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Abstract:
Guide to spelling and pronunciation of Arabic and Persian words encountered in Bahá'í history and writings.
Notes:
See Bahá'í World volume 18 table of contents.
See also a Guide to Transliteration and Pronunciation, a thorough Glossary of Arabic and Persian Transliteration, and an audio-format Bahá'í Glossary and Pronunciation Guide. |
page 893III |
| `Abá | `Azíz | Fárs | Isfahán |
| Ábádih | Farsakh | Ishqábád | |
| `Abbás | Báb | Fath-`Alí | Ishráqát |
| `Abdu'l-Bahá | Bábí | Firdaws | Ishtihárd |
| `Abdu'l-Hamíd | Bábu'l-Báb | Firdawsí | Islám |
| `Abdu'l-Husayn | Baghdád | Ismá`ílíyyih | |
| `Abdu'lláh | Bahá | Ganjih | `Izzat |
| Abhá | Bahá'í | Gílán | |
| Abu'l-Fadl | Bahá`u'lláh | Gul | Jalál |
| `Adasíyyih | Bahíyyih | Gulistán | Jamádíyu'l-Avval |
| Adhán | Bahjí | Gurgín | Jamál |
| Ádhirbáyján | Balúchistán | Jamál-i-Mubárak | |
| Afnán | Bandar-`Abbás | habíb | Jamál-i-Qidam |
| Aghsán | Báqir | Hadíth | Jásb |
| `Ahd | Baqíyyatu'lláh | Hadrat | Jubbih |
| Ahmad | Bárfurúsh | Hájí | |
| Ahsá'í | Basrih | Hájí Mírzá Áqásí | Ka`bih |
| Ahváz | Bátúm | Hájj | Kad-Khudá |
| Akbar | Bayán | Hamadán | Kalántar |
| `Akká | Bayt | Haram | Kalimát |
| `Alá' | Big | Hasan | Kamál |
| `Alí | Bírjand | Hawdaj | Karand |
| `Alí-Muhammad | Bishárát | Haydar-`Alí | Karbilá |
| Alláh-u-Abhá | Bismi'lláh | Haykal | Káshán |
| Alváh | Bukhárá | Hazíratu'l-Quds | Kashkúl |
| Alváh-i-Salátín | Burújird | Hijáz | Kawmu's-Sa`áyidih | Amatu'l-Bahá | Búshihr | Hijrat | Kawthar |
| Amín | Bushrú'í | Himmat-Ábád | Kázim |
| Amír | Bushrúyih | Hujjat | Kázimayn |
| Amír-Nizám | Husayn | Khalkhál | |
| Amru'lláh | Chihríq | Khán | |
| Ámul | Ibráhím | Khániqayn | |
| Anzalí | Dalá'il-i-Sab`ih | Íl | Khaylí Khúb |
| Áqá | Dárúghih | `Ilm | Khurásán |
| Aqdas | Dawlat-Ábád | Imám | Khuy |
| `Arabistán | Dhabíh | Imám-Jum`ih | Kirmán |
| Asmá' | Duzdáb | Imám-Zádih | Kirmánsháh |
| Astarábád | Íqán | Kitáb-i-`Ahd | |
| `Aváshiq | Fará'id | Írán | Kitáb-i-Aqdas |
| Ayádí | Fárán | `Iráq | Kitáb-i-Asmá' |
| Azal | Farmán | `Iráqí | Kitáb-i-Badí` |
| `Azamat | Farrásh-Báshí | `Iráq-i-`Ajam | Kitáb-i-Íqán |
| Kuláh | Mustafá | Rafsanján | Sultánu'sh-Shuhadá' |
| Kurdistán | Mustagháth | Rahím | Sunní |
| Muzaffari'd-Dín | Rahmán | Súratu'l-Haykal | |
| Láhíján | Rahmat | Súrih | |
| Lár | Nabíl | Ra'ís | Súriy-i-Damm |
| Lawh | Nabíl-i-A`zam | Ramadán | Súriy-i-Ghusn |
| Luristán | Najaf | Rasht | Súriy-i-Ra'ís |
| Najaf-Ábád | Rawhání | Súriy-i-Sabr | |
| Madrísih | Náqidín | Ridván | |
| Mahbúbu'sh-Shuhadá | Nasír | Rúhu'lláh | Tabarsí |
| Mahd-i-`Ulyá | Násiri'd-Dín | Tabríz | |
| Máh-Kú | Navváb | Sabzivár | Táhirih |
| Mahmúd | Naw-Rúz | Sadratu'l-Muntahá | Tajallíyát |
| Maláyir | Nayríz | Sáhibu'z-Zamán | Tákur |
| Man-Yuzhiruhu'lláh | Níshápúr | Sahífatu'l-Haramayn | Taqí |
| Maqám | Nuqtih | Sa`íd | Tarázát |
| Marághih | Núr | Salsabíl | Tarbíyat |
| Marhabá | Samarqand | Táshkand | |
| Marv | Sangsar | Tawhíd | |
| Masá'il | Pahlaví | Sárí | Thurayyá |
| Mashhad | Párán | Saysán | Tihrán |
| Mashíyyat | Sha`bán | Túmán | |
| Mashriqu'l-Adhkár | Qádí | Sháh | Turkistán |
| Masjid | Qádíyán | Shahíd | |
| Maydán | Qahqahih | Shahmírzád | `Ulamá |
| Mázindarán | Qá'im | Sháhrúd | Urúmíyyih |
| Mihdí | Qájár | Sharaf | `Uthmán |
| Mihráb | Qalyán | Sharí'ah | |
| Mílán | Qamsar | Shaykh | Vahíd |
| Mírzá | Qawl | Shaykh-Tabarsí | Valí |
| Mi`ráj | Qasr-i-Shírín | Shaykhu'l-Islám | Valí-`Ahd |
| Mishkín-Qalam | Qayyúm | Shí`ah (Shí`ih) | Varqá |
| Mu'adhdhin | Qayyúmu'l-Asmá' | Shíráz | Vazír (also Vizír) |
| Muftí | Qazvín | Shúshtar | |
| Muhammad | Qiblih | Simnán | |
| Muhammad-`Alí | Qúchán | Sístán | Yá-Bahá'u'l-Abhá |
| Muhammarih | Quddús | Síyáh-Chál | Yahyá |
| Muharram | Qudrat | Siyyid | Yazd |
| Mujtahid | Qum | Súfí | |
| Mulk | Qur'án | Sulaymán | Zanján |
| Mullá | Qurbán | Sultán | Zarand |
| Munírih | Qurratu'l-`Ayn | Sultán-Ábád | Zaynu'l-Muqarrabín |
|
a . . . as in account á . . . as in arm |
i . . . as (e) in best í . . . as (ee) in meet |
u . . . as (o) in short ú . . . as (oo) in moon |
aw . . . as in mown |
The `i' added to the name of town signifies `belonging to'. Thus Shírází means native of Shíráz.
Quddús--Qod-dooss; Bárfurúsh--Bár-foroosh.
Pronounce `aw' to rhyme with low, or mown; Naw-Rúz is No-Rooz.
The following consonants may be pronounced like z: dh, z, z*, d*.
The following consonants may be pronounced like ss: th, s, s*.
Zh is pronounced like the `s' in pleasure. Kh is pronounced like`ch' in Scottish loch or German nacht. Do not pronounce it as `k'. Westerners often experience difficulty in pronouncing `gh' and `q'; a guttural French `r' will serve here; otherwise use hard `g' as in good.
H and h*, approximately like the English aspirate `h', should never be dropped. Tihrán is Teh-ron; madrisih is mad-res-seh; Mihráb is Meh-rob.
In the case of double letters pronounce each separately: `Ab-bás.
The character transliterated (') represents a pause; it is not unlike the initial sound made in pronouncing such a word as every. The word Bahá'í is phonetically as follows: `a' as in account; `á' as in hall; ('), pause; `í' as ee in meet.
The character transliterated (`)may also be treated as a pause.
N.B. As Persian often indicates no vowel sounds and and as its pronunciation differs in different localities throughout persia and the Near East as well as among individuals in any given locality, a uniform system of transliteration such as the above, which is in use by Bahá'í communities all over the world, is indispensable to the student.
picture at bottom of page with the caption: An example of Mishkín-Qalam's calligraphy, dated AH 1303 (1885), to be seen in the house at Maza`ih.
* Ed. note: This letter has a dot underneath it, which does not show up on the screen.(D.B.)
| Ab Father | Al-Abhá The Most Glorious (See Bahá'u'l- | ||||
| Abá (See Abú.) | Abhá.) | ||||
| `Abá A loose, sleeveless cloak or mantle | `Alí The first Imám and rightful successor of | ||||
| open in front. | Muhammad; also the fourth Caliph accord- | ||||
| `Abd Servant, bondsman; worshipper (of | ing to the Sunnah. | ||||
| God). | Alláh God. | ||||
| `Abdu'l-Bahá Servant of Bahá: title of the | Alláh-u-Abhá God is Most Glorious: The | ||||
| eldest son of Bahá'u'lláh, and Centre of | Greatest Name, adopted during the period | ||||
| His Covenant. | of Bahá'u'lláh's exile in Adrianople as a | ||||
| Abhá Most Glorious. (See Alláh-u-Abhá; | greeting among the Bahá'ís. | ||||
| Bahá'u'l-Abhá.) | Alláh-u-Akbar God is Most Great: Muslim | ||||
| Abí (See Abú.) | salutation, and opening words of the call to | ||||
| Abjad notation System whereby each letter | prayer, superceded by Alláh-u-Abhá as a | ||||
| of the Arabic alphabet is assigned a specific | greeting among the Bahá'ís during the | ||||
| numerical value. | Adrianople period. | ||||
| Abú, Abá, Abí Father of. | Al-Madínah Literally The City (of the Pro- | ||||
| Adhán Muslim call to prayer. | phet). (See Mecca.) | ||||
| Adíb Refined, cultured, learned; writer, | Amih Maid(servant), handmaid(en). Amatu'l- | ||||
| scholar, man of letters. Title of one of the | Bahá: Maidservant of Bahá; Amatu'lláh: | ||||
| early Hands of the Cause. | Handmaiden of God. | ||||
| `Adl Justice. (See Baytu'l-`Adl-i-A'zam.) | Amín Faithful, trustworthy, honest; trustee. | ||||
| Afnán Literally Twigs: the Báb's kindred; | Title bestowed by Bahá'u'lláh upon Hájí | ||||
| specifically, descendants of His three ma- | Sháh-Muhammad-i-Manshádí and Hájí | ||||
| ternal uncles and His wife's two brothers. | Abu'l-Hasan-i-Ardikání, first trustees of | ||||
| Ághá Originally lord, nobleman; officer, | the Huqúqu'lláh. | ||||
| commander: placed after a woman's name | Amír Prince, ruler; commander, governor. | Ághá is a courtesy title comparable with | Anís Literally companion, friend, associate: | ||
| Áqá; may also form sort of a compound | appellation given by the Báb to Mírzá | ||||
| proper name. | Muhammad-`Alíy-i-Zunúzí, the youthful | ||||
| Aghsán Literally Branches: denotes sons | disciple who shared His martyrdom. | ||||
| and male descendants of Bahá'u'lláh. | Áqá Master; The Master: title given by | ||||
| A.H. Anno Hegirae (in the year of the Emi- | Bahá'u'lláh to `Abdu'l-Bahá. Also used, | ||||
| gration): denotes the Muslim Era, reck- | preceding a name, in an honorific sense: | ||||
| oned from the year of Muhammad's flight | Mister, Sir. (See Sarkár-Áqá.) | ||||
| from Mecca to Medina in A.D. 622. (See | Aqdas Most Holy. (See Kitáb-i-Aqdas.) | ||||
| Hijrat.) | Ard Earth, land, territory. (See Sád; Shín; | ||||
| Ahd Covenant, bond, treaty; The Covenant | Sirr; Tá.) | ||||
| (of God). | `Ashúrá Tenth day of the month of Muhar- | ||||
| Ahsanu'l-Qisas Literally The Best of Stories: | ram, anniversary of the martyrdom of the | ||||
| a name for the Súrih of Joseph. Tafsír-i- | Imám Husayn. | ||||
| Ahsanu'l-Qisas: the Báb's Commentary on | Asmá' Names: ninth month of the Badí` | ||||
| the Súrih of Joseph, the Qayyúmu'l-Asmá'. | calendar. | ||||
| Akbar Greater, greatest. (See Alláh-u-Akbar; | Ayádí Literally hands; Hand(s) of the Cause. | ||||
| Kabír.) | Ayyám Days. (See Há.) | ||||
| Al- The definite article in Arabic. | A'zam Greatest. (See Baytu'l-`Adl-i-A'zam; | ||||
| A`lá Most Exalted. (See Hadrat-i-A`lá; | |||||
| Ism-i-A`zam; Sadr-i-A`zam.) | |||||
| Qalam-i-A`lá.) | `Azamat Grandeur: fourth month of the | ||||
| `Alá' Loftiness: nineteenth month of the | Badí` calendar. | ||||
| Badí` calendar. (See Há.) | `Azím Literally mighty, great, glorious; title |
| given by the Báb to Mullá Shaykh `Alí of | Big Literally lord, prince; governor, bey: |
| Khurásán. | placed after the given name, Big was used as |
| Báb Gate: title assumed by Mírzá `Alí- | a courtesy title for middle-ranking officials. |
| Muhammad after the declaration of His | (See Khán.) |
| Mission in Shíráz on 23 May 1844. | Bishárát Glad Tidings: title of one of the |
| Bábí Follower of the Báb. | Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh revealed after the |
| Bábu'l-Báb The Gate of the Gate: title of | Kitáb-i-Aqdas. |
| Mullá Husayn, the first Letter of the | Bismilláhi'r-Rahmáni'r-Rahím In the Name |
| Living. | of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful: |
| Badí` Wonderful: (1) Title of Áqá Buzurg of | invocation prefixed to all but the ninth |
| Khurásán, the seventeen-year-old bearer | súrih of the Qur'án, and composed (in |
| of Bahá'u'lláh's Tablet to Násiri'd-Dín | Arabic) of nineteen letters. |
| Sháh. (2) Style of the new nineteen-month | Caliph Vicar, deputy: successor of the Prophet |
| calendar of the Bahá'í Era. (See B.E.) | Muhammad, supreme civil and spiritual |
| Bagum Lady (of rank), dame, begum: placed | head of the Islamic world, a title claimed |
| after a woman's given name Bagum is a | by successive dynasties. |
| courtesy title comparable with Big. | Caravanserai, -sera, -sary (See Khán.) |
| Bahá Glory, splendour, light: (1) The Great- | Dárúghih High constable. |
| est Name. (See Bahá'u'lláh.) (2) First | Darvísh (Religious) mendicant, dervish, |
| month of the Badí` calendar. | Muslim mystic. (See Súfí.) |
| Bahá'í Follower of Bahá'u'lláh. | Dawlih State, government. |
| Bahá'u'l-Abhá The Glory of the Most Glor- | Dayyán Literally conqueror, ruler; Judge (an |
| ious. Yá Bahá'u'l-Abhá! O Thou the Glory | epithet of the Godhead): title conferred by |
| of the Most Glorious! | Báb on Mírzá Asadu'lláh, learned |
| Bahá'u'lláh The Glory of God: title of Mírzá | divine of Khuy. |
| Husayn-`Alí: born in Tihrán on 12 Novem- | Dhabíh Literally slain, sacrificed, offered up: |
| ber 1817; ascended in Bahjí, near `Akká, | (1) Designation of Áqá Siyyid Ismá`íl-i- |
| on 29 May 1892. | Zavári'í, enraptured follower of Bahá'u'lláh. |
| Bahjí Literally delight, gladness, joy: de- | (2) Title given by Bahá'u'lláh to Hájí |
| notes that part of the Plain of `Akká where | Muhammad-Ismá`íl-i-Kashání, ardent early |
| the Shrine and Mansion of Bahá'u'lláh are | teacher of the Cause. |
| situated. | Dhi'b The Wolf: appellation applied by |
| Baní-Háshim Literally Sons of Háshim | Baá'u'lláh to Shaykh Muhammad-Báqir |
| (great grandfather of Muhammad): clan of | who, together with Mír Muhammad-Husayn |
| Quraysh from which Muhammad was de- | (the Raqshá), precipitated the deaths of |
| scended. | the King and Beloved of Martyrs, and |
| Baqíyyatu'lláh Remnant of God: traditional | instigated the martyrdom of many other |
| appellation of the Qá`im, derived from the | Bahá'ís, particularly in Isfahán and Yazd. |
| Qur'án; designation of the Báb as the | (See Mahbúbu'sh-Shuhadá; Sultánu'sh-Shu- |
| Promised One of Islám, and applied by | hadá.) |
| Him to Bahá'u'lláh. | Dhikr Mention, remembering; remembrance |
| Bayán Literally exposition, explanation, lu- | of God; praise and thanksgiving; recital of |
| cidity, eloquence, utterance: title given by | the names of God, religious exercise or |
| the Báb to His Revelation, and to two of | ceremony; The Qur'án, The Word of God. |
| His Writings, one in Persian, the other in | (Plural: Adhkár; see Mashriqu'l-Adhkár.) |
| Arabic. | Dhi'l-Hijjih Twelfth month of the Muslim |
| Bayt House. | lunar calendar. |
| Baytu'l-`Adl-i-A`zam The Supreme House of | Dhi'l-Qa`dih Eleventh month of the Muslim |
| Justice: a title of the Universal House of | lunar calendar. |
| Justice. | El-Abhá (See Al-Abhá.) |
| B.E. Bahá'í Era: denotes the Badí` calendar, | Farmán Order, command, firman, edict, |
| reckoned from the year of the Báb's | royal decree. |
| declaration of His Mission in 1844. | Farrásh Footman, lictor, attendant. Farrásh- |
| Báshí The head-farrásh. | ministrative activity in a particular country |
| Farsakh Unit of measurement, approximately | or region. |
| 3-4 miles or nearly 5.5 kilometres. | Hijrat, Hijra(h) Literally Emigration; Hegira: |
| Fátimih Daughter of the Prophet, wife of | the date of Muhammad's flight from Mecca |
| the Imám `Alí and mother of the Imám | to Medina in A.D. 622: the basis of Islamic |
| Husayn. | chronology. |
| Fatvá A legal pronouncement or decree by a | Hill Non-sacred ground, an antonym of |
| Muslim muftí. | Haram. |
| Firdaws Garden; Paradise. | Howdah (See Hawdaj.) |
| Firmán (See Farmán.) | Hujjat Literally proof, argument, reason: |
| Ghusn Literally Branch: son or male descen- | title of Mullá Muhammad-`Alíy-i-Zanjá;ní, |
| dant of Bahá'u'lláh. (Plural: Aghsán.) | hero of the Zanján upheaval. |
| Ghusn-i-Athar The Purest Branch: title con- | Huqúqu'lláh Right of God: payment by the |
| ferred by Baháu'lláh on Mírzá Mihdí, | believers, instituted in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas. |
| brother of `Abdu'l-Bahá who died in the | Husayn The third Imám, second son of `Alí |
| Most Great Prison in `Akká. | and Fátimih, martyred on the plains of |
| Ghusn-i-A`zam The Most Great Branch: title | Karbilá on 10 Muharram A.H. 61 (A.D. 680). |
| conferred by Bahá'u'lláh on `Abdu'l-Bahá. | Husayníyyih A place where the martyrdom |
| Há The thirty-first letter of the Persian | of the Imám Husayn is mourned, or where |
| alphabet, with a numerical value of five. | Muslim passion-plays may be presented. |
| Ayyám-i-Há Literally The Days of Há: the | The term is the designation that was given |
| Intercalary Days, so named by Bahá'u'lláh | to Bahá'u'lláh's Most Great House in |
| in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, where He also | Baghdád after its forcible occupation by |
| ordained that they should immediately | the Shí`ah community. |
| precede the month of `Alá', the month of | -i- Sound inserted in pronunciation (though |
| fasting which closes the Bahá'í year. Every | not represented in Persian script) at the |
| fourth year the number of the Intercalary | end of a word to indicate that the following |
| Days is raised from four to five to acccom- | word stands in a possessive or adjectival |
| modate the the extra day of the leap year. | relation to it. |
| Hadíth Literally report, account; Prophetic | Ibn Son. |
| Tradition. The whole body of the sacred | Íl Clan, tribe. |
| tradition of the Muslims is called the | `Ilm Knowledge : Twelfth month of the Badí` |
| Hadíth. (Plural: Ahádíth.) | calendar. |
| Hadrat Literally presence. Placed before a | Imám Head, chief, leader. (1) Muslim cleric |
| name, in the form of Hadrat-i- --, the word | who leads the congregation in prayer. (See |
| is a courtesy title signifying `His Majesty', | Imám-Jum`ih.) (2) Title applied by the |
| `His Holiness'. | Shí`ahs to each of the twelve successors of |
| Hadrat-i-A`lá His Holiness, The Most Exalted | Muhammad in the line of `Alí. (See `Alí; |
| One: a title of the Báb. | Husayn.) |
| Hájí, Hájj A Muslim who has performed the | Imám-Jum`ih Muslim clergyman who per- |
| pilgrimage to Mecca. | forms the Friday prayers, the leading Imám |
| Haram Sanctuary, sacred precinct or court | in a town or city; chief of the mullás, who |
| (See Hill.) | recites the Friday prayers for the sovereign. |
| Haram-i-Aqdas The Most Holy Court: a | Imám-Zádih Descendant of an Imám or his |
| designation given by the Guardian to the | Shrine. |
| north-western quadrant of the garden sur- | In-shá'u'lláh If God wills. |
| rounding the Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh. | Íqán Literally Certitude: title of Baháu'lláh's |
| Hawdaj Howdah: a litter carried by a camel, | Epistle to Hájí Mírz á Siyyid Muhammad, a |
| mule, horse or elephant for travelling | maternal uncle of the Báb. |
| purposes. | Ishráqát Splendours: title of one of the |
| Hazíratu'l-Quds The Sacred Fold: official | Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh revealed after the |
| designating headquarters of Bahá'í ad- | Kitáb-i-Aqdas. |
| Ism Name. (Plural: Asmá`.) | Kamál Perfection: eighth month of the Badí` |
| Ism-i-A`zam The Greatest Name. | calendar. |
| Ismu'lláh Literally The Name of God: title | Karbilá'í Style of a Muslim who has per- |
| bestowed by Bahá'u'lláh on a number of | formed the pilgrimage to Karbilá; as a title |
| believers. | it is placed before the given name. |
| Isráfíl Angel who sounds the trumpet on the | Kawthar Literally plentiful, abundant, sweet |
| Day of Judgement. | (potion): a river in Paradise, whence all |
| `Izzat Might: tenth month of the Badí` | other rivers derive their source. |
| calendar. | Khádimu'lláh Servant of God: title of Mírzá |
| Jabal Mountain. Jabal-i-Básit The Open | Áqá Ján, amanuensis of Bahá'u'lláh. |
| Mountain, Jabal-i-Shadíd The Grievous | Khalífih (See Caliph.) |
| Mountain: the Báb's allusions to the for- | Khalíl Friend: (1) (See Khalílu'lláh.) (2) |
| tress of Máh-Kú and the Castle of Chihríq | Title of Hájí Muhammad-Ibráhím-i- |
| respectively. | Qazvíní, conferred on him by the Báb. |
| Jáhilíyyih The Age of Ignorance: denotes the | Khalílu'lláh Friend of God: title given to |
| state of paganism prevailing in Arabia | Abraham in the Qur'án. |
| before the advent of Muhammad. | Khán (1) Prince, lord, nobleman, chieftain. |
| Jalál Glory: second month of the Badí` | Originally used as a courtesy title for |
| calendar. | officers and high-ranking officials. Khán |
| Jamádíyu'l-Avval Fifth month of the Muslim | came to denote--placed after a given |
| lunar calendar. | name--simply `gentleman'. (See Big.) (2) |
| Jamádíyu'th-Thání Sixth month of the Mus- | Exchange, market; inn, caravanserai: an |
| lim lunar calendar. | inn constructed around a central court |
| Jamál Beauty: third month of the Badí` | where caravans (trains of pack animals) |
| calendar. | may rest for the night. |
| Jamál-i-Mubárak Literally The Blessed | Khánum Lady; wife. Placed after a woman's |
| Beauty: a title of Bahá'u'lláh. | given name, Khánum is a courtesy title |
| Jihád Literally striving, endeavour; crusade; | meaning `gentlewoman' comparable with |
| holy war, enjoined in the Qur'án, abrogated | Khán. |
| by Bahá'u'lláh. | Khidr The Green One: a prophet, companion |
| Jináb Literally threshold: placed before a | of Moses according to Islamic tradition, |
| name, in the form of Jináb-i- --, the word is a | associated with the unnamed personage |
| courtesy title signifying `His Excellency', | mentioned in Qur'án 18:60-82; believed to |
| `His Honour'. | have drunk from the fountain of life and to |
| Jubbih An outer coat or cloak. | be its custodian, he symbolizes the true |
| Ka`bih The Kaaba: ancient shrine at Mecca, | guide. |
| chosen by Muhammad to be the entre of | Khutbih Sermon delivered in the mosques |
| pilgrimage for Muslims. The most holy | on Fridays at noon by the imám. |
| shrine in Islám and Qiblih of the Muslim | Kiblah (See Qiblih.) |
| world. | Kitáb Book. |
| Kabír Literally great, big, old. (See Akbar.) | Kitáb-i-Aqdas The Most Holy Book: title of |
| Kad-Khudá Chief of a ward or parish in a | Bahá'u'lláh's Book of Laws and Ordinances. |
| town; headman of a village. | Kitáb-i-Íqán (See Íqán.) |
| Kalántar Mayor. | Koran (See Qur'án.) |
| Kalím Speaker, interlocutor. Title given by | Kuláh The Persian lambskin hat worn by |
| Bahá'u'lláh to His faithful brother, Mírzá | government employees and civilians. |
| Músá. (See Kalímu'lláh.) | Kull-i-Shay' Literally all things: the term, |
| Kalimát Words: seventh month of the Badí` | whose numerical value is 361, signifies |
| calendar. | 19 cycles of 19 years in the Badí` calendar. |
| Kalímu'lláh He Who Conversed With God: | Lawh Literally slate, sheet, table; Tablet. |
| title of Moses, given to Him in the Islamic | (Plural: Alváh.) |
| Dispensation. | Madínih (See Medina.) |
| Madrisih Seminary, school, religious college. | signifies `Prince'; when prefixed, it either |
| Mahbúbu'sh-Shuhadá Beloved of Martyrs: | denotes a clerk, secretary, scribe or scholar, |
| title conferred by Bahá'u'lláh on Mírzá | or conveys a merely honorific sense: Mister. |
| Muhammad-Husayn, martyred in Isfahán |
|
| together with his brother, the Sultánu'sh- | pen: title applied to Mírzá Husayn-i- |
| Shuhadá. (See Dhi'b.) | Isfahání, a distinguished Bahá'í calli- |
| Mahdí (See Mihdí.) | graphist. |
| Makkah (See Mecca.) | Mu'adhdhin Muezzin: the one who sounds |
| Man-Yuzhiruhu'lláh He Whom God Will | the adhán, the Muslim call to prayer. |
| Make Manifest: title given by the Báb to | Mubárak Blessed. (See Jamál-i-Mubárak.) |
| the Promised One. | Muftí Expounder of Muslim law; gives a |
| Marhabá Welcome! Bravo! Well done! | fatvá or sentence on a point of religious |
| Masá'il Questions: fifteenth month of the | jurisprudence. |
| Badí` calendar. | Muharram First month of the Muslim lunar |
| Mashhadí Style of a Muslim who has per- | calendar, the first ten days of which are |
| formed the pilgrimage to Mashhad; as a | observed by the Shí`ahs as part of their |
| title it is placed before the given name. | mourning period for the Imám Husayn, |
| Mashíyyat Will: eleventh month of the Badí` | whose martyrdom occurred on the tenth |
| calendar. | day, `Áshúrá. |
| Mashriqu'l-Adhkár Literally The Dawning- | Mujtahid Muslim doctor-of-law. Most of the |
| place of the Praise of God: title designating | mujtahids of Írán have received their |
| a Bahá'í House of Worship. | diplomas from the most eminent jurists of |
| Masjid Mosque: a Muslim place of worship. | Karbilá and Najaf. |
| Maydán A square or open place. | Mulk Dominion: eighteenth month of the |
| Mecca Birthplace of the Prophet Muham- | Badí` calendar. |
| mad and scene of the early, difficult years | Mullá Muslim trained in theology and Islamic |
| of His ministry before His emigration to | jurisprudence; theologian, priest. |
| Medina. (See Hijrat; Ka`bih.) | Mustagháth He Who Is Invoked (for Help), |
| Medina The `City of the Prophet', Muham- | God: term used by the Báb in reference to |
| mad's adoptive home after His flight from | the advent of Bahá'u'lláh on the Day of the |
| Mecca, and scene of the latter years of His | Latter Resurrection. |
| ministry, during which His Faith spread | Mutasarrif Governor: lower in rank than a |
| throughout the Arabian Peninsula, and its | válí. |
| social teachings were promulgated. (See | Nabíl Learned, noble: title bestowed by |
| Hijrat.) | Bahá'u'lláh on a number of the believers, |
| Mihdí Literally directed, guided; one who is | most prominent among whom were Mullá |
| rightly guided; The Mahdi: a designation of | Muhammad-i-Zarandí, author of The |
| the Twelfth Imám; title of the Manifestation | Dawn-Breakers (Nabíl-i-A`zam.), and |
| expected by Islám. | Mullá Muhammad-i-Qá'iní (Nabíl-i- |
| Mihráb A niche in the wall of a mosque | Akbar.) |
| indicating the direction of Mecca, before | Navváb An honorific implying Grace, High- |
| which the Imám stands when leading the | ness: title of Ásíyih Khánum, wife of |
| congregation in prayer; the most important | Bahá'u'lláh and mother of `Abdu'l-Bahá. |
| part of a mosque. | Naw-Rúz Literally New Day: Bahá'í New |
| Mír A contraction of amír, used, when | Year's Day, the vernal equinox; |
| prefixed to a name, to denote descent from | according to the Persian calendar, the day |
| the House of the Prophet. (See Siyyid.) | on which the sun enters Aries. |
| Mi`ráj The Ascent: Muhammad's mystic | Nuqtih Point. |
| vision of the `night journey' in which He | Nuqtiy-i-Úlá The Primal Point: a title of the |
| ascended into heaven. | Báb. |
| Mírzá A contraction of amír-zádih,meaning | Núr Light: fifth month of the Badí` calendar. |
| `son of an amír'. When affixed to a name it | Pahlaván Athlete, champion: term applied |
| to brave and muscular men. | Ra'ís President, head, leader. Lawh-i-Ra'ís: |
| Páshá Honorary title formerly given to a | Tablet addressed by Bahá'u'lláh to `Alí |
| Turkish officer of high rank such as military | Páshá, the Ottoman Grand Vizier. |
| commander or provincial governor. | Rajab Seventh month of the Muslim lunar |
| Písh-Kish Present, tip, douceur. | calendar. |
| Qádí Muslim judge--civil, criminal, or ec- | Ramadán Ninth month of the Muslim lunar |
| clesiastic. | calendar in which the Fast is observed. |
| Qá'im He Who Shall Arise: title designating | Raqshá The She-Serpent: appellation applied |
| The Promised One of Islám. | by Bahá'u'lláh to Mír Muhammad-Husayn, |
| Qalam Pen. | the Imám-Jum`ih of Isfahán, accomplice of |
| Qalam-i-A`lá The Pen of the Most High: a | Shaykh Muhammad-Báqir. (See Dhi'b.) |
| designation of Bahá'u'lláh. | Ridván Literally good-pleasure, favour, ac- |
| Qalyán Narghile, hookah, hubble-bubble | ceptance; garden, Paradise; name of the |
| pipe. Oriental pipe in which the smoke is | custodian of Paradise. The holiest and |
| drawn through water in a vase by means of | most significant of all Bahá'í festivals, |
| a long tube. | commemorating Bahá'u'lláh's Declaration |
| Qawl Speech: fourteenth month of the Badí` | of His Mission to His companions in 1863, |
| calendar. | a twelve-day period extending from 21 |
| Qayyúmu'l-Asmá' (See Ahsanu'l-Qisas.) | April to 2 May, and celebrated annually. |
| Qiblih Literally that which faces one; prayer- | Sád The seventeenth letter of the Persian |
| direction; point of adoration: the focus to | alphabet. Ard-i-Sád Literally Land of Sád: |
| which the faithful turn in prayer. The | Isfahán. |
| Qiblih for Muslims is the Ka`bih in Mecca; | Sadratu'l-Muntahá The Divine Lote Tree, |
| for Bahá'ís, the Most Holy Tomb of | the Tree beyond which there is no passing: |
| Bahá'u'lláh at Bahjí: `the Heart and Qiblih | symbolic of the Manifestation of God. (See |
| of the Bahá'í world.' | Sidrih.) |
| Quddús Literally Pure, Holy, Blessed: title | Sadr-i-A`zam Grand Vizier, Prime Minister. |
| conferred by Bahá'u'lláh on Mullá Mu- | Safar Second month of the Muslim lunar |
| hammad-`Alíy-i-Bárfurúshí, last of the | calendar. |
| eighteen Letters of the Living at the | Sáhibu'z-Zamán Lord of the Age: one of the |
| Conference of Badasht. | titles of the promised Qá'im. Yá Sáhib'uz- |
| Qudrat Power: thirteenth month of the Badí` | Zamán! Rallying-cry of the early Bábís, |
| calendar. | Salám Peace, salutation. Salámun `Alaykum |
| Qur'án The Reading; The Recitation; That | Peace be with you! a greeting among |
| Which Ought To Be Read. The Book | Muslims. Va's-Salám And peace (be with |
| revealed to Muhammad: The Koran, Holy | you): formula used to conclude an epistle |
| Book of the Muslims. | or dissertation, indicating that the author |
| Qurbán Sacrifice. | has nothing further to say. |
| Qurratu'l-`Ayn Literally Solace of the Eyes: | Salsabíl Pure, limpid water. A fountain in |
| a term applied to an object of affection. (1) | Paradise. |
| Title conferred upon Táhirih by Siyyid | Samandar Literally salamander; phoenix. A |
| Kázim of Rasht. (2) Term used by the Báb | mythical creature indestructible by fire. |
| in the Qayyúmu'l-Asmá' to refer both to | Title bestowed by Bahá'u'lláh on Shaykh |
| Bahá'u'lláh and to Himself. | Kázim-i-Samandar of Qazvín. |
| Rabb-i-A`lá Exalted Lord: one of the desig- | Sarkár-Áqá; Literally The Honourable Master. |
| nations of the Báb. | A designation of `Abdu'l-Bahá. |
| Rabí`u'l-Avval Third month of the Muslim | Sha`bán Eighth month of the Muslim lunar |
| lunar calendar. | calendar. |
| Rabí`u'th-Thání Fourth month of the Mus- | Sháh King, especially of Írán. |
| lim lunar calendar. | Sháh-Bahrám World Saviour and Promised |
| Rahmat Mercy: sixth month of the Badí` | One of the Zoroastrians, identified by |
| calendar. | Bahá'ís with Bahá'u'lláh. |
| Shahíd Martyr. (Plural: Shuhadá; see | geon in Tihrán to which Bahá'u'lláh was |
| Mahbúbu'sh-Shuhadá; Siyyidu'sh-Shuhadá; | consigned in August 1852. Here, chained |
| Sultánu'sh-Shuhadá.) | in darkness three flights of stairs under- |
| Sharaf Honour: sixteenth month of the Badí` | ground, in the company of some 150 |
| calendar. | thieves and assassins, He received the first |
| Sharí`at, Sharí`ah Literally path, way; | intimations of His world Mission; regarded |
| custom, law. Muslim canonical law. | by Bahá'ís as the holiest place in Írán's |
| Shavvál Tenth month of the Muslim lunar | capital. |
| calendar. | Siyyid Literally chief, lord, prince: descen- |
| Shaykh Venerable old man; tribal or village | dant of the Prophet Muhammad. |
| chief, patriarch, sheik; learned man, elder, | Siyyidu'sh-Shuhadá Prince of Martyrs: title |
| professor; clerical dignitary, superior of | of the Imám Husayn. |
| dervish order. (See Shaykhu'l-Islám.) | Sufí An exponent of Sufism, a Muslim |
| Shaykhí (Follower) of the school founded | mystic or darvísh. |
| by Shaykh Ahmad-i-Ahsá'í. Among his | Sultán Sovereignty: (1) Seventeen month |
| doctrines, in addition to the imminent dual | of the Badí` calendar. (2) King, sovereign, |
| Advent, was that the Prophet Muhammad's | monarch, sultan. |
| material body did not ascend to heaven on | Sultánu'sh-Shuhadá King of Martyrs: title |
| the night of the Mí`ráj. | conferred by Bahá'u'lláh on Mírzá Muham- |
| Shaykhu'l-Islám High Priest, Grand Muftí: | mad-Hasan, martyred brother of the |
| highest rank in the Muslim religious hier- | Mahbúbu'sh-Shuhadá. |
| archy; also, title of the head of a religious | Sunnah Literally way, custom, practice; The |
| court, appointed to every large city by the | Way of the Prophet as reported in the |
| Sháh. | Hadíth. Designates by far the largest sect |
| Shí`ah, Shí`ih Literally faction, party, sect: | of Islám, which includes the four so-called |
| partisans of `Alí and of his descendants as | orthodox sects: Hanbalites, Hanafites, |
| the sole lawful `Vicars of the Prophet'. The | Malikites and Shafites. Sunnis accept the |
| Shí`ahs reject the first three Caliphs, believ- | Caliphs as legitimate, believing that the |
| ing that the successorship in Islám belonged | position of Caliph is elective. (See Shí`ah; |
| by divine right to `Alí (first Imám and | Caliph.) |
| fourth Caliph) and and to his descendants. | Sunní, Sunnite Muslim of the Sunnah branch |
| Originally, the successorship was the vital | of Islám. |
| point of difference, and Islám was divided | Súrih Name of a chapter of the Qur'án; used |
| because Muhammad's (albeit verbal) ap- | by the Báb and Baháu'lláh in the titles of |
| pointment of `Alí was disregarded. (See | some of Their Own Writings. |
| Sunnah; Imám.) | Súriy-i-Mulúk Súrih of the Kings. Tablet |
| Shí`í, Shiite Member of the Shí`ah (or Party) | revealed by Bahá'u'lláh while in Adrianople. |
| of `Alí; Muslim of the Shí`ah branch of | Tá The nineteenth letter of the Persian |
| Islám. | alphabet, with a numerical value of nine. |
| Shín The sixteenth letter of the Persian | Ard-i-Tá Literally Land of Tá: Tihrán. |
| alphabet. Ard-i-Shín Literally Land of | Táhirih Literally The Pure One: title con- |
| Shín: Shíráz. | ferred on Zarrín-Táj by Bahá'u'lláh at the |
| Sidrih Lote tree. (See Sadratu'l-Muntahá.) | Conference of Badasht. |
| Sirát Literally path, way; The Way of God; | Táj Literally crown. Tall felt head-dress |
| the Religion of God; `The Bridge' leading | adopted by Bahá'u'lláh in 1863, on the day |
| to heaven. Denotes the True Faith of God. | of His departure from His Most Holy |
| Sirr Secret, mystery. Ard-i-Sirr Literally The | House in Baghdád. |
| Land of Mystery: Adrianople. | Tajallíyát Effulgences: title of one of the |
| Sirru'lláh The Mystery of God: a designation | Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh revealed after the |
| of `Abdu'l-Bahá, conferred on Him by | Kitáb-i-Aqdas. |
| Bahá'u'lláh. | Takyih Religious house, monastery; hostel |
| Síyáh-Chál Black Pit: the subterranean dun- | for pilgrims; religious theatre for presenting |
| Muslim passion-plays; place at which the | Varaqiy-i-`Ulyá Literally The Most Exalted |
| martyrdom of Husayn is commemorated. | Leaf; The Greatest Holy Leaf: title of |
| (See Husayníyyih.) | Bahá'íyyih (or Bahíyyih) Khánum, saintly |
| Tarázát Ornaments: title of one of the | daughter of Bahá'u'lláh and `the outstand- |
| Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh revealed after the | ing heroine of the Bahá'í Dispensation'. |
| Kitáb-i-Aqdas. | Varqá Bird, nightingale; The Heavenly Dove. |
| Túmán Discontinued unit of Iranian currency. | Va's-Salám (See Salám.) |
| `Ulamá Literally learned men, scholars; | Vazír Vizír, minister (of state), vizier. |
| clerical authorities, theologians, divines: | Vizír-i-A`zam: Grand Vizier, Prime Minis- |
| the Muslim religious hierarchy. (Singular: | ter. |
| `Álim.) | Viláyat Guardianship. |
| Umm. Mother. | Waqf Literally bequeathing (for charitable |
| `Urvatu'l-Vuthqá The Sure Handle, Firm | uses); pious bequest, religious endowment, |
| Cord: a Qur'anic term, used in the Bahá'í | estate held in mortmain. Denotes landed |
| Writings to symbolize the Covenant and | property endowed to the Muslim com- |
| Testament. | munity; in Írán, the estate of the expected |
| Ustád Teacher, professor; mechanic, artisan, | Imám. |
| craftsman. | Yá Vocative particle meaning `O'. (See |
| Vahíd Single, unique, peerless: title of Siyyid | Bahá'u'l-Abhá; Sahibu'z-Zamán.) |
| Yahyáy-i-Dárábí, hero of the Nayríz up- | Zádih Born; offspring, son. Used as a suffix |
| heaval. | after a proper name it means `Son of --'. |
| Váhid Literally unity; one, single, unique; | (See Imám-Zádih; Mírzá.) |
| The One, Indivisible God. The word, whose | Zarrín-Táj Literally Crown of Gold: title by |
| numerical value is nineteen, denotes: (1) A | which Fátimih, daughter of Mullá Sálih-i- |
| `unity' or section of the Bayán. The Persian | Baraqání of Qazvín--better known as |
| Bayán consists of nine Váhids of nineteen | Táhirih--was designated by her family and |
| chapters each, except the last, which has | kindred. |
| only ten chapters. (2) The eighteen Letters | Zawrá' A term signifying Baghdád. |
| the Living (the Báb's first disciples) and | Zamzam Literally copious (water): sacred |
| the Báb Himself, who together constitute | well within the precincts of the Great |
| the first Váhid of the Bábí Dispensation. | Mosque in Mecca. Though salty, its water |
| (3) Each cycle of nineteen years in the | is much esteemed for pious uses, such as |
| Bádí` calendar. (See Kull-i-Shay'.) | ablutions, and drinking after a fast. |
| Valí Guardian. | Zaynu'l-Muqarrabín Literally Ornament of |
| Válí Governor (of a province). | the Near (or Favoured) Ones. Title be- |
| Valí-`Ahd Crown prince, heir to the throne. | stowed by Bahá'u'lláh on Mullá Zaynu'l- |
| Varaqih Leaf; often used metaphorically in | `Ábidín of Najaf-Ábád, faithful apostle |
| the Bahá'í Writings to refer to a woman. | and trusted scribe. |
| METADATA | (contact us to help add metadata) |
| VIEWS | 10503 views since posted 2013-06-16; last edit 2024-12-22 00:25 UTC; previous at archive.org.../bw18_oriental_words |
| PERMISSION | © BIC, public sharing permitted. See sources 1, 2, and 3. |
| HISTORY | Typed 2000 by Dianne Bradford; Formatted 2013-06-14 by Jonah Winters. |
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