arthra
Baha'i
The Baha'i Fast begins at dawn March 2nd and ends at sundown March 20th. The Fast is from dawn till dusk each day in the Baha'i month of 'Ala (Loftiness) March 2nd till dusk March 20th. The Fast involves abstaining from food and drink from sunrise till sundown.
"Bahá’u’lláh designated a nineteen-day period each year during which adult Bahá’ís fast from sunrise to sunset each day. This period coincides with the Bahá’í month of Alá—meaning Loftiness—from 2 to 20 March, which immediately precedes the Bahá’í new year. It is a time of prayer, meditation, and spiritual rejuvenation.
"A number of special prayers have been revealed specifically for the period of the fast. One, for example, begins with these words:
“This is, O my God, the first of the days on which Thou hast bidden Thy loved ones to observe the Fast. I ask of Thee by Thy Self and by him who hath fasted out of love for Thee and for Thy good-pleasure—and not out of self and desire, nor out of fear of Thy wrath—and by Thy most excellent names and august attributes, to purify Thy servants from the love of aught except Thee and to draw them nigh unto the Dawning-Place of the lights of Thy countenance and the Seat of the throne of Thy oneness. Illumine their hearts, O my God, with the light of Thy knowledge and brighten their faces with the rays of the Daystar that shineth from the horizon of Thy Will.”[3]
— BAHÁ’U’LLÁH—
Notes
Fasting | Devotion | The Life of the Spirit | What Bahá’ís Believe
Baháʼu'lláh established the guidelines of the fast in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, his book of laws.[2] Fasting is observed from sunrise to sunset during the Baháʼí month of ʻAlaʼ (between 1/2 March through 19/20 March) and it is the complete abstention from food, and drink. Observing the fast is an individual obligation, and is binding on all Baháʼís who have reached the age 15 until the age of 70;[2] it is not enforceable by the Baháʼí administrative institutions.[1] Various exemptions are given to the sick, the travelling, and others (see below).[2]
Fasting impact[edit]
Baháʼí fasting is said to improve well-being, increase mindfulness, establish discipline, and create structure in daily lives of the participants.[5]
Laws concerning fasting[edit]
There are laws and practices associated with the Nineteen Day Fast that were established by Baháʼu'lláh in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, his book of laws.[2]
There are various exemptions provided in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas from the obligation of fasting. One meeting the exemptions may, however, still choose to fast if they so wish, with the exception of the ill. Baha'u'llah has stated that in "time of ill health it is not permissible to observe these obligations..." The Universal House of Justice has counseled the Baha'is that the decision of whether or not to observe an applicable exemption should be made with wisdom, keeping in mind that the exemptions were set down with good reason. Regarding those engaged in heavy labour Baha'u'llah has stated, "it is most commendable and fitting to eat with frugality and in private."[1][2]
While Baháʼís are allowed to fast at other times during the year, fasting at other times is not encouraged and is rarely done; Baháʼu'lláh permitted the making of vows to fast, which was a Muslim practice, but he stated that he preferred that such vows be "directed to such objectives as will profit mankind."[1][3]
Nineteen-Day Fast - Wikipedia
"Bahá’u’lláh designated a nineteen-day period each year during which adult Bahá’ís fast from sunrise to sunset each day. This period coincides with the Bahá’í month of Alá—meaning Loftiness—from 2 to 20 March, which immediately precedes the Bahá’í new year. It is a time of prayer, meditation, and spiritual rejuvenation.
"A number of special prayers have been revealed specifically for the period of the fast. One, for example, begins with these words:
“This is, O my God, the first of the days on which Thou hast bidden Thy loved ones to observe the Fast. I ask of Thee by Thy Self and by him who hath fasted out of love for Thee and for Thy good-pleasure—and not out of self and desire, nor out of fear of Thy wrath—and by Thy most excellent names and august attributes, to purify Thy servants from the love of aught except Thee and to draw them nigh unto the Dawning-Place of the lights of Thy countenance and the Seat of the throne of Thy oneness. Illumine their hearts, O my God, with the light of Thy knowledge and brighten their faces with the rays of the Daystar that shineth from the horizon of Thy Will.”[3]
— BAHÁ’U’LLÁH—
Notes
Fasting | Devotion | The Life of the Spirit | What Bahá’ís Believe
Baháʼu'lláh established the guidelines of the fast in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, his book of laws.[2] Fasting is observed from sunrise to sunset during the Baháʼí month of ʻAlaʼ (between 1/2 March through 19/20 March) and it is the complete abstention from food, and drink. Observing the fast is an individual obligation, and is binding on all Baháʼís who have reached the age 15 until the age of 70;[2] it is not enforceable by the Baháʼí administrative institutions.[1] Various exemptions are given to the sick, the travelling, and others (see below).[2]
Fasting impact[edit]
Baháʼí fasting is said to improve well-being, increase mindfulness, establish discipline, and create structure in daily lives of the participants.[5]
Laws concerning fasting[edit]
There are laws and practices associated with the Nineteen Day Fast that were established by Baháʼu'lláh in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, his book of laws.[2]
- The period of fasting begins with the termination of the Intercalary Days and ends with the festival of Naw-Rúz.[2]
- Abstinence from food, drink and smoking from sunrise to sunset.[1]
- Fasting is obligatory for men and women once they attain the age of 15.[2]
- If one eats unconsciously during the fasting hours, this is not breaking the fast as it is an accident.[6]
- In regions of extremely high latitude where the duration of days and nights vary considerably, the times of the fast are fixed by the clock.[2][6]
- Missed days of fasting is not required to be made up later.[7]
- There is no mention of abstention from sexual relations while fasting.[8]
There are various exemptions provided in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas from the obligation of fasting. One meeting the exemptions may, however, still choose to fast if they so wish, with the exception of the ill. Baha'u'llah has stated that in "time of ill health it is not permissible to observe these obligations..." The Universal House of Justice has counseled the Baha'is that the decision of whether or not to observe an applicable exemption should be made with wisdom, keeping in mind that the exemptions were set down with good reason. Regarding those engaged in heavy labour Baha'u'llah has stated, "it is most commendable and fitting to eat with frugality and in private."[1][2]
- Those who are ill.
- Those who are younger than 15 or older than 70.
- Those who are engaged in heavy labour.
- Women who are pregnant.
- Women who are nursing.
- Women who are menstruating (instead they must perform an ablution and recite the verse Glorified be God, the Lord of Splendour and Beauty 95 times a day).[1]
While Baháʼís are allowed to fast at other times during the year, fasting at other times is not encouraged and is rarely done; Baháʼu'lláh permitted the making of vows to fast, which was a Muslim practice, but he stated that he preferred that such vows be "directed to such objectives as will profit mankind."[1][3]
Nineteen-Day Fast - Wikipedia
