Bahá’í Glossary
Marzieh Gail
Be sure to pronounce the middle column in the glossary to sound like or rhyme with English, remembering that “a” without accent mark is as in cat and “ar” rhymes with Harry. Ron, Al and Don are pronounced like the boys’ names. Awn rhymes with awning (we freely admit that “aw” is too broad for the Persian sound involved, and “ah” not quite broad enough); do not swallow any letters, and breathe the h’s; Oz sounds like Wizard of Oz.
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‘AbáAb-aweCloak, mantle
‘Abbás-Qulí Khán-i-i-
Láríjání
ab-boss-coolie-con-eh-
lorry-John-ee
Sniper who killed Mullá Ḥusayn
(DB 379), Feb. 1, 1849.
‘Abdu’dh-Dhikrab-doz-zeckrA designation of the Báb.
‘Abdu’l-‘Azízabd-ol-az-easeSultan of Turkey who “with Náṣiri’d-Dín Sháh was the author of the calamities heaped upon Bahá’u’lláh and embodied the concentrated power vested in Sultanate and Caliphate. (GPB 225). 1830–1876; ruled 1861–1876.
‘Abdu’l-BaháAbdol-BaháThe Servant of the Glory. The Center of Bahá’u’lláh’s Covenant; Exemplar and Interpreter of the Bahá’í Faith. “The Most Great Branch,”, the “One Whom God hath purposed.” (GPB 239). Bahá’u’lláh’s “beloved Son … His vicegerent on earth, the Executive of His authority, the Pivot of His Covenant, the Shepherd of His flock, the Exemplar of His faith, the Image of His perfections, the Mystery of His Revelation, the Interpreter of His mind, the Architect of His World Order, the Ensign of His Most Great Peace, the Focal Point of His unerring guidance … occupant of an office without peer or equal in the entire field of religious history ….” (GPB 245). (1844-1921)
‘Abdu’l-Ḥamíd IIab-dol-ham-eed“The Great Assassin.”. Nephew and successor of ‘Abdu’l-‘Azíz and with him responsible for ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s forty years imprisonment. (PDC 61). 1842–1918; Sultan of Turkey 1876 till deposed 1909.
‘Abdu’l-Kháliq-i-Iṣfáháníab-dol-caw-leck-eh-
ess-fa-haw-nee
Man who cut his throat when Ṭáhirih put aside her veil at the Conference of Badasht.
‘Abdu’lláh Khán-i-Turkamánabd-ol-láh-con-eh-tor-cam-awnPerson first charged by the Sháh to destroy the handful of Bábís who had sought refuge at the Shrine of Shaykh Ṭabarsí. He recruited an army of 12,000 men and it was thought he could conquer the believers in “the space of two days”. (DB 360).
‘Abdu’lláh-i-Ubayyabd-ol-láh-heh-obeyPowerful Medinite chief and Muḥammad’s bitter opponent, whose hopes of sovereignty were defeated when the Medinites sent for the Prophet to rule over them. He was the leader of the Hypocrites (munáfiqún) who secretly thwarted and resisted the Prophet at Medina. (Muir, Sir Wm., The Life of Muḥammad, 181).
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