published in Bahá'í World, Vol. 18 (1979-1983), pages 598-608 Haifa: Bahá’í World Centre, 1986
page 598
Excerpt from Bahá`u'lláh and the New Era by Dr. J. E. Esslemont
AMONG different peoples and at different times many different methods have been adopted for the measurement of time and fixing of dates, and several different calendars are still in daily use, e.g., the Gregorian in Western Europe, the Julian in many countries of Eastern Europe, the Hebrew among the Jews and the Muhammadan in Muslim countries.
The Báb signalized the importance of the dispensation He came to herald by inaugurating a new calendar.In this, as in the Gregorian Calendar, the lunar month is abandoned and the solar year is adopted.
The Bahá'í year consists of 19 months of 19 days each (i.e., 361 days), with the addition of certain `intercalary days' (four in ordinary and five in leap years) between the eighteenth and nineteenth months in order to adjust the calendar to the solar year. The Báb named the months after the attributes of God. The Bahá'í New Year, like the ancient Persian New Year, is astronomically fixed, commencing at the March equinox (21 March), and the Bahá'í era commences with the year of the Báb's declaration (i.e., 1844 A.D., 1260 A.H.).
In the not far distant future it will be necessary that all peoples in the world agree on a common calendar.
It seems, therefore, fitting that the new age of unity should have a new calendar free the the objections and associations which make each of the older calendars unacceptable to large sections of the world's population, and it is difficult to see how any other arrangement could exceed in simplicity and convenience that proposed by the Báb.
Feast of Ridván (Declaration of Bahá`u'lláh), 21 April-1 May 1863.
Fasting season lasts 19 days beginning with the first day of the month of `Alá', 2 March --the Feast of Náw-Rúz follows immediately after.
NOTE: `Abdu'l-Bahá, in one of His Tablets addressed to a believer of Nayríz, Persia, has written the following: Nine days in the year have been appointed on which work is forbidden. Some of these days have been specifically mentioned in the Book. The rest follow as collaries to the text. Work on the Day of the Covenant (Fête Day of `Abdu'l-Bahá), however, is not prohibited. Celebration of that day is left to the discretion of the friends. Its observance is not obligatory. The days pertaining to the Abhá Beauty (Bahá`u'lláh) and the Primal Point (the Báb), that is to say these nine days, are the only ones on which work connected with trade, commerce, industry and agriculture is not allowed. In like manner, work connected with any form of employment, whether governmental or otherwise, should be suspended. As a corollary of this Tablet it follows that the anniversaries of the birth and ascension of `Abdu'l-Bahá are not to be regarded as days on which work is prohibited. The celebration of these two days, however, is obligatory. Bahá'ís in East and West, holding administrative positions, whether public or private, should exert the utmost effort to obtain a special leave from their superiors to enable them to observe these nine holy days.
THE Badí` Calendar (Bahá'í Calendar) has been taken from the Kitáb-i-Asmá', one of the works written by the Báb. As I have observed in these days that certain believers are inclined to regard the year in which Bahá`u'lláh departed from Baghdád to Constantinople as marking the beginning of the Badí` Calendar, I have requested Mírzá Áqá Ján, the amanuensis of Bahá`u'lláh, to ascertain His will and desire concerning this matter. Bahá`u'lláh answered and said: `The year sixty A.H.1 (1844 A.D.), the year of the Declaration of the Báb, must be regarded as the beginning of the Badí` Calendar.' The Declaration of the Báb took place on the evening preceding the fifth day of Jamádíyu'l-Avval, of the year 1260 A.H. It has been ordained that the solar calendar be followed and that the vernal Equinox, the day of Náw-Rúz, be regarded as the New Year's Day of the Badí` Calendar. The year sixty, in which the fifth day of Jamádíyu'l-Avval coincided with the sixty-fifth day after Náw-Rúz, has accordingly been regarded as the first year
1 (i.e., 1260 A.H.)
page 600
of the Badí` Calendar. As in that year, the day of Náw-Rúz, the vernal Equinox, preceded by sixty-six days the date of the Declaration of the Báb, I have therefore, throughout my history, regarded the Náw-Rúz of the year sixty-one A.H. (the Náw-Rúz immediately following the Declaration of the Báb) as the first Náw-Rúz of the Badí` Calendar. I have accordingly considered the Náw-Rúz of this present year, the year 1306 A.H., which is the 47th solar year after the Declaration of the Báb, as the 46th Náw-Rúz of the Badí` Calendar.
Soon after Bahá`u'lláh had left the fortress of `Akká and was dwelling in the house of Malik, in that city, He commanded me to transcribe the text of the Badí` Calendar and to instruct the believers in its details. On the very day in which I received His command, I composed, in verse and prose, an exposition of the main features of that Calendar and presented it to him.The versified copy, being now unavailable, I am herein transcribing the version in prose. The days of the week are named as follows:
| Days | Arabic Name | English Name | Translation |
| 1st | Jalál | Saturday | Glory |
| 2nd | Jamál | Sunday | Beauty |
| 3rd | Kamál | Monday | perfection |
| 4th | Fidál | Tuesday | Grace |
| 5th | `Idál | Wednesday | Justice |
| 6th | Istijlál | Thursday | Majesty |
| 7th | Istiqlál | Friday | Independence |
The names of the months, which are the same as the days of each month, are as follows:
| Month | Arabic Name | Translation | First Days |
| 1st | Bahá | Slendour | March 21 |
| 2nd | Jalál | Glory | April 9 |
| 3rd | Jamál | Beauty | April 28 |
| 4th | Azamat | Grandeur | May 17 |
| 5th | Núr | Light | June 5 |
| 6th | Rahmat | Mercy | June 24 |
| 7th | Kalimát | Words | July 13 |
| 8th | Kamál | perfection | August 1 |
| 9th | Asmá' | Names | August 20 |
| 10th | `Izzat | Might | September 8 |
| 11th | Mashíyyat | Will | September 27 |
| 12th | `Ilm | Knowledge | October 16 |
| 13th | Qudrat | power | November 4 |
| 14th | Qawl | Speech | November 23 |
| 15th | Masá'il | Questions | December 12 |
| 16th | Sharaf | Honour | December 31 |
| 17th | Sultán | Sovereignty | January 19 |
| 18th | Mulk | Dominion | February 7 |
| 19th | `Alá' | Loftiness | March 2 |
Ayyám-i-Há (Intercalary Days) 26 February to 1 March inclusive-- four in ordinary and five in leap years.
The first day of each month is thus the day of Bahá, and the last day of each month the day of `Alá'.
The Báb has regarded the solar year, of 365 days, 5 hours, and fifty odd minutes, as consisting of 19 months of 19 days each, with the addition of certain intercalary days. He has named the New Year's Day, which is the day of Náw-Rúz, the day of Bahá, of the month of Bahá. He has ordained the month of `Alá' to be
page 601
the month of fasting, and has decreed that the day of Náw-Rúz should mark the termination of that period. As the Báb did not specifically define the place for the four days and the fraction of a day in the Badí` Calendar, the people of the Bayán were at a loss as to how they should regard them.The revelation of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas in the city of `Akká resolved this problem and settled the issue. Bahá`u'lláh designated those days as the Ayyám-i-Há and ordained that they should immediately precede the month of `Alá', which is the month of fasting. He enjoined upon His followers to devote these days to feasting, rejoicing, and charity. Immediately upon the termination of these intercalary days, Bahá`u'lláh ordained the month of fasting to begin. I have heard it stated that some of the people of the Bayán, the followers of Mírzá Yahyá, have regarded these intercalary days as coming immediately after the month of `Alá', thus terminating their fast five days before the day of Náw-Rúz.This, notwithstanding the explicit text of the Bayán which states that the day of Náw-Rúz must needs be the first day of the month of Bahá, and must follow immediately after the last day of the month of `Alá'. Others, aware of this contradiction, have started their fasting on the fifth day of the month of `Alá', and included the intercalary days within the period of fasting.
Every fourth year the number of the intercalary days is raised from four to five. The day of Náw-Rúz falls on the 21st of March only if the vernal Equinox precedes the setting of the sun on that day. Should the vernal Equinox take place after sunset, Náw-Rúz will have to be celebrated on the following day.
The Báb has, moreover, in His Writings revealed in the Arabic tongue, divided the years following the date of His Revelation into cycles of nineteen years each. The names of the years in each cycle are as follows:
| 1. Alif | A. |
| 2. Bá' | B. |
| 3. Ab | Father. |
| 4. Dál | D. |
| 5. Báb | Gate. |
| 6. Váv | V. |
| 7. Abad | Eternity. |
| 8. Jád | Generosity. |
| 9. Bahá | Splendour. |
| 10. Hubb | Love. |
| 11. Baháj | Delightful. |
| 12. Javáb | Answer. |
| 13. Ahad | Single. |
| 14. Vahháb | Bountiful. |
| 15. Vidád | Affection. |
| 16. Badí' | Beginning. |
| 17. Bahí | Luminous. |
| 18. Abhá | Most Luminous. |
| 19. Váhid | Unity. |
Each cycle of nineteen years is called a Váhid. Nineteen cycles constitute a period called Kull-i-Shay'. The numerical value of the word Váhid is nineteen, that of Kull-i-Shay' is 361. Váhid signifies unity, and is symbolic of the unity of God.
The Báb has, moreover, stated that this system of His is dependent upon the acceptance and good-pleasure of `Him Whom God shall make manifest'. One word from Him would suffice either to establish it for all time, or to annul it forever.
For instance, the date of the 21st of April, 1930, which is the first day of Ridván, and which according to the Kitáb-i-Aqdas must coincide with the `thirteenth day of the second Bahá'í month,' and which fell this year (1930) on Monday, would, according to the system of the Badí` Calendar, be described as follows: `The day of Kamál, the day of Qudrat, of the month of Jalál, of the year Baháj, of the fifth Váhid, of the first Kull-i-Shay'.'
page 602
A. BAGHDÁD Arrival latter part Jamádiyu'th-Thání, 1269 A.H. 12 March-10 April 1853 A.D. Departure for Sulaymáníyyih on Wed- nesday, 10 April 1854 A.D.--Rajab 12, 1270 A.H. B. SULAYMÁNÍYYIH Before reaching Sulaymáníyyih, He lived for a time on the Sar-Galú mountain. During His absence from Baghdád His family transferred their residence from House of Hájí `Alí Madad to that of Sulaymán-i-Ghannám. Nabíl arrived at Baghdád 6 months after Bahá`u'lláh's departure for Sulaymáníyyih. C.BAGHDÁD Arrived from Sulaymáníyyih on Wed- nesday, 19 March 1856 A.D.-- Rajab 12, 1272 A.H. Departure from Baghdád for Constan- tinople, Wednesday afternoon (first day of Ridván), 22 April 1863 A.D. --Dhi'l-Qa`dih 3,1279 A.H. Short stay in Mazra'iy-i-Vashshásh during above period to celebrate Náw-Rúz ended with departure on Thursday, 26 March 1863 A.D.- Shavvál 5, 1279 A.H. | Works Revealed During This Period | Houses Occupied During This Period |
| Kullu't-Ta`ám | House of Hájí `Alí- Madad (in old Baghdád) House of Sulaymán -i-Ghannám | |
| Prayers Qasídiy-i-Varqá'íyyih Sáqí-Az-Ghayb-i- Baqá | ||
| Tafsír-i-Hurúfát-i- Muqatta`ih Sahífiy-i-Shattíyyih Haft-Vádí (Seven Valleys) Tafsír-i-Hú Lawh-i-Húríyyih Kitáb-i-Íqán Kalimát-i-Maknúnih (Hidden Words) Subhána-Rabbíya'l- A`lá Shikkar-Shikan- Shavand Halih-Halih-Yá Bishárat Ghulámu'l-Khuld Az-Bágh-i-Iláhí Báz-Áv-u-Bidih-Jámí Malláhu'l-Quds (Holy Mariner) |
| C .BAGHDÁD--continued | Works Revealed During This Period | Houses Occupied During This Period |
| Arrival at Garden of Najibíyyih (Garden of Ridván), 22 April 1863 A.D.--Dhi'l-Qa'dih 3, 1279 A.H. Arrival of Bahá`u'lláh's Family at Garden of Ridván on eighth day after first of Ridván. Departure from Garden of Ridván for Constantinople last day of Ridván at noon on Sunday, 3 May 1863 A.D.--Dhi'l-Qa'dih 14, 1279 A.H. | Súriy-i-Sabr revealed on first day of Ridván |
| Firayját (arrived early afternoon-- | Hasan-Áqá, |
| stayed seven days) arrived on Sun- | Márdin, |
| day, 3 May 1863 A.D.--Dhi'l- | Díyár-Bakr, |
| Qa'dih 14, 1279 A.H. (Firayját is | Ma'dan-Mis, |
| about 3 miles distant from Baghdád) | Khárpút (stayed 2 or 3 days), |
| Judaydih, | Ma'dan-Nuqrih, |
| Dilí-`Abbás, | Dilík-Tásh, |
| Qarih-Tapih, | Sívas, |
| Saláhíyyih (stayed 2 nights), | Túqát, |
| Dúst-Khurmátú, | Amasia (stayed 2 days), |
| Táwuq, | Háhíyyih (while approaching Sámsún, |
| Karkúk (stayed 2 days), | `Lawh-i-Hawdaj' was revealed), (last |
| Irbíl, | day of overland journey), |
| Záb River, | Sámsún (stayed 7 days), Black Sea port; |
| Bartalih, | sailed in a Turkish steamer about |
| Mosul (stayed 3 days), | sunset for Constantinople, |
| Zákhú, | Sinope (arrived next day about noon), |
| Lazírih, | Black Sea port: stayed few hours, |
| Nusaybín | Anyábulí (arrived next day). |
| D. CONSTANTINOPLE | Works Revealed During This Period | Houses Occupied During This Period | Duration |
| Arrival at noon on Sunday, 16 August 1863 A.D.-- Rabi'u'l-Avval 1, 1280 A.H. | Subhánáka-Yá-Hú Lawh-i-`Abdu'l-`Azíz Va-Vukalá | House of Shamsí Big (near the mosque of Khirqiy-i-Sharíf | 1 month |
| D. CONSTANTINOPLE-- continued | Works Revealed During This Period | Houses Occupied During This Period | Duration |
| Length of sea voyage from Sámsún to Constantinople: 3 days Length of journey from Constan- tinople to Adri- anople: 12 days. | House of Vísí Páshá (3-storey, near Sultán Muhammad Mosque) | 3 months | |
1. Kúchik-Chakmachih (3 hours from Constantinople--spent one night)
2. Búyúk-Chakmachih (arrived about noon)
3. Salvarí 4. Birkás 5. Bábá-Iskí
| E. ADRIANOPLE | Works Revealed During This Period | Houses Occupied During This Period | Duration |
| Arrival on Saturday, 12 December 1863 A.D.--Rajab 1, 1280 A.H. Length of stay: 4 years, 8 months, 22 days. Length of overland journey from Con- stantinople to Ad- rianople: 12 days. Departure from Adri- anople on Wednes- day, 12 August 1868 A.D.--Rabí- 'u'th-Thání 22, 1285 A.H. | Súriy-i-Asháb Lawh-i-Hajj I Lawh-i-Hajj II Kitáb-i-Badí` Súriy-i-Mulúk (Tablet of the Kings) Súriy-i-Amr Súriy-i-Damm Alváh-i-Laylatu'l- Quds Munájátháy-i-Siyám (Prayers for Fasting) Lawh-i-Sayyáh Lawh-i-Nápulyún I (First Tablet to Napoleon III) Lawh-i-Sultán (Tablet to the Sháh of Persia) Lawh-i-Nuqtih | 1. Khán-i-`Aráb (caravanserai, two-storey, near house of `Izzat- Áqá) 2. House in Murádíy- yih quarter, near Takyiy-i-Mawlaví 3. House in Murádíy- yih quarter, near house 2 4. Khániy-i-Amru'lláh (several storeys, near Sultán-Salím Mosque) 5. House of Ridá Big 6. House of Amru'lláh (3-storey, north of Sultán-Salím Mosque) 7. House of `Izzat-Áqá | 3 nights 1 week 6 months 1 year 3 months? 11 months |
| F. `AKKÁ-- continued | Works Revealed During This Period | Houses Occupied During This Period | Duration |
| Arrival on Monday, 31 August 1868 A.D.--Jamádíyu'l- Avval 12, 1285 A.H. Purest Branch died on Thursday, 23 June 1870 A.D.--Rabí- `u'l-Avval 23, 1287 A.H. passed away 29 May 1892 A.D. | Kitáb-i-Aqdas Lawh-i-Nápulyún II (Second Tablet to Napoleon III) Lawh-i-Malikih (Tablet to Queen Victoria) Lawh-i-Malik-Rús (Tablet to the Czar) Súriy-i-Haykal Lawh-i-Burhán Lawh-i-Ru'yá Lawh-i-Ibn-i-Dhi'b (Epistle to Son of the Wolf) Lawh-i-Páp (Tablet to the Pope) | 1. Barracks 2. House of Malik 3. House of Rábi'ih 4. House of Mansúr 5. House of Abbúd (where Kitáb-i- Aqdas was re- vealed) 6. Mazra'ih 7. Qasr (Mansion, where He passed away) | 2 years, 2 months 5 days 3 months 2 or 3 months |