise be to God, the Exalted, the Beloved!’