Babi: Follower of the Bab.
Badasht: A conference of Babis in a village on the borders of Mazindaran in 1848, convened and guided by Baha'u'llah, which established the independent nature of the Faith of the Bab.
Badi: Literally ‘Unique, wonderful’: title given by Baha'u'llah to Aqa Bozurg of Khurasan, the seventeen-year-old youth who delivered Baha’u’llah's tablet to Nasirid-Din Shah. Baha’u’llah praised his heroism and gave him the title "Pride of Martyrs." (see God Passes By, p.199)
Baghdad: Founded by the Caliph Al-Mansur in 762 A.D. on the site of a Christian village on the western bank of the Tigris. It remained for 500 years the seat of the Abbasid Government.
Baha: Literally, "Glory", "Splendor", “Light”, a title by which Baha’u’llah (Mirza Husayn-'Ali) is designated. This was the name by which He was known before He declared Himself as the Promised One of the Bab.
Baha'i Era (BE): The period of the Baha'i calendar beginning with the Declaration of the Bab on 23 May 1844, and expected to last until the next appearance of a Manifestation (Prophet) of God after the expiration of at leas 1,000 years.
Baha’i World Center: The spiritual and administrative center of the Baha’i Faith, comprising the holy places in the Haifa-Acre area and the Arc of administrative buildings on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel.
Baha'i: A follower of Baha'u'llah.
Baha'i International Community: A name used generally in reference to the worldwide Baha’i community and officially in that country’s external relations. In the latter context, the Baha'i International Community is an association of the National Spiritual Assemblies throughout the world and functions as an international nongovernmental organization. Its offices include its Secretariat at the Baha'i World Centre, a United Nations Office in New York with a branch in Geneva, an Office of Public Information, an Office of the Environment, and an Office for the Advancement of Women.
Baha’i World Commonwealth: The future commonwealth of the nations of the world envisaged in the Baha’i writings. It will include a federal system of governance, to which all national governments will be accountable, a system of international communication; an international auxiliary language; a world script and literature; a uniform and universal system of currency, weights, and measures; and an integrated economic system with coordinated markets and regulated channels of distribution.
Bahji: Arabic for “delight". The name of the property north-east of the city of Acre where Baha’u’llah lived from 1880 until His ascension in 1892, and where His shrine is now situated. It is a place of pilgrimage for Baha’is which comprise the Shrine of Baha’u’llah, the mansion which was His last residence, and the surrounding gardens that serve to beautify the site. Baha’u’llah’s shrine is the point to which Baha'is turn in prayer.
Baqiyyatu’llah: “Remnant of God.” Title applied to the Bab and Baha’u’llah.
Bastinado: A form of corporal punishment in which the soles of the feet are exposed and beaten with a stick.
Batha: Mecca
Bayan: Literally, “Explanation, exposition, utterance”. Title given by the Bab to His Revelation, particularly to His Books. The Persian Bayan, revealed by the Bab in the fortress of Mah-Ku is His chief doctrinal work. It is described in God Passes By (pp. 24-25) as a "monumental repository of the laws and precepts of the new Dispensation and the treasury enshrining most of the Bab's references and tributes to, as well as His warning regarding, ‘Him Whom God will make manifest’” (Baha’u’llah) …this Book of about eight thousand verses, occupying a pivotal position in Babi literature, should be regarded primarily as a eulogy of the Promised One rather than a code of laws and ordinances designed to be a permanent guide to future generations." The Bab also wrote "the smaller and less weighty Arabic Bayan."
Bifarma’id: Persian version of Arabic Bismillah, meaning “Please”. It is used when inviting those present to participate in an activity
Bihar: Reference to Shi’ih tradition.
Biharu’l-Anvar: A compilation of Shi’ih traditions
Biruni: Outer quarters, or men's quarters, in a Persian home
Bismillah: (Arabic). Literally means: ‘In the name of God’. In the 19th century Middle East, it was often used as 'Please'. It is used when inviting those present to participate in an activity.
Black Elk: (1863-1950) An Oglala Lakota Sioux Indian who was a holy man among the Lakota. He had a prophetic vision about the destiny of his people.
Black Pit: (Siyah-Chal): The subterranean dungeon of Tehran which Baha’u’llah was imprisoned August-December 1852 and in which He received the first intimations of His divine mission.
Black Standard: According to Islamic tradition, the flag alluded to by Muhammad that would one day signify the advent of the promised Mihdi.
Book of the Covenant: A translation of Kitab-i-‘Ahd or Kitab-i-‘Ahdi, meaning "the Book of the, or My, Covenant": Baha’u’llah’s last will and testament, written in His own hand, it designates 'Abdu'l-Baha as His successor and the Center of His Covenant and provides for the continuation of divine authority over the affairs of the Baha’i Faith in the future.
Book of Fatimih: The book revealed by Gabriel for Fatimih, the daughter of Prophet Muhammad, as consolation after her Father's death. It is believed by Shi'ih Islam that this book would be in the possession of the Qa’im, their Promised One. This book is identified in the Baha’i Faith with the Hidden Words, revealed by Baha’u’llah.
Big: Honorary title; lower than Khan
Branch or branches: A description referring to the male members of Baha’u’llah’s family.
British mandate: Authorization given to Great Britain by the League of Nations to govern parts of the former territories of the Ottoman Empire after World War I. These territories included Iraq and Palestine.
Burning Bush: See Exod. 3.V.2. Symbolic of God's presence in the heart of Moses.
