Arabic & Fársí transcription list and glossary for Bahá’ís Contents

Z.. .

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)

Zabadani, Zabadanih az-Zabádání (Pers. Zabadaneh, Zabadanih) is a city and popular hill station in southwestern Syria in the Rif Dimashq Governorate, close to the border with Lebanon. 30 km NW of the centre of Damascus

Zabihu’llah Zabíḥu’lláh Pers. (see Ar. Dhabíḥu’lláh) “Sacrifice of God”

Zabul Zábul (Zabol)is a city in and the capital of Zabol County, Sistan and Baluchestan Province, Iran. Zabol lies on the border with Afghanistan. Referred to as Sístán until the late 1920s, the city was renamed Zabol by Reza Shah Pahlavi.

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); (grammar) 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 other plurals: 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 description of Baghdád in Islamic traditions

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

Zakariya, Zakaria or Zakari Zakaríya, Zakaría or Zakarí Zacharias (prophet Zechariah), which is of Hebrew origin, meaning “God has remembered”

Zakariyyay-i-Qadi-Kala'i Zakaríyyáy-i-Qáḍí-Kalá’í a cousin of Khusraw-i-Qáḍí-Kalá'í, and his successor

Zakata Zakáta to give alms

Zakhu Zákhú (Zakho) a city in northern Iraq, at the centre of the eponymous Zakho District of the Dohuk Governorate of Iraqi Kurdistan, located a few kilometers from the Iraqi-Turkish border. 97 km nnw of Mosul

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 Ẓalamína 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.

Zalzal, Zilzal Zalzál, Zilzál concussion, shock, convulsion; earthquake

Zalzala Zalzala to shake, rock, convulse, cause to tremble

Zalzala, Zalazil Zalzala(h), 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, Zinan, 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

Zandaqa Zandaqa(t) a belief in the two principles of light and darkness; impiety, heresy; atheism. See zindíq

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 (Zar+dastán?) Eminent Bahá’ís in the Time of Bahá’u’lláh, p.291

Zardusht Zardusht Pers. Zoroaster; Abraham

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

Zarkanad Zarkanád (Zar+kanád?) The Dawn-Breakers, p. 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 (Zavareh) is a city in and the capital of Zavareh District, in Ardestan County, Isfahan Province, Iran. 14 km ne of Ardestan and 115 km ne of Isfahan

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

Zawj (Zauj), Azwaj Zawj, pl. Azwáj to pair, couple, mate, join in pairs or couples (something); to double, geminate (something); to employ parallelism (rhetoric)

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

Zayanda Záyanda Pers. bringing forth; a mother

Zayandih-Rud Záyandih-Rúd Pers. from Záyandih “life giver” and Rúd “river”, is the largest river of the Iranian Plateau in central Iran.

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 (Zaidi) Zaydí followers of the Zaydi Islamic jurisprudence (named after Zayd ibn ʻAlí, the grandson of Ḥusayn ibn ʻAlí and the son of their fourth Imám ‘Alí ibn Ḥusayn) are called Zaydí and make up about 35–42% of Muslims in Yemen, with the vast majority of Shí‘a Muslims in the country being Zaydí. The followers dismiss religious dissimulation (taqíya). They as a Shí’ih breakaway group.

Zaydiyya (Zaidiyya) Zaydiyya(h) Zaidism (Arabic: az-zaydiyya, adjective form zaydí) is one of the Shí‘a sects closest in terms of theology to Ḥanafí Sunní Islam.

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

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 (Zaitun, Zaytoun), Zatunat Zaytún, Zaytúna, pl. Zaytúnát (Zaytún collective noun) olive tree; olive(s). az-Zaytún, a district of Cairo that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá resided in.

Zayya, Tazayya Zayyá to dress, clothe, costume (someone in). Form V tazayyá to dress, put on a dress or costume; to dress up, smarten oneself up, to be dressed, be clad (in), wear (something).

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 (Zyna), Zinat (Zynat and Zeenat) Zína(t), pl. Zínát embellishment, adornment, ornament, decoration; cloth, attire, finery. Zínát Khánum and Zínát Baghdádí. Ends with a tá’ marbúṭa

Zindiq, pl. Zanadiq, Zanadiqat Zindíq, pl. Zanádíq, Zanádiqat Pers. one who maintains the doctrine of two principles; a fire-worshipper; an atheist, a disbeliever in God and a future state; a heretic; impious; hypocritical. pl. Sadducees; infidels; atheists; fire-worshippers; pagans, heretics. See zandaqa

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

Ziyarat-Nama-Ha Zíyárat-Náma-Há Pers. letters (or epistles) of visitation

Ziyarat-i-Shah-’Abdu’l-’Azim Zíyárat-i-Sháh-‘Abdu’l-‘Aẓím Tablet written while in vicinity of the Sháh-‘Abdu’l-‘Aẓím Shrine in Rey, about 12 km south of the centre of Ṭihrán (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 wa 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

Zuhal Zuḥal the planet Saturn

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

Zuhur Ẓuhúr emergence, appearance; visibility, conspicuousness; pomp, splendour, show, ostentation, window-dressing. 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. Bahá’u’lláh introduced a new term: “Manifestations of God” (Ẓuhúr Alláh). See maẓhar and manẓar

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.