Bahá’í Glossary
Marzieh Gail
‘Abdu’l-Majidabd-ol-ma-jeedSultan of Turkey 1839–1861. Born 1823.
Abjadab-jad“The name of an arithmetical arrangement of the alphabet, the letters of which have different powers [numerical values] from one to one thousand. It is in the order of the alphabet as used by the Jews as far as 400, the six remaining letters being added by the Arabians.” (Hughes).
Abraham“Father of a Multitude”. An inhabitant of Ur in Chaldee, who founded the Jewish nation. Ancestor of Bahá’u’lláh through Katurah. This Manifestation of God is also called the Friend of God and the Father of the Faithful. (GPB 94).
Abú-‘Abdi’lláh (or Abí—for grammatical reasons)aboo-ab-del-láhDesignation of the sixth Imám, Ja‘far-i-Ṣádiq (the Veridical), great-grandson of al-Husayn. Died A.D. 765, poisoned by Manṣúr, the ‘Abbásid Caliph.
Abú-‘Alí Síná, also Ibn-i-Sinaaboo-alley-seen-awAvicenna, 980–1037?, Persian physician and philosopher. The Shifá’ and the Qánún or Canon of Medicine are his most famous works.
Abú-Dharaboo-zar
(ar as in Harry)
The shepherd who became a Companion of Muḥammad; celebrated for piety and asceticism, he preached the equality of all believers and denounced luxury. Claimed as a precursor by Muslim mystics. Bahá’u’lláh speaks of him as becoming “a prince of nations” SW 19.
Abú-Ja‘faraboo-ja-far
(ar as in Harry)
This is the Kunyih or designation of the fifth Imám, Muḥammad-Báqir (AD. 676–731). SW 113. Ab (or abu) means father.
Abú Jahlaboo-ja-hlThe Father of Ignorance, Muslim surname of Muḥammad’s bitter opponent, his uncle and an influential Meccan called Abu’l-Hikam, the Father of Wisdoms. Killed at Badr, he is said to have been called by Muḥammad “the Pharaoh of his people.”
Abú Naṣraboo-nass-rAl-Fárábí, whom Browne calls the “greatest philosopher of Islam before Avicenna.” d.A.D. 950. Nicholson adds, “He devoted himself to the study of Aristotle, whom Moslems agree with Dante in regarding as ‘il maestro di color che sanno.’”
Abu’l-Ḥasan-‘Alíaboo-hass-san-alee“Last of the Four Gates.” See Abváb-i-Arba‘ih, DB Liii. Dying, he refused to name a successor, saying that God had another plan.
Abu’l-Qásim-i-Káshíabol-caw-sem-eh-caw-
shee
A believer martyred through the decrée pronounced by Mírzá Yaḥyá. (SW 176).
Abváb-i-Arba‘ihab-vob-eh-ar-ba…ehThe Four Gates. Successive emissaries, for 69 years after the “disappearance,” i.e. death, of the 12th Imám in 260 A.H., between the “Hidden Imám” and the people.
5