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:
Siyyid `Alí Muḥammad Shírází (October 20, 1819 – July 9, 1850) was the founder of the Babí Faith. At the age of 24, He proclaimed Himself to be the promised Qá'im (the Twelfth Imám) of Islám and gave Himself the title, the Báb (Gate). His mission was to spiritually prepare the people of the world for the advent of another Manifestation of God who He referred to as 'Him Whom God shall make manifest.' The civil and religious leadership of Persia rose up against the Báb and His followers, determined to exterminate the Bábí Faith. The Báb himself was tortured and imprisoned, and was eventually executed by a firing squad of 750 men. Bahá'ís consider the Báb to be the forerunner of Bahá'u'lláh and a Manifestation of God in His own right. The Báb is considered to be the Herald of Bahá'u'lláh and His writings are viewed as Divine in origin. His primary written works are the Persian and Arabic Bayán, the Kitab-i-Asmá', the Qayyúmu'l-Asmá' and the Dalá'il-i-Sab'ih. The Bahá'í Era begins on May 23, 1844, the date of the Báb's declaration to the first of His disciples.
