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Baháʼí symbols

January 01, 1970

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.

Calligraphy of the Greatest Name

Nine-pointed star edit

See also: Hurufism
 

According to the Abjad system of isopsephy, the word Baháʼ has a numerical equivalence of 9, and thus there is frequent use of the number 9 in Baháʼí symbols.[1] The most commonly used symbol connected to the number 9 is the nine-pointed star,  ; there is no particular design of the nine-pointed star that is used more often than others. While the star is not a part of the teachings of the Baháʼí Faith, it is commonly used as an emblem representing "9", because of the association of number 9 with perfection, unity and Baháʼ.

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 edit

The five-pointed star, or haykal (Arabic: temple) is a symbol of the Baháʼí Faith as mentioned by Shoghi Effendi, head of the Baháʼí Faith in the first half of the 20th century: "Strictly speaking the 5-pointed star is the symbol of our Faith, as used by the Báb and explained by Him."[4] The five-pointed star has been used as the outline of special letters or tablets by both the Báb[5] and Baháʼu'lláh.[6]

Haykal is a loan word from the Hebrew word hēyḵāl, which means temple and specifically Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem. In Arabic, the word also means the body or form of something, particularly the human body.[7] In the Baháʼí tradition, the haykal was established by the Báb — and represents the human body as a head, two hands, and two feet.[7][8] The Báb wrote many letters, tablets, prayers and more in the shape of a five-pointed star, including some that included many derivatives of the word Baháʼ (see below).[9][10]

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]

  •  
    Haykal by the Báb written in his own hand.
  •  
    An unidentified tablet in the Báb's handwriting.
  •  
    An unidentified tablet in the Báb's handwriting.

The Greatest Name edit

 
The word Baháʼ

In Islam, God has 99 names, and in some Muslim traditions it is believed that there is a special hidden 100th name, which is the greatest.[1] In the Baháʼí Faith, this 'Greatest Name' is Baháʼ (بهاء), translated as "glory, splendour.[1] Many symbols of the Baháʼí Faith derive their significance from the word Baháʼ. It is the root word used in many other names and phrases including Baháʼí (a follower of Baháʼ), Baháʼu'lláh "Glory of God", ʻAbdu'l-Bahá "Servant of Glory", Yá Baháʼu'l-Abhá "O Thou Glory of the Most Glorious", and Alláh-u-Abhá "God is Most Glorious".

 
Calligraphy of the Greatest Name

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]

 
Arabic letters in the Greatest Name

The symbol known as Greatest Name is a calligraphic rendering of "Yá Baháʼu'l-Abhá" (Arabic: يا بهاء الأبهى, romanized: Yā bahāʾ al-Abhá, lit. 'most glorious splendour!'), usually translated as "O Thou the Glory of the Most Glorious!"). This rendering was originally drawn by the early Baháʼí calligrapher Mishkín-Qalam,[1] and later adopted by Baháʼís everywhere.

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 edit

 
An artistic representation of the Baháʼí Ringstone Symbol
 
Ringstone Symbol on jewelry

The Ringstone Symbol was designed by ʻAbdu'l-Bahá,[17] and, as its name implies, is the most common symbol found on rings worn by Baháʼís, but it is also used on necklaces, book covers, and paintings. It consists of two stars (haykal) interspersed with a stylized Baháʼ. The lower line is said to represent humanity and the world of creation, the upper line the world of God, and the middle line represents the special station of Manifestation of God and the world of revelation; the vertical line is the primal will or Holy Spirit proceeding from God through the manifestations to humanity. The position of Manifestation of God in this symbol is said to be the linking point to God. The two stars or haykals represent Baháʼu'lláh and the Báb.[18] It is also probably no coincidence that the shape of the symbol bears similarity to the Chinese characters for king 王, Jade Emperor 玉帝, and master 主.[19]

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b c d Smith 2000, pp. 167–168.
  2. ^ On behalf of Shoghi Effendi, published in Hornby 1983, p. 414
  3. ^ Universal House of Justice 1999.
  4. ^ Effendi 1973, p. 52.
  5. ^ Momen 2019.
  6. ^ a b Bayat 2001.
  7. ^ a b c Walbridge 1995, pp. 165–169.
  8. ^ Faizi 1968, pp. 19.
  9. ^ Riggs 1981, pp. 70.
  10. ^ Faizi 1968, pp. 9.
  11. ^ Taherzadeh 1984, pp. 134.
  12. ^ Baháʼu'lláh 2002, p. 21.
  13. ^ Riggs 1981, pp. 126.
  14. ^ Lambden 1993.
  15. ^ Smith 2000, pp. 274–5.
  16. ^ a b Hornby 1983, pp. 267–268.
  17. ^ Faizi 1968, pp. 11.
  18. ^ ʻAbdu'l-Bahá, published in Hornby 1983, p. 271
  19. ^ Hemmat, Amrollah (June 2016). "The Concept of the Manifestation of God in Chinese Symbolism: An Inter-civilizational Hermeneutic Study". The Journal of Baháʼí Studies. 26 (1–2): 55–89. doi:10.31581/jbs-26.12.4(2016).

References edit

  • Baháʼu'lláh (2002) [composed 1868]. The Summons of the Lord of Hosts. Haifa, Israel: Baháʼí World Centre. 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. SUNY Press. ISBN 9780791497944 – via Baháʼí Library Online.
  • Collins, William (1990). (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. ISBN 1883053609. OL 8685020M.
  • Smith, Peter (2000). A concise encyclopedia of the Baháʼí Faith. Oxford: Oneworld Publications. ISBN 1-85168-184-1.
  • Taherzadeh, Adib (1984). The Revelation of Baháʼu'lláh, Volume 3: 'Akka, The Early Years 1868-77. Oxford, UK: George Ronald. 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 edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Baháʼí symbols.
  • The Art of the Greatest Name
  • - by the Universal House of Justice, 1999
  • Greatest Name Song and Poem Site used with permission, a public site

January 01, 1970
baháʼí, symbols, this, article, rely, excessively, sources, closely, associated, with, subject, potentially, preventing, article, from, being, verifiable, neutral, please, help, improve, replacing, them, with, more, appropriate, citations, reliable, independen. This article may rely excessively on sources too closely associated with the subject potentially preventing the article from being verifiable and neutral Please help improve it by replacing them with more appropriate citations to reliable independent third party sources February 2021 Learn how and when to remove this message There are several symbols used to express identification with the Bahaʼi Faith the nine pointed star a calligraphy known as the Greatest Name the Ringstone Symbol or a five pointed star Calligraphy of the Greatest Name Contents 1 Nine pointed star 2 Five pointed star 3 The Greatest Name 4 Ringstone symbol 5 Notes 6 References 7 External linksNine pointed star editSee also Hurufism nbsp According to the Abjad system of isopsephy the word Bahaʼ has a numerical equivalence of 9 and thus there is frequent use of the number 9 in Bahaʼi symbols 1 The most commonly used symbol connected to the number 9 is the nine pointed star nbsp there is no particular design of the nine pointed star that is used more often than others While the star is not a part of the teachings of the Bahaʼi Faith it is commonly used as an emblem representing 9 because of the association of number 9 with perfection unity and Bahaʼ The number 9 also comes up several times in Bahaʼi history and teachings On the significance of the number 9 Shoghi Effendi wrote Concerning the number nine the Bahaʼi 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 Baha Besides these two significances the number nine has no other meaning It is however enough to make the Bahaʼis 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 editThe five pointed star or haykal Arabic temple is a symbol of the Bahaʼi Faith as mentioned by Shoghi Effendi head of the Bahaʼi Faith in the first half of the 20th century Strictly speaking the 5 pointed star is the symbol of our Faith as used by the Bab and explained by Him 4 The five pointed star has been used as the outline of special letters or tablets by both the Bab 5 and Bahaʼu llah 6 Haykal is a loan word from the Hebrew word heyḵal which means temple and specifically Solomon s Temple in Jerusalem In Arabic the word also means the body or form of something particularly the human body 7 In the Bahaʼi tradition the haykal was established by the Bab and represents the human body as a head two hands and two feet 7 8 The Bab wrote many letters tablets prayers and more in the shape of a five pointed star including some that included many derivatives of the word Bahaʼ see below 9 10 Bahaʼu llah wrote the Suriy 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 Bahaʼu llah 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 nbsp Haykal by the Bab written in his own hand nbsp An unidentified tablet in the Bab s handwriting nbsp An unidentified tablet in the Bab s handwriting The Greatest Name edit nbsp The word Bahaʼ In Islam God has 99 names and in some Muslim traditions it is believed that there is a special hidden 100th name which is the greatest 1 In the Bahaʼi Faith this Greatest Name is Bahaʼ بهاء translated as glory splendour 1 Many symbols of the Bahaʼi Faith derive their significance from the word Bahaʼ It is the root word used in many other names and phrases including Bahaʼi a follower of Bahaʼ Bahaʼu llah Glory of God ʻAbdu l Baha Servant of Glory Ya Bahaʼu l Abha O Thou Glory of the Most Glorious and Allah u Abha God is Most Glorious nbsp Calligraphy of the Greatest Name Bahaʼu llah often referred to Bahaʼis in his writings as the people of Bahaʼ The Bab sent a tablet to Bahaʼu llah with 360 derivatives of the word Bahaʼ 13 14 Along with daily prayers Bahaʼis are encouraged to recite the phrase Allah u Abha 95 times in a form of meditation 15 nbsp Arabic letters in the Greatest Name The symbol known as Greatest Name is a calligraphic rendering of Ya Bahaʼu l Abha Arabic يا بهاء الأبهى romanized Ya bahaʾ al Abha lit most glorious splendour usually translated as O Thou the Glory of the Most Glorious This rendering was originally drawn by the early Bahaʼi calligrapher Mishkin Qalam 1 and later adopted by Bahaʼis everywhere Since the symbol refers more directly to the Name of God and the Manifestation of God than any other symbol in the Bahaʼi 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 Bahaʼi homes and rings that are produced on a limited scale 16 Ringstone symbol edit nbsp An artistic representation of the Bahaʼi Ringstone Symbol nbsp Ringstone Symbol on jewelry The Ringstone Symbol was designed by ʻAbdu l Baha 17 and as its name implies is the most common symbol found on rings worn by Bahaʼis but it is also used on necklaces book covers and paintings It consists of two stars haykal interspersed with a stylized Bahaʼ The lower line is said to represent humanity and the world of creation the upper line the world of God and the middle line represents the special station of Manifestation of God and the world of revelation the vertical line is the primal will or Holy Spirit proceeding from God through the manifestations to humanity The position of Manifestation of God in this symbol is said to be the linking point to God The two stars or haykals represent Bahaʼu llah and the Bab 18 It is also probably no coincidence that the shape of the symbol bears similarity to the Chinese characters for king 王 Jade Emperor 玉帝 and master 主 19 Notes edit 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 Bahaʼu llah 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 Baha published in Hornby 1983 p 271 Hemmat Amrollah June 2016 The Concept of the Manifestation of God in Chinese Symbolism An Inter civilizational Hermeneutic Study The Journal of Bahaʼi Studies 26 1 2 55 89 doi 10 31581 jbs 26 12 4 2016 References editBahaʼu llah 2002 composed 1868 The Summons of the Lord of Hosts Haifa Israel Bahaʼi World Centre ISBN 0 85398 976 1 Bayat Mohamad Ghasem 2001 An Introduction to the Suratu l Haykal Discourse of The Temple Lights of Irfan Buck Christopher 1999 Paradise and Paradigm SUNY Press ISBN 9780791497944 via Bahaʼi Library Online Collins William 1990 Sacred Mythology and the Bahaʼi Faith PDF Journal of Bahaʼi 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 Bahaʼi Publishing Trust Faizi Abu l Qasim 1968 Explanation of the Symbol of the Greatest Name New Delhi India Bahaʼi Publishing Trust via Bahaʼi Library Online Hatcher John S 1997 The Ocean of His Words A Reader s Guide to the Art of Bahaʼu llah Wilmette Illinois USA Bahaʼi Publishing Trust ISBN 0 87743 259 7 Hornby Helen ed 1983 Lights of Guidance A Bahaʼi Reference File New Delhi India Bahaʼi Publishing Trust ISBN 81 85091 46 3 via Bahaʼi Library Online Lambden Stephen 1993 The Word Bahaʼ Quintessence of the Greatest Name Bahaʼi Studies Review 3 1 via Bahaʼi 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 Bahaʼu llah USA University Press of Maryland and Association for Baha i Studies ISBN 1883053609 OL 8685020M Smith Peter 2000 A concise encyclopedia of the Bahaʼi Faith Oxford Oneworld Publications ISBN 1 85168 184 1 Taherzadeh Adib 1984 The Revelation of Bahaʼu llah Volume 3 Akka The Early Years 1868 77 Oxford UK George Ronald ISBN 0 85398 144 2 Universal House of Justice 1999 01 24 The Nine Pointed Star History and Symbolism Bahaʼi Library Online Retrieved Sep 14 2014 Walbridge John 1995 Sacred Acts Sacred Space Sacred Time Oxford George Ronald ISBN 0 85398 406 9External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bahaʼi symbols 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 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bahaʼi symbols amp oldid 1222651591 The Greatest Name, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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