Bahá’í glossary of Arabic & Fársí transliteration Contents

Z..

Za, Ze, Zal Zá’, Z or Ze, Zál Pers. letters transliterated as ẓ, z and dh

Za’faran Za‘farán saffron (“The Blessed Tree in the land of Za‘farán referreth to the land which is flourishing, blessed, holy and all-perfumed, where that Tree hath been planted.”)

Za’ir, Za’run, Zuwwar Zá’ir, pl. Zá’irún, Zuwwár visitor, caller, guest

Za’ira, Za’irat, Zuwwar Zá’ira, pl. Zá’irát, Zuwwar fem. visitor, caller, guest

Za’irpur Zá’irpúr Ṭúbá Zá’irpúr (MUHJ 573)

Zabadanih Zabádánih (Zabadaneh) village not far from Damascus

Zabihu’llah Zabíḥu’lláh Pers. (Ar. Dhabíḥu’lláh)

Zabul Zábul in Khurasan province

Zadih, Zadihzad Zádih, -zád (suffix) Pers. born of, son of, offspring

Zafar Ẓafar victory, triumph

Zafir Ẓáfir victorious, triumphant; successful; victor, conqueror

Zafira Ẓafira to be successful, succeed, be victorious, be triumphant; conquer, vanquish, defeat, overcome, surmount

Zagh va Bulbul Zágh va Bulbul Tablet of (the Raven and the Nightingale) In Persian literature the raven’s coarse croak is symbolic of evil while the owl is a symbol of doom and ruin.

Zagh Zágh Pers. a crow, raven, rook; a sort of pigeon; vitriol; sedition, mutiny; bias, inclination; name of a note in music; a name for a created being

Zahara, Zuhur Ẓahara, Ẓuhúr to be or become visible, perceptible, distinct, manifest, clear, apparent, evident, obvious (to someone), come to light, appear, manifest itself, come into view, show, emerge, crop up; to appear, seem. Term used by Bahá’u’lláh (“Manifestation” or “advent”) instead of Rasúl or Nabíl

Zahid, Zuhhad Záhid, pl. Zuhhád abstemious, abstinent, continent, self-denying; ascetic

Zahidan (Zaidan, Zaydan) Záhidán city near the border in the SE of Iran.

Zahir Záhir shining, luminous, radiant, brilliant; bright

Zahir, Zawahir Ẓáhir, pl. Ẓawáhir (of God) mastering, knowing (something); visible, perceptible, distinct, manifest, obvious, conspicuous, clear, patent, evident, apparent; external, exterior, outward; seeming, presumed, ostensible, alleged; outside, exterior, surface; outskirts, periphery (of a city); (gram.) substantive;—pl. external sense, literal meaning (specif., of Qur’án and Prophetic Tradition)

Zahiran Ẓáhiran externally, outwardly; seemingly, presumably, ostensibly, allegedly. See Báṭin, ta’wíl

Zahiri Ẓáhirí external or literal

Zahiru’l-‘Umar Ẓáhiru’l-‘Umar Recognized by Turkish authorities as Governor of ‘Akká from about 1750 to 1775.

Zahr, Zahra, Zuhur Zahr, pl. Zuhúr Alt. pl. Azhur, Azhár, Azáhir, Azáhír. flowers; blossoms. Elative fem. Zahrá

Zahra, Zahrun, Zahrat Zahra, Zahrun, pl. Zahrát flower, blossom; splendour, beauty

Zahru’l-Kufih Ẓahru’l-Kúfih (Baghdád)

Zakah (Zakat), Zakan, Zakawat Zakáh, Pers. Zakát, pl. Zakan, Zakawát purity; justness, integrity, honesty; justification, vindication; alms-giving, alms, charity; alms tax

Zakariyyay-i-Qadi-Kala'i Zakaríyyáy-i-Qáḍí-Kalá’í DB 379, 429

Zakata Zakáta to give alms

Zakiy, Dhakiy Zakíy, Dhakíy, pl. Azkiyá pure; chaste; guiltless, blameless, sinless

Zakiyyih Zakíyyih Pers. form of Zakíy “Virtuous”

Zalam Ẓalám evildoer, villain, malefactor, rogue, scoundrel, tyrant, oppressor

Zalamina Ẓalámína unjust Qur’án 26:209

Zalamun Ẓalámún oppressors, wrongdoers (Qur’án 5:45, 4:75; Making the crooked straight p. 45)

Zalim, Zalun, Zullam, Zalama Ẓálim pl. Ẓálimún, Ẓullám, Ẓalama unjust, unfair, iniquitous, tyrannical, oppressing; tyrant, oppressor; offender, transgressor, sinner. Náẓimu'sh-Sharí‘ah was known as Ẓálim, the Tyrant.

Zalzala (Zalzalah), Zalazil Zalzala, pl. Zalázil earthquake

Zaman, Azmina Zamán, pl. Azmina time; duration; fortune, late, destiny. World of time or age. See Ṣáḥibu’z-Zamán, Lord of the Age.

Zamin Zamín Pers. Earth, ground; floor; land, soil; a region, country; the pavement at the bottom of a pond or cistern; the ground of a picture; (adv.) on the ground or floor

Zamzam Zamzam Sacred well within the precincts of the Great Mosque at Mecca.

Zan, Zanan Zan, pl. Zanán Pers. a woman; a lady; a bride, a wife; effeminate, timid, cowardly; one who assumes a bold and animated air in walking

Zana, Zinaan, Zina Zaná, Zinan, Ziná’ to commit adultery, fornicate, whore

Zand, Zinad, Zunud Zand m. & f., pl. Zinád, Zunúd stick of a fire drill, a primitive device for kindling fire; by extension, the whole fire drill

Zand, Zind, Zunud Zand, Zind, pl. Zunúd ulna (anatomy); forearm

Zangi Zangí Pers. Egyptian, Ethiopian, Moor, Negro; a savage; a fool; name of the founder of a dynasty

Zanj, Zinj, Zunuj Zanj, Zinj (colloquial), pl. Zunúj Negro. See Zangí

Zanjan Zanján A town of the district of Khamsih between Qazvín and Tabríz, home of Ḥujjat.

Zann, Zunun Ẓann, pl. Ẓunún opinion, idea, assumption, view, belief, supposition; doubt, uncertainty

Zaqqum Zaqqúm an infernal tree with exceedingly bitter fruit, mentioned in the Qur’án, the fruit of which is supposed to be the heads of devils; a thorny tree, cactus, Euphorbia antiquorum

Zar Zar Pers. gold; money, riches, wealth; an old man or woman; an old man, grey and ruddy

Zarand Zarand A division of Sávih, district and village.

Zard, Zara, Zirih, Zarud Zard, (Pers. Zara, Zirih), pl. Zarúd chain mail, coat of mail.

Zardastan Zardastán Eminent Bahá’ís 291

Zar-duz Zar-Dúz (Zar-Doz) Pers. an embroiderer; embroidered; fastened with golden nails (a coffin).

Zar-duzi Zar-Dúzí (Zar-Dozí) Pers. embroidery, often with gold and silver thread

Zardusht Zardusht Pers. Zoroaster; Abraham

Zarkanad Zarkanád DB 392

Zarkandih (Zargandih, Zargandeh) Zarkandih “Filled with gold” Former small village in the Shimírán division of Teheran, site of the Russian legation in 1852.

Zarqan Zarqán city 20 km ENE of Shiraz

Zarrin-Taj Zarrín-Táj “Crown of Gold” One of the titles of Ṭáhirih

Zartusht, Zardusht Zartusht, Zardusht Pers. supreme intelligence; divine light; the rational soul; the first created; the planet Mercury; a truth-speaker; Zoroaster or Zarathustra. Founder of the Zoroastrian religion.

Zavarih Zavárih place (Zavareh)

Zawal (Zaval) Zawál end, passage, extinction, disappearance, vanishing, cessation; setting (of the sun); noon (or zenith)

Zawra Zawrá’ Western side of Baghdád (split by Tigris River) was also known (by Persians) as az-Zawrá’ (the bent or the crooked). See ar-Rawḥá

Zayandih-Rud Záyandih-Rúd Eminent Bahá’ís 305

Zayd (Zaid) Zayd Pers. being augmented; increasing, augmenting, adding; proper name of a man, frequently used in a fictitious manner

Zaydan (Zaidan) Zaydán Jurjí Zaydán. See Zahidan

Zaydi Zaydí (today centred in Yemen, Shí’ih breakaway)

Zayn Zayn beauty; beautiful, nice, pretty (Zain)

Zaynab Zaynab Ar. fem. (many spelling variations) “a father's precious jewel” or “the one who glorifies a father”. It is derived from the Arabic root words “zína” (meaning precious jewel, what glorifies someone, source of beauty) and “ab” (meaning father). It can also mean “fragrant flower”. Daughter, wives and granddaughter of Muḥammad. Believed to be a modification of Zenobia. Also a girl from a village near Zanján who disguised herself as a man to join others at the fort at Zanján.

Zaynu’l-’Abidin Zaynu’l-‘Ábidín “The ornament of the worshipper” or the Prince of Worshippers”. Title of the fourth Imám, ‘Alí Ibn Ḥusayn, and of a distinguished Bahá’í.

Zaynu’l-Muqarrabin Zaynu’l-Muqarrabín “the Ornament of the Near Ones” or “the Ornament of the favoured”

Zayta Zaytá Mount Zaytá (lit. Mount of Olives, Qur’án 95:1)

Zaytun, Zaytuna Zaytún (coll.), Zaytúna, pl. Zaytúnát (Ar. olive) Zaytún is a place near Cairo

Zhinus Zhínús Zhínús Muḥmúdí

Zihtab Zihtáb Ismá‘íl Zihtáb

Zill, Zilal, Zulul, Azlal Ẓill, pl. Ẓilál, Ẓulúl, Aẓlál shadow, shade, umbra; shelter, protection, patronage; shading, hub; slightest indication, semblance, trace, glimpse (of something); tangent (geometry). See Shabaḥ

Zillu’llah Ẓillu’lláh “Shadow of God” DB xxxviii

Zillu’s-Sultan Ẓillu’s-Sulṭán “Shadow of the King”, Prince Mas‘úd Mírzá

Zina, Zinat Zína(t), pl. Zínát embellishment, adornment, ornament, decoration; cloth, attire, finery. (t)=Tá’ Marbúṭa

Zira’i Zirá‘í agricultural, agrarian, farm- (in compounds)

Zirih-Kinari Zirih-Kinárí Mullá Sa‘íd-i-Zirih-Kinárí

Ziyara, Ziyarat Ziyára(h), pl. Ziyárát visit; call (social, of a doctor)

Ziyarah al-Jami’ah az-Ziyárah al-Jámi’ah Comprehensive Pilgrimage, attributed to the Tenth Imam, ‘Alí al-Hádí

Ziyarat Namih Zíyárat Námih (by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá)

Ziyarat Zíyárat visiting; a visit (especially to a sacred tomb, etc.), a religious visitation, a pilgrimage. Visiting Tablet revealed by Imám ‘Alí.

Ziyarat-i-Shah-’Abdu’l-’Azim Zíyárat-i-Sháh-‘Abdu’l-‘Aẓím (by the Báb)

Ziyarat-Namih Zíyárat-Námih “Tablet of Visitation of the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh” (by Bahá’u’lláh)

Ziyarat-Namiy-i-Awliya’ Zíyárat-Námiy-i-Awliyá’ “Tablet of Visitation of exalted ones” (by Bahá’u’lláh)

Ziyarat-Namiy-i-Babu’l-Bab Zíyárat-Námiy-i-Bábu’l-Báb va Quddús “Tablet of Visitation of Mullá Husayn and Quddús” (by Bahá’u’lláh)

Ziyarat-Namiy-i-Bayt Zíyárat-Námiy-i-Bayt “Tablet of Visitation of the House” (by Bahá’u’lláh)

Ziyarat-Namiy-i-Maryam Zíyárat-Námiy-i-Maryam “Tablet of Visitation of Maryam” (by Bahá’u’lláh)

Ziyarat-Namiy-i-Siyyidu’sh-Shuhada’ Zíyárat-Námiy-i-Siyyidu’sh-Shuhadá’ “Tablet of Visitation of the Prince of the Martyrs” (by Bahá’u’lláh)

Zubayda Zubayda Zubayda bint Ja‘far ibn Manṣúr, a wife of Caliph Hárúnu’r-Rashíd

Zubur Zubúr (Book of) Psalms, Psalter

Zuhra Zuhra, Zuhra(h) brilliancy, light, brightness; beauty. az-Zuhara the planet Venus

Zuhur Ẓuhúr lit. emergence, appearance. In Shi’ite messianic terminology, the Advent of the Imam of the Age and the events associated with his Return. In a broader sense, any prophetic revelation.

Zuhur-i-Ilahi Ẓuhúr-i-Iláhí (“Manifestation of God”) See Nabíyu’lláh and Rasúlu’lláh

Zukhruf Zukhruf, pl. Zukhrúf gold; beauty, elegance, ornament; a speech embellished with fine imagery and romantic fiction; adorned falsehood; exaggeration. Qur’án 43:35, 53 uses the plural form; chapter uses the singular form.

Zulaykha (Zulaikha) Zulaykhá the wife of Potiphar, whose passion for Yúsuf (Joseph) is much celebrated in the East, particularly in the elegant Persian poems by Nizámí and Jámí.

Zumra, Zumar Zumra, pl. Zumar troop; group (of people); crowd

Zunuz Zunúz The capital of Marand.

Zur Zúr Pers. strength, power, vigour; violence, strong effort, force; weight

Zur-Khanih Zúr-Khánih Pers. house of strength. Place for professional athletes to perform traditional exercises.

Zynat Zynat [Zeenat Khánum or Zeenat Baghdadi]