Bahá'í calendar
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The Bahá'í calendar, also called the Badí‘ calendar (badí‘ means wondrous or unique),[1] is a solar calendar with years composed of 19 months of 19 days each (361 days) plus an extra period of "Intercalary Days". Years begin at Naw-Rúz, on the vernal equinox, on one of March 20-21.
The first year is dated from 21 March 1844 CE, the year during which the Báb proclaimed his religion.[2] Years are annotated with the date notation of BE (Bahá'í Era),
The year 173 BE started at the moment of the vernal equinox in March 2016, meaning that it falls on 20 March 2016.
History
The Bahá'í calendar started from the original Badí‘ calendar, created by the Báb in the Kitabu'l-Asmá' and the Persian Bayán (5:3) in the 1840s.[3] An early version of the calendar began to be implemented during his time.[4] It used a scheme of 19 months of 19 days (19x19) for 361 days, plus intercalary days to make the calendar a solar calendar. The first day of the early implementation of the calendar year was Nowruz,[5] while the intercalary days were assigned differently than the later Bahá'í implementation. The calendar contained symbolic connections to prophecies of the Báb about the next Manifestation of God termed He whom God shall make manifest.[6]
Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith, who claimed to be the one prophesied by the Báb, confirmed and adopted this calendar. Around 1870, he instructed Nabíl-i-A`zam, the author of The Dawn-Breakers, to write an overview of the Badí' calendar.[7] In the Kitáb-i-Aqdas (1873) Bahá’u'lláh made Naw-Rúz the first day of the year, and also clarified the position of the Intercalary days to immediately precede the last month.[3][8] Bahá'u'lláh set Naw-Rúz to the day on which the sun passes into the constellation Aries. Bahá'ís interpret this formula as a specification of the vernal equinox, though where that should be determined was not defined.[8]
The calendar was first implemented in the West in 1907.[9]
The Bahá'í scriptures left some issues regarding the implementation of the Badi' calendar to be resolved by the Universal House of Justice before the calendar can be observed uniformly worldwide. On 10 July 2014 the Universal House of Justice announced provisions that will enable the common implementation of the Badi' calendar worldwide, beginning at sunset 20 March 2015,[10] coinciding with the completion of the ninth cycle of the calendar (see below).[11]
Before Naw-Rúz 2015
The Bahá'í calendar in western countries was synchronized to the Gregorian calendar, meaning that the extra day of a leap year occurred simultaneously in both calendars. The intercalary days stretched from 26 February to 1 March, so they automatically included the Gregorian leap day. There were four intercalary days in a regular year, and five in a leap year.[12]
The practice in western countries was to start the year at sunset on March 20, regardless of when the vernal equinox technically occurs.
From Naw-Rúz 2015
In 2014, the Universal House of Justice selected Tehran, the birthplace of Bahá'u'lláh, as the location to which the date of the vernal equinox is to be fixed, thereby "unlocking" the Badí' calendar from the Gregorian calendar. For determining the dates, astronomical tables from reliable sources are used.[7][10][13]
In the same message the Universal House of Justice decided that the birthdays of the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh will be celebrated on "the first and the second day following the occurrence of the eighth new moon after Naw-Rúz" (also with the use of astronomical tables) and fixed the dates of the Bahá'í Holy Days in the Bahá'í calendar, standardizing dates for Bahá'ís worldwide. These changes came into effect as of sunset on 20 March 2015.[7][14]
Years
Years in the Bahá'í calendar are counted from Thursday, 21 March 1844, the beginning of the Bahá'í Era or Badí‘ Era (abbreviated BE or B.E.).[15] Year 1 BE thus began at sundown 20 March 1844. Using the Bahá'í names for the weekday and month, day one of the Bahá'í Era was Istijlál (Majesty), 1 Bahá (Splendour) 1 BE. As detailed below, the names of the Bahá'í months and days reflect attributes of God.[16] William McElwee Miller's polemical work against the Bahá'í Faith claims that the date the calendar was to begin was 1850 CE though most sources agree the date was with the Declaration of the Bab to Mullá Husayn, on the evening of May 22, 1844 CE. (then the 7th of ‘Aẓamat)[17] The day is one of the Bahá'í holy days, remembered on the 8th day of ‘Aẓamat each year. The moment of the Declaration is celebrated two hours after the opening sunset (in the evening of May 22 or 23).
Months
The Bahá'í calendar is composed of 19 months, each with 19 days.[2] The Nineteen Day Fast is held during the final month of ‘Alá’, and is preceded by the intercalary days, known as Ayyám-i-Há. The month of fasting is followed by Naw-Rúz, the new year.
Ayyám-i-Há
The introduction of intercalation marked an important break from Islam, as under the Islamic calendar the practice of intercalation had been specifically prohibited in the Qur'an.[3]
The number of the intercalary days is determined in advance to ensure that the year ends on the day before the next vernal equinox. This results in 4 or 5 intercalary days being added. These days are inserted between the 18th and 19th months, falling around the end of February in the Gregorian calendar. The number of days added is unrelated to the timing of the Gregorian leap year.
Month Names
The names of the months were adopted by the Báb from the Du'ay-i-Sahar, a Ramadan dawn prayer by Imam Muhammad al-Baqir, the fifth Imam of Twelver Shi'ah Islam.[18][19] These month names are considered to be referring to attributes of God.
In the Persian Bayan the Báb divides the months in four groups, of three, four, six and six months respectively.[20] Robin Mirshahi suggests a possible link with four realms described in Bahá'í cosmology.[21]
The days of the month have the same names as the names of the month - the 9th day of the month for example is the same as the 9th month - Asmá, or "Names". In the following table, the Gregorian date indicates the first full day of the month. The month begins at sunset of the Gregorian date previous to the one listed, after which time that month's Nineteen Day Feast may be celebrated.
Month | Usual Gregorian dates (when Naw-Rúz coincides with 21 March)[2] | Arabic name [2] | Arabic script | English name [2] | Additional meanings in authorized English translations of Bahá'í scripture [21] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 21 March – 8 April | Bahá | بهاء | Splendour | glory, light, excellence |
2 | 9 April – 27 April | Jalál | جلال | Glory | majesty |
3 | 28 April – 16 May | Jamál | جمال | Beauty | charm |
4 | 17 May – 4 June | ‘Aẓamat | عظمة | Grandeur | glory, majesty, dominion, greatness |
5 | 5 June – 23 June | Núr | نور | Light | radiance, brightness, splendour, effulgence, illumination |
6 | 24 June – 12 July | Raḥmat | رحمة | Mercy | blessing, grace, favour, loving kindness, providence, compassion |
7 | 13 July – 31 July | Kalimát | كلمات | Words | utterance, the word of God |
8 | 1 August – 19 August | Kamál | كمال | Perfection | excellence, fullness, consummation, maturity |
9 | 20 August – 7 September | Asmá’ | اسماء | Names | titles, attributes, designations |
10 | 8 September – 26 September | ‘Izzat | عزة | Might | glory, power, exaltation, honour, majesty, grandeur, strength, sovereignty, magnificence |
11 | 27 September – 15 October | Mashíyyat | مشية | Will | purpose, the primal will, the will of God |
12 | 16 October – 3 November | ‘Ilm | علم | Knowledge | wisdom, divine knowledge, revelation |
13 | 4 November – 22 November | Qudrat | قدرة | Power | might, authority, dominion, celestial might, omnipotence, transcendent power, indomitable strength, all-pervading power, ascendancy, divine power |
14 | 23 November – 11 December | Qawl | قول | Speech | words, testimony |
15 | 12 December – 30 December | Masá’il | مسائل | Questions | principles, truths, matters, mysteries, subtleties, obscurities, intricacies, problems |
16 | 31 December – 18 January | Sharaf | شرف | Honour | excellence, glory |
17 | 19 January – 6 February | Sulṭán | سلطان | Sovereignty | king, lord, majesty, sovereign, monarch, authority, potency, the power of sovereignty, the all-possessing, the most potent of rulers |
18 | 7 February – 25 February | Mulk | ملك | Dominion | sovereignty, kingdom, realm, universe |
26 February – 1 March | Ayyám-i-Há | ايام الهاء | The Days of Há | ||
19 | 2 March – 20 March (Month of fasting) | ‘Alá’ | علاء | Loftiness | glory |
Weekdays
The Bahá'í week starts on Saturday, and ends on Friday.[22] Like Judaism and Islam, days begin at sunset and end at sunset of the following solar day. Bahá'í writings indicate that Friday is to be kept as a day of rest.[23][24] The practice of keeping Friday as a day of rest is currently not observed in all countries; for example, in the UK, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís confirmed it does not currently keep this practice.[25]
Arabic Name[2] | Arabic Script | English Translation[22] | Day of the Week[2] |
---|---|---|---|
Jalál | جلال | Glory | Saturday |
Jamál | جمال | Beauty | Sunday |
Kamál | كمال | Perfection | Monday |
Fiḍál | فضال | Grace | Tuesday |
‘Idál | عدال | Justice | Wednesday |
Istijlál | استجلال | Majesty | Thursday |
Istiqlál | استقلال | Independence | Friday |
Holy days
There are eleven holy days in the Bahá'í calendar; on nine of these holy days, work is suspended.[26] There is no fixed format for any of the holy days, and Bahá’í communities organize their own commemorative meetings.[27] The Festival of Ridván, a twelve day festival that commemorates Bahá'u'lláh's announcement of prophethood, is the most holy Bahá'í festival to which Bahá'u'lláh referred as the "Most Great Festival."[28]
The Twin Holy Birthdays are celebrated on the first and second day following the eighth new moon after Naw-Rúz.[7][10] (In the Islamic lunar calendar, the births of the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh fell on consecutive days - the first and second day of Muharram, respectively, two years apart.[27][29])
Name[27] | Date on the Badí‘ Calendar | Number of Days after Naw-Rúz | Usual date on the Gregorian Calendar (when Naw-Rúz coincides with 21 March) | Special time of celebration or commemoration[27] | Work Suspended[27] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Naw-Rúz (Bahá'í New Year) | Bahá 1 | March 21 | - | Yes | |
First day of Riḍván | Jalál 13 | 31 | April 21 | 3 p.m. (Standard Time) | Yes |
Ninth day of Riḍván | Jamál 2 | 39 | April 29 | - | Yes |
Twelfth day of Riḍván | Jamál 5 | 42 | May 2 | - | Yes |
Declaration of the Báb | ‘Aẓamat 8 | 64 | May 24 | 2 hours after starting sunset | Yes |
Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh | ‘Aẓamat 13 | 69 | May 29 | 3 a.m. (Standard Time) | Yes |
Martyrdom of the Báb | Raḥmat 17 | 111 | July 10 | 12 noon | Yes |
Birth of the Báb | First of the Twin Holy Birthdays; celebrated on the first day after the eighth new moon following Naw-Rúz (Ilm 18, November 1, in 2016)[10] | - | Yes | ||
Birth of Bahá'u'lláh | Second of the Twin Holy Birthdays; celebrated on the second day after the eighth new moon following Naw-Rúz (Ilm 19, November 2, in 2016)[10] | - | Yes | ||
Day of the Covenant | Qawl 4 | 250 | November 26 | - | No |
Ascension of `Abdu'l-Bahá | Qawl 6 | 252 | November 28 | 1 a.m. (Standard Time) | No |
Name[27] | Gregorian Dates[27] |
---|---|
Naw-Rúz (Bahá'í New Year) | March 21 |
First day of Riḍván | April 21 |
Ninth day of Riḍván | April 29 |
Twelfth day of Riḍván | May 2 |
Declaration of the Báb | May 23 |
Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh | May 29 |
Martyrdom of the Báb | July 9 |
Birth of the Báb | October 20 |
Birth of Bahá'u'lláh | November 12 |
Day of the Covenant | November 26 |
Ascension of `Abdu'l-Bahá | November 28 |
Cycles
Also existing in the Bahá'í calendar system is a 19-year cycle called Váḥid and a 361-year (19x19) supercycle called Kull-i-Shay’ (literally, "All Things").[22] Each of the 19 years in a Vahid has been given a name as shown in the table below.[22]
The 10th Váḥid of the 1st Kull-i-Shay’ started on 21 March 2015, and the 11th Váḥid will begin in 2034.[30]
The current Bahá'í year, year 172 BE (21 March 2015 - 20 March 2016), is year Alif (A) of the 10th Váḥid of the 1st Kull-i-Shay’.[30] The 2nd Kull-i-Shay’ will begin in 2205.[30]
The concept of a 19-year cycle has existed in some form since the 4th century BC. The Metonic cycle represents an invented measure that approximately correlates solar and lunar markings of time and which appears in several calendar systems.
- Years in a Váḥid
No. | Persian Name | Arabic Script | English Translation |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Alif | ألف | A |
2 | Bá’ | باء | B |
3 | Ab | أب | Father |
4 | Dál | دﺍﻝ | D |
5 | Báb | باب | Gate |
6 | Váv | وﺍو | V |
7 | Abad | أبد | Eternity |
8 | Jád | جاد | Generosity |
9 | Bahá' | بهاء | Splendour |
10 | Ḥubb | حب | Love |
11 | Bahháj | بهاج | Delightful |
12 | Javáb | جواب | Answer |
13 | Aḥad | احد | Single |
14 | Vahháb | وﻫﺎب | Bountiful |
15 | Vidád | وداد | Affection |
16 | Badí‘ | بدیع | Beginning |
17 | Bahí | بهي | Luminous |
18 | Abhá | ابهى | Most Luminous |
19 | Váḥid | واحد | Unity |
See also
References
- ↑ Buck, Christopher and Melton, J. Gordon (2011). "Bahā’ī Calendar and Rhythms of Worship." Religious Celebrations: An Encyclopedia of Holidays, Festivals, Solemn Observances, and Spiritual Commemorations. By J. Gordon Melton, with James A. Beverley, Christopher Buck, and Constance A. Jones. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO. (1:79–86.).
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Smith, Peter (2000). "calendar". A concise encyclopedia of the Bahá'í Faith. Oxford: Oneworld Publications. pp. 98–100. ISBN 1-85168-184-1.
- 1 2 3 Taylor, John (2000-09-01). "On Novelty in Ayyám-i-Há and the Badí Calendar". bahai-library.org. Retrieved 2006-09-24.
- ↑ MacEoin, Denis (1994). Rituals in Babism and Baha'ism. Pembroke Persian Papers. Volume 2 (illustrated ed.). British Academic Press. p. 107. ISBN 978-1-85043-654-6.
- ↑ Mottahedeh, Negar (1998). "The Mutilated Body of the Modern Nation: Qurrat al-‘AynTahirah’s Unveiling and the Iranian Massacre of the Babis". Comparative Studies of south Asia,Africa and the Middle East 18 (2): 43. doi:10.1215/1089201X-18-2-38.
- ↑ Mihrshahi, Robin (2004) [1991]. "Symbolism in the Badi‘ Calendar". Baha'i Studies Review 12 (1). doi:10.1386/bsre.12.1.15. ISSN 1354-8697. Retrieved 2012-05-01.
- 1 2 3 4 Momen, Moojan (2014). The Badí` (Bahá'í) Calendar: An Introduction.
- 1 2 Universal House of Justice (1992). Notes of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas. Wilmette, Illinois, USA: Bahá'í Publishing Trust. pp. 178–179. ISBN 0-85398-999-0..
- ↑ Cameron, Glenn; Momen, Wendy (1996). A Basic Bahá'í Chronology. Oxford, UK: George Ronald. p. 165. ISBN 0-85398-404-2.
- 1 2 3 4 5 The Universal House of Justice (2014-07-10). "To the Bahá’ís of the World". Retrieved 2014-07-10.
- ↑ Nakhjavani, Ali (January 2015). "The ninth cycle of the Bahá’í calendar". The American Bahá'í: 23–27.
- ↑ Smith, Peter (2000). "Ayyám-i-Há". A concise encyclopedia of the Bahá'í Faith. Oxford: Oneworld Publications. p. 53. ISBN 1-85168-184-1.
- ↑ For calculating the dates, data provided by HM Nautical Almanac Office in the United Kingdom is used by the Bahá'í World Centre. The World Geodetic System 1984 is used to determine the point of reference for Tehran.
- ↑ Purushotma, Shastri Baha'is to Implement New Calendar Worldwide. Huffington Post. 14-07-2014.
- ↑ Curtis, Larry (2004-03-06). "A Day in the Bahá'í Calendar". bcca.org. Archived from the original on 2 October 2006. Retrieved 2006-09-24.
- ↑ National Spiritual Assembly of the United States (2006-03-05). "The Bahá'í Calendar". bahai.us. Archived from the original on 28 September 2006. Retrieved 2006-09-24.
- ↑ Bayat, Mangol (2000). Mysticism and Dissent: Socioreligious Thought in Qajar Iran. Modern Intellectual and Political History of the Middle East (reprint ed.). Syracuse University Press. p. 88. ISBN 978-0-8156-2853-8.
- ↑ Taherzadeh, A. (1976). The Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh, Volume 1: Baghdad 1853-63. Oxford, UK: George Ronald. pp. 116–7. ISBN 0-85398-270-8.
- ↑ Stephen N. Lambden. The Du'á Sahar or Supplication of Glory-Beauty (al-bahá')
- ↑ Saiedi, Nader (2008). Gate of the Heart: Understanding the Writings of the Báb. Canada: Wilfrid Laurier University Press. pp. 327–328. ISBN 978-1-55458-056-9.
- 1 2 Mihrshahi, Robin (2013). A Wondrous New Day: The Numerology of Creation and 'All Things' in the Badí' Calendar.
- 1 2 3 4 Effendi, Shoghi (1950). The Bahá'í Faith: 1844-1950. Wilmette, Illinois: Bahá'í Publishing Committee.
- ↑ "Letter written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer". Bahá'í News (162, April 1943): 5. 1939-07-10. In Effendi, Shoghi; Bahá'u'llah; 'Abdu'l-Bahá; The Universal House of Justice (1983). Hornby, Helen, ed. Lights of Guidance: A Bahá'í Reference File. New Delhi, India: Bahá'í Publishing Trust. p. 109. ISBN 978-81-85091-46-4. Retrieved 2009-03-15.
III. Bahá'í: E. Miscellaneous Subjects: 372. Friday is Day of Rest in Bahá'í Calendar.
- ↑ Bellenir, Karen (2004). Religious Holidays and Calendars: An Encyclopedic Handbook (3rd ed.). Omnigraphics. p. 154. ISBN 0-7808-0665-4.
- ↑ National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United Kingdom. Letter from the NSA to the Bahá’í Council for Wales Retrieved July 11, 2014.
- ↑ National Spiritual Assembly of the United States (2006-03-05). "The Badi Calendar" (PDF). bahai.us. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 September 2006. Retrieved 2006-09-23.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Smith, Peter (2000). "holy days". A concise encyclopedia of the Bahá'í Faith. Oxford: Oneworld Publications. pp. 182–183. ISBN 1-85168-184-1.
- ↑ Walbridge, John (2003-10-02). "Ridvan". Retrieved 2006-09-23.
- ↑ Taherzadeh, Adib (1987). The Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh, Volume 4: Mazra'ih & Bahji 1877-92. Oxford, UK: George Ronald. p. 334. ISBN 0-85398-270-8.
- 1 2 3 Bolhuis, Arjen (2006-03-23). "The first Kull-i-Shay' of the Bahá'í Era". Retrieved 2006-09-23.
Further reading
Primary sources
- "Additional material gleaned from Nabíl’s Narrative (vol. II), regarding the Bahá’í Calendar." in: Bahá'í World, vol. III (1928 — 1930) until vol. XX (1986 — 1992). Bahá’í World Centre, Haifa.
- Effendi, Shoghi (1976). Principles of Bahá'í Administration (4th ed.). London, UK: Bahá'í Publishing Trust. ISBN 0-900125-13-6.
- "Letter of the Universal House of Justice", 10 July 2014
Secondary sources
- Keil, Gerald (2008). Time and the Bahá’í Era. UK: George Ronald. ISBN 978-0-85398-527-3.
- Keil, Gerald (2010). "Textual Context and Literary Criticism: A Case Study based on a Letter from Shoghi Effendi". Irfan Colloquia 11. Wilmette, IL: Irfan Colloquia. pp. 55–98. ISBN 9783942426039.
- Mihrshahi, Robin (2013). A Wondrous New Day: The Numerology of Creation and 'All Things' in the Badí' Calendar.
- Momen, Moojan (2014). The Badí` (Bahá'í) Calendar: An Introduction.
External links
- Bahá'í Dates 172 to 221 B.E. (2015 - 2065; prepared by the Baha'i World Centre)
- Bahá’í Calendar app for iOS
- Badí' Calendar Calculator
- Google Chrome Extension showing today's date in the Badí' Calendar
- Slide Show: Introduction to the Badí' Calendar
- Arithmetic of the Bahá'í Calendar, and Variants
- Bahá'í Calendar, Bahá'í Events and Holy Days (types: Persian, Islamic, Gregorian)
- Feasts & Holy Days (dynamic display of Holy Days, adjusted by year for your position - correct before and after 2015)
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