Bahá’í glossary of Arabic & Fársí transliteration Contents

R..

Ra Rá Arabic letter

Ra’a, Yara, Ra’y, Ru’ya Ra’á, Yará, Ra’y, Ru’ya to see; to behold, descry, perceive, notice, observe, discern (something); to look (at something as), regard (something as), consider, deem, think (something to be …); to judge; to be of the opinion (that), believe, think (that); to express ones opinion; to feel (that); to deem appropriate, think proper (something), decide (on something, to do something); to consider, contemplate

Ra’d, Ru’ud Ra‘d, pl. Ru‘úd thunder

Ra’f, Ra’fat Ra’f, Ra’fat Pers. pitying; being kind and compassionate; bounty. Hence, ra’fatí

Ra’ina Rá‘íná “be our shepherd”, Qur’án 2:104. See Unẓurná

Ra’is, Ru’asa’ Ra’ís, pl. Ru’asá’ one at the head, or in charge, of; head; chieftain; leader; chief, boss; rais; director; head-master, principal, chairman; governor; president; manager, superintendent; conductor (mus.); superior (as distinguished from subordinate); (mil.) captain

Ra’isa Ra’ísa manageress; directress; mother superior

Raba, Rubuw Rabá (Rabá’, Rubúw) to increase; to grow; to grow up; to exceed, (a number) Form II to make or let grow; to raise, rear, bring up (someone); to educate; to teach, instruct (a child); to breed, raise (e.g., poultry, cattle); to develop (e.g., a method) Form III to practice usury Form IV to make grow, augment, increase (something); to exceed (a number, an age, a measure) Form V to be brought up, be educated; to be bred, be raised

Rabb, Arbab Rabb, pl. Arbáb lord; master; owner, proprietor (Isl. Law); (with following genitive) one possessed of, endowed with, having to do with, etc. (the Lord = God)

Rabba (Rabb, Ribaha) Rabba (Rabb, Ribáha) to be master, be lord, have possession (of), control (someone, something), have command or authority (over)

Rabbani Rabbání Pers. divine. Surname given by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to Shoghi Effendi to distinguish him from his cousins. Also used by his brothers and sisters. Priceless Pearl, p. 20 Mihrangíz Rabbání, Riáz Rúḥangíz and Rúḥangíz Rabbání

Rabbi Rabbí my lord

Rabb-i-A’la Rabb-i-A‘lá “Lord the Most High” or “Exalted Lord” (a designation of the Báb)

Rabbiya’l-Abha Rabbíya’l-Abhá

Rabi’ Rábi‘ fourth, making a fourth

Rabi’ Rabí‘ spring, springtime, vernal season; name of the third and fourth months of the Muslim year

Rabi’ih Rábi‘ih

Rabi’u’l-Awwal (Rabi’u’l-Avval) Rabí‘u’l-Awwal (Rabí‘u’l-Avval) third month in Islamic calendar. The first [month] or beginning of spring, referring to its position in the pre-Islamic Arabian calendar.

Rabi’u’th-Thani (Rabi’ al-Athir) Rabí‘u’th-Thání Fourth month in Islamic calendar. (the second/last spring). Also known as Rabí‘ al-Ákhir.

Rada, Rawd (Raud) Ráda (Rawd) to walk about, move about, prowl; to look. Form IV to want (something, to do something), wish, have a mind, be willing (to do something); to want to have (something). Form VIII to repair; to explore (something). Aráda want (to), Aradtu, wanted

Rada’r-Ruh Ra

a’r-Rúḥ “Contented Spirit”, name given to Mullá Muḥammad-Riḍá by Bahá’u’lláh DB 473

Radawi, Radavi Ra

awí, Pers. Ra

aví

Radi Raḍí content, pleased

Radi Rá

í, content, satisfied, pleased, willing, acquiescent; pleasing, pleasant, agreeable

Radiya, Radiyih Ráḍíya, Pers. Ráḍíyih fem. “Razieh” content, satisfied

Radiya, Ridan, Ridwan Raḍiya, Riḍan, Riḍwán to be satisfied, be content. Riḍan (contentment); Ráḍíy (satisfied, content); Riḍwán (consent, assent, agreement, acceptance, approval, sanction; good will, favor; pleasure, delight). See Marḍáh

Raf’ Raf‘ lifting, hoisting (also, of a flag); elevation; raise, raising, stepping up (of prices, of temperatures, etc.); setting up; erection; abolition; lift, (e.g., of a ban); remedy, elimination, removal; remission (of a tax), abrogation; submission, filing (e.g., of a report)

Rafat Rafat

Rafi Ráfi‘ One who raises or exalts (bearer, crane, hoist); adducing; putting in the nominative case; a plaintiff; a high mountain

Rafi Rafi‘ high, high-ranking; lofty, exalted, sublime; loud (voice, sound); thin, fine, delicate; exquisite, refined, subtle; artistic

Rafi’a, Rafa’i’ Rafí‘á, pl. Rafá’í‘ legal case brought before the competent authorities; a document submitted to a proper authority

Rafidi, Arfad Ráfi

í, pl. Arfá

apostate, renegade, turncoat; disloyal, rebellious; bigoted, fanatical

Rafi-i-Khayyat Rafí‘-i-Khayyáṭ

Rafsanjan (Rafsinjan) Rafsanján city and council in Kirman province, Iran

Rahib Rahíb dreadful, awful, fearful, terrible; solemn, grave

Rahib, Ruhban Ráhib, pl. Ruhbán monk (Christian)

Rahiba, Rahibat Ráhiba (fem.), pl. Ráhibát nun (Christian)

Rahil Ráḥíl Rachel

Rahil, Ruhhal, Rahilun Ráḥil, pl. Ruḥḥal departing leaving, parting; traveling; (pl. ráḥilún) deceased, late

Rahim, Ruhama, Ruhum Raḥím, pl. Ruḥamá’, Ruḥúm merciful, compassionate, one of the names of God

Rahimiyan Raḥímíyán UHJ 63-86, p. 620

Rahim Khan, Rahimkhan Raḥím Khán Sarab-i-Raḥím Khán village in Bukán County, West Azerbaijan Province, Iran

Rahimpur (Rahim Pur) Raḥímpúr Díjaz-i-Raḥím Púr, village, West Azerbaijan Province, Iran.

Rahiq Raḥíq Pers. the best wine; pure, clear, generous (wine); a kind of perfume

Rahiq-i-Makhtum Raḥíq-i-Makhtúm sealed choice wine. See Maykhána

Rahm (Ruhm) Raḥm Pers. compassion, commiseration

Rahma Raḥma pity, compassion; human understanding, sympathy, kindness; mercy

Rahman Raḥmán merciful, compassionate (God)

Rahmani Raḥmání divine

Rahmat Raḥmat Ar. mercy. Pers. A gift of the divine mercy; rain, a woman's name; pity, compassion, commiseration; pardon, forgiveness

Rahmatu’llah Raḥmatu’lláh Mercy of God. Raḥmatu’lláh ‘Alá’í (Hájí Mullá Rhamatollah)

Raja Raja yearning, mystical station of yearning or longing for divine grace

Raja’a, Ruju, Raj’ah, Raj’at Raja‘a, Rujú‘, Pers. Raj‘ah, Raj‘at to come back, come again, return; to resort, turn (to); begin again, resume (the return of a specific person in a future time)

Rajaba, Rajiba, Rajab Rajaba, Rajiba (varn. Rajab) to be afraid, be awed (respect, honour). Rajab is seventh month in Islamic calendar

Rajab-i-Haddad Rajab-i-Ḥaddád DB 487

Rajul, Rijal, Rijalat Rajul, pl. Rijál man;—(pl. rijálát) great, important men, leading personalities, men of distinction

Rak’a (Ra’kah), Raka’at Rak‘a, pl. Raka‘át a bending of the torso from an upright position, followed by two prostrations (in Muslim prayer ritual). The recitation of specifically revealed verses accompanied by a prescribed set of genuflections and other movements. Rak‘a (ركعة) is sometimes written as rak‘ah because of the tá’ marbúṭa at the end.

Raka’a, Ruku’ Raka‘a, Rukú‘ to bend the body, bow (esp. in prayer); to kneel down, drop to one’s knees. Yarka‘ (Druze village east of Abú Sinán) is the imperfect form of the verb.

Rakhsh Rakhsh Pers. lightning; the rainbow; reflection of light; a mixture of red and white; a face marked with moles; a mottled or partridge-coloured horse; swift; a horse; name of the horse of the celebrated Rustam; happy, fortunate, prosperous; joyful; commencement; happiness, prosperity

Ramadan (Ramazan) Ramaḍán (Pers. Ramaẓán) Ninth month in Islamic calendar. Time of “intense heat, scorched ground and shortness of rations” (burning heat)

Ramda’ Ramḍá’ sun-baked ground

Raqiq, Ariqqa’, Riqaq Raqíq, pl. Ariqqá’, Riqáq slave, slaves (singular and collective); flat loaf of bread (mid); thin; slender, slim; line, delicate; soft, tender, gentle; sensitive, tactful, discreet, prudent

Raqim, Raqa’im Raqím, pl. Raqá’im inscription, tablet; letter, message; “essay” in Letters & Essays. A writing, a book; especially that which records the history of the Seven Sleepers (Aṣḥáb al-Kahf, “Companions of the cave”); their dog; also their village, or the mountain and cave in which they slept.—pl. books; epistles, writings.

Raqsha Raqshá’ She-Serpent. Imám-Jum‘ih of Iṣfahán, Mír Muḥammad-Ḥusayn

Rasa’il wa Raqa’im Rasá’il wa Raqá’im title of a book by Mírzá Fa

l that was translated as “Letters & Essays”. See risala and raqím

Rasafa, Rusafa Raṣáfa (or Ruṣáfa) Firmness, compactness. Al-Raṣáfa, east bank of Baghdád

Rasalat, Risalat Rasálat, Risálat Pers. a mission, legation; the gift of prophecy; the office of a prophet; a letter, a treatise

Rashad (variation Rishad) Rashád (Rishád) integrity of conduct; reason, good sense, senses; maturity; garden peppergrass (Lepidium sativum)

Rashad Rashad integrity of conduct, straightforwardness, forthrightness

Rashh-i-’Ama Rashḥ-i-‘Amá “Sprinklings from an effulgent light”. First poem by Bahá’u’lláh after His release from the Black Pit, Ṭihrán. ‘Amá symbolizes the First Invisible Substance.

Rashid ad-Din Sinan Rashíd ad-Dín Sinán a leader of the Syrian branch of the Nizárí Ismá‘ílí state (the Assassins), and a figure in the history of the crusades. Was known by the crusaders as the “Old Man of the Mountain” (Shaykh al-Jabal). He went to the Alamút valley, the centre of the Ḥashsháshín, as a youth.

Rashid Ráshid following the right way, rightly guided, having the true faith; sensible, reasonable; of full legal age, major

Rashid, Rushada Rashíd, pl. Rushadá’ rightly guided, following the right way; having the true faith; reasonable, rational, intelligent, discriminating, discerning; mature;—pl. of full legal age, major

Rashidun Ráshidún Rightly-Guided (ar-Ráshdún, the)

Rashsha, Rashsh Rashsha (Rashsh) to spatter, splash, spurt (a liquid); to spray (a liquid); to sprinkle (something, with, on); to splatter, spatter, bespatter (something, with water, etc.); to water (something)

Rasht Rasht city in province of Gílán

Rasiq (Rasikh), Rasiqun Rásiq, pl. Rásiqún firmly established, deep-rooted; grounded, firmly fixed, stable; conversant (with something), thoroughly versed, completely at home (in a field)

Rasiqun fi’l-‘ilm ar-Rasiqún fi‘l-‘ilm those deeply rooted in knowledge (Ṣúfí terminology)

Rasm Rasm Pers. marking out, drawing, writing; a law, canon, rule, regulation, precept, habit, custom, mode, manner, usage. Rasm (rite, formality and rule) affects everyone. Rasm (custom) has made it easy for the clergy to control the general population. Hidden Words Arabic no. 2. See sha’n

Rastagar Rastagár Pers. safe, free, escaped, bountiful (Rastigar, Rastegar)

Rastakhiz Rastákhíz Pers. resurrection. Rastakhiz Party (Ḥizb-i-Rastákhíz “Resurgence party”) founded on 2 March 1975 by Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran. The party was intended as Iran's new single party, holding a monopoly on political activity in Iran, and to which all Iranians were required to belong. The Bahá’ís refused to join. It survives today in exile as an Iranian monarchist party opposing the Islamic Republic created when the Pahlavi dynasty was overthrown.

Rastaq Rastáq A village in Iran DB 484

Rasul Allah, Rasulu’llah Rasúl Alláh, Pers. Rasúlu’lláh Messenger of God

Rasul, Rusul Rasúl, pl. Rusul messenger; emissary; envoy, delegate; apostle (Chr.) Term for a figure of salvation—Messenger of God [or apostle] and a Prophet). Compare with Nabí. [erroneous Rassoul]

Ratl Raṭl, pl. Arṭál rotl, a weight (449.28 g; in Syr. 3.202 kg, in Beirut and Aleppo = 2.566 kg)

Rawan Rawán Pers. life, soul, spirit; the reasonable soul; the heart

Rawda (Rauda), Rawat, Rawdih Rawḍa, (Pers. Rawḍid), pl. Rawḍát garden; meadow. Other Ar. plurals: rawḍ, riyáḍ and rídán

Rawdat as-Safa, Rawdatu’s-Safa Rawḍat aṣ-Ṣafá, Pers. Rawḍatu’ṣ-Ṣafá Gardens of Purity. Táríkh raw

atu’s-Ṣafáy-i-Náṣirí by Ri

á Qulí Khán Hidáyat

Rawdih Rawḍih Pers. “garden” or “grave”

Rawdih-Khani Rawḍih-Khání [Pers] The traditional reciting by Shí‘ih Muslims of the sufferings of Imám Ḥusayn. “lamentation”

Rawdiy-i-Kafi Rawḍiy-i-Káfí

Rawh wa rayhan Rawḥ wa rayḥán ‘with joy and radiance’

Rawha Rawḥá Eastern side of Baghdád (split by Tigris River) was also known (by Persians) as ar-Rawḥá (the widespreading or the shallow). See az-Zawrá’

Rawhani Rawḥání

Rawshani Rawshaní

Rayb (Raib) Rayb doubt; suspicion; uncertainty

Rayhan or Raihan (Reyhan) Raiḥán or Rayḥán sweet basil

Raytu’l-‘Ayn Ráytú’l-‘Ayn “vision of the eye”

Raytu’llah Ráytú’lláh “I saw God”

Rayy (Ray, Rey, Raghes) Rayy an ancient capital city of the Medes to the east of Shahr-i-Ray (SE Ṭihrán)

Razzaq Razzáq (Ar. Razaqa) Pers. dispenser, disposer of; an attribute of God, as the provider of the necessaries of life, the giver of daily bread; providence.

Ri’asa, Riyasa Ri’ása, Riyása leadership, leading position; management, direction; chairmanship; presidency, presidentship; supervision, superintendency

Rida Salim Riḍá’ Salím [Riaz Selim]

Rida’ Riḍá‘ foster relationship

Rida’, Riza’ Riḍá’, Pers. Riẓá’ & Riḍá (Pers. “Reza”) contentment, contentedness, satisfaction; agreement, consent, assent, acceptance, approval, sanction; propitiation, conciliation. “good-pleasure”. Mystical station in which one finds absolute peace and inner pleasure in relation to life in general.

Rida-Quli Riḍá-Qulí Riḍá-Qulí, Mírzá Half-brother of Bahá’u’lláh who kept apart from Him and hid his relationship.

Riday-i-Qannad Riḍáy-i-Qannád

Riday-i-Saffar Riḍáy-i-Ṣaffár

Ridvani Ri

vání used as a Persian surname

Ridvaniyyih Riḍváníyyih used as Persian girls name (Ridvaniyeh)

Ridvanu’l-’Adl Riḍvánu’l-‘Adl “The Garden of Justice” (by Bahá’u’lláh)

Ridvanu’l-Iqrar Riḍvánu’l-Iqrár “The Garden of Confession” (by Bahá’u’lláh)

Ridvanu’llah Ri

vánu’lláh

Ridwan, Ridvan Riḍwán, Per. Riḍván consent, assent, agreement, acceptance, approval, sanction; good will, favour; pleasure, delight. It is sometimes translated as ‘paradise’, ‘heaven’, ‘tabernacle’ and ‘garden’. See Raḍiya. Name given to two gardens significant in Bahá’í history. These are: the garden of Najíbíyyih owned by Najíb Páshá outside Baghdád (area now occupied by the Baghdad Medical City—April 1863); and Na‘mayn, a ‘verdant knoll’ less than a kilometre east of the walls of ‘Akká, around which the Na‘mayn Stream (now largely dry due to ground water extraction for irrigation) divides before it empties into the sea.

Rij’at Rij‘at return of individuals or types in successive cycles e.g. Rij‘at-Ḥusayní (Imám Ḥusayn). See Raja’a

Rik’at Rik‘at [Ar.] Prostration in prayer (Kitáb-i-Íqán p. 50)

Risala, Risalat, Rasa’il Risála, pl. Risálát, Rasá’il consignment, shipment; mail item; (written) communication or report; missive; letter, note; epistle; treatise; dispatch; message; radio message. Messengership

Risalah Fi’l-Ghina’ Risálah Fi’l-Ghiná’ “Treatise on Singing” (by the Báb)

Risalah Fi’n-Nahv Risálah Fi’n-Naḥv “Treatise on Grammar” (by the Báb)

Risaliy-i-‘Adliyyih Risáliy-i-‘Adlíyyih (by the Báb)

Risaliy-i-Amriyyih Risáliy-i-Amríyyih DB 670

Risaliy-i-Ayat-i-Mu’arrakhih Risáliy-i-Ayát-i-Mu‘arrakhih “Treatise on the Dated Verses” by Abu’l-Fa

l

Risaliy-i-Ayyubiyyih Risáliy-i-Ayyúbiyyih “Treatise on Job” by Abdu’l-Fa

l

Risaliy-i-Dhahabiyyih Risáliy-i-Dhahabíyyih (by the Báb)

Risaliy-i-Fiqhiyyih Risáliy-i-Fiqhíyyih (by the Báb)

Risaliy-i-Furu’-i-’Adliyyih Risáliy-i-Furú‘-i-‘Adlíyyih (by the Báb)

Risaliy-i-Ithbat-i-Nubuvvat-i-Khassih Risáliy-i-Ithbát-i-Nubuvvat-i-Kháṣṣih “Epistle on the Proofs of the Prophethood of Muḥammad” (by the Báb)

Risaliy-i-Khaqaniyyih Risáliy-i-Kháqáníyyih DB 5

Risaliy-i-Madaniyyih Risáliy-i-Madaníyyih A treatise on civilization (by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá)

Risaliy-i-Siyasiyyih Risáliy-i-Siyásíyyih ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Treatise on Politics

Rish, Rishun, Riyash, Aryash Rísh (collective; noun Ríshun) feathers; feathering, plumage; clothes, attire, exterior; bristles (e.g., of a brush). Pl. riyásh, aryásh

Rish-Safid Rísh-Safíd DB 477

Ríyád (Riaz) Ríyáḍ (Ríaz) Pers. see Rawḍa. Ríyáḍ (Ríaz) Effendi, son of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

Riyal Riyál, pl. Riyálát a silver coin

Riz-Ab Ríz-Áb village

Rizwan, Ruzwan Rizwán, Ruzwán Pers. accepting, acquiescing; being pleased, gratified; —rizwán, a blessing, benediction; paradise; name of the porter or gardener of paradise

Ru’ya, Ruya Ru’yá, Rúyá Pers. a vision, dream. See Ra’á

Ru’yatú’l-Mashiyya Rú’yatú’l-Mashíyat “vision of the Primal Will of God”

Ruba’i, Ruba’iyyat Rubá‘í, pl. Rubá’íyyát consisting or four, quadripartite, fourfold, quadruple; quadrangular; tetragonal; (grammar) consisting of four radical letters, quadriliteral; quartet; (pl.) quatrains (poetry)

Rububiya, Rububiyat Rubúbíya, Pers. Rubúbíyat & Rubúbíyyih divinity, deity, godship, dominion, supreme power

Rud Rúd Pers. river, torrent, flowing water; the Oxus; intestines, gut; the string of a musical instrument; a bow-string; song, cheerfulness, jovial conversation, convivial mirth; vocal or instrumental music; a son or daughter; a beautiful brunette; a comely and amiable youth; a plucked bird; a shorn sheep. Used as a suffix with given name, as in Yálrúd.

Rudaki Rúdakí from Rúdak village (there are two in Iran)

Ruh Husayn ibn Rúḥ, Ḥusayn ibn (TN p. 16)

Ruh, Arwah Rúḥ m. & f., pl. Arwáḥ breath of life, soul; spirit (in all senses); gun barrel

Ruh al-Mu’ani Rúḥ al-Mu’ání al-Rúḥ al-Mu‘ání, The Spirit of the Meanings, by Shaykh Maḥmúd al-Álúsí

Ruha Rúḥá

Ruhangiz Rúḥangíz (a sister of Shoghi Effendi)

Ruhani, Ruhanun Rúḥání, pl. Rúḥánún spiritual, immaterial; divine, sacred, holy; clergyman, minister (Chr.)

Ruhaniya, Ruhaniyyih Rúḥáníya, Pers. Rúḥáníyyih spirituality; transfiguration

Ruhi Effendi Rúḥí Effendi

Ruhi, Ruhat Rúḥí, pl. Rúḥát spirituous; spiritual;—pl. spiritual things

Ruhiya, Ruhiyyih Rúḥíya, Pers. Rúḥíyyih spirituality; mentality, mental attitude, frame of mind

Ruhu’llah Rúḥu’lláh “Spirit of God”. A designation Muslims use for Jesus. Son of Mírzá ‘Alí-Muḥammad-i-Varqá

Ruhu’l-Ma’ani Rúḥu’l-Ma‘ání DB 272

Rukhsara Rukhsára Pers. cheek, face, complexion, mien

Rukn Rukn pillar

Rukni’d-Dawlih Rukni’d-Dawlih the Pillar of the State

Rum Rúm Christian people and countries (Greece; Rome, Roumelia; Turkey) of the eastern Roman Empire (later the Byzantine Empire). ar-Rúm is an old name for Istanbul. Derived from a Greek plural word meaning Romans.

Rumi Rúmí (Jalálu’d-Dín-i-Rúmí)

Runiz Rúníz DB 476-7

Rushd Rushd integrity of (ones) actions, proper, sensible conduct; reason, good sense, senses; consciousness; maturity (of the mind)

Rushdi Rushdí rightly guided, of true faith, mature

Rustam Rustam [Rostem] the most renowned hero among the Persians, described as Persia’s Hercules

Rutba, Rutab Rutba, pl. Rutab degree, grade, level; rank, standing, station; class, quality; (mil.) rank; clerical rank, order (of the Christian ministry); religious ceremony (Christian)

Ruz-bih, Ruzbih Rúz-bih, Rúzbih Pers. fortunate days, happy times; improving daily; happy, fortunate. A Persian who embraced Christianity and, being told a Prophet was about to arise in Arabia, journeyed there. He met Muḥammad at Koba on His migration to Medina, recognized His station and became a Muslim.

Ruzbihyan Rúzbihyán Roozbehyan