Bahá’í Community Life/Universal Participation
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committees. If each believer tries to do his part in the work of the Faith, the community as a whole will be strong and healthy. But if no one contributes much time, love, or energy, the community will be weakened. An individual may have a talent which no one else in his community has, such as playing a musical instrument. If he does not contribute this talent, the community is deprived of his gift. Even if one is unable to do more, he can pray. Prayers are a great assistance to the growth of the Faith. A healthy Bahá’í community needs the support of each individual's devotion to God.
3. Universal Participation[edit]
It is important that every Bahá’í participate in the life of the Bahá’í community. The work of building God's Kingdom on earth will go much faster if each does his part. The Bahá’í community is like a body. Each muscle and bone has a job to do. If any muscle is crippled, the whole body is affected. It cannot perform as well as it could if all the muscles were working together. The Universal House of Justice reminds us of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s wish that Bahá’ís "work together, be as one soul in one body, and in so doing become a true, organic, healthy body animated and illumined by the spirit."8
Every Bahá’í should perform certain tasks to help the Faith grow. Every believer must teach. Since there are no paid ministers in the Bahá’í Faith, every Bahá’í must spread the message of Bahá’u’lláh. Bahá’ís have wonderful news to share with all people. Bahá’u’lláh, the Promised One of all Ages, has come. His Teachings are the remedy for a sick world. It is the duty of every Bahá’í to share this Message with friends and strangers. Each person can teach in his own way. Some people teach best when they are talking with one person at a time or with a small group of friends. Others speak well to large groups and can give talks at public meetings. Each believer also teaches by the way he lives the Bahá’í life. Other people watch to see how the Bahá’í teachings affect one's behavior. Teaching the Faith is one of the most important parts of Bahá’í life. Bahá’u’lláh has
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instructed us: “Teach ye the Cause of God, O people of Bahá, for God hath prescribed unto every one the duty of proclaiming His Message, and regardeth it as the most meritorious of all deeds.”9
Bahá’ís must also deepen their understanding of their Faith. The Word of God is so powerful and so deep that its full meaning cannot be grasped quickly. One must study and meditate upon it. As one reads the words of Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá again and again, he begins to have a clearer understanding of what these Writings mean. Learning more about the Faith helps one live a better Bahá’í life. “Immerse yourselves in the ocean of My words,” Bahá’u’lláh writes, “that ye may unravel its secrets, and discover all the pearls of wisdom that lie hid in its depths.”10
Every Bahá’í must pray. Prayer is the food of the soul. Without it the soul is weakened, and man cannot commune with God. In prayer one turns to God and receives strength to continue His work.
In addition to praying, each believer must strive to live the life of a true Bahá’í. All Bahá’ís have spiritual battles to fight and
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weaknesses to overcome. Through prayer and meditation on the life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the Perfect Exemplar, one can gradually correct his faults. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá has written: “The most vital duty, in this day, is to purify your characters, to correct your manners, and improve your conduct.”11
Every Bahá’í must give to the Fund. Shoghi Effendi called the Fund the lifeblood of the Cause and said “It is the sacred obligation of every conscientious and faithful servant of Bahá’u’lláh who desires to see His Cause advance, to contribute freely and generously for the increase of that Fund.”12 A body needs a steady flow of blood to grow and develop properly. Otherwise, it will remain weak and tired and may die. Regular contributions to the Fund assure the health and growth of the Cause of God.
Supporting the Fund is a privilege which only those who have recognized Bahá’u’lláh can enjoy; non-Bahá’ís may not contribute. Each Bahá’í should contribute regularly, perhaps every Bahá’í month. The amount given is confidential. It is a matter between the individual and God. A contribution is especially precious when sacrifice is involved. One way of showing one’s love for Bahá’u’lláh is to sacrifice something important in order to give to the Fund.
The Universal House of Justice has said that not all Bahá’ís can give public talks or serve on Spiritual Assemblies. But all can participate in Bahá’í community life by teaching, deepening, fighting their own spiritual battles, praying, and giving to the Fund.
4. Observance of Holy Days[edit]
The Bahá’í Faith, like all other religions, has a number of holy days. Many of them commemorate important events in the early history of the Faith, usually events in the life of the Báb or Bahá’u’lláh.
If at all possible Bahá’ís do not work on the holy days. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá has written, “Nine days in the year have been appointed on which work is forbidden.”13 In this way one