“Recite the Greatest Name at every morn, and turn thou unto the Kingdom of Abhá, until thou mayest apprehend my mysteries.”
— `Abdu'l-Bahá (Tablets of Abdu'l-Baha v3, p. 674)
Photo credit: Farzam Sabetian (instagram: @farzam09) click on photo to link to his personal website
Significance of Repeating
The Greatest Name: Alláh-u-Abhá
“`Abdu'l-Bahá teaches how the practice of invocation or repetition of “The Greatest Name” (Alláh-u-Abhá, God is Most Glorious) leads to union with God, illumination and spiritual rebirth. The use of invocation is well developed among the mystics of Islam, the Sufis. The repetition of sacred phrases is called dhikr (promounced zikr, meaning remembrance). This spiritual practice of invocation is praised by `Abdu'l-Bahá. He encourages spiritual seekers to “recite the Greatest Name at every morn, and (to) turn…unto the kingdom of Abhá, until though mayest apprehend the mysteries.
Through the invocation fo the Greatest Name, `Abdu'l-Bahá maintains that “the doors of the kingdom of God open, illumination is vouchsafed and divine union results…The use of the Greatest Name, and dependence upon it, causes the soul to strip itself of the husks of morality and to step forth freed, reborn, a new creature.”
`Abdu'l-Bahá encourages the use of the sacred phrase Alláh-u-Abhá as a focus for invocation: “The Greatest Name should be found upon the lips in the first awakening moment of early dawn. It should be fed upon by constant use in daily invocation, in trouble, under opposition, and should be the last word breathed when the head rests upon the pillow at night. It is the name of comfort, protection, happiness, illumination, love and unity. “
Pages 57-58 from the Book, Wisdom of the Masters: The Spiritual Teachings of `Abdu'l-Bahá, References 54-56 (The reference in the back of the book is below if you would like further details)
“The Greatest Name, Symbol of the Cause”, Baha’i News (Oct 1964), p. 2. Also see Steven Scholl, “The Remembrance of God: An invocation Technique in Sufiism and the Writings of the Bab and Baha’u’llah, “ Baha’i Studies Bulletin (1985).
Why say The Greatest Name Alláh-u-Abhá 95 Times?
In the book ‘Gate of the Heart’ by Nader Saiedi, he 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), symbolizing the recognition of the manifestation of God and obedience to his laws, which are inseparable from each other, as confirmed by Bahá'u'lláh in the opening paragraph of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas.
The 95 Alláh-u-Abhá Meditation audio is a meditation that includes a chanted repetition of the sacred word Alláh-u-Abhá, which means ‘God the All-Glorious’.
According to Note 33 from the The Kitáb-i-Aqdas,
“It hath been ordained that every believer in God … shall, each day … repeat “Alláh-u-Abhá” ninety-five times.
“Alláh-u-Abhá” is an Arabic phrase meaning “God the All-Glorious.” It is a form of the Greatest Name of God (see note 137). In Islám there is a tradition that among the many names of God, one was the greatest; however, the identity of this Greatest Name was hidden. Bahá’u’lláh has confirmed that the Greatest Name is “Bahá.”
The various derivatives of the word “Bahá” are also regarded as the Greatest Name. Shoghi Effendi’s secretary writing on his behalf explains that
“The Greatest Name is the Name of Bahá’u’lláh. “Yá Bahá’u’l-Abhá” is an invocation meaning: “O Thou Glory of Glories!” “Alláh-u-Abhá” is a greeting which means: “God the All-Glorious.” Both refer to Bahá’u’lláh. By Greatest Name is meant that Bahá’u’lláh has appeared in God’s Greatest Name, in other words, that He is the supreme Manifestation of God. “
The greeting “Alláh-u-Abhá” was adopted during the period of Bahá’u’lláh’s exile in Adrianople.
The repetition of “Alláh-u-Abhá” ninety-five times is to be preceded by the performance of ablutions (see note 34).”
Alláh-u-Abhá also appears in the Prayer for the Dead as indicated in Note 11 from the The Kitáb-i-Aqdas,
“The passages that form part of the Prayer for the Dead comprise the repetition of the greeting “Alláh-u-Abhá” (God is the All-Glorious) six times, each followed by nineteen repetitions of one of six specifically revealed verses.”
If you would like to learn more about the Symbol of the Greatest Name itself, click here to be directed to a detailed explanation by Hand of the Cause Abu'l-Qasim Faizi.
About the 95 Alláh-U-Abhá Meditation by Sarah Hosney
The 95 Alláh-U-Abhá Meditation audio meditation is a meditation that includes the repetition of the invocation Alláh-U-Abhá 95 times by the Artist Sarah Hosney; an Egyptian Baha’i Musician. She has generously and freely donated her time for the Bicentenary Meditation Project in order to ensure the authenticity of the invocations accent in Arabic. Thank you so much Sarah!
If you would like to donate your time or services to the Bicentenary Meditation Project as a meditation content creator, Illustrator or photography, please don’t hesitation to contact us at meditationsofbbobb@gmail.com! We would love to include you as a participant and contributor to the Bicentenary Meditation Project as well!