Bahá’í World/Volume 5/Bahá’í Calendar and Festivals
BAHÁ’Í CALENDAR AND FESTIVALS[edit]
FOREWORD[edit]
By DR. J. E. ESSLEMONT
From Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era
AMONG different peoples and at different times many different methods have been adopted for the measurement of time and fixing of dates, and several different calendars are still in daily use, e. g., the Gregorian in Western Europe, the Julian in many countries of Eastern Europe, the Hebrew among the Jews, and the Muḥammadan in Muslim countries.
The Báb signalized the importance of the dispensation which He came to herald, by inaugurating a new calendar. In this, as in the Gregorian Calendar, the lunar month is abandoned and the solar year is adopted.
The Bahá’í year consists of 19 months of 19 days each (i. e., 361 days), with the addition of certain “intercalary days” (four in ordinary and five in leap years) between the eighteenth and nineteenth months in order to adjust the calendar to the solar year. The Báb named the months after the attributes of God. The Bahá’í New Year, like the ancient Persian New Year, is astronomically fixed, commencing at the March equinox (March 21st), and the Bahá’í era commences with the year of the Báb’s declaration (i. e., 1844 A.D., 1260 A.H.).
In the not far distant future it will be necessary that all peoples in the world agree on a common calendar.
It seems, therefore, fitting that the new age of unity should have a new calendar free from the objections and associations which make each of the older calendars unacceptable to large sections of the world’s population, and it is difficult to see how any other arrangement could exceed in simplicity and convenience that proposed by the Báb.
BAHÁ’Í FEASTS, ANNIVERSARIES AND DAYS OF FASTING[edit]
Feast of Riḍván (Declaration of Bahá’u’lláh), April 21-May 2, 1863.
Feast of Naw-Rúz (New Year), March 21.
Declaration of the Báb, May 23, 1844.
Fête Day of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, November 26.
Birth of Bahá’u’lláh, November 12, 1817.
Birth of the Báb, October 20, 1819.
Birth of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, May 23, 1844.
Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh, May 29, 1892.
Martyrdom of the Báb, July 9, 1850.
Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, November 28, 1921.
Fasting season lasts 19 days beginning with the first day of the month of ‘Alá’, March 2—the feast of Naw-Rúz follows immediately after.
360
[Page 361]
Additional Material Gleaned from Nabíl’s Narrative (Vol. II), Regarding the Bahá’í Calendar[edit]
The Badí‘ Calendar (Bahá’í Calendar) has been taken by me from the “Kitáb-i-Asmá’,” one of the works written by the Báb. As I have observed in these days that certain believers are inclined to regard the year in which Bahá’u’lláh departed from Baghdád to Constantinople as marking the beginning of the Badí‘ Calendar, I have requested Mírzá Áqá Ján, the amanuensis of Bahá’u’lláh, to ascertain His will and desire concerning this matter. Bahá’u’lláh answered and said: ‘The year sixty A.H. (1844 A.D.), the year of the Declaration of the Báb, must be regarded as the beginning of the Badí‘ Calendar.’ The Declaration of the Báb took place on the evening preceding the fifth day of Jamádíyu’l-Avval, of the year 1260 A.H. It has been ordained that the solar calendar be followed, and that the vernal Equinox, the day of Naw-Rúz, be regarded as the New Year’s Day of the Badí‘ Calendar. The year sixty, in which the fifth day of Jamádíyu’l-Avval coincided with the sixty-fifth day after Naw-Rúz, has accordingly been regarded as the first year of the Badí‘ Calendar. As in that year, the day of Naw-Rúz, the vernal Equinox, preceded by sixty-six days the date of the Declaration of the Báb, I have therefore, throughout my history, regarded the Naw-Rúz of the year sixty-one A.H. (the Naw-Rúz immediately following the Declaration of the Báb) as the first Naw-Rúz of the Badí‘ Calendar. I have accordingly considered the Naw-Rúz of this present year, the year 1306 A.H., which is the 47th solar year after the Declaration of the Báb, as the 46th Naw-Rúz of the Badí‘ Calendar.
Soon after Bahá’u’lláh had left the fortress of ‘Akká and was dwelling in the house of Mazra‘ih, in that city, He commanded me to transcribe the text of the Badí‘ Calendar and to instruct the believers in its details. On the very day in which I received His command, I composed, in verse and prose, an exposition of the main features of that Calendar and presented it to Him. The versified copy, being now unavailable, I am herein transcribing the version in prose. The days of the week are named as follows:
| Days | Arabic Name | English Name | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Jalál | Saturday | Glory |
| 2nd | Jamál | Sunday | Beauty |
| 3rd | Kamál | Monday | Perfection |
| 4th | Fiḍál | Tuesday | Grace |
| 5th | ‘Idál | Wednesday | Justice |
| 6th | Istijlál | Thursday | Majesty |
| 7th | Istiqlál | Friday | Independence |
The names of the months, which are the same as the days of each month, are as follows:
| Month | Arabic Name | Translation | First Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Bahá | Splendor | March 21st |
| 2nd | Jalál | Glory | April 9th |
| 3rd | Jamál | Beauty | April 28th |
| 4th | ‘Azamat | Grandeur | May 17th |
| 5th | Núr | Light | June 5th |
| 6th | Raḥmat | Mercy | June 24th |
| 7th | Kalimát | Words | July 13th |
| 8th | Kamál | Perfection | August 1st |
| 9th | Asmá’ | Names | August 20th |
| 10th | ‘Izzat | Might | September 8th |
| 11th | Maṣhíyyat | Will | September 27th |
Map showing Travels of the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh.
(Designed by J. F. Clevenges, Washington, D. C.)
Month
12th
13th
14th
15th
16th
17th
18th
19th
Arabic Name
‘Ilm
Qudrat
Qawl
Masá’il
Sharaf
Sulṭán
Mulk
‘Alá’
Translation
Knowledge
Power
Speech
Questions
Honor
Sovereignty
Dominion
Loftiness
First Days
October 16th
November 4th
November 23rd
December 12th
December 31st
January 19th
February 7th
March 2nd
Ayyám-i-Há (Intercalary Days) February 26th to March 1st inclusive—four in ordinary and five in leap years.
The first day of each month is thus the day of Bahá, and the last day of each month the day of ‘Alá’.
The Báb has regarded the solar year, of 365 days, 5 hours, and fifty odd minutes, as consisting of 19 months of 19 days each, with the addition of certain intercalary days. He has named the New Year’s Day, which is the Day of Naw-Rúz, the day of Bahá, of the month of Bahá. He has ordained the month of ‘Alá’ to be the month of fasting, and has decreed that the Day of Naw-Rúz should mark the termination of that period. As the Báb did not specifically define the place for the four days and the fraction of a day in the Badí‘ Calendar, the people of the Bayán were at a loss as to how they should regard them. The revelation of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas in the city of ‘Akká resolved this problem and settled the issue. Bahá’u’lláh designated those days as the “Ayyám-i-Há” and ordained that they should immediately precede the month of ‘Alá’, which is the month of fasting. He enjoined upon His followers to devote these days to feasting, rejoicing, and charity. Immediately upon the termination of these intercalary days, Bahá’u’lláh ordained the month of fasting to begin. I have heard it stated that some of the people of the Bayán, the followers of Yaḥyá, have regarded these intercalary days as coming immediately after the month of ‘Alá’, thus terminating their fast five days before the day of Naw-Rúz. This, notwithstanding the explicit text of the Bayán which states that the day of Naw-Rúz must needs be the first day of the month of Bahá, and must follow immediately after the last day of the month of ‘Alá’. Others, aware of this contradiction, have started their fasting on the fifth day of the month of ‘Alá’, and included the intercalary days within the period of fasting.
Every fourth year the number of the intercalary days is raised from four to five. The day of Naw-Rúz falls on the 21st of March only if the vernal Equinox precedes the setting of the sun on that day. Should the vernal Equinox take place after sunset, Naw-Rúz will have to be celebrated on the following day.
The Báb has, moreover, in His writings, revealed in the Arabic tongue, divided the years following the date of His Revelation, into cycles of nineteen years each. The names of the years in each cycle are as follows:
1. Alif
2. Bá’
3. Ab
4. Dal
5. Báb
6. Váv
7. Abad
8. Jád
9. Bahá
10. Ḥubb
A.
B.
Father.
D.
Gate.
V.
Eternity.
Generosity.
Splendor.
Love.
11. Bahháj
12. Javáb
13. Aḥad
14. Vahháb
15. Vidád
16. Badí
17. Bahí
18. Abhá
19. Váḥid
Delightful.
Answer.
Single.
Bountiful.
Affection.
Beginning.
Luminous.
Most Luminous.
Unity.
{{bwpage|4|2
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————————————English Name Translation Saturday Glory Sunday Beauty Monday Perfection Tuesday Grace Wednesday Justice Thursday Majesty Friday Independence
The names of the months, which are the same as the days of each month, are as
Days Arabic Name 1st Jalál 2nd Jamál 3rd Kamál 4rd Fiḍál 5th 'Idál 6th Istijlál 7th Istiqlál follows:
Month Arabic Name 1st Bahá 2nd Jalál 3rd Jamál 4th ‘Aẓamat 5th Núr 6th Raḥmat 7th Kalimát 8th Kamál 9th Asmá’ 10th ‘Izzat 11th Mashíyyat
Translation First Days Splendor March 21st Glory April 9th Beauty April 2 8th Grandeur May 17th Light June 5th Mercy June 24th Words July 13th Perfection August 1st Names August 20th Might September 8th Will September 27th
[Page 362]
MAP
SHOWING
Travels of the BAB ---
and
Travels of Bahá’u’lláh —
Scale in Miles
By
J. F. Clevenger
1927
Map showing Travels of the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh.
[Page 363]
| Month | Arabic Name | Translation | First Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12th | ‘Ilm | Knowledge | October 16th |
| 13th | Qudrat | Power | November 4th |
| 14th | Qawl | Speech | November 23rd |
| 15th | Masá’il | Questions | December 12th |
| 16th | Sharaf | Honor | December 31st |
| 17th | Sultán | Sovereignty | January 19th |
| 18th | Mulk | Dominion | February 7th |
| 19th | ‘Alá’ | Loftiness | March 2nd |
Ayyám-i-Há (Intercalary Days) February 26th to March 1st inclusive—four in ordinary and five in leap years.
The first day of each month is thus the day of Bahá, and the last day of each month the day of ‘Alá’.
The Báb has regarded the solar year, of 365 days, 5 hours, and fifty odd minutes, as consisting of 19 months of 19 days each, with the addition of certain intercalary days. He has named the New Year’s Day, which is the Day of Naw-Rúz, the day of Bahá, of the month of Bahá. He has ordained the month of ‘Alá’ to be the month of fasting, and has decreed that the Day of Naw-Rúz should mark the termination of that period. As the Báb did not specifically define the place for the four days and the fraction of a day in the Bádí‘ Calendar, the people of the Bayán were at a loss as to how they should regard them. The revelation of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas in the city of ‘Akká resolved this problem and settled the issue. Bahá’u’lláh designated those days as the “Ayyám-i-Há” and ordained that they should immediately precede the month of ‘Alá’, which is the month of fasting. He enjoined upon His followers to devote these days to feasting, rejoicing, and charity. Immediately upon the termination of these intercalary days, Bahá’u’lláh ordained the month of fasting to begin. I have heard it stated that some of the people of the Bayán, the followers of Mírzá Yahyá, have regarded these intercalary days as coming immediately after the month of ‘Alá’, thus terminating their fast five days before the day of Naw-Rúz. This, notwithstanding the explicit text of the Bayán which states that the day of Naw-Rúz must needs be the first day of the month of Bahá, and must follow immediately after the last day of the month of ‘Alá’. Others, aware of this contradiction, have started their fasting on the fifth day of the month of ‘Alá’, and included the intercalary days within the period of fasting.
Every fourth year the number of the intercalary days is raised from four to five. The day of Naw-Rúz falls on the 21st of March only if the vernal Equinox precedes the setting of the sun on that day. Should the vernal Equinox take place after sunset, Naw-Rúz will have to be celebrated on the following day.
The Báb has, moreover, in His writings, revealed in the Arabic tongue, divided the years following the date of His Revelation, into cycles of nineteen years each. The names of the years in each cycle are as follows:
| 1. Alif | A. | 11. Bahháj | Delightful |
| 2. Bá’ | B. | 12. Javáb | Answer. |
| 3. Ab | Father. | 13. Ahad | Single. |
| 4. Dál | D. | 14. Vahháb | Bountiful. |
| 5. Báb | Gate. | 15. Vidád | Affection. |
| 6. Váv | V. | 16. Badí | Beginning. |
| 7. Abad | Eternity. | 17. Bahí | Luminous. |
| 8. Jád | Generosity. | 18. Abhá | Most Luminous. |
| 9. Bahá | Splendor. | 19. Váhid | Unity. |
| 10. Hubb | Love. |
MAP OF EASTERN TURKEY IN ASIA, SYRIA AND WESTERN PERSIA[edit]
Map showing section of route followed by Bahá’u’lláh on His journey from Baghdád to Constantinople.
[Page 365]
BAHÁ’Í CALENDAR AND FESTIVALS[edit]
Each cycle of nineteen years is called Váḥid. Nineteen cycles constitute a period called Kull-i-Shay’. The numerical value of the word "Váḥid" is nineteen, that of "Kull-i-Shay’" is 361. "Váhid" signifies unity, and is symbolic of the unity of God.
The Báb has, moreover, stated that this system of His is dependent upon the acceptance and good-pleasure of "Him Whom God shall make manifest." One word from Him would suffice either to establish it for all time, or to annul it forever.
For instance, the date of the 21st of April, 1930, which is the first day of Ridván, and which according to the Kitáb-i-Aqdas must coincide with the "thirteenth day of the second Bahá’í month," and which fell this year (1930) on Monday, would, according to the system of the Badí’ Calendar, be described as follows:
"The day of Kamál, the day of Qudrat, of the month of Jalál, of the year Bahháj, of the fifth Vahid, of the first Kull-i-Shay’."
HISTORICAL DATA GLEANED FROM NABÍL’S NARRATIVE (VOL. II) REGARDING BAHÁ’U’LLÁH[edit]
A. BAGHDAD arrival latter part Jamádíyu’th-Thání Qullu’t-Ta’ám 1269 A.H. March 12-April 10, 1853, A.D. departure for Sulaymáníyyih on Wednesday, April 10, 1854 A.D.- Rajab 12, 1270 A.H.
B. SULAYMÁNÍYYIH Works Revealed During This Period Houses Occupied During This Period
House of Hájí’Alí-Madad (in old Baghdad) House of Sulaymán-i-Ghannám
Prayers Before reaching Sulaymáníyyih, He lived for a time on the Sar-Galú mountain. Qaṣídiy-i-Varqá’íyyih
During His absence from Baghdad, His family transferred their residence from House of Hájí ’Alí-Madad to that of Sulaymán-i-Ghannám. Saqiyas-Ghayb-i-Baqá
Nabíl arrived at Baghdád 6 months after Bahá’u’lláh’s departure for Sulaymáníyyih.
C. BAGHDAD Tafsir-i-Hurúfát-i Muqaṭṭa’ih arrived from Sulaymáníyyih on Wednesday, March 19, 1856 A.D.- Rajab 12, 1272 A.H.
Ṣahífiy-i-Shaṭṭiyyih
Haft-Vádí (Seven Valleys)
Tafsir-i-Hú
Lawh-i-Húríyyih
Kitáb-i-Íqán
Kalimát-i-Maknúnih (Hidden Words)
[Page 366]
| C. BAGHDÁD—continued | Works Revealed During This Period | Houses Occupied During This Period |
|---|---|---|
| departure from Mazra’iy-i-Vashshásh: Thursday, March 26, 1863 A.D.—Shavvál 5, 1279 A.H. Tablet of the Holy Mariner revealed while in the Mazra’iy-i-Vashshásh. |
Subḥána-Rabbíya’l-A‘lá Shikkar-Shikan-Shavand |
|
| departure from Baghdád for Constantinople, Wednesday afternoon (first day of Riḍván), April 22, 1863 A.D.—Dhi’l-Qa’dih 3, 1279 A.H. Súriy-i-Ṣabr revealed on first day of Riḍván. |
Malláḥu’l-Quds (Holy Mariner) |
|
| Firayját, (arrival early afternoon—stayed seven days) arrived on Sunday, May 3, 1863 A.D.—Dhi’l-Qa’dih 14, 1279 A.H. (Firayját is about 3 miles distant from Baghdád) Judaydih, |
Ḥasan-Áqá, Márdín, |
|
| D. CONSTANTINOPLE | Works Revealed During This Period | Houses Occupied During This Period | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| arrival at noon on Sunday, August 16, 1863 A.D. Rabí‘u’l-Avval 1, 1280 A.H. | Subḥánika-Yá-Hú | House of Shamsí Big (2-storey, near Khirgih Sharif Mosque) | 1 month |
| Length of sea voyage from Sámsún to Constantinople 3 days. Length of journey from Constantinople to Adrianople 12 days. |
Lawḥ-i-‘Abdu’l-‘Azíz Va-Vukalá | House of Vísí Páshá (3 storey, near Sulṭán Muḥammad Mosque) | 3 months |
1. Kúchik-Chakmachih (3 hours from Constantinople—spent one night) 2. Buyúk-Chakmachih (arrival about noon) 3. Salvarí 4. Birkás 5. Bábá-iskí
| E. ADRIANOPLE | Works Revealed During This Period | Houses Occupied During This Period | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| arrival on Saturday, December 12, 1863 A.D.—Rajab 1, 1280 A.H. | Súriy-i-Aṣḥáb | 1. Khán-i-‘Aráb (caravanserai, two-storey, near house of ‘Izzat-Ágá) | 3 nights |
| Length of stay: 4 years, 8 months, 22 days. Length of overland journey from Constantinople to Adrianople: 12 days. |
Lawḥ-i-Ḥajj I “ “ “ II Kitáb-i-Badí‘ Súriy-i-Mulúk (Tablet of the Kings) |
2. House in Murádíyyih quarter, near Takyiy-i-Mawlaví | 1 week |
| Departure from Adrianople on Wednesday, August 12, 1868 A.D.—Rabí‘u’th-Thání 22, 1285 A.H. | Súriy-i-Amr Súriy-i-Damm Alváḥ-i-Laylatu’l-Quds Munájátháy-i-Ṣíyám (Prayers for Fasting) Lawḥ-i-Sayyáḥ Lawḥ-i-Nápulyún I (First Tablet to Napoleon III) |
3. House in Murádíyyih quarter, near house 2 | 6 months |
| 4. Khániy-i-Amru’lláh (several stories, near Sulṭán-Salím Mosque) | |||
| Lawḥ-i-Sulṭán (Tablet to the Sháh of Persia) | 5. House of Riḍá Big | 1 year 3 months? | |
| Lawḥ-i-Nuqṭih | 6. House of Amru’lláh (3 storey. North of Sulṭán-Salím Mosque) | ||
| 7. House of ‘Izzat-Aqá | 11 months |
[Page 368]
1. Uzún-Kuprí
2. Kashánih, (arrived about noon. Lawh-i-Ra’ís (Tablet of Ra’ís) was revealed in this place)
3. Gallipoli (length of journey from Adrianople to Gallipoli about 4 days)
(after a few days’ stay sailed before noon in Austrian steamer for Alexandria, Egypt)
4. Madellí, (arrived about sunset—left at night)
5. Smyrna, (stayed 2 days, left at night)
6. Alexandria, (arrived in the morning, transshipped and left at night for Haifa)
7. Port Sa’id, (arrived morning, left the same day at night)
8. Jaffa, (left at midnight)
9. Haifa, (arrived in the morning, landed and after a few hours left on a sailing vessel for ‘Akká)
| F. ‘AKKÁ | Works Revealed During This Period | Houses Occupied During This Period | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| arrival on Monday, August 31, A.D. 1868—Jamádíyu’l-Avval 12, 1285 A.H. | Kitáb-i-Aqdas Lawh-i-Napulyún II (2nd Tablet to Napoleon III) Lawh-i-Malikih (Tablet to Queen Victoria) |
1. Barracks | 2 years, 2 months, 5 days |
| 2. House of Malik | 3 months | ||
| 3. House of Rábi‘ih | |||
| Purest Branch died on Thursday, June 23, 1870 A.D.—Rabí‘u’l-Avval 23, 1287 A.H. | Lawh-i-Malik-i-Rús (Tablet to the Czar) | 4. House of Mansúr | 2 or 3 months |
| Súriy-i-Haykal Lawh-i-Burhán Lawh-i-Ru’yá Lawh-i-Ibn-i-Dhi’b (Epistle to Son of the Wolf) |
5. House of ‘Abbúd (where Kitáb-i-Aqdas was revealed) | ||
| - | 6. Mazra’ih | ||
| Passed away May 29, 1892 A.D. | Lawh-i-Páp (Tablet to the Pope) | 7. Qasr (Mansion, where He passed away) |
[Page 369]
Young Bahá’ís of Baghdád.
Picture taken near the spot blessed by the declaration of Bahá’u’lláh’s mission in the Ridván garden. In the center is Miss Sarah Baghdádí, first and only Bahá’í nurse in the hospital now established upon this historic site.