Glossary and Index of Terms

1. Bahá'í entries

1. Lawh (Tablet): Among the Bahá'ís, is the name for a letter sent by Baha Allah. (Vol. I p. 911b)

2. Mashrik al-adhkar (Temple): a term used in the Bahá'í movement for four related concepts: a) In Iran (loosely) to describe early morning gatherings for reading of prayers and sacred writings, b) Generally of any house erected for the purpose of prayer, c) Most widely, to refer to Bahá'í temples, d) In its widest application, to refer to a central temple in conjunction with various dependencies regarded as intrinsic to the over-all institution. These include a school for orphans, hospital and dispensary for the poor, home for the aged, home for the infirm, college of higher education, and traveller's hospice. With the exception of a home for the aged in Wilmette, Illinois, no dependencies have as yet been established. (Vol. I p. 918a; Vol. VI p. 720a)

3. Mazhar (Manifestation): lit. place of outward appearance, hence 'manifestation, theophany', a technical term used in a wide variety of contexts in shi'ism, sufism, Babism, and, in particular, Bahá'ísm, where it is of central theological importance. At its broadest, the term may be applied to any visible appearance or expression of an invisible reality, reflecting the popular contrast between the exoteric (cf. zahir) and the esoteric (cf. batin). In its more limited application, however, it refers to a type of theophany in which the divinity or its attributes are made visible in human form. See "Mazhar [Manifestation]."

   Mazahir-i ilahiyya: the Bahá'í technical term for manifestations of God which feature through the prophets, never cease and are successive. (Vol. I p. 916a; Vol. VI p. 952-953)

4. Nakd al-mithak (Covenant Breaker): In Shi'ism and, more commonly, Bahá'ísm, the act of violating a religious covenant. (Vol. VII p. 921a)

2. Complete glossary