What is the meaning of the Bahai faith 5-pointed star?

Answer 1

There are several symbols used in the Baha'i Faith. Baha'is probably most often use a nine-pointed star or floret. In Arabic and Persian, among other languages, letters can stand for numbers. The number 9 is the numeric equivalent of the word "Baha" (signifying glory, light, or splendor). Baha'u'llah is the name of the founder of the Baha'i Faith, Whom Baha'is regard as the Manifestation of God for this dispensation. Nine is also the highest single digit, representing wholeness or unity. Baha'i councils currently have nine members and Baha'i Houses of Worship have nine sides.

Additional symbols include: the 5-pointed star, representing the Manifestations of God; the number 19 and 19-pointed stars, standing for the word "Wahid" meaning unity, as well as symbolically standing for the mystical meanings contained in the opening verse of the Qur'an, which has 19 letters. There are also two forms of the "Greatest Name" (the word Baha). One is a calligraphic representation of the phrase "Ya Baha'u'l-Abha" (O Thou Glory of the Most Glorious!); the other is called the ringstone symbol and includes the letters B and H in Arabic, stylistically organized to represent the world of God, the world of the Manifestations, and the world of humanity, with a vertical line representing the Holy Spirit descending from God through the Manifestations to humankind; on either side of this symbol is a five pointed star, representing the two Manifestations of God for this era, the Bab ("Gate", 1819-1850, the forerunner of Baha'u'llah), and Baha'u'llah ("Glory of God", 1817-1892, the Founder of the Baha'i Faith).

Answer 2

The number nine has significance in the Bahα'ν Revelation. Nine years after the announcement of the Bαb in Shiraz, Bahα'u'llαh received the intimation of His mission in the dungeon in Teheran. Nine, as the highest single-digit number, symbolizes completeness.

Since the Bahα'ν Faith claims to be the fulfillment of the expectations of all prior religions, this symbol, as used for example in nine-sided Bahα'ν temples, reflects that sense of fulfillment and completeness.

Answer 3

Although the Baha'i Faith is recognized by the symbol of a nine-pointed star, the five-pointed star originated with the Báb (the Gate), the first of the Twin Manifestations of God who appeared in the mid-1800's (the second being Bahá'u'lláh). History accounts that the pentagram of a five-pointed star was used by the Báb in some of His Tablets and Writings. It was one of the Shi'ite Islamic prophesies as to how the awaited One would be recognized. It's supposed to represent the divine but human (head, arms, legs) "Temple" of God's Manifestation on earth.

Answer 4

Bahais often use the nine-pointed star, sometimes with a globe in the middle, to represent their Faith. That is like a logo or corporate image. However it is the five-pointed star that is a sacred image: it was used by the Bab and explained by him, and Baha'u'llah also used it in some of his writings. Among other things, it represents a human person (head and four limbs). The five pointed star is found on Bahai sacred buildings, such as the Shrine of the Bab, and two five-pointed stars, representing the Bab and Baha'u'llah, are included in the ringstone symbol.

It has three horizontal lines. The top one represents the world of God, the middle line symbolizes the world of Manifestations of God (prophets, messengers), the bottom one is humanity. They are linked by a vertical line representing revelation, or the Holy Spirit. This symbol was designed by Abdu'l-Baha, the son of Baha'u'llah, founder of the Bahai Faith.

Another important symbol is a piece of Arabic calligraphy called the Greatest Name (ie name of God), it reads "Ya Baha'u'l-Abha," which means, "O Glory of the All Glorious." Arabic is read from right to left - unfortunately if an English reader approaches this one from left to right, the top line looks a bit like (E).V.I.L !