Appendix D: The Badí‘ Calendar

The 19 Months

Month #1: Arabic Name: Bahá’; English Name: Splendor; Elemental Phase: Fire; Thematic Phase: Glorification; Spiritual Function: The Point; essence of all months; attributed to “He Whom God Shall Make Manifest”; Naw-Rúz = Day of “There is no God but God”
Month #2: Arabic Name: Jalál; English Name: Glory; Elemental Phase: Fire; Thematic Phase: Glorification; Spiritual Function: Kindles the fire of hearts; glory of divine majesty
Month #3: Arabic Name: Jamál; English Name: Beauty; Elemental Phase: Fire; Thematic Phase: Glorification; Spiritual Function: Radiates divine beauty; fuels yearning and love
Month #4: Arabic Name: ’Aẓamat; English Name: Grandeur; Elemental Phase: Air; Thematic Phase: Praise; Spiritual Function: Spirits are created and sustained through grandeur
Month #5: Arabic Name: Núr; English Name: Light; Elemental Phase: Air; Thematic Phase: Praise; Spiritual Function: Light of divine guidance permeates all realities
Month #6: Arabic Name: Raḥmat; English Name: Mercy; Elemental Phase: Air; Thematic Phase: Praise; Spiritual Function: Mercy as the sustaining breath of spiritual life
Month #7: Arabic Name: Kalimát; English Name: Words; Elemental Phase: Air; Thematic Phase: Praise; Spiritual Function: Divine Word as sustaining truth
Month #8: Arabic Name: Kamál; English Name: Perfection; Elemental Phase: Water; Thematic Phase: Oneness; Spiritual Function: Dies to imperfection; lives in affirmation of truth
Month #9: Arabic Name: Asmá’; English Name: Names; Elemental Phase: Water; Thematic Phase: Oneness; Spiritual Function: Realization of divine Names beyond negation
Month #10: Arabic Name: ’Izzat; English Name: Might; Elemental Phase: Water; Thematic Phase: Oneness; Spiritual Function: Strength comes through detachment from ego
Month #11: Arabic Name: Mashíyyat; English Name: Will; Elemental Phase: Water; Thematic Phase: Oneness; Spiritual Function: Submission to the divine Will negates self will
Month #12: Arabic Name: ’Ilm; English Name: Knowledge; Elemental Phase: Water; Thematic Phase: Oneness; Spiritual Function: True knowledge arises through divine affirmation
Month #13: Arabic Name: Qudrat; English Name: Power; Elemental Phase: Water; Thematic Phase: Oneness; Spiritual Function: Divine power is manifest through surrender
Month #14: Arabic Name: Qawl; English Name: Speech; Elemental Phase: Dust; Thematic Phase: Magnification; Spiritual Function: Exalted speech gives life to souls purified from falsehood
Month #15: Arabic Name: Masá’il; English Name: Questions; Elemental Phase: Dust; Thematic Phase: Magnification; Spiritual Function: Questioning as a means of spiritual revival
Month #16: Arabic Name: Sharaf; English Name: Honor; Elemental Phase: Dust; Thematic Phase: Magnification; Spiritual Function: Honor gained by steadfastness in God’s love
Month #17: Arabic Name: Sultán; English Name: Sovereignty; Elemental Phase: Dust; Thematic Phase: Magnification; Spiritual Function: Life granted by renouncing all but divine sovereignty
Month #18: Arabic Name: Mulk; English Name: Dominion; Elemental Phase: Dust; Thematic Phase: Magnification; Spiritual Function: All divine elements are gathered into earthly dominion
Ayyám-i-Há: English Name: The Days of Há; Thematic Phase: Intercalary; Spiritual Function: Days outside the calendar cycle; devoted to hospitality, charity, and spiritual preparation before the Fast
Month #19: Arabic Name: ‘Alá’; English Name: Loftiness; Elemental Phase: Dust; Thematic Phase: Magnification; Spiritual Function: Final culmination; fruit of divine creation realized

Names of the Weeks

The following list presents the days of the week within the Badí‘ calendar.¹

Arabic Name: Jalál; English Meaning: Glory; Julian counterpart: Saturday
Arabic Name: Jamál; English Meaning: Beauty; Julian counterpart: Sunday
Arabic Name: Kamál; English Meaning: Perfection; Julian counterpart: Monday
Arabic Name: Fidál; English Meaning: Grace; Julian counterpart: Tuesday
Arabic Name: ’Idál; English Meaning: Justice; Julian counterpart: Wednesday
Arabic Name: Istijlál; English Meaning: Majesty; Julian counterpart: Thursday
Arabic Name: Istiqlál; English Meaning: Independence; Julian counterpart: Friday

Names of the Years

The following section explains how each year in the Badí‘ system carries symbolic meaning rooted in the writings of the Báb. This list identifies the words and symbolic letters that correspond to the numbers 1 through 19 within the mathematical and theological systems described in the writings of the Báb.

Alif: The first of all things and the station of the Point
Bá’: The first letter of the testimonial Basmalah (In the Name of God) and the beginning of the written Book
Ab: The station of the singular third person form and the beginning of derivation
Dál: The throne of the Will and the fourth pillar of the Temple
Báb: The letter Há (5) and the manifest aspect of the human temple
Váv: The inner side of the human temple and the number of the word Huva (He)
Abad: The number of the reeds in the thicket of the Divine Realm and the Seven Acts of God
Jád: The second letter of the name of the Point and the numerical value of the letter Há in the rank of air
Bahá: The first month of the year and the name of the Unseen
Hubb: The letter Yá’ (10) and the rank of manifestation within the first decade
Bahháj: The age of maturity for marriage and the number of the word Huwa (He)
Javáb: The number of the letters of the testimony La ilaha illa’Llah (There is no God but God) and the pillars of the Manifest Name
Ahad: The Name of Oneness and the number of the station of the Unseen
Vahháb: The number of the Hand of God and the total of the Letters of the Face
Vidád: The number of the wall (bi-súr) mentioned in the mysteries of the Surih of Unity
Badí’: A station of completion and the rank of the first manifestation of the name al Jawád
Bahí: The spirit of geometry and the name whose beginning is Bahá’
Abhá: The number of the word Hayy (The Living) and the count of the Letters of the Living circling the Point
Váhid: The number of all things (Kullu Shay’) in its first degree and the name of the Unity

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