Tending the Garden/Glossary
GLOSSARY[edit]
‘Abdu’l-Bahá: (1844-1921) The eldest son of Bahá’u’lláh. Appointed by Him as the authorized interpreter of the Bahá’í teachings and as Head of the Faith after His passing.
Auxiliary Board Members: Individuals appointed to assist the Counsellors to advise, assist, and instruct Bahá’ís, Bahá’í communities, and Bahá’í institutions.
The Báb: (1819-1850) The Founder of the Bábí religion whose main purpose was to prepare the way for Bahá’u’lláh.
Bahá’í World Center: Situated in Haifa, Israel. From here the faith is administered internationally. It is also the location for several Bahá’í holy places, including the Shrines of the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh.
Bahá’u’lláh: (1817-1892) The Founder of the Bahá’í Faith. His central message is that humanity is one single race and that the day has come for its unification into one global society.
Bahíyyih Khánum, also The Greatest Holy Leaf: (1846-1932) Daughter of Bahá’u’lláh and sister of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
Counsellors: Appointed by the Universal House of Justice and devoted to the functions of protection and propagation of the Faith.
Covenant: The Covenant in the Bahá’í Faith could be described as a spiritual contract binding God and humanity. Among its features, the clear designation of succession and authority within the Faith.
Declaration of the Báb: Commemoration of the day when the Báb first openly proclaimed that He was a Manifestation of God, May 23, 1844.
The Fast: During a 19-day period from around March 2 to 21 (the dates vary with
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the date of the spring equinox), Bahá’ís do not partake of food or drink during daylight hours. It is a time of spiritual and physical cleansing and rejuvenation.
THE GREATEST NAME: At its most basic, the title of Bahá’u’lláh (Arabic; English “The Glory of God”) in various forms. As “Alláh-u-Abhá” (“God is Most Glorious”), it is sometimes used as a greeting between Bahá’ís.
HANDS OF THE CAUSE: Hands of the Cause were specially appointed by Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and later by the Guardian; they were charged with the duties of protection and propagation of the Faith.
HAZIRATU’L-QUDS: “The Sacred Fold”; official title designating the headquarters of Bahá’í administrative activity in a particular country or region.
HOUSE OF WORSHIP: As the name suggests. There are currently seven Bahá’í Houses of Worship worldwide and an eighth under construction. In the future they will form the center of a nexus incorporating schools, hospitals, and homes for the aged.
LOCAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY (LSA): an elected council that administers the affairs of the Faith on a local level. In the future it will be known as a local house of justice.
NATIONAL CONVENTION: An election held every year to elect the National Spiritual Assembly, the governing body of the country .
NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY (NSA): an elected council that administers the affairs of the Faith at a national level.
NAW-RÚZ: The first day of the Bahá’í year, falling on the first day of spring.
NINETEEN-DAY FEAST: The principal regular gathering of Bahá’ís of a locality. The Feast takes place at the beginning of the month according to the Bahá’í religious calendar, and consists of three phases: devotional, consultative, and social.
OBLIGATORY PRAYERS: Three prayers revealed by Bahá’u’lláh. Bahá’ís are obligated to recite one of them daily. The choice of prayer is up to the individual believer on any given day.
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- PILGRIMAGE:** Bahá’í pilgrimage involves travel to the Bahá’í Holy Sites in and near Haifa, Israel, where Bahá’u’lláh spent the last years of His life and is now buried.
- PILGRIMS’ NOTES:** As the term suggests. Memoranda kept by pilgrims, frequently containing notes on conversations with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi, or other prominent members of the Faith. Pilgrims’ notes are not considered authoritative.
- PIONEERS:** Those who move to new locations to assist in the development of a Bahá’í community.
- QIBLIH:** “That which one faces; prayer-direction; point of adoration”; the focus to which the faithful turn in prayer. In Islám the Qiblih is the Ka’bah in Mecca; for Bahá’ís it is the Tomb of Bahá’u’lláh at Bahjí.
- THE REMOVER OF DIFFICULTIES:** A short prayer revealed by the Báb, to be said in times of need.
- RIDVÁN:** The Ridván Festival commemorates Bahá’u’lláh’s declaration of His mission in the Garden of Ridván in Baghdad in 1863. The annual election of Local and National Spiritual Assemblies is held during this twelve-day period.
- SHOGHI EFFENDI:** (1897-1957) ‘Abdu’l-Bahá appointed His grandson Shoghi Effendi as Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith and interpreter of its teachings. His name and title are used interchangeably.
- TABLET OF AHMAD:** A tablet written in Arabic by Bahá’u’lláh in 1865 to a man named Ahmad, of the city Yazd. It was translated in 1924 by Shoghi Effendi, and is often used as a prayer by Bahá’ís during times of difficulty.
- TABLET OF VISITATION:** Either of two prayers sometimes recited to commemorate Bahá’u’lláh, the Báb, and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
- TEACHING:** As suggested. In Bahá’í usage, collectively descriptive of efforts to propagate the Faith by example and by word.
- TEN YEAR CRUSADE:** (1953-1963) A plan of 10 years initiated by Shoghi Effendi for teaching the Bahá’í Faith. Many moved to “virgin” territories where no Bahá’ís yet
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lived. This plan resulted in the formation of many new National Spiritual Assemblies, and culminated in the election of the Universal House of Justice.
TRAVEL TEACHING OR TEACHING TRIP: As the term suggests, a trip undertaken for the purpose of propagating the Faith.
UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE: a nine-member body elected at five-year intervals to direct the spiritual and administrative affairs of the Bahá’í International Community.