Bahá’í World/Volume 8/Bahá’í Calendar and Festivals

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[Page 536]

4.

BAHÁ’Í CALENDAR AND FESTIVALS

FOREWORD

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 Íránian New Year, is astronomically fixed, commencing at the March equinox (March 21), 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

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.

The Day of the Covenant, 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.

[Page 537]

BAHÁ’Í HOLY DAYS ON WHICH WORK SHOULD BE SUSPENDED

The first day of Riḍván,

The ninth day of Riḍván,

The twelfth day of Riḍván,

The anniversary of the declaration of the Báb,

The anniversary of the birth of Bahá’u’lláh,

The anniversary of the birth of the Báb,

The anniversary of the ascension of Bahá’u’lláh,

The anniversary of the martyrdom of the Báb,

The Feast of Naw-Rúz.

NOTE:

‘Abdu’l-Bahá, in one of His Tablets addressed to a believer of Nayríz, Írán, has written the following: :"Nine days in the year have been appointed on which work is forbidden. Some of these days have been :specifically mentioned in the Book. The rest follows as corollaries to the Text. . . . Work on the Day of the :Covenant (Féte Day of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá), however, is not prohibited. Celebration of that day is left to the :discretion of the friends. Its observation is not obligatory. The days pertaining to the Abhá Beauty  :(Bahá’u’lláh) and the Primal Point (the Báb), that is to say these nine days, are the only ones on which work :connected with trade, commerce, industry and agriculture is not allowed. In like manner, work connected with :any form of employment, whether governmental or otherwise, should be suspended.”

As a corollary of this Tablet it follows that the anniversaries of the birth and ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá :are not to be regarded as days on which work is prohibited. The celebration of these two days, however, is :obligatory.

Bahá’ís in East and West, holding administrative positions, whether public or private, should exert the :utmost effort to obtain special leave from their superiors to enable them to observe these nine holy days.

————————

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL GLEANED FROM NABIL’S NARRATIVE (VOL. II), REGARDING THE BAHÁ’Í CALENDAR

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 Jamadiyu’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 Jamadiyu’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, [Page 538] 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.

Days Arabic Name

1 st Jalél

2nd Jam 2'11

3 rd Kamal

4th Fidél

Sth ‘Idél

6th Istijlél

7th Istiqlél

THE Bahá’í WORLD

Soon after Bahá’u’lláh had left the fortress of ‘Akká and was dwelling in the house of Malik, in that city, He commanded me to transcribe the text of the Badi‘ 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:

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

follows :

Mont/2 Arabic Name 1 st Baha 2nd Jalél 3 rd Jamal 4th ‘Azamat 5 th Nur 6th Rahmat 7 th Kalimét 8 th Kamal 9th Asmá’

1 0th ‘Izzat

1 1th Mashiyyat 1 2th ‘Ilm

13th Qudrat

1 4th Qawl

1 5 th Masé’il

1 6 th §l_1araf 17th Sult in

1 8th Mulk

19th ‘Ali’

Translation First Days Splendor March 21 Glory April 9 Beauty April 2 8 Grandeur May 17 Light June 5 Mercy June 24 Words July 13 Perfection August 1 Names August 20 Might September 8 Will September 27 Knowledge October 16 Power November 4 Speech November 23 Questions December 12 Honor December 31 Sovereignty January 19 Dominion February 7 Loftiness March 2

Ayyém-i-Ha (Intercalary Days) February 26 to March 1 inclusivefour in ordinary and five in leap years.

[Page 539]Bahá’í CALENDAR AND FESTIVALS

The first day of each month is thus the day of Baha, and the last day of each month the day of ‘Ala’.

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 Baha, of the month of Baha. He has ordained the month of ‘Ala’ 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 Badi‘ Calendar, the people of the Bayzin 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 “Ayyam-i-Ha” and ordained that they should immediately precede the month of ‘Ala’, 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 Bayén, the followers of Mirza Yaḥyá, have regarded these intercalary days as coming immediately after the month of ‘Ala’, thus terminating their fast five days before the day of Naw-Rúz. This, notwithstanding the explicit text of the Bayzin which states that the day of Naw-Rúz must needs be the first day of the month of Baha, and must follow immediately after the last day of the month of ‘Ala’. Others, aware of this contradiction, have started their fasting on the fifth day of the month of ‘Ala’, 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

539

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.

2. Ba’ B.

3. Ab Father.

4. Dal D.

5. Bab Gate.

6. Vav V.

7. Abad Eternity. 8. Jad Generosity. 9. Baha Splendor. 10. Hubb Love.

11. Bahhaj Delightful. 12. Javab Answer. 13. Ahad Single.

14. Vahhab Bountiful. 15. Vidad Affection. 16. Badi Beginning. 17. Bahi Luminous. 18. Abhá Most Luminous. 19. Vahid Unity.

Each cycle of nineteen years is called Vahid. Nineteen cycles constitute a period called Kull-i-§_l_1ay’. The numerical value of the word "Val_1id” is nineteen, that of “Kulli-§l_1ay’ ” is 361. "Vahid” 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 Riḍván, 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 Badi‘ Calendar, be described as follows:

“The day of Kamal, the day of Qudrat, of the month of Jalal, of the year Bahhaj, of the fifth Vahid, of the first Kull-i-Shay’.”

[Page 540]540

THE Bahá’í

WORLD

HISTORICAL DATA GLEANED FROM NABiL’S

NARRATIVE (VOL. II) REGARDING B A H A ’ U ’ L L A H Works Revealed Houses Occupied A. BAG_H_DAD During This During This Period Period arrival latter part Jamadiyu’t_l_1- Qullu’t-Ta‘am House of Haji ‘Ali Théni, 1269 A.H. March 12—April 10, 1853 A.D.

departure for Sulaymaniyyih on Wednesday, April 10, 1854 A.D.Rajab 12, 1270 A.H.

B. SULAYMANiYY1H

Before reaching Sulaymaniyyih, He lived for a time on the Sar-Galu

mountain.

During His absence from Baghdad, His family transferred their residence from House of Haji ‘AliMadad to that of Sulayman-i§_l_1annam.

Nabil arrived at Baghdad 6 months after Bahá’u’lláh’s departure for Sulaymaniyyih.

C. BAQEDAD

arrived from Sulaymaniyyih on Wednesday, March 19, 1856 A.D.Rajab 12, 1272 A.H.

departure from Mazra‘iy-i-Vasl_1fllash: Thursday, March 26, 1863 A.D.—Shavval 5, 1279 A.H.

Tablet of the Holy Mariner revealed while in the Mazra‘iy-i-Va§_1shasi1.

Prayers

Qasidiy-i-Varqa‘iyyih

Saqiyas-Qhayb-L Baqa

Tafsir-i-Ḥurúfát-iMuqat_:1_:a’ih Sahifiy-i-_Shatt_iyyih Haft-Vadi (Seven Valleys) Tafsir-i-Hu Lawh-i-Huriyyih Kitab-i-Tqan Kalimat-i-Maknunih (Hidden Words) Subl_1ana-Rabbiya’l‘Ala I &1ikkar-S_llikanfiavand Hur-i-‘Ujab Halih-Halih-Ya Bisharat @ulamu’l-Ighuld A2-Bagh-i-Ilahi

Madad (in old Baghdad)

House of Sulaymani-C_}l__1annam

[Page 541]departure from Baghdad for Constantinople, Wednesday afternoon (first day of Riḍván), April 22, 1863 A.D.-—I_)hi’l-Qa‘dih 3, 1279 A.H.

Suriy-i-Sabr revealed on first day of Riḍván.

arrival at Garden of Najibiyyih (Garden of Riḍván), April 22, 1863 A.D.—-@i’l—Qa‘dih 3, 1279 A.H.

arrival of Bahá’u’lláh’s Family at Garden of Riḍván on eighth day after first of Riḍván.

departure from Garden of Riḍván for Constantinople last day of Riḍván, at noon on Sunday, May 3, 1863 A.D.—@i’1-Qa‘dih 14, 127 9 A.H.

length of overland journey from Garden of Riḍván to Samsun on Black Sea: 110 days.

Bahá’í CALENDAR AND FESTIVALS 541 Works Revealed Houses Occupied C. BAgI_iDAD—continued During This During This Period Period

Bazévu-Bidih-Jami)

Mallal_1u’l-Quds (Holy Mariner)

Suriy-i-Sabr

Firayjat (arrival early afternoonstayed seven days), arrived on Sunday, May 3, 1863 A.D.—Qhi’lQa‘dih 14, 1279 A.H. (Firayjét is about 3 miles distant from Baghdad)

Judaydih,

Dili-‘Abbas,

Qarih-Tapih,

Saléhiyyih (stayed two nights),

Dúst-Khurmátú,

Téwuq,

Karkuk (stayed two days),

Irbil,

Zab River,

Bartallih,

Mosul (stayed 3 days),

Zélgni,

Jazirih,

Nisibin,

Hasan-Aqé,

Mérdin,

Diyar-Bakr,

Ma‘dan-Mis,

§l_1arpút (stayed 2 or 3 days), Ma‘dan-Nuqrih,

Dilik-Tas1_1,

Sivés,

Tfiqét,

Amasia, (stayed 2 days)

Iléhiyyih (while approaching Sam sun, “Lawh-i-Hawdaj” was revealed), (last day of overland journey),

Sémsfin (stayed 7 days), Black Sea port. Sailed in a Turkish steamer about sunset for Constantinople

Sinope (arrived next day about

noon), Black Sea port; stayed few hours, Anyébuli (arrived next day).

[Page 542]542

THE Bahá’í WORLD

D. CONSTANTINOPLB

arrival at noon on Sunday, August 16, 1863 A.D. Rabi‘u’l-Avval 1, 1280 A.H.

Length of sea voyage from Sémsun to Constantinople 3 days.

Length of journey from Constantinople to Adrianople 12 days.

Works Revealed During This Period

Houses Occupied During This Period

Duration

Subhanika-Ya-Hu Lawh-i-‘Abdu’l-‘Aziz Va-Vukala

House of §l_1amsi Big (2-story, near I_Sl_1irgih §l_garaf Mosque)

House of Visi 1>as_1_1a (3 -story, near Sultan M u a m m a d Mosque)

1 month

3 months

1. Kú<_:l_1ik-Qakmac_l_1ih (3 hours from Constantinople—spent one night)

2. Buyuk-(_3l_1akmagl_1ih (arrived about noon)

3. Salvari

4. Birkés

5 . Bábé.-iski

E. ADRIANOPLE

arrival on Saturday, December 12, 1 8 6 3 A.D.—Raj ab 1, 12 8 0

A.H.

Length of stay: 4 years, 8 months, 22 days.

Length of overland

journey from Constantinople to Adrianople: 12 days.

Departure from Adrianople on Wednes day, August I 2, 1 86 8 A.D.—Rabi‘u’t_l_1 — I_hani 2 2, 1 2 8 S A.H.

Works Revealed Dur Houses Occupied Dur ing This Period ing This Period Dumtlon Suriy-i-Ashab 1. I_{_.h_an-i-‘Arab 3 nights (caravanserai, twostory, near house Lawh-i-Hajj I of ‘Izzat-Aqa) “ “ “ II Kitab-i-Badi‘ 2. House in Muradiyyih 1 Week Suriy-i-Muluk quarter, near Tak(Tablet of the yiy-i-Mawlavi Kings) Sfiriy-i-Amr 3. House in Muradiyyih 6 months Suriy-i-Damm quarter, near house Alval_1-i-Laylatu’l- 2 Quds 4. I_{_héniy-i-Amru’llah Munéjéthéy-‘.i-Siyém (several stories, (Prayers for Fast- near Sultan-Salim ' ing) Mosque) Lawh-i-Sayyéh 5. House of Rida Big 1 year

[Page 543]BAHA’I CALENDAR AND FESTIVALS 543 E. ADR1ANo1>L1=.——continued Wofig ¥1e1;eall,:liofi)ur- H0131: .(I).1clfsull),1ee:o£)ur- Duration Lawh-i-Napulyun I 6. House of Amru’llah 3 months? (First Tablet to (3-story. North Napoleon III) of Sultan - Salim Mosque) Lawh-i-Sultan 7. House of ‘Izzat-Aqa 11 months (Tablet to the flab of Persia) Lawh-i-Nuqt_ih

\ooo\Io\v-:1:

. Gallipoli

. Uzun-Kupri

. Kaslnanih (arrived about noon. Lawh-i-Ra’is (Tablet of Ra’is) was revealed

in this place)

(length of journey from Adrianople to Gallipoli about 4 days) (after a few days’ stay sailed before noon in Austrian steamer for Alexandria, Egypt)

Madelli (arrived about sunset—left at night)

. Smyrna (stayed 2 days, left at night)

. Alexandria (arrived in the morning, transshipped and left at night for Haifa) . Port Said (arrived morning, left the same day at night)

. Jaifa (left at midnight)

. Haifa (arrived in the morning, landed and after a few hours left on a sailing

vessel for ‘Akká.)

F. ‘AKKA

Works Revealed Dur- Houses Occupied Dur ing This Period ing This Period Duration arrival on Monday, Kitáb-i-Aqdas 1. Barracks 2 years, 2 August 31, A.D. Lawh-i-Né.pulyúnII months, 1868 — Jamadiyu’l- (Second Tablet to 5 days Avval 12, 1285 A.H. Napoleon III) Lawh-i-Malikih 2. House of Malik 3 months (Tablet to Queen 3. House of Rabi‘ih Victoria) Lawh-i-Malik-i-Rus 4. House of Mansur 2 or 3 Purest Branch died on (Tablet to the months

A.H. Lawh-i-Ru’ya Aqdas was re' Lawh-i-Ibn-i-I_)hi’b vealed) (Epistle to Son of 6. Mazra‘ih the Wolf) Lawh-i-Pap 7. Qasr Passed away May 29, (Tablet to the (Mansion, where 1892 A.D. Pope) He passed away)

Thursday, June 23, 1870 A.D.—Rabi‘u’l-Avval 23, 1287

Czar) Suriy-i-Haykal S . Lawh-i-Burhén

House of ‘Abbud (where Kitáb-i-