Glossary of Bahá’í terms

This glossary defines the Bahá’í names, books, places and practices that appear in the prayers on this site — from the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh to the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, the Qiblih and the obligatory prayer. Each entry gives a one-sentence definition, a link to related prayers here, and links to authoritative sources for further reading.

Last updated 4 August 2026

Gleanings From The Writings Of Bahá’u’lláh: Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh is a compilation of passages selected and translated by Shoghi Effendi, giving an overview of Bahá’u’lláh’s central teachings.bahai.org bahaipedia.org
Prayers And Meditations Of Bahá’u’lláh: Prayers and Meditations of Bahá’u’lláh is a large collection of His prayers and meditations, compiled and translated by Shoghi Effendi.Prayers on this site bahai.org bahaipedia.org
The Seven Valleys And The Four Valleys: The Seven Valleys and the Four Valleys are mystical works of Bahá’u’lláh describing the stages of the soul’s journey toward God.bahai.org bahaipedia.org
The Secret Of Divine Civilization: The Secret of Divine Civilization is ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s 1875 treatise on the true foundations of social progress, education and just government.bahai.org bahaipedia.org
Epistle To The Son Of The Wolf: Epistle to the Son of the Wolf is the last major work of Bahá’u’lláh, written in 1891, in which He reviews and restates the essence of His message.bahai.org bahaipedia.org
Will And Testament Of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: The Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá is the document that appointed Shoghi Effendi as Guardian and set out the framework of the Bahá’í administrative order.bahai.org bahaipedia.org
Some Answered Questions: Some Answered Questions records ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s table talks in ‘Akká on scripture, philosophy and the nature of the soul.bahai.org bahaipedia.org
Tablets Of Bahá’u’lláh: Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh Revealed after the Kitáb-i-Aqdas gathers the later tablets in which He elaborates the laws and principles of His revelation.Prayers on this site bahai.org bahaipedia.org
The Dawn-Breakers: The Dawn-Breakers is Nabíl’s narrative of the early days of the Bábí Faith, translated into English by Shoghi Effendi.bahai.org bahaipedia.org
God Passes By: God Passes By is Shoghi Effendi’s history of the first hundred years of the Bábí and Bahá’í Faiths, published in 1944.bahai.org bahaipedia.org
Paris Talks: Paris Talks collects the addresses ‘Abdu’l-Bahá gave in Paris in 1911 on spiritual life, unity and the principles of the Bahá’í Faith.bahai.org bahaipedia.org
Kitáb-i-Íqán: The Kitáb-i-Íqán, the Book of Certitude, is Bahá’u’lláh’s principal doctrinal work, explaining the unity of the world’s religions and the meaning of prophecy.bahai.org bahaipedia.org
Kitáb-i-Aqdas: The Kitáb-i-Aqdas, the Most Holy Book, is Bahá’u’lláh’s book of laws, which ordains the obligatory prayers and the Fast.bahai.org bahaipedia.org
The Hidden Words: The Hidden Words is a short collection of ethical and mystical verses revealed by Bahá’u’lláh in Baghdad in 1858.Prayers on this site bahai.org bahaipedia.org
The Bayán: The Bayán is the principal book of laws revealed by the Báb, which announces and prepares the way for “Him Whom God shall make manifest”.bahai.org bahaipedia.org
Bahá’u’lláh: Bahá’u’lláh (1817–1892) is the Prophet-Founder of the Bahá’í Faith, whose writings include most of the prayers on this site.Prayers on this site bahai.org bahaipedia.org
Shrine Of The Báb: The Shrine of the Báb on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel, is the resting place of the Báb and a place of pilgrimage for Bahá’ís.bahai.org bahaipedia.org
The Báb: The Báb (1819–1850) was the Herald of the Bahá’í Faith, who announced the coming of Bahá’u’lláh and revealed prayers of His own.Prayers on this site bahai.org bahaipedia.org
‘Abdu’l-Bahá: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (1844–1921), the eldest son of Bahá’u’lláh, was appointed by Him as the authorized interpreter of His teachings and revealed many well-loved prayers.bahai.org bahaipedia.org
Shoghi Effendi: Shoghi Effendi (1897–1957), the Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith, produced the authorized English translations in which most of these prayers are read today.bahai.org bahaipedia.org
Bahíyyih Khánum: Bahíyyih Khánum (1846–1932), the daughter of Bahá’u’lláh known as the Greatest Holy Leaf, guided the affairs of the Faith during the absences of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi.bahai.org bahaipedia.org
The Universal House Of Justice: The Universal House of Justice, seated in Haifa, is the elected international governing body of the Bahá’í Faith.bahai.org bahaipedia.org
The Bahá’í World Centre: The Bahá’í World Centre in Haifa and ‘Akká, Israel, is the spiritual and administrative heart of the Bahá’í Faith.bahai.org bahaipedia.org
National Spiritual Assembly: A National Spiritual Assembly is the nine-member elected body that guides the affairs of the Bahá’í community in a country.bahai.org bahaipedia.org
Local Spiritual Assembly: A Local Spiritual Assembly is the nine-member elected council that cares for the spiritual and community life of Bahá’ís in a town or city.bahai.org bahaipedia.org
Mashriqu’l-Adhkár: A Mashriqu’l-Adhkár, or Bahá’í House of Worship, is a place open to all where scripture of every religion is read, chanted or sung without sermon or ritual.bahai.org bahaipedia.org
Bahjí: Bahjí, near ‘Akká, is the site of the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh, the most sacred spot on earth for Bahá’ís and the point they face in obligatory prayer.bahai.org bahaipedia.org
‘Akká: ‘Akká (Acre) is the prison city in the Holy Land to which Bahá’u’lláh was exiled in 1868 and where He spent the last years of His life.bahai.org bahaipedia.org
Mount Carmel: Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel, is the site of the Bahá’í World Centre and of the terraced gardens surrounding the Shrine of the Báb.bahai.org bahaipedia.org
The Qiblih: The Qiblih is the point Bahá’ís face while saying an obligatory prayer: the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh at Bahjí, near ‘Akká.bahai.org bahaipedia.org
The Bahá’í Faith: The Bahá’í Faith is an independent world religion founded by Bahá’u’lláh, teaching the oneness of God, of religion and of humanity.Prayers on this site bahai.org bahaipedia.org
Progressive Revelation: Progressive revelation is the Bahá’í teaching that God has guided humanity through a succession of Messengers, each renewing religion for a new age.bahai.org bahaipedia.org
Manifestation Of God: A Manifestation of God is one of the divine Educators — such as Abraham, Moses, Buddha, Christ, Muḥammad, the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh — who reveal God’s will to humanity.bahai.org bahaipedia.org
The Greatest Name: The Greatest Name is the invocation “Alláh-u-Abhá” (God is Most Glorious), repeated ninety-five times daily by Bahá’ís and often shown in calligraphic form.bahai.org bahaipedia.org
Obligatory Prayer: An obligatory prayer is one of three daily prayers revealed by Bahá’u’lláh — short, medium or long — of which a Bahá’í chooses one each day.Prayers on this site bahai.org bahaipedia.org
Ablutions: Ablutions are the simple washing of the hands and face performed before saying an obligatory prayer, a symbol of inner purification.bahai.org bahaipedia.org
Tablet: A Tablet is a letter or scriptural text revealed by Bahá’u’lláh, the Báb or ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, often addressed to an individual or community.Prayers on this site bahai.org bahaipedia.org
Pilgrimage: Bahá’í pilgrimage is a nine-day visit to the holy places in Haifa and ‘Akká, undertaken by Bahá’ís from around the world.bahai.org bahaipedia.org
The Covenant: The Covenant is the binding agreement, set out by Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, that preserves the unity of the Bahá’í community through a clear line of authority.bahai.org bahaipedia.org
Consultation: Consultation is the Bahá’í method of frank, unifying group decision-making in which ideas belong to the group rather than to individuals.bahai.org bahaipedia.org
The Bahá’í Calendar: The Bahá’í (Badí‘) calendar has nineteen months of nineteen days, beginning at Naw-Rúz and including the Fast and the Intercalary Days.bahai.org bahaipedia.org
Ayyám-i-Há: Ayyám-i-Há, the Intercalary Days, are the four or five days of hospitality, gift-giving and charity that immediately precede the Fast.bahai.org bahaipedia.org
The Nineteen Day Feast: The Nineteen Day Feast is the regular gathering of a Bahá’í community for devotions, consultation and fellowship.Prayers on this site bahai.org bahaipedia.org
The Fast: The Fast is the nineteen-day period each March when Bahá’ís abstain from food and drink between sunrise and sunset.Prayers on this site bahai.org bahaipedia.org
Naw-Rúz: Naw-Rúz is the Bahá’í new year, celebrated at the spring equinox immediately after the Fast.bahai.org bahaipedia.org
Riḍván: Riḍván is the twelve-day festival marking Bahá’u’lláh’s declaration of His mission in a garden near Baghdad in 1863.bahai.org bahaipedia.org