Previous | Next | Index of this work | List of works | TrueSeeker Home Page

GLOSSARY

`Abá: Cloak or mantle. Adhan: Muslim call to prayer. A.H.: "After Hijirah. "Date of Muhammad's migration from Mecca to
1

Medina, and basis of Muhammadan chronology.
Akbar: "Greater." Amír: "Lord," "prince," "commander," "governor." Áqá: Title given by Bahá'u'lláh to `Abdu'l-Bahá. A'zam: "The greatest." Báb: "Gate." Title assumed by Mírzá `Alí-Muhammad after the
2

declaration of His Mission in Shíráz in May, 1844, A.D. Bahá: "Glory," "splendour," "light." Title by which Bahá'u'lláh

3

(Mírzá Husayn-`Alí) is designated. Baqíyyatu'lláh: "Remnant of God." Title applied both to the Báb and to

4

Bahá'u'lláh. Bayán: "Utterance," "explanation." Title given by the Báb to His

5

Revelation, particularly to His Books. Big: Honorary title; lower title than Khán Caravanserai: An inn for caravans. Darughih: "High constable." Dawlih: "State," "government." Farmán: "Order," "command," "royal decree." Farrash: "Footman," "lictor," "attendant." Farrash-Bashi: The head farrásh. Farsakh: Unit of measurement. Its length differs in different parts

6

of the country according to the nature of the ground, the local

7 interpretation of the term being the distance which a laden mule will

walk in the hour, which varies from three to four miles. Arabicised

8 from the old Persian "parsang," and supposed to be derived from pieces

of stone (sang) placed on the roadside. Hájí: A Muhammadan who has performed the pilgrimage to Mecca. Howdah: A litter carried by a camel, mule, horse, or elephant for

9

travelling purposes. Il: "Clan." Imám: Title of the twelve shí'ah successors of Muhammad. Also applied

10

to Muslim religious leaders. Imám-Jum'ih: The leading imám in a town or city; chief of the mullás. Imám-Zádih: Descendant of an imám, or his shrine. Jubbih: An upper coat. Ka'bih: Ancient shrine at Mecca. Now recognised as the most holy

11

shrine of Islám. Kad-Khuda: Chief of a ward or parish in a town; headman of a village. Kalantar: "Mayor." Kalím: "One who discourses." Kárbilá'í: A Muhammadan who has performed the pilgrimage to Kárbilá. Khán: "Prince," "lord," "nobleman," "chieftain." Kulah: The Persian lambskin hat worn by government employees

12

and civilians. Madrisih: Religious college. Man-Yuzhiruh'llah: "He whom God will make manifest." Title given by the

13

Báb to the promised One. Mashhadí: A Muhammadan who has performed the pilgrimage to Mashhad. Masjid: Mosque, temple, place of worship. Maydan: A subdivision of a farsakh. A square or open place. Mihdí: Title of the Manifestation expected by Islám. Mihrab: The principal place in a mosque, where the imám prays with

14

his face turned towards Mecca. Mi'ráj: "Ascent"; used with reference to Muhammad's ascension to

15

heaven. Mírzá: A contraction of Amir-Zadih, meaning son of Amír. When affixed

16

to a name, it signifies prince; when prefixed, simply Mr. Mu'adhdhin: The one who sounds the Adhan, the Muhammadan call to

17

prayer. Mujtahid: Muhammadan doctor of law. Most of the mujtahids of Persia

18

have received their diplomas from the most eminent jurists of Kárbilá and Najaf. Mullá: Muhammadan priest. Mustagháth: "He who is invoked"; the numerical value of which has been

19

assigned by the Báb as the limit of the time fixed for the advent of the promised Manifestation. Nabíl: "Learned," "noble." Naw-Rúz: "New Day." Name applied to the Bahá'í New Year's Day;

20

according to the Persian calendar, the day on which the sun enters Aries. Nuqtih: "Point." Pahlaván: "Athlete," "champion." Term applied to brave and muscular

21

men. Qádí: Judge: civil, criminal, and ecclesiastical Qá'im: "He who shall arise." Title designating the promised One of

22

Islám. Qalyan: A pipe for smoking through water. Qiblih: The direction to which people turn in prayer; especially Mecca,

23

the Qiblih of all Muhammadans. Qurban: "Sacrifice." Sáhibu'z-Zamán: "Lord of the Age." One of the titles of the promised Qá'im. Shahid: "Martyr." The plural of martyr is "Shuhada." Shaykhu'l-Islám: Head of religious court, appointed to every large city by

24

the Sháh.
Siyyid: Descendant of the Prophet Muhammad. Súrih: Name of the chapters of the Qur'án. Túman: A sum of money equivalent to a dollar. Valí-`Ahd: "Heir to the throne." Zadih: "Son."

Notes


Previous | Next | Index of this work | List of works | TrueSeeker Home Page