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Glossary
‘Abdu’l—Baha: (1844—1921) Son of Baha’u’llah, designated His successor and authorized interpreter of His writings. Named ‘Abhas after His grand— father, ‘Abdu’l—Baha was known to the general public as ‘Abbas Effendi. Baha’u’lla’h gave Him such titles as “the Most Great Branch,” “the Mys— tery of God,” and “the Master.” After Baha’u’llah’s passing, He chose the name ‘Abdu’l—Baha, meaning “Servant of Baha’u’llah.”
Administrative Order: The system of administration as conceived by Baha’u’llah, formally established by ‘Abdu’l—Baha, and realized during the Guardianship 0f Shoghi Effendi. It consists, on the one hand, of a series of elected councils, universal, national, and local, in which are invested legislative, executive, and judicial powers over the Baha’i community, and, on the other hand, of eminent and devoted Baha’is appointed for the spe— cific purposes of propagation and protection of the Faith under the guidance of the Head of that Faith, the Universal House of Justice.
‘Amatu’l—Baha Rfihl’yyih flanum: (1910—2000) Mary Sutherland Maxwell, an eminent North American Baha’i Who became the wife of Shoghi Effendi Rabbanf, Guardian of the Baha’i Faith, in 1937, after which she became known as Rfihi’yyih flanum Rabbani’. (‘Amatu’l—Baha is a title meaning “Handmaiden of Baha’u’llah.”) She served as the Guardian’s secretary during his lifetime and was appointed a Hand of the Cause of God in 1952. After Shoghi Effendi’s passing in 1957, she traveled extensively to teach the Baha’i Faith, consolidate Baha’i communities, and serve as a representative of the Universal House of Justice at major events.
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Arc: An are cut into Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel, along which the inter— national administrative buildings of the Baha’i Faith have been built.
Auxiliary Boards: An institution created by Shoghi Effendi in 1954 to assist the Hands of the Cause of God. When the institution of the Conti— nental Boards of Counsellors was established in 1968 by the Universal House of Justice, the Auxiliary Boards were placed under its direction.
Bab, the: The title, meaning “Gate,” assumed by Siyyid ‘Ali—Muhammad, Who was the Prophet-Founder of the Babi Faith and the Forerunner of Baha’u’llah. Born 20 October 1819, the Bab proclaimed Himself to be the Promised One of Islam and announced that His mission was to alert the people to the imminent advent of “Him Whom God shall make mani— fest,” namely, Baha’u’llah. Because of these claims, the Bab was executed
by order of Nasiri’d’Di’n $3,111 on 9 July 1850.
Baha’i Era (BE): The period of the Baha’i calendar beginning with the Declaration of the Bab on 23 May 1844, and expected to last until the next appearance of a Manifestation (Prophet) of God after the expiration of at least 1,000 years.
Baha’i International Community: A name used generally in reference to the worldwide Baha’i community and officially in that community’s external relations. In the latter context, the Baha’i International Commu— nity is an association of the National Spiritual Assemblies throughout the world and functions as an international nongovernmental organization. Its offices include its Secretariat at the Baha’i World Centre, a United Nations Office in New York with a branch in Geneva, an Office of Public Information, an Office of the Environment, and an Office for the Ad- vancement of Women.
Baha’i World Centre: The spiritual and administrative center of the Baha’i Faith, comprising the holy places in the Haifa-Acre area and the Arc of administrative buildings on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel.
Baha’u’lla’h: Title, meaning “Glory of God,” assumed by Mirza Husayn- ‘Ali’, Founder of the Baha’i Faith. Born on 12 November 1817, He declared His mission as the Promised One of All Ages in April 1863 and passed away in Acre, Palestine, on 29 May 1892 after 40 years of imprisonment, banishment, and house arrest. Baha’u’llah’s writings are considered by Baha’l’s to be direct revelation from God.
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GLOSSARY 333
Bahji’: Arabic for “delight.” Located near Acre, it is a place of pilgrimage for Baha’i’s which comprises the Shrine of Baha’u’llah, the mansion which was His last residence, and the surrounding gardens that serve to beautify the site.
Calendar, Baha’i: Year consisting of 19 months of 19 days each, with the addition of certain “intercalary days” (four in ordinary and five in leap years) between the 18th and 19th months in order to adjust the calendar to the solar year. Naw-Rtiz, the Baha’i new year, is astronomically fixed, commencing at the vernal equinox (21 March). The Baha’i era (BE) begins with the year of the Bab’s declaration (1844 CE).
Consultation: A form of discussion between individuals and within groups which requires the subjugation of egotism so that all ideas can be shared and evaluated with frankness, courtesy, and openness of mind, and deci— sions arrived at can be wholeheartedly supported. Its guiding principles
were elaborated by ‘Abdu’l-Baha.
Continental Boards of Counsellors: An institution created in 1968 by the Universal House of Justice to extend into the future the work of the institution of the Hands of the Cause of God, particularly its appointed functions of protection and propagation. With the passing of Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Baha’i Faith, there was no way for additional Hands of the Cause to be appointed. The duties of the Counsellors include directing the Auxiliary Boards in their respective areas, advising and collaborating with National Spiritual Assemblies, and keeping the Universal House of Justice informed concerning the conditions of the Faith in their areas. Counsellors are appointed for terms of five years.
Convention: A gathering called at a regional, national, or international level for consultation on matters affecting the welfare of the Baha’i community and for the purpose, respectively, of electing delegates to a National Convention, electing members of a National Spiritual Assembly, 0r electing members of the Universal House of Justice.
Hands of the Cause of God: Individuals appointed by Baha’u’llah, and later by Shoghi Effendi, who were charged with the specific duties of pro— tecting and propagating the Faith. (Four individuals were recognized posthumously as Hands of the Cause by ‘Abdu’l—Baha.) With the passing of Shoghi Effendi, there was no further possibility for appointing Hands of the Cause; hence, in order to extend into the future the important functions of propagation and protection, the Universal House of Justice
334 THE BAHA’I’ WORLD 2001—2002
in 1968 created Continental Boards of Counsellors and in 1973 estab— lished the International Teaching Centre, which coordinates their work.
Holy Days: Eleven days commemorating significant Bahé’l’ anniversaries, on nine of which work is suspended.
Huql’lqu’lléh: Arabic for “the Right of God.” As instituted in the Kitzib-i- Aqdas, payment to “the Authority in the Cause to whom all must turn” (at present, the Universal House ofJustice) of 19 percent of what remains of one’s personal income after one’s essential expenses have been covered. Funds generated by the payment of Huql’iqu’lléh are used for the promo- tion of the Faith and for the welfare of society.
International Teaching Centre: An institution established in 1973 by the Universal House of Justice to bring to fruition the work of the Hands of the Cause of God in the Holy Land and to provide for its extension into the future. The duties of the International Teaching Centre include co- ordinating, stimulating, and directing the activities of the Continental Boards of Counsellors and acting as liaison between them and the Universal House of Justice. The membership of the Teaching Centre comprises the surviv— ing Hands of the Cause and also nine Counsellors appointed by the Universal House of Justice. The seat of the International Teaching Centre is located
at the Bahé’l’ World Centre in Haifa, Israel.
Knight of Bahé’u’lléh: Title initially given by Shoghi Effendi to those Bahé’l’s who arose to open specified new territories to the Faith during the first year of the Ten Year Crusade (1953—1963) and subsequently applied to those who first reached the remaining unopened territories on the list at a later date.
Lesser Peace: A political peace to be established by the nations of the world in order to bring about an end to war. Its establishment will prepare the way for the Most Great Peace, a condition of permanent peace and world unity to be founded on the spiritual principles and institutions of the World Order of Bahé’u’lléh and signalizing humanity’s coming of age.
Local Spiritual Assembly: The local administrative body in the Bahé’l’ Faith, ordained in the Kitéb—i—Aqdas. The nine members are directly elected by secret ballot each year at Ridvein from among the adult believers in a com— munity.
Monument Gardens: Beautifully landscaped gardens at the heart of the Are on Mount Carmel where befitting monuments have been erected over
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GLOSSARY 335
the graves of the daughter and the wife of Baha’u’llah, His son who died in prison in Acre, and the Wife of ‘Abdu’l—Baha.
Mount Carmel: The mountain spoken of by Isaiah as the “mountain of the Lord.” Site of the Baha’i World Centre including several Baha’i holy places, the most important of which are the Shrine of the Bab and the Monument Gardens.
National Spiritual Assembly: The national administrative body in the Baha’i Faith, ordained in the Baha’i sacred writings, with authority over all ac- tivities and affairs of the Baha’i Faith throughout its area. Among its duties are to stimulate, unify, and coordinate the manifold activities of Local Spiritual Assemblies and of individual Baha’is within its jurisdiction. The members of National Spiritual Assemblies throughout the world consti— tute the electoral college for the Universal House of Justice. At Ridva’n 2002, there were 182 National or Regional Spiritual Assemblies. See also Regional Spiritual Assembly.
Nineteen Day Feast: The principal gathering in each local Baha’i com- munity, every Baha’i month, for the threefold purpose of worship, consultation, and fellowship.
Pioneer: Any Baha’i who arises and leaves his or her home to journey to another country for the purpose of teaching the Baha’i Faith. “Home— front pioneer” describes those who move to areas within their own country that have yet to be exposed to the Baha’i Faith or where the Baha’i com— munity needs strengthening.
Regional Baha’i Council: An element of Baha’i administration between the local and national levels, established at the discretion of the Universal House ofJustice in countries where the condition and size of the Baha’i community warrant. A means of decentralizing the work of the National Spiritual Assembly, a Regional Council may be formed either by election or by appointment, depending on local requirements and the condition of the Baha’i community. It provides for a level of autonomous decision making on both teaching and administrative matters. In some countries, State Baha’i Councils perform these tasks within specific civic jurisdictions.
Regional Spiritual Assembly: An institution Mentical in function to the National Spiritual Assembly but including a number of countries or re— gions in its jurisdiction, often established as a precursor to the formation of a National Spiritual Assembly in each of the countries it encompasses.
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‘A‘A :4ALAL L4LL,A -‘7lAlJ-l-l£’A‘lL Jiu‘lLAl ‘11:“ nng 'Ai
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Rigivz’m: Arabic for “Paradise.” Twelve-day festival (from 21 April through 2 May) commemorating Baha’u’llah’s declaration of His mission to His companions in 1863 in the Garden of Ridvan in Baghdad.
Shoghi Effendi Rabbanl’: (1897—1957) The Guardian of the Baha’i Faith after the passing of ‘Abdu’l-Baha in 1921, designated in His Will and Tes—
tament as His successor in interpreting the Baha’i writings and as Head of the Faith.
Shrine of Baha’u’lléh: The resting place of Baha’u’llah’s mortal remains, located near the city of Acre, Israel. The Shrine is the holiest spot on earth to Baha’is and a place of pilgrimage.
Shrine of the Bab: The resting place of the Bab’s mortal remains, located on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel, a sacred site to Baha’l’s, and a place of
pilgrimage. State Baha’i Council: See Regional Baha’i Council.
Tablet: Divinely revealed scripture. In Baha’i scripture, the term is used to denote writings revealed by Baha’u’lléh, the Bab, and ‘Abdu’l-Bahé.
Ten Year Crusade: (1953—1963) Ten Year Plan initiated by Shoghi Effendi for teaching the Baha’i Faith, which culminated with the election of the Universal House of Justice during the centenary of the Declaration of Baha’u’llah. The objectives of the Crusade were the development of the institutions at the World Centre,'the consolidation of the communities of the participating National Spiritual Assemblies, and the spread of the Faith to new regions. See also Knight ofBa/yd’u’llcz’ly.
Universal House of Justice: Head of the Baha’i Faith after the passing of Shoghi Effendi, and the supreme administrative body ordained by Bahé’u’llah in the Kitab—i-Aqdas, His book of laws. The Universal House of Justice is elected every five years by the members of all National Spiritual Assem— blies, who gather at an International Convention. The House of Justice was elected for the first time in 1963. It occupied its permanent seat on Mount Carmel in 1983.
Some entries adapted from A Basic Ba/yd’z’ Dictionary, ed. Wendi Momen (Oxford: George Ronald, 1989).
