There are several symbols used to express identification with the BaháüàFaith: the nine-pointed star, a calligraphy known as the "Greatest Name", the Ringstone Symbol, or a five-pointed star.
According to the Abjad system of isopsephy, the word Baháü has a numerical equivalence of 9, and thus there is frequent use of the number 9 in Baháüàsymbols. The most common of these is the nine-pointed star, ; there is no particular design of the nine-pointed star that is used more often than others. While the star is not a part of the teachings of the BaháüàFaith, it is commonly used as an emblem representing "9", because of the association of number 9 with perfection, unity and Baháü.
The number 9 also comes up several times in Baháüàhistory and teachings. On the significance of the number 9, Shoghi Effendi wrote:
Its use on gravestone markers was approved by Shoghi Effendi, then head of the religion, in 1944.
On 13 September 2022, the symbol was added to Unicode as .
The five-pointed star, pentagram, or (Arabic: temple) is a symbol of the BaháüàFaith as mentioned by Shoghi Effendi, head of the BaháüàFaith in the first half of the 20th century: "Strictly speaking the 5-pointed star is the symbol of our Faith, as used by the Báb and explained by Him." The five-pointed star has been used as the outline of special letters or tablets by both the Báb and Baháüu'lláh.
Haykal is a tetragram loan word from the Hebrew word , which means temple and specifically Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem. In Arabic, the word also means the body or form of something, particularly the human body. In the Baháüàtradition, the haykal was established by the Báb—and represents the human body as a head, two hands, and two feet. The Báb wrote many letters, tablets, prayers and more in the shape of a five-pointed star, including some that included many derivatives of the word Baháü (see below). In other Persian and Arabic BaháüàWritings, haykal is also used in a general context to refer to corporate organisations, the human body politic, etc.
Baháüu'lláh wrote the Súriy-i-Haykal (Tablet of the Temple) in the shape of a five-pointed star. "Haykal" has been rendered with the consonants HYKL in English translations of the Tablet. While the meaning of temple remains present, the haykal is used mainly to mean the human body, but particularly the body of the Manifestation of God—a messenger from God—and the person of Baháüu'lláh himself. In the Tablet, the haykal is also used to refer to the word of God, which is revealed by the Manifestations of God. He also says in the same Tablet: <blockquote>"O Living Temple! We have, in very truth,...ordained Thee to be the emblem of My Cause betwixt the heavens and the earth..."</blockquote>
In Islam, God has 99 names, and in some Muslim traditions it is believed that there is a special hidden 100th name, which is the greatest. In the BaháüàFaith, this 'Greatest Name' is Baháü (), translated as "glory, splendour. Many symbols of the BaháüàFaith derive their significance from the word Baháü. It is the root word used in many other names and phrases including Baháüà(a follower of Baháü), Baháüu'lláh "Glory of God", ûAbdu'l-Bahá "Servant of Glory", Yá Baháüu'l-Abhá "O Thou Glory of the Most Glorious", and Alláh-u-Abhá "God is Most Glorious".
Baháüu'lláh often referred to BaháüÃÂs in his writings as "the people of Baháü". The Báb sent a tablet to Baháüu'lláh with 360 derivatives of the word Baháü. Along with daily prayers, BaháüÃÂs are encouraged to recite the phrase "Alláh-u-Abhá" 95 times in a form of meditation.
The symbol known as Greatest Name is a calligraphic rendering of "Yá Baháüu'l-Abhá" (), usually translated as "O Thou the Glory of the Most Glorious!"). This rendering was originally drawn by the early Baháüàcalligrapher MishkÃÂn-Qalam, and later adopted by BaháüÃÂs everywhere.
Since the symbol refers more directly to the Name of God and the Manifestation of God than any other symbol in the BaháüàFaith, it is not generally used casually or to adorn the personal artifacts that are put to common use. The symbol can usually be seen in Baháüàhomes and rings that are produced on a limited scale.
The Ringstone Symbol was designed by ûAbdu'l-Bahá, and, as its name implies, is the most common symbol found on rings worn by BaháüÃÂs, but it is also used on necklaces, book covers, and paintings. It consists of two stars (haykal) interspersed with a stylized Baháü. The lower line is said to represent humanity and the world of creation, the upper line the world of God, and the middle line represents the special station of Manifestation of God and the world of revelation; the vertical line is the primal will or Holy Spirit proceeding from God through the manifestations to humanity. The position of Manifestation of God in this symbol is said to be the linking point to God. The two stars or haykals represent Baháüu'lláh and the Báb. It is also probably no coincidence that the shape of the symbol bears similarity to the Chinese characters for king , Jade Emperor çÂÂå¸Â, and master .