Greatest Name - Use of

It is quite important that the Greatest Name or the picture of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá be placed in a dignified position. They should not be placed on the floor, nor on the other hand, should they be held above the heads of people in the photograph. It would seem the proper position would be for them to be held about chest height.

It was kind of you to think of making pins for the Bahá’ís; but he feels that this is too much like clubs and other Organizations. Indeed the Bahá’ís do not even have to wear a Bahá’í ring-stone unless they care to do so. He thinks it is better not to add any other means of identification.

The Bahá’ís are free to greet each other with Allah'u'Abhá when they meet, if they want to, but they should avoid anything which to outsiders, in a western country, might seem like some strange oriental password. We must be very firm on principles and laws, but very normal and natural in our ways, so as to attract strangers!

Although there exists an instruction that the symbol of the Greatest Name should not be use on Gravestones, no instructions has been found prohibiting the use of the symbol of the Greatest Name on any other particular item, such as jewellery, books or pamphlets. However, the Greatest Name should not be used in an undignified manner . . . Nothing has been found which would prohibit a believer from manufacturing and selling items using the Greatest Name provided that the manner in which the Greatest Name is use is dignified.

In another communication regarding this subject, the following was written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to a National Assembly: '...we are instructed to say that it would not be appropriate to use the symbol of the Greatest Name on the 269 official stationery of a Local Spiritual Assembly.' . . . While the House of Justice is reluctant to issue a list of the specific uses of the Greatest Name which should be avoided, the principal thing is for the friends to realize the great sacredness of this symbol, and to use it in ways which are dignified and appropriate.

The overriding consideration must always be the proper dignity with which the Greatest Name should be used. Thus it would not be befitting to use it on drinking vessels or as trays, plates for eating, and the like. There would, however, be no objection to its use on plaques or ornaments, jewellery or similar items which are not normally put to common use. The House of Justice instructs us to say that great care should be given to the accurate representation of the Persian calligraphy, since any deviation from an accepted representation can be distressing to Iranian believers.

We are requested by the Universal House of Justice to share with you the following guidelines of the use of the symbols of the Greatest Name. The Guardian, in a letter written on his behalf to an individual on 5 August 1949, stated: 'It is better not to encourage to use of this symbol on stationery and in paintings.' Likewise, the Universal House of Justice, in its letter to a National Assembly stated: We wish to call to your attention the impressions of the Greatest Name on the back of the envelope in which your letter was enclosed. This use of the Greatest Name is not befitting and we ask you to discontinue it.

We have found nothing in the texts forbidding the use of The Greatest Name, the Names of the Manifestations of God or the names of the Central Figures of our Faith in the lyrics of music. However, we feel that when they are used they should be used with reverence and respect, both in the manner in which they are incorporated in the lyrics and in the manner of presentation.

We have your letter . . . enclosing sketches of emblems which are intended to be used by Bahá’ís who wish to place them inside their automobiles. The use of such emblems is entirely within the discretion of your National Assembly, but you should not use The Greatest Name on the emblem.

When individual Bahá’ís reproduce on a limited scale the Greatest Name on items such as jewellery, and find ways of selling these items to others, they should normally be left free to engage in such activity, without interference from Bahá’í institutions, except in cases when in the opinion of these institutions the interests of the Faith are being adversely affected. However, when the friends intend to produce and sell such items on a large scale they should first seek the permission of the National Assembly, which should generally be well disposed to permit the production and sale of these objects if in their judgement the interest of the Faith are not being prejudiced and the necessary standards of dignity and propriety are being upheld.