Gleanings From The Writings Of Bahá'u'lláh

(Note: All entries in this glossary are included in the Covenant Library Unified Glossary)

GLOSSARY AND NOTES

'Abdu'l-'Azíz:
The Sultan who decreed each of Bahá'u'lláh's three banishments.

'Abdu'l-Bahá:
The appointed Successor of Bahá'u'lláh and Center of His Covenant. (1844-1921).

'Abdu'lláh-i-Ubayy:
An opponent of Muhammad.

Abhá:
Bahá means "glory". Abhá is its superlative. Both are titles of Bahá'u'lláh and of His Kingdom.

Abú 'Ámir:
An opponent of Muhammad.

Afnán:
Lit. "twigs". Denotes relatives of the Báb.

'Akká:
The prison city in Palestine where Bahá'u'lláh was finally exiled. He arrived there on August 31, 1868.

'Alí:
The first Imám; cousin and first disciple of Muhammad and married to His daughter Fátimih.

'Alí Muhammad:
Siyyid 'Alí Muhammad, born in Shíráz, Persia, on October 20, 1819^*; the "Point of the Bayan" and the "Báb" and precursor of Bahá'u'lláh
* [Festivals of the Twin Birthdays] "...will now be observed on the first and the second day following the occurrence of the eighth new moon after Naw-Rúz." UHJ

Ancient of Days:
A title of God, peculiar in the Bible to the Book of Daniel.

Annas:
High Priest of the Jews and father-in-law to Caiaphas (John :18.V.13.).

Aqdas:
The greatest of Bahá'u'lláh's works containing His laws and ordinances (1873).

Ashraf:
Siyyid Ashraf, born in the Fort of Zanján during the siege.

Báb, The:
The Herald of the Faith (1819-1850).

Bahá:
A title given to Bahá'u'lláh by the Bab.

Bahá'u'lláh:
The Founder of the Bahá'í Faith (1817-1892).

Balál:
An Ethiopian slave in Mecca, illiterate and despised, but transformed by his recognition of Muhammad.

Bayán:
The greatest doctrinal work of the Founder of the Bábí Dispensation (lit. "Exposition").

Burning Bush:
See Exod. 3.V.2. Symbolic of God's presence in the heart of Moses.

Caiaphas:
High Priest and President of the Court that condemned Jesus.

Carmel, Mount:
One of the sacred spots in Bahá'í history, where are the shrines of the Báb and of 'Abdu'l-Bahá and memorials to other members of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's family.

City of Certitude:
A condition of high spiritual attainment.

Day Star of Muhammad:
Symbol of the Prophet as enlightening the world.

Dhabíh:
Ishmael, famous Bahá'í and brother of Mírzá Jání of Káshán (see The Dawn-Breakers). Given this title (sacrifice) by Bahá'u'lláh.

Divine Elixir:
Symbol of the power of faith to confer eternal life upon man; from "elixir", an imaginary liquor supposed to prolong human life indefinitely.

Divine Messenger:
Prophet of God. The Great Soul, the All-Perfect One through whom such a Revelation is given.

Divine Messiah:
The Divine King and Deliverer expected by the Hebrews.

Gabriel:
Said to be the highest of the angels, and to hover over the throne of God and shelter it with his wings.

Husayn:
The third Imám, the Martyr of Karbilá.

Imám 'Alí:
The first Imám, and son-in-law of the Prophet.

Isaiah, Book of:
See Isaiah 2.V.10.

Islam:
Lit. "Obedience to the will of God," the name given to the religion of Muhammad.

Javád:
Hájí Siyyid Javád, one of the earliest Bábís, extolled by both the Báb and later by Bahá'u'lláh whom he met in Baghdád.

Kaaba:
The Shrine which holds the Black Stone in the Mosque at Mecca.

Ka'b-ibn-i-Ashraf:
An implaccable foe of Muhammad whose life he sought.

Kamál:
Hájí Mírzá Kamál, a famous Bábí of high education who met and recognized the station of Bahá'u'lláh in Baghdád before His declaration. He wished to tell the News to everyone and was sent back to Persia.

Karbilá:
The city in 'Iráq where the Imám Husayn was martyred and where he is buried. One of the two "supreme shrines," the other being Najaf.

Kawthar:
A river in Paradise, and the source of all other rivers.

Lamp of God, The:
The spiritual light shed by God's prophet.

Manifestation:
One who is the "express image" of the perfections and attributes of God.

Mecca:
The city where Muhammad was born and where he declared Himself.

Medina:
The city which sheltered Muhammad and where He is buried; esteemed as second only to Mecca in sanctity.

Mihdí:
Title of the Manifestation expected by Islám.

Most Great Name, The:
A title of Bahá'u'lláh

Muhammad:
Lit. "The Praised One." The Founder of Islám, the son of 'Abdu'lláh of the family of Háshim, born in Mecca in (it is said) the year 570 A.D.

Mustagháth:
Lit. "He who is invoked." By reference to the numerical value of this word, the Báb reveals the ninth year of this Era (A.D. 1853) as the date of Bahá'u'lláh's manifestation.

Nabíl-i-A'zam:
The Bahá'í title of Muhammad-i-Zarandí, a devoted follower of the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh, author of the historical work known as "Nabíl's Narrative."

Nadr-ibn-i-Hárith:
An opponent of Muhammad.

Nimrod:
The persecutor of Abraham.

Párán:
A mountain-range north of Sinai, used to typify a place of revelation.

Pentateuch:
The first five books of the Bible, attributed to Moses.

Qá'im:
The Promised One of Islám.

Qayyúmu'l-Asmá:
One of the chief works of the Báb.

Quintessence:
The last or highest essence of an object.

Qur'án:
The Scripture of the Muhammadans, written in the Arabic language.

Revelation:
The Unveiling by God to men of something which hitherto He had hidden from them.

Ridván:
The custodian of Paradise. Used to denote Paradise itself.

Sadratu'l-Muntahá:
The name of a tree planted at the end of a road to serve as a guide; a symbol of a Manifestation.

Salmán, or Shaykh Salmán:
Born in southern Persia, an illiterate, he became one of the most beloved and most devoted disciples of Bahá'u'lláh who entrusted him with many dangerous and important missions.

Salsabíl:
A fountain in Paradise.

Seal of the Prophets:
A title of Muhammad, referring to the approaching close of the Prophetic Cycle.

Sháh:
Násiri'd-Din Sháh.

Shaykh:
Referring to Shaykh Salmán.

Shí'ih:
A Muhammadan sect distinguished by its spiritual doctrine of the Imámate and represented by the Sháh.

Shoghi Effendi:
Grandson of 'Abdu'l-Bahá. and Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith.

Sinai:
The Mountain where God gave the tables of the Law to Moses; sometimes an emblem of the human heart which is the place of God's descent.

Sultán:
Sultán 'Abdu'l-Azíz.

Sunní:
The larger and more powerful of the two great Islámic sects, represented by the Sultán, the outward and visible Defender of the Faith.

Súriy-i-Ra'ís:
Tablet of Bahá'u'lláh revealed in Adrianople.

Tá, Land of:
Meaning Tihrán, being the initial letter of the name.

Tablet to Ra'ís:
Epistle of Bahá'u'lláh to 'Alí Páshá the Grand Vazír.

Talisman:
Lit. a charm which drew down the power of heaven to protect its wearer. A symbol of man protected by the power of God.

Tihrán:
The birthplace of Bahá'u'lláh (November 12, 1817)^* and capital of Irán.
* [Festivals of the Twin Birthdays] "...will now be observed on the first and the second day following the occurrence of the eighth new moon after Naw-Rúz." UHJ

Torah:
The Pentateuch of Moses.

Zá, Land of:
Meaning Zanján, being the initial letter of the name.

Zion:
A hill in Jerusalem, the site of the royal residence of David and his successors.

-PREPARED BY GEORGE TOWNSHEND

GLOSSARY AND NOTES
'Abdu'l-'Azíz: The Sultan who decreed each of Bahá'u'lláh's three banishments.
'Abdu'l-Bahá: The appointed Successor of Bahá'u'lláh and Center of His Covenant. (1844-1921).
'Abdu'lláh-i-Ubayy: An opponent of Muhammad.
Abhá: Bahá means "glory". Abhá is its superlative. Both are titles of Bahá'u'lláh and of His Kingdom.
Abú 'Ámir: An opponent of Muhammad.
Afnán: Lit. "twigs". Denotes relatives of the Báb.
'Akká: The prison city in Palestine where Bahá'u'lláh was finally exiled. He arrived there on August 31, 1868.
'Alí: The first Imám; cousin and first disciple of Muhammad and married to His daughter Fátimih.
'Alí Muhammad: Siyyid 'Alí Muhammad, born in Shíráz, Persia, on October 20, 1819^; the "Point of the Bayan" and the "Báb" and precursor of Bahá'u'lláh [Festivals of the Twin Birthdays] "...will now be observed on the first and the second day following the occurrence of the eighth new moon after Naw-Rúz." UHJ
Ancient of Days: A title of God, peculiar in the Bible to the Book of Daniel.
Annas: High Priest of the Jews and father-in-law to Caiaphas (John :18.V.13.).
Aqdas: The greatest of Bahá'u'lláh's works containing His laws and ordinances (1873).
Ashraf: Siyyid Ashraf, born in the Fort of Zanján during the siege.
Báb, The: The Herald of the Faith (1819-1850).
Bahá: A title given to Bahá'u'lláh by the Bab.
Bahá'u'lláh: The Founder of the Bahá'í Faith (1817-1892).
Balál: An Ethiopian slave in Mecca, illiterate and despised, but transformed by his recognition of Muhammad.
Bayán: The greatest doctrinal work of the Founder of the Bábí Dispensation (lit. "Exposition").
Burning Bush: See Exod. 3.V.2. Symbolic of God's presence in the heart of Moses.
Caiaphas: High Priest and President of the Court that condemned Jesus.
Carmel, Mount: One of the sacred spots in Bahá'í history, where are the shrines of the Báb and of 'Abdu'l-Bahá and memorials to other members of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's family.
City of Certitude: A condition of high spiritual attainment.
Day Star of Muhammad: Symbol of the Prophet as enlightening the world.
Dhabíh: Ishmael, famous Bahá'í and brother of Mírzá Jání of Káshán (see The Dawn-Breakers). Given this title (sacrifice) by Bahá'u'lláh.
Divine Elixir: Symbol of the power of faith to confer eternal life upon man; from "elixir", an imaginary liquor supposed to prolong human life indefinitely.
Divine Messenger: Prophet of God. The Great Soul, the All-Perfect One through whom such a Revelation is given.
Divine Messiah: The Divine King and Deliverer expected by the Hebrews.
Gabriel: Said to be the highest of the angels, and to hover over the throne of God and shelter it with his wings.
Husayn: The third Imám, the Martyr of Karbilá.
Imám 'Alí: The first Imám, and son-in-law of the Prophet.
Isaiah, Book of: See Isaiah 2.V.10.
Islam: Lit. "Obedience to the will of God," the name given to the religion of Muhammad.
Javád: Hájí Siyyid Javád, one of the earliest Bábís, extolled by both the Báb and later by Bahá'u'lláh whom he met in Baghdád.
Kaaba: The Shrine which holds the Black Stone in the Mosque at Mecca.
Ka'b-ibn-i-Ashraf: An implaccable foe of Muhammad whose life he sought.
Kamál: Hájí Mírzá Kamál, a famous Bábí of high education who met and recognized the station of Bahá'u'lláh in Baghdád before His declaration. He wished to tell the News to everyone and was sent back to Persia.
Karbilá: The city in 'Iráq where the Imám Husayn was martyred and where he is buried. One of the two "supreme shrines," the other being Najaf.
Kawthar: A river in Paradise, and the source of all other rivers.
Lamp of God, The: The spiritual light shed by God's prophet.
Manifestation: One who is the "express image" of the perfections and attributes of God.
Mecca: The city where Muhammad was born and where he declared Himself.
Medina: The city which sheltered Muhammad and where He is buried; esteemed as second only to Mecca in sanctity.
Mihdí: Title of the Manifestation expected by Islám.
Most Great Name, The: A title of Bahá'u'lláh
Muhammad: Lit. "The Praised One." The Founder of Islám, the son of 'Abdu'lláh of the family of Háshim, born in Mecca in (it is said) the year 570 A.D.
Mustagháth: Lit. "He who is invoked." By reference to the numerical value of this word, the Báb reveals the ninth year of this Era (A.D. 1853) as the date of Bahá'u'lláh's manifestation.
Nabíl-i-A'zam: The Bahá'í title of Muhammad-i-Zarandí, a devoted follower of the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh, author of the historical work known as "Nabíl's Narrative."
Nadr-ibn-i-Hárith: An opponent of Muhammad.
Nimrod: The persecutor of Abraham.
Párán: A mountain-range north of Sinai, used to typify a place of revelation.
Pentateuch: The first five books of the Bible, attributed to Moses.
Qá'im: The Promised One of Islám.
Qayyúmu'l-Asmá: One of the chief works of the Báb.
Quintessence: The last or highest essence of an object.
Qur'án: The Scripture of the Muhammadans, written in the Arabic language.
Revelation: The Unveiling by God to men of something which hitherto He had hidden from them.
Ridván: The custodian of Paradise. Used to denote Paradise itself.
Sadratu'l-Muntahá: The name of a tree planted at the end of a road to serve as a guide; a symbol of a Manifestation.
Salmán, or Shaykh Salmán: Born in southern Persia, an illiterate, he became one of the most beloved and most devoted disciples of Bahá'u'lláh who entrusted him with many dangerous and important missions.
Salsabíl: A fountain in Paradise.
Seal of the Prophets: A title of Muhammad, referring to the approaching close of the Prophetic Cycle.
Sháh: Násiri'd-Din Sháh.
Shaykh: Referring to Shaykh Salmán.
Shí'ih: A Muhammadan sect distinguished by its spiritual doctrine of the Imámate and represented by the Sháh.
Shoghi Effendi: Grandson of 'Abdu'l-Bahá. and Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith.
Sinai: The Mountain where God gave the tables of the Law to Moses; sometimes an emblem of the human heart which is the place of God's descent.
Sultán: Sultán 'Abdu'l-Azíz.
Sunní: The larger and more powerful of the two great Islámic sects, represented by the Sultán, the outward and visible Defender of the Faith.
Súriy-i-Ra'ís: Tablet of Bahá'u'lláh revealed in Adrianople.
Tá, Land of: Meaning Tihrán, being the initial letter of the name.
Tablet to Ra'ís: Epistle of Bahá'u'lláh to 'Alí Páshá the Grand Vazír.
Talisman: Lit. a charm which drew down the power of heaven to protect its wearer. A symbol of man protected by the power of God.
Tihrán: The birthplace of Bahá'u'lláh (November 12, 1817)^* and capital of Irán. * [Festivals of the Twin Birthdays] "...will now be observed on the first and the second day following the occurrence of the eighth new moon after Naw-Rúz." UHJ
Torah: The Pentateuch of Moses.
Zá, Land of: Meaning Zanján, being the initial letter of the name.
Zion: A hill in Jerusalem, the site of the royal residence of David and his successors.
-PREPARED BY GEORGE TOWNSHEND