Bahá’í Quotes

Names - Persian

Persians of the nineteenth century did not use surnames. Men were given proper names, such as Muhammad, Husayn, or Ibrahim, and often more then one -- Muhammad-'Ali, or Rida-Quli. Many times the second name was one of the ninety-nine Most Beauteous Names of God, from the Qur'án. For example, 'Abdu'r-Rahim [Servant of the All-Merciful].To distinguish one individual from another, titles and descriptions would be added to the given name. Haji Muhammad-Hasan Isfahani, for example, would indicate the man from Isfahan named Muhammad-Hasan who had made the pilgrimage to Mecca; Ustad Mahmud Banna would designate the Mahmud who was the master builder; and so forth.The following are a few of the many titles and description added to Persian names:Aqa: Sir, mister. General term of respect.Darvish: A Muslim mystic. Often a wandering, mendicant ascetic whotraditionally carries an ax and a begging bowl (kashkul).Haji: One who had made the Muslim pilgrimage.Kashi: Someone from KashanMirza: A general term of respect which usually indicates that the onedesignated is literate. Used after the name it indicates a prince.  134Mulla: A Muslim priest.Shaykh: An elder; a chief; a professor; or the head of a dervish order.Siyyid: A descendant of the Prophet Muhammad.Ustad: A master craftsman.

- Ustad Muhammad-'Aliy-i Salmani, My Memories of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 134-135

Quote of the Day

Kamal 19 Masail 182 B.E.

What is at stake is the participation of the individual in those aspects of community life internal to the body of the followers of Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings, not his or her civil rights.

Universal House of Justice to a National Spiritual Assembly – April 2013