Baháʼí symbols
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There are several symbols used to express identification with the Baháʼí Faith: the nine-pointed star, a calligraphy known as the "Greatest Name", the Ringstone Symbol, or a five-pointed star.
Nine-pointed star
According to the
The number 9 also comes up several times in Baháʼí history and teachings. On the significance of the number 9, Shoghi Effendi wrote:
Concerning the number nine: the Baháʼí's reverence this for two reasons, first because it is considered by those interested in numbers as the sign of perfection. The second consideration, which is the more important one, is that it is the numerical value of the word "Bahá"[.]
Besides these two significances the number nine has no other meaning. It is, however, enough to make the Baháʼís use it when an arbitrary number is to be chosen.[2]
Its use on gravestone markers was approved by Shoghi Effendi, then head of the religion, in 1944.[3]
On 13 September 2022, the symbol was added to Unicode as U+1F7D9 🟙 NINE POINTED WHITE STAR.
Five-pointed star
The
Haykal is a loan word from the
Baháʼu'lláh wrote the Súriy-i-Haykal (Tablet of the Temple) in the shape of a five-pointed star.[6] While the meaning of temple remains present, the haykal is used mainly to mean the human body, but particularly the body of the Manifestation of God — a messenger from God — and the person of Baháʼu'lláh himself.[7] In the Tablet, the haykal is also used to refer to the word of God, which is revealed by the Manifestations of God.[11] He also says in the same Tablet:
"O Living Temple! We have, in very truth,...ordained Thee to be the emblem of My Cause betwixt the heavens and the earth..."[12]
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Haykal by the Báb written in his own hand.
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An unidentified tablet in the Báb's handwriting.
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An unidentified tablet in the Báb's handwriting.
The Greatest Name
In Islam,
Baháʼu'lláh often referred to Baháʼís in his writings as "the people of Baháʼ". The Báb sent a tablet to Baháʼu'lláh with 360 derivatives of the word Baháʼ.[13][14] Along with daily prayers, Baháʼís are encouraged to recite the phrase "Alláh-u-Abhá" 95 times in a form of meditation.[15]
The symbol known as Greatest Name is a calligraphic rendering of "Yá Baháʼu'l-Abhá" (
Since the symbol refers more directly to the Name of God and the Manifestation of God than any other symbol in the Baháʼí Faith, it is not generally used casually or to adorn the personal artifacts that are put to common use.[16] The symbol can usually be seen in Baháʼí homes and rings that are produced on a limited scale.[16]
Ringstone symbol
The Ringstone Symbol was designed by ʻAbdu'l-Bahá,
Notes
- ^ a b c d Smith 2000, pp. 167–168.
- ^ On behalf of Shoghi Effendi, published in Hornby 1983, p. 414
- ^ Universal House of Justice 1999.
- ^ Effendi 1973, p. 52.
- ^ Momen 2019.
- ^ a b Bayat 2001.
- ^ a b c Walbridge 1995, pp. 165–169.
- ^ Faizi 1968, pp. 19.
- ^ Riggs 1981, pp. 70.
- ^ Faizi 1968, pp. 9.
- ^ Taherzadeh 1984, pp. 134.
- ^ Baháʼu'lláh 2002, p. 21.
- ^ Riggs 1981, pp. 126.
- ^ Lambden 1993.
- ^ Smith 2000, pp. 274–5.
- ^ a b Hornby 1983, pp. 267–268.
- ^ Faizi 1968, pp. 11.
- ^ ʻAbdu'l-Bahá, published in Hornby 1983, p. 271
- .
References
- ISBN 0-85398-976-1.
- Bayat, Mohamad Ghasem (2001). "An Introduction to the Súratu'l-Haykal (Discourse of The Temple)". Lights of Irfan.
- Buck, Christopher (1999). Paradise and Paradigm. ISBN 9780791497944– via Baháʼí Library Online.
- Collins, William (1990). "Sacred Mythology and the Baháʼí Faith" (PDF). Journal of Baháʼí Studies. 2 (4): 1–15. doi:10.31581/JBS-2.4.1(1990). Archived from the original(PDF) on 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2016-06-24.
- Effendi, Shoghi (1973). Directives from the Guardian. Hawaii Baháʼí Publishing Trust.
- Faizi, Abu'l-Qasim (1968). Explanation of the Symbol of the Greatest Name. New Delhi: India Baháʼí Publishing Trust – via Baháʼí Library Online.
- Hatcher, John S. (1997). The Ocean of His Words: A Reader's Guide to the Art of Baháʼu'lláh. Wilmette, Illinois, USA: Baháʼí Publishing Trust. ISBN 0-87743-259-7.
- Hornby, Helen, ed. (1983). Lights of Guidance: A Baháʼí Reference File. New Delhi: India Baháʼí Publishing Trust. ISBN 81-85091-46-3– via Baháʼí Library Online.
- Lambden, Stephen (1993). "The Word Baháʼ: Quintessence of the Greatest Name". Baháʼí Studies Review. 3 (1) – via Baháʼí Library Online.
- MacEoin, Denis (1997). Hinnells, John R. (ed.). A New Handbook of Living Religions. Blackwell Publishers. ISBN 0-631-18275-6.
- Momen, Moojan (2019). "The Star Tablet of the Bab". British Library Blog.
- Rabbani, Ruhiyyih (1984). The Desire of the World: Materials for the Contemplation of God and His Manifestation for This Day. Oxford, UK: George Ronald.
- Riggs, Robert F. (1981). Apocalyspe Unsealed. New York: Philosophical Library. ISBN 0-8022-2367-2.
- Saiedi, Nader (2000). Logos and Civilization - Spirit, History, and Order in the Writings of Baháʼu'lláh. USA: University Press of Maryland and Association for Baha'i Studies. OL 8685020M.
- Smith, Peter (2000). A concise encyclopedia of the Baháʼí Faith. Oxford: Oneworld Publications. ISBN 1-85168-184-1.
- ISBN 0-85398-144-2.
- Universal House of Justice (1999-01-24). "The Nine-Pointed Star: History and Symbolism". Baháʼí Library Online. Retrieved Sep 14, 2014.
- Walbridge, John (1995), Sacred Acts, Sacred Space, Sacred Time, Oxford: George Ronald, ISBN 0-85398-406-9
External links
- The Art of the Greatest Name
- The Nine-Pointed Star, History and Symbolism - by the Universal House of Justice, 1999
- Story of the Ringstone Symbol
- Greatest Name Song and Poem Site used with permission, a public site