BahaiGlossary.org
What is the Bahá'í Glossary?
The Bahá'í vocabulary has many Arabic and Persian words that may be unfamiliar to non-native speakers and newcomers to the Bahá'í Faith. This glossary is designed to help Bahá'ís learn to pronounce these words according to the pronunciation guide established and promoted by Shoghí Effendí.
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Language of Origin: Arabic
`Abdu'l-Bahá as a young man‘Abdu’l-Bahá (May 23, 1844 - Nov. 28, 1921), born `Abbás Effendí, was the eldest son of Bahá'u'lláh, His successor and the authorized interpreter of Bahá'u'lláh’s teachings. Bahá'u'lláh gave ‘Abdu’l-Bahá several titles, including the Most Great Branch, the Mystery of God and the Master. After Bahá'u'lláh’s death, ‘Abbás Effendí chose for himself the title of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, which roughly translates as ‘Servant of the Glory’.
Though ‘Abdu’l-Bahá does not in any way occupy an equivalent station to the Báb or Bahá'u'lláh, Shoghí Effendí explains that He was, "the perfect Exemplar of His Faith…endowed with superhuman knowledge, and to be regarded as the stainless mirror reflecting His (Bahá'u'lláh) light.”
In very simple terms, Bahá’ís consider ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to be the first and only perfect human being. Though He is not worshiped in the Baha’í Faith, He is considered one of its three central figures.
