Dawn-Breakers Glossary

Question 1

Define Term:

‘Abá

Answer 1

Cloak or mantle.

Question 2

Define Term:

Adhán

Answer 2

Muslim call to prayer.

Question 3

Define Term:

A.H.

Answer 3

“After Hijirah.” Date of Muḥammad’s migration from Mecca to Medina, and basis of Islámic calendar.

Question 4

Define Term:

Akbar

Answer 4

“Greater.”

Question 5

Define Term:

Amír

Answer 5

“Lord,” “prince,” “commander,” “governor.”

Question 6

Define Term:

Áqá

Answer 6

“Master.” Title given by Bahá’u’lláh to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.

Question 7

Define Term:

‘Aẓam

Answer 7

“The greatest.”

Question 8

Define Term:

Báb

Answer 8

“Gate.” Title assumed by Mírzá ‘Alí-Muḥammad after the declaration of His Mission in Shíráz in May, 1844, A.D.

Question 9

Define Term:

Bahá

Answer 9

“Glory,” “splendour,” “light.” Title by which Bahá’u’lláh (Mírzá Ḥusayn-‘Alí) is designated.

Question 10

Define Term:

Baqíyyatu’lláh

Answer 10

“Remnant of God.” Title applied both to the Báb and to Bahá’u’lláh.

Question 11

Define Term:

Bayán

Answer 11

“Utterance,” “explanation.” Title given by the Báb to His Revelation.

Question 12

Define Term:

Big

Answer 12

Honorary title; lower title than Khán

Question 13

Define Term:

Caravanserai

Answer 13

An inn for caravans.

Question 14

Define Term:

Dárúghih

Answer 14

“High constable.”

Question 15

Define Term:

Dawlih

Answer 15

“State,” “government.”

Question 16

Define Term:

Farmán

Answer 16

“Order,” “command,” “royal decree.”

Question 17

Define Term:

Farrásh

Answer 17

“Footman,” “lictor,” “attendant.”

Question 18

Define Term:

Farrásh-Báshí

Answer 18

The head farrásh.

Question 19

Define Term:

Farsakh

Answer 19

Unit of measurement. From three to four miles.

Question 20

Define Term:

Ḥájí

Answer 20

A Muslim who has performed the pilgrimage to Mecca.

Question 21

Define Term:

Howdah

Answer 21

A litter carried by a camel, mule, horse, or elephant for travelling purposes.

Question 22

Define Term:

Íl

Answer 22

“Clan.”

Question 23

Define Term:

Imám

Answer 23

Title of the twelve shí’ah successors of Muḥammad. Also applied to Muslim religious leaders.

Question 24

Define Term:

Imám-Jum’ih

Answer 24

The leading imám in a town or city; chief of the mullás.

Question 25

Define Term:

Imám-Zádih

Answer 25

Descendant of an imám, or his shrine.

Question 26

Define Term:

Jubbih

Answer 26

An upper coat.

Question 27

Define Term:

Ka‘bih

Answer 27

Ancient shrine at Mecca. Now recognised as the most holy shrine of Islám.

Question 28

Define Term:

Kad-Khudá

Answer 28

Chief of a ward or parish in a town; headman of a village.

Question 29

Define Term:

Kalántar

Answer 29

“Mayor.”

Question 30

Define Term:

Kalím

Answer 30

“One who discourses.”

Question 31

Define Term:

Karbilá’í

Answer 31

A Muḥammadan who has performed the pilgrimage to Karbilá.

Question 32

Define Term:

Khán

Answer 32

“Prince,” “lord,” “nobleman,” “chieftain.”

Question 33

Define Term:

Kuláh

Answer 33

The Persian lambskin hat worn by government employees and civilians.

Question 34

Define Term:

Madrisih

Answer 34

Religious college.

Question 35

Define Term:

Man-Yuzhiruhu’lláh

Answer 35

“He whom God will make manifest.” Title given by the Báb to the promised One.

Question 36

Define Term:

Mashhadí

Answer 36

A Muḥammadan who has performed the pilgrimage to Mashhad.

Question 37

Define Term:

Masjid

Answer 37

Mosque, temple, place of worship.

Question 38

Define Term:

Maydán

Answer 38

A subdivision of a farsakh. A square or open place.

Question 39

Define Term:

Mihdí

Answer 39

Title of the Manifestation expected by Islám.

Question 40

Define Term:

Miḥráb

Answer 40

The principal place in a mosque, where the imám prays with his face turned towards Mecca.

Question 41

Define Term:

Mi’ráj

Answer 41

“Ascent”; used with reference to Muḥammad’s ascension to heaven.

Question 42

Define Term:

Mírzá

Answer 42

A contraction of Amír-Zádih, meaning son of Amír.

When affixed to a name, it signifies prince; when prefixed, simply Mr.

Question 43

Define Term:

Mu’adhdhin

Answer 43

The one who sounds the Adhan, the Muḥammadan call to prayer.

Question 44

Define Term:

Mujtahid

Answer 44

Doctor of law. Most of the mujtahids of Persia have received their diplomas from the most eminent jurists of Karbilá and Najaf.

Question 45

Define Term:

Mullá

Answer 45

Muḥammadan priest.

Question 46

Define Term:

Mustagháth

Answer 46

“He who is invoked”; the numerical value of which has been assigned by the Báb as the limit of the time fixed for the advent of the promised Manifestation.

Question 47

Define Term:

Nabíl

Answer 47

“Learned,” “noble.”

Question 48

Define Term:

Naw-Rúz

Answer 48

“New Day.” Name applied to the Bahá’í New Year’s Day; according to the Persian calendar, the day on which the sun enters Aries.

Question 49

Define Term:

Nuqṭih

Answer 49

“Point.”

Question 50

Define Term:

Pahlaván

Answer 50

“Athlete,” “champion.” Term applied to brave and muscular men.

Question 51

Define Term:

Qáḍí

Answer 51

Judge: civil, criminal, and ecclesiastical

Question 52

Define Term:

Qá’im

Answer 52

“He who shall arise.” Title designating the promised One of Islám.

Question 53

Define Term:

Qalyán

Answer 53

A pipe for smoking through water.

Question 54

Define Term:

Qiblih

Answer 54

The direction to which people turn in prayer; especially Mecca, the Qiblih of all Muḥammadans.

Question 55

Define Term:

Qurbán

Answer 55

“Sacrifice.”

Question 56

Define Term:

Ṣáḥibu’z-Zamán

Answer 56

“Lord of the Age.” One of the titles of the promised Qá’im.

Question 57

Define Term:

Shahíd

Answer 57

“Martyr.” The plural of martyr is “Shuhadá.”

Question 58

Define Term:

Shaykhu’l-Islám

Answer 58

Head of religious court, appointed to every large city by the Sháh.

Question 59

Define Term:

Siyyid

Answer 59

Descendant of the Prophet Muḥammad.

Question 60

Define Term:

Súrih

Answer 60

Name of the chapters of the Qur’án.

Question 61

Define Term:

Túmán

Answer 61

A sum of money equivalent to a dollar.

Question 62

Define Term:

Valí-‘Ahd

Answer 62

“Heir to the throne.”

Question 63

Define Term:

Zádih

Answer 63

“Son.”