Bahá’í World/Volume 6/Definitions of Oriental Terms used in Bahá’í Literature
DEFINITIONS OF ORIENTAL TERMS USED IN BAHÁ’Í LITERATURE
‘Abá: Cloak or mantle.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá: servant of Bahá.
Adhán: Muslim call to prayer.
Adíb: literally “the learned.”
Aghṣán: literally “branches.” Denotes sons and descendants of Bahá’u’lláh.
Afnán: literally “twigs.” Denotes the relations of the Báb.
A.H.: “After Hijírah.” Date of Muḥammad’s migration from Mecca to Medina, and basis of Muḥammadan chronology.
Akbar: “Greater.”
‘Amá’: literally “light cloud,” symbolizes the “First Invisible Substance.”
Amín: literally “the trusted.”
Amír: "Lord,” “prince,” “commander,” “governor.”
Áqá: "Master.” Title given by Bahá’u’lláh to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
A’ẓam: “The greatest.”
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.
Badí‘: literally “the wonderful.”
Bahá: “Glory,” “splendor,” “light.” Title by which Bahá’u’lláh (Mírzá Ḥusayn-‘Alí) 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.
Baní-Háshim: The family from which Muḥammad descended.
Baqíyyatu’lláh: "Remnant of God”; title applied both to the Báb and to Bahá’u’lláh.
Bayán: “Utterance, explanation.” Title given by the Báb to His Revelation, particularly to His Books.
Big: Honorary title, lower title than Khán.
Bishárát: literally “Glad-tidings.” Title of one of the Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh.
Caravansarai: An inn for caravans.
Dárúghih: “High constable.”
Dawlih: “State,” “government.”
"Endowed with constancy”: a title given to Prophets who revealed a book and instituted religious laws.
Farmán: “Order,” “command,” “royal decree.”
Farrásh: “Footman,” “lictor, attendant.”
Farrásh-Báshí: The head-farrásh.
Farsakh: 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 old 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.
Ḥájí: A Muḥammadan who has performed the pilgrimage to Mecca.
Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds: Bahá’í Headquarters.
Hijírah: literally “migration.” The basis of Muḥammadan chronology. The date of Muḥammad’s migration from Mecca to Medina.
Howdah: A litter carried by a camel, mule, horse or elephant for traveling purposes.
Íl: “Clan.”
Imám: Title of the twelve Shí’ah successors of Muḥammad. Also applied to Muslim religious leaders.
Facsimile of Document Ordering Arrest of Bábís in Mázindarán, dated 1268 A.H. (1852 A.D.).
Imám-Jum‘ih: The leading imám in a town or city; chief of the mullás.
Imám-Zádih: Descendant of an imám or his shrine.
Íqán: literally "Certitude.” The title of Bahá’u’lláh’s epistle to the uncle of the Báb.
Ishráqát: literally "effulgences.” Title of one of the Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh.
Isráfíl: The Angel whose function is to sound the trumpet on the Day of Judgment.
Jáhilíyyih: The dark age of ignorance among the Arabs before the appearance of Muḥammad.
Jamál-i-Mubárak: literally "the Blessed Beauty,” applied by certain Bahá’ís to Bahá’u’lláh.
Jamál-i-Qidam: literally “the ancient Beauty.” Applied by certain Bahá’ís to Bahá’u’lláh.
Jubbíh: An outer coat.
Ka‘bih: Ancient shrine at Mecca. Now recognized as the most holy shrine of Islám.
Kabír: literally “great.”
Kad-Khudá: Chief of a ward or parish in a town; head-man of a village.
Kalantar: “Mayor.”
Kalím: “One who discourses.”
Kalimát: literally “words.” Title of one of the Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh.
Karbilá’í: A Muḥammadan who has performed the pilgrimage to Karbilá.
Kawthar: A river in Paradise, whence all the other rivers derive their source.
Khán: “Prince,” “lord,” “nobleman,” “chieftain.”
Kitáb-i-Aqdas: literally "The Most Holy
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Book.” Title of Bahá’u’lláh’s Book of
Laws.
Kuláh: The Íránian lambskin hat worn by government employees and civilians.
Madrisih: Religious college.
Man-Yuẓhiruhu’lláh: "He Whom God will make manifest.” The title given by the Báb to the promised One.
Mashhadí: A Muḥammadan who has performed the pilgrimage to Mashhad.
Mashriqu’l-Adhkár: literally “the dawning place of the praise of God.” Title designating Bahá’í House of Worship.
Masjid: Mosque, temple, place of worship.
Maydán: A subdivision of a farsakh. A square or open place.
Mihdí: Title of the Manifestation expected by Islám.
Miḥráb: The principal place in a mosque where the imám prays with his face turned towards Mecca.
Mi‘ráj: “Ascent,” used with reference to Muḥammad’s ascension to heaven.
Mírzá: A contraction of Amír-Zádih, meaning son of Amír. When affixed to a name it signifies prince; when prefixed simply Mr.
Mishkín-Qalam: literally “the musk-scented pen.”
Mu’adhdhin: The one who sounds the Adhán, the Muḥammadan call to prayer.
Mujtahid: Muḥammadan doctor-of-law. Most of the mujtahids of Persia have received their diplomas from the most eminent jurists of Karbilá and Najaf.
Mullá: Muḥammadan priest.
Mustagháth: “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.
Nabíl: "Learned,” “noble.”
Naw-Rúz: "New-Day.” Name applied to the Bahá’í New Year’s Day; according to the Íránian Calendar the day on which the sun enters Aries.
Nuqṭih: “Point.”
Pahlaván: “Athlete,” "champion”; term applied to brave and muscular men.
Qáḍi: 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.
Qiblih: The direction to which people turn in prayer; especially Mecca, the Qiblih of all Muḥammadans.
Qurbán: “Sacrifice.”
Riḍván: The name of the custodian of Paradise. Bahá’u’lláh uses it to denote Paradise itself.
Sadratu’l-Muntahá: the name of a tree planted by the Arabs in ancient times at the end of a road, to serve as a guide. As a symbol it denotes the Manifestation of God in His Day.
Ṣáḥibu’z-Zamán: “Lord of the Age”; one of the titles of the promised Qá’im.
Salsabíl: A fountain in Paradise.
Samandar: literally “the phoenix.”
Sarkár-i-Áqá: literally the “Honorable Master,” applied by certain Bahá’ís to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
“Seal of the Prophets”: One of the titles of Muḥammad.
“Seventh Sphere”: The highest stage of the invisible Realm. Denotes also the Manifestation of Bahá’u’lláh.
Shahíd: “Martyr.” Plural of martyr is Shuhadá.
Shaykhu’l-Islám: Head of religious court, appointed to every large city by the Sháh.
Sirát: literally “bridge” or “path,” denotes the religion of God.
Siyyid: Descendant of the Prophet Muḥammad.
Súrih: Name of the chapters of the Qur’án.
Tajallíyát: literally “splendors.” Title of one of the Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh.
Ṭarázát: literally “ornaments.” Title of one of the Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh.
Túmán: A sum of money equivalent to a dollar.
‘Urvatu’l-Vuthqá: literally “the strongest handle,” symbolic of the Faith of God.
Valí-‘Ahd: “Heir to the throne.”
Varaqiy-i-‘Ulyá: literally “the most exalted Leaf,” applied to Bahíyyih Khánum, sister of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
Varqá: literally “the dove.”
Viláyat: guardianship.
"White Path”: Symbolizes the Religion of God.
Zádih: “Son.”
Zaynu’l-Muqarrabín: literally “the Ornament of the favored.”
