Wikiwand AI

Alláh-u-Abhá

Invocation in the Bahá'í Faith From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Alláh-u-Abhá (Arabic: الله أبهى, Allāhu ʼAbhā: "God is Most Glorious") is an invocation in the Bahá'í Faith, and an expression of the "Greatest Name". It is used as a greeting that Baháʼís may use when they meet each other.[1] It can be compared to the takbīr and tasbīḥ of Islam, i.e. the Arabic phrases Allāhu ʾAkbar ("God is Great") and Subḥān Allāh ("How Pure is God").

Arabic script inscribed on a metal plate
The calligraphy of the Greatest Name on a metal plate at the top of the interior of the Baháʼí House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois.

One of the obligations Baháʼu'lláh set for his followers is to engage in a daily meditation that involves repeating the phrase Alláh-u-Abhá 95 times.[2] Nader Saiedi explains that the significance of the number 95 originates from the Persian Bayán, where the Báb states that ninety-five stands for the numerical value of "for God" (lillāh),[3] symbolizing the recognition of the Manifestation of God and obedience to his laws, which are inseparable from each other, as confirmed by Baháʼu'lláh in the opening paragraph of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas.[4]

The form Allāhu is the nominative case of Allāh. The form Abhā is the elative or superlative of the word Baháʼ, meaning "beauty, brilliancy".[5] In Baháʼí writings, the "Greatest Name" is usually translated as "God is Most Glorious" or "God the All-Glorious".

See also

Notes

Related Articles

Timelines

Top Qs

Fact Checks