Arabic and Persian biographical glossary
From Bahaipedia
This is a biographical glossary of Arabic, Ottoman Turkish, or Persian names representing individuals who are connected with the Bahá’í Faith.
A[edit]
- ‘Abdu’l-‘Azíz
- AR: عبد العزيز.
- Sultán of the Ottoman Empire who "with Náṣiri’d-Dín Sháh was the author of the calamities heaped upon Bahá’u’lláh...".[1][2]
- ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
- AR: عباس افندی (
pronunciation), Servant of Glory. - Title of ‘Abbás Effendi, the eldest son and successor of Bahá'u'lláh and interpreter of His teachings, Centre of His Covenant, Perfect Exemplar of the Bahá’í Faith.[2] This title means Servant of Bahá (Glory), i.e., Servant of Bahá'u'lláh. He preferred this title over others because it emphasized His servitude to Bahá'u'lláh.
- ‘Abdu’l-Ḥamíd II
- AR: عبد الحميد ثانی.
- Sultán of the Ottoman Empire from 1876 to 1909; nephew and successor of ‘Abdu’l-‘Azíz, with whom he was responsible for the forty years of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá's imprisonment.[2]
- ‘Abdu’l-Majid
- AR: عبد المجيد اول.
- Sultán of the Ottoman Empire from 1839 to 1861.[2]
- ‘Alí-ibn-i-Ábí-Tálib
- AR: عَلِيُّ بْن أَبِي طَالِب.
- Also simply ‘Alí (AR: عَلِيُّ). The first Imám of Shi’ih Islám. Martyred in the year 40 AH (661 CE); assassinated by Ibn-i-Muljam at Kufih.[3]
- ‘Alí-Naqí
- AR: عَلِيُّ النقي.
- The tenth Imám of Shi’ih Islám; the son of Muḥammad-Taqí. Martyred in 254 AH, poisoned at Surra-man-Ra’a.[3]
- ‘Alí-ibn-i-Musa’r-Riḍá
- AR: عَلِيّ ٱبْن مُوسَىٰ ٱلرِّضَا.
- Also simply Riḍá (AR: رِّضَا). The eighth Imám of Shi’ih Islám. Martyred in the year 203 AH, poisoned near Tus in Khurásán on the order of Khalífih Ma’mun and buried in Mashhad.[3]
- Amatu'l-Bahá
- AR: امةالبهاء, Maidservant of Glory.
- Title of Rúhíyyih Khanum, the wife of Shoghi Effendi, meaning Maidservant of Bahá (Glory), i.e., Maidservant of Bahá'u'lláh.
B[edit]
- Báb, The
- AR: باب ( pronunciation), door, gate.
- Title assumed by Siyyid ‘Alí-Muḥammad Shírází after the declaration of His Mission as the promised Qá'im (or Mihdí/Mahdi) in Shíráz in May 1844. The Prophet-Herald of Bahá'u'lláh; a Manifestation of God whose dispensation preceded that of Bahá'u'lláh, and who foretold His coming. The return of the Prophet Elijah, of John the Baptist and of the Twelfth Imám.[4] Founder of the Bábí religion.
- Bahá'u'lláh
- AR: بهاء الله ( pronunciation), Glory of God.
- The Founder of the Bahá'í Faith, the Manifestation of God for this age; the Supreme Manifestation of God, the Promised One of all ages.[5]
- Bahíyyih Khánum
- The “Greatest Holy Leaf”, daughter to Bahá'u'lláh and Navváb. Born Fáṭimih Sulṭán, b.1846, d.15 July 1932.
C[edit]
D[edit]
E[edit]
F[edit]
G[edit]
H[edit]
- Ḥájí Mírzá Ḥaydar-‘Alí
- AR: حيدر علي.
- Also simply Ḥaydar-‘Alí. Noted early Bahá’í, born into Shaykhí family of Iṣfahán. Known as the “Angel of Carmel”.[6]
- Ḥasan-i-‘Askarí
- AR: ٱلْحَسَن ٱلْعَسْكَرِيّ.
- The eleventh Imám of Shi’ih Islám, son of ‘Alí Naqi. Martyred by poisoning in the year 260 AH.[3]
- Ḥasan-ibn-‘Alí
- AR: الْحَسَنِ بْن عَلِيّ.
- The second Imám of Shi’ih Islám: Ḥasan, son of ‘Alí and Fáṭimih. Martyred in the year 50 AH (670 CE), poisoned by order of Mu'aviyih I.[3]
- Ḥusayn
- AR: الحسين.
- The third Imám of Shi’ih Islám: Ḥusayn, son of ‘Alí and Fáṭimih. Martyred in the year 61 AH (680 CE); killed at Karbila on the 10th day of Muharram.[3]
I[edit]
- Ibráhím
- AR: إِبْرَاهِيْمُ; HE: אַבְרָהָם.
- Also Abraham. Patriarch of the people of Israel, Founder of the Jewish nation. Known as the "Friend of God", "Father of the Faithful", and "Father of a Multitude". Born in Ur in Chaldea; ancestor of many Manifestations of God, including Jesus, Muhammad, the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh.[6]
J[edit]
- Ja'far-i-Sádiq
- AR: جَعْفَر ٱلصَّادِق.
- The sixth Imám of Shi’ih Islám, son of Muḥammad-Báqir. Poisoned by the Abbasid Khalífih, Mansur.[3]
K[edit]
L[edit]
M[edit]
- Muḥammad al-Mahdí
- AR: مُحَمَّد ٱلْمَهْدِي.
- The twelfth Imám of Shi’ih Islám; the son of Ḥasan ‘Askarí and Nargis-Khatun. Died in 260 AH (873-4 CE), aged five. Twelver Shi’ih Muslims hold that he did not die, but instead disappeared and would return in the Last Days, at which point the Mahdí would return to lead the faithful, establish peace, and restore the original ideals of Islám.[3][7][8] Known as Imám Mihdí, Hujjatu’lláh (the Proof of God), Baqíyyatu’lláh (the Remnant of God), and Qá’im-i-‘Alí-Muḥammad (He who shall arise of the family of Muḥammad).
- Muḥammad-Báqir
- AR: محمد بن علي الباقر.
- The fifth Imám of Shi’ih Islám; the son of Zaynu’l-‘Abidín and Umm-i-‘Abdu’llah (the daughter of Imám Ḥasan). Poisoned by Ibrahim ibn-i-Valíd.[3] The Du‘ay-i-Sahar, the source of the names of the Bahá’í months which was famously said to contain the hidden Greatest Name of God, is ascribed to him.[9][10]
- Muḥammad-Taqí
- AR: مُحَمَّد ٱلْتَقِيّ.
- The ninth Imám of Shi’ih Islám; the son of Imám Riḍá. Martyred in 220 AH, poisoned by the Khalífih Mu’tasim in Baghdád.[3]
- Músá-Kázim
- AR: ٱلْكَاظِم.
- The seventh Imám of Shi’ih Islám, son of Ja‘faru’l-Ṣádiq. Martyred in the year 183 AH, poisoned by order of Hárúnu'r-Rashíd.[3]
| Term | Source | Meaning | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mihdí | One who guides aright, the Guided One. | A title of the Twelfth (expected) Imám or Qá’im. Mírzá Mihdí (“The Purest Branch”) | |
| Mírzá Yaḥyá | Younger half-brother of Bahá’u’lláh | ||
| Mishkín-Qalam | He was one of the nineteen Apostles of Bahá'u'lláh, as well as a famous calligrapher of 19th century Persia. | ||
| Munírih | luminous, radiant | Munírih Khánum, wife of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (mid 1848–28 April 1938) |
N[edit]
O[edit]
P[edit]
Q[edit]
| Term | Source | Meaning | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qurratu'l-ʿAyn | A title of Táhirih, meaning Solace of the Eyes. |
R[edit]
S[edit]
T[edit]
| Term | Source | Meaning | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ṭáhirih | clean, pure; chaste, modest, virtuous | The pure one |
U[edit]
V[edit]
| Term | Source | Meaning | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vakílu'd-Dawlih | deputy or representative of the government | A title of Afnán-i-Yazdí, also known as Ḥájí Mírzá Muḥammad-Taqí: one of the nineteen Apostles of Bahá’u’lláh, cousin of the Báb, and the chief builder of the first House of Worship in 'Ishqábád. |
W[edit]
X[edit]
Y[edit]
| Term | Source | Meaning | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yaḥyá ibn Zakaríyá | John | John the Baptist. |
Z[edit]
- Zaynu’l-‘Abidín
- AR: زين العابدين.
- ‘Alí-ibn-i-Ḥusayn-i-Sajjad (AR: علي بن الحسين السجاد), the fourth Imám of Shi’ih Islám; the grandson of ‘Alí, the son of Ḥusayn and Shahr-Bánú (the daughter of Yazdigirdm the last Sassanian Sháh. Poisoned by Valíd.[3]
External links[edit]
References[edit]
- ↑ Shoghi Effendi, p. 225.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Gail 1976, p. 4.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 "Distinguishing Features of Shi'ah Islam". Published in Nabíl-i-A‘ẓam 1970, p. lii.
- ↑ Gail 1976, p. 10.
- ↑ Gail 1976, p. 11.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Gail 1976, p. 18.
- ↑ Sobhani, Ja'far (2001). Doctrines of Shi'i Islam (PDF). Translated by Shah-Kazemi, Reza. I.B.Tauris. ISBN 01860647804.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: ignored ISBN errors (link) - ↑ "ISLAM IN IRAN vii. THE CONCEPT OF MAHDI IN TWELVER SHIʿISM". Encyclopaedia Iranica. XIV/2. 2007. pp. 136–143. https://iranicaonline.org/articles/islam-in-iran-vii-the-concept-of-mahdi-in-twelver-shiism.
- ↑ R. Khanam (2005). Encyclopaedic Ethnography of Middle-East and Central Asia: A-I. Global Vision Publishing House. ISBN 978-81-8220-063-0.
- ↑ Nagendra Kr Singh; Abdul Mabud Khan (2001). Encyclopaedia of the world Muslims: tribes, castes and communities. Global Vision Pub. House.
Bibliography[edit]
- Balyuzi, Hasan M., Gail, Marzieh and Ayman, Iraj (1973). "Persian and Arabic names". The Báb. Oxford: George Ronald. pp. xiii–xiv.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link) - Nabíl-i-A‘ẓam (1970). The Dawn-Breakers: Nabíl’s Narrative of the Early Days of the Bahá’í Revelation.
- Marzieh Gail (1955). Bahá'í Glossary. United States: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, United States.
- Momen, Wendi (ed.). A Basic Baha'i Dictionary. George Ronald. ISBN 9780853982302.
- Q4258
- Nabíl-i-A`ẓam. "Glossary". The Dawn-Breakers. Translated by Shoghi Effendi. United States Baha'i Publishing Trust. ISBN 9780877430100.
- Winters, Jonah. "Short Glossary of Baha'i Terms". bahai-library.com. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
