Qayyúmu’l-Asmá’
A commentary on the Súrih of Joseph in the Qur’án, written by the Báb in 1844 and regarded by Bábís as, in effect, their Qur’án. (For an outline of its contents, see Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, p. 23.)

Qiblih
Literally that which faces one; prayer direction; point of adoration: the focus to whixh the faithful turn in prayer. Qur’án 2:142-45 establishes the Ka‘bih in Mecca as the Qiblih for Muslims. For Bahá’ís, the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh at Bahjí, in Israel, is the heart and Qiblih of the Bahá’í world.

Quintessence
An imagined fifth “essence of heaven” in addition to the four elements of earth: hence, the last or highest essence of anything.

Qur’án
The Holy Book of Islám revealed by Muḥammad. The verses are built up into chapters called súrihs. It contains 77,974 words and is slightly longer than the New Testament; it was revealed over a period of 23 years. The whole book was not arranged until after the Prophet’s death, but He is believed to have Himself divided the súrihs and to have given most of them their present titles.

Rayy
An ancient city near which Ṭihrán was built.

Riḍván
The Islamic name of the gardener and custodian of Paradise. Bahá’u’lláh uses it to denote Paradise itself.

Rúz-bih
A Persian who embraced Christianity and, being told a Prophet was about to arise in Arabia, journeyed thither and, meeting Muḥammad at Koba in His flight to Medina, recognized His station and became a Muslim.