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2. Obligatory Prayer and Fasting
The commandments to pray daily and fast for one month a year are precious gifts from God because prayer and fasting refresh, purify, and strengthen the soul. Obedience to these commandments assures steady spiritual growth.
‘Abdu’]-Baha was asked why one should pray, since God knows the needs of all souls and arranges all matters in His great wisdom. He replied, ‘‘The wisdom of prayer is this, that it
causes a connection between the servant and the True One... .’’? ‘‘Know thou, verily,’’ He further explained, “itis becoming of a weak one to supplicate to the strong One and it behoveth a seeker of bounty to beseech the glorious, bountiful One. When one sup- plicates to his Lord, turns to Him and seeks bounty from His ocean this supplication is by it- self a light to his heart, an il- lumination to his sight, a life to his soul and an exaltation to his being.’’*
What attitude should one have when he prays? Certainly one must be thankful for all the blessings with which God has showered him. ‘‘Thank thou the kind Father,’’ ‘Abdu’ |-Baha
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says, ‘‘. . . that the world of creation and the heart of the universe found comfort in His mercy.’’® More important, though, one must yearn to know and follow the will of God. hile one can pray as often as he wishes, Baha’u’llah com- mands Baha’is to pray at least once a day. He has revealed three obligatory prayers. Each believer is free to choose one of these
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three prayers and use it according to the specific directions which accompany each prayer. The short prayer is said once a day between noon and sunset; the medium prayer is recited in the morning, at noon, and in the evening; the long prayer may be used any time during the day or night
When the disciples of Christ asked Him to teach them to pray, He gave the Lord’s Prayer. This certainly is not the only prayer Christ ever used, but it is the only one which was written down and preserved in the Gospels. Baha’is are fortunate to have hundreds of beautiful prayers revealed by Baha’u lah, the Bab, and ‘Abdu’l-Baha. One can, of course, make up his own prayers from the fullness of his heart; but the prayers of Baha’u’llah, the Bab, and ‘Abdu’l-Baha have a special power. They also serve as an example, teaching man how to approach God and what to pray for:
I render Thee thanks, O Thou Who has lighted Thy fire within my soul, and cast the beams of Thy light into my heart, that Thou has taught Thy servants how to make mention of Thee, and revealed unto them the ways whereby they can supplicate Thee... .®
he period of fasting is a time of cleansing and renewal.
Turning away from food and drink reminds man that he is a
spiritual as well as a physical being. The Baha’i Fast lasts nineteen days, from March 2 through March 20. During this time Baha’is do not eat or drink between sunrise and sunset.
The spirit in which one approaches the Fast is very important. It is not enough merely to abstain from food and drink. One should spend time in prayer and meditation and consider how he can improve and enrich his life. The Fast is a time when one should devote special attention to cleansing his heart of selfish desires, prejudices, lusts, and other impurities. This spiritual preparation helps one begin the new year, which starts im- mediately after the Fast, strengthened and refreshed/
The Fast is often a time of great closeness in Baha’; families and communities. Many Baha’is enjoy gathering before dawn or after sunset to pray, eat, and share fellowship.
In some situations Baha’u’llah says one should not fast. Baha'is who are traveling, sick, pregnant, nursing a child, over seventy years old, or younger than fifteen are not required to fast. All other Baha’is should take advantage of the oppor- tunities for spiritual growth and renewal which the Fast offers.
