Baha'i month of fasting begins

[Dawnofhope]

The month of fasting for Baha'is begins 1st to 19th March. Time to focus on prayers and abstain from food and water between sunrise and sunset. This is one of the laws of our Faith for those aged 15 - 70 years of age. Exceptions are those who are sick, breast feeding, pregnant, and travelling. There are probably a few more but like much in our Faith it is between ourselves and God how we go about it.

"We, verily, have set forth all things in Our Book, as a token of grace unto those who have believed in God, the Almighty, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting. And We have ordained obligatory prayer and fasting so that all may by these means draw nigh unto God, the Most Powerful, the Well-Beloved. We have written down these two laws and expounded every irrevocable decree. We have forbidden men from following whatsoever might cause them to stray from the Truth, and have commanded them to observe that which will draw them nearer unto Him Who is the Almighty, the All-Loving. Say: Observe ye the commandments of God for love of His beauty, and be not of those who follow in the ways of the abject and foolish." Baha'u'llah

 

[arthra]

Thanks for introducing this timely subject Adrian! I've decided to resolve my focus on the prayers for the fast this year and see if I can have an opportunity to perform an act of service... I suppose one of the virtues of the fast is that of detachment and these days being detached is for me a blessing:

"O my Lord! Suffer me to be detached from aught else save Thee, to hold fast to the hem of Thy bounty, to be wholly devoted to Thy Faith, to remain fast and firm in Thy love and to observe what Thou hast prescribed in Thy Book."

"We are servants of Thine that have turned with devotion to Thy Holy Face, that have detached ourselves from all besides Thee in this glorious Day"

There are I think certain advantages to the Baha'i Fast...

If we are ill and miss a day or more of fasting... there are no make-ups needed later on...

People who are working in heavy labor during the day are exempt from fasting...

The Baha'i Fast is close to Spring time..actually ends on the vernal equinox or Naw-Ruz each year... so we don't have a problem with fasting in extremely hot months of the year.

The Baha'i Fast is nineteen days... as you've mentioned between sunrise and sunset.

People who are travelling as you've noted are exempt... of course I think travelling as more of the kind of travelling people used to do on horse back... more arduous and difficult than we do today...with automobiles, aeroplanes and
trains.

5) Exemption from fasting is granted to:
(a) Travellers
i. Provided the journey exceeds 9 hours.
ii. Those travelling on foot, provided the
journey exceeds 2 hours.
iii. Those who break their journey for less
than 19 days.
iv. Those who break their journey during
the Fast at a place where they are to stay
19 days are exempt from fasting only for
the first three days from their arrival. 39
v. Those who reach home during the Fast
must commence fasting from the day of
their arrival.

(Baha'u'llah, Synopsis and Codification of the Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 38)

So have blessed fast Adrian!

 

[Lirille]

'ello. I have a question, if you don't mind.

Do you have any permanent dietary recommendations or restrictions in Baha'i in general?

 

[Dawnofhope]

'ello. I have a question, if you don't mind.

Do you have any permanent dietary recommendations or restrictions in Baha'i in general?

No problem. Baha'is are not allowed to consume alcoholic beverages.

 

[Dawnofhope]

Food for thought:

God never commanded fasting.

Is something done out of obligation of any real spiritual value? What we do must be done out of love for God.

If I give all of my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing---I Cor 13:3

It seems o me if I am going to fast, God must put the desire into my heart, not put it on the man-made calendar of my religion. We never see fasting in the "Bible according to a prescribed schedule. I hop you don't think I am picking on your religion. My son belongs to an Eastern Orthodox church and the also fast according to schedules and I give him the same speech occasionally.

I always try to put everything on a Biblical basis. If the Bible say do it, do it; if it says don't do it, don't. If the Bible is silent, it is not mandatory.

Do the writing of your faith say to fast and when to do it?

The Baha'is fast is for 19 days during the month of Ala (meaning loftiness or Glory). The most important aspect is the spiritual. It is a time of prayer and meditation as the Baha'i New year comes at the end of this fast. God may consider one who has broken the fast as one who has kept it, and one who has kept it as one who has broken it. Its all about the spirit in which we approach this sacred Baha'i law. The fast is solely between the individual and God. I agree that it is something we should do out of love for God.

"Since Thou hast adorned them, O my Lord, with the ornament of the fast prescribed by Thee, do Thou adorn them also with the ornament of Thine acceptance, through Thy grace and bountiful favor. For the doings of men are all dependent upon Thy good pleasure, and are conditioned by Thy behest. Shouldst Thou regard him who hath broken the fast as one who hath observed it, such a man would be reckoned among them who 263 from eternity had been keeping the fast. And shouldst Thou decree that he who hath observed the fast hath broken it, that person would be numbered with such as have caused the Robe of Thy Revelation to be stained with dust, and been far removed from the crystal waters of this living Fountain." Baha'u'llah


Know thou that religion is as heaven; and fasting and obligatory prayer are its
sun and its moon. We entreat God, exalted and glorified be He, to graciously aid
everyone who acteth according to His will and good-pleasure. (Bahá'u'lláh, The
Importance of Obligatory Prayer and Fasting)

 

[omega2xx]

The Baha'is fast is for 19 days during the month of Ala (meaning loftiness or Glory). The most important aspect is the spiritual. It is a time of prayer and meditation as the Baha'i New year comes at the end of this fast. God may consider one who has broken the fast as one who has kept it, and one who has kept it as one who has broken it. Its all about the spirit in which we approach this sacred Baha'i law. The fast is solely between the individual and God. I agree that it is something we should do out of love for God.

"Since Thou hast adorned them, O my Lord, with the ornament of the fast prescribed by Thee, do Thou adorn them also with the ornament of Thine acceptance, through Thy grace and bountiful favor. For the doings of men are all dependent upon Thy good pleasure, and are conditioned by Thy behest. Shouldst Thou regard him who hath broken the fast as one who hath observed it, such a man would be reckoned among them who 263 from eternity had been keeping the fast. And shouldst Thou decree that he who hath observed the fast hath broken it, that person would be numbered with such as have caused the Robe of Thy Revelation to be stained with dust, and been far removed from the crystal waters of this living Fountain." Baha'u'llah


Know thou that religion is as heaven; and fasting and obligatory prayer are its
sun and its moon. We entreat God, exalted and glorified be He, to graciously aid
everyone who acteth according to His will and good-pleasure. (Bahá'u'lláh, The
Importance of Obligatory Prayer and Fasting)

Since your religious writings require it, you shod do it.

Fasting is not mandatory in Go's word. That does not mean Christians should not fast, but not on some man-made time schedule

 

[Dawnofhope]

Since your religious writings require it, you shod do it.

Fasting is not mandatory in Go's word. That does not mean Christians should not fast, but not on some man-made time schedule

Dear Omega,

I'm avoiding engaging in debate and just providing information as this is the DIR section of RF.

Baha'is consider that Baha'u'llah the founder of the Baha'i faith is a Manifestation of God. He has revealed a message from God including laws. Other examples of Manifestations of God include Jesus and Moses.

Best Wishes

 

[arthra]

'ello. I have a question, if you don't mind.

Do you have any permanent dietary recommendations or restrictions in Baha'i in general?

Adrian mentioned that we Baha'is abstain from alcohol... we abstain from drinking it or say using alcohol cooking it with food.

There are no restrictions of diet... however we are encouraged to consider a vegetarian diet:

"In regard to the question as to whether people ought to kill animals for food of not, there is no explicit statement in the Bahá'í Sacred Scriptures (as far as I know) in favor or against it. It is certain, however, that if man can live on a purely vegetarian diet and thus avoid killing animals, it would be much preferable. This is, however, a very controversial question and the Bahá'ís are free to express their views on it."

(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, July 9, 1931)

(Compilations, Lights of Guidance, p. 296)

Regarding pork:

1012. Eating Of Pork is Not Forbidden

"The eating of pork is not forbidden in the Bahá'í Teachings."

(From a letter on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual Believer, March 27, 1938: Ibid)

(Compilations, Lights of Guidance, p. 296)

 

[arthra]

Since your religious writings require it, you shod do it.

Fasting is not mandatory in God's word. That does not mean Christians should not fast, but not on some man-made time schedule

Fasting is mentioned in the Bible of course and Jesus gave specific directions as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew:

:16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

6:17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; 6:18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

Baha'is would have no problem following these teachings of Jesus on how to fast.

 

[omega2xx]

Dear Omega,

I'm avoiding engaging in debate and just providing information as this is the DIR section of RF.

Baha'is consider that Baha'u'llah the founder of the Baha'i faith is a Manifestation of God. He has revealed a message from God including laws. Other examples of Manifestations of God include Jesus and Moses.

Best Wishes

I wasn't criticizing what you were doing. Just presenting the Biblical view of fasting. What I posted is not for you only but for any who read this thread.

 

[omega2xx]

Fasting is mentioned in the Bible of course and Jesus gave specific directions as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew:

Right, but it was never made mandatory and it was NEVER scheduled.

:16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

6:17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; 6:18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

Baha'is would have no problem following these teachings of Jesus on how to fast.[/QUOTE]

I have never said or implied we should not fast. It is not the fasting I object to, it is scheduling it without any Biblical support. The beauty of fasting is that it is spontaneous when God or events makes it appropriate. Check in the OT when people fasted.

 

[arthra]

....
I have never said or implied we should not fast. It is not the fasting I object to, it is scheduling it without any Biblical support. The beauty of fasting is that it is spontaneous when God or events makes it appropriate. Check in the OT when people fasted.

It depends on the dispensation.. as you probably know Christians fast of a sort during Lent...

See:

Fasting - Wikipedia

Jews fast in certain periods

See:

Fasting & Fast Days

Muslims fast during Ramadan..

The Baha'i Fast is based on the revelation of the Bab and Baha'u'llah... Baha'is are not bound by the fasting rules prescribed in the Bible.

 

[omega2xx]

It depends on the dispensation.. as you probably know Christians fast of a sort during Lent...

Catholic and orthodox do, conservatived Christgisn do not. Howerve it is irrelelvant---Fasting is not commanded in the Bi ble.

See:

Fasting - Wikipedia

Jews fast in certain periods

See:

Fasting & Fast Days

Muslims fast during Ramadan..

The Baha'i Fast is based on the revelation of the Bab and Baha'u'llah... Baha'is are not bound by the fasting rules prescribed in the Bible.[/QUOTE]

Maybe Muslim writings command fasting, The Bible does not.

Bahai writings command fasting---so fast.

Christian writing do not command fasting---fast when you feel the need for a special reason, not according to the calendar.

 

[arthra]

Thanks for your post "omega"... again read the reference I posted above in the Jewish fasting periods:

"Fixed fast days are first mentioned by the post-Exilic prophet Zechariah who proclaims the word of the Lord thus: "The fast of the fourth month, the fast of the fifth, the fast of the seventh and the fast of the tenth…" (Zech. 8:19; cf. 7:3, 5). Jewish tradition has it that these fasts commemorate the critical events which culminated in the destruction of the Temple: the tenth of Tevet (the tenth month), the beginning of the siege of Jerusalem; the 17th of Tammuz (the fourth month), the breaching of the walls; the ninth of Av (the fifth month), when the Temple was destroyed; and the third of Tishri (the seventh month), when Gedaliah, the Babylonian-appointed governor of Judah, was assassinated."

Fasting & Fast Days

So you might want to revise your thinking on fasting in the Bible... but it's up to you of course...and again this isn't a debate section.

Jesus admonition not to draw attention to yourself while fasting is also something I think Baha'is would accept.

As Baha'is we don't go around checking who is fasting or not ... as it's really more of a spiritual obligation in our Faith.

- Art

 

[arthra]

A prayer for the Fast:

"In the Name of Him Who hath been promised in the Books of God, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed!

The days of fasting have arrived wherein those servants who circle round Thy throne and have attained Thy presence have fasted.

Say: O God of names and creator of heaven and earth!

I beg of Thee by Thy Name, the All-Glorious, to accept the fast of those who have fasted for love of Thee and for the sake of Thy good-pleasure and have carried out what Thou hast bidden them in Thy Books and Tablets.

I beseech Thee by them to assist me in the promotion of Thy Cause and to make me steadfast in Thy love, that my footsteps may not slip on account of the clamor of Thy creatures.

Verily, Thou art powerful over whatsoever Thou willest. No God is there but Thee, the Quickener, the All-Powerful, the Most Bountiful, the Ancient of Days"

~ Bahá’u’lláh

 

[arthra]

An indigenous perspective on Fasting by Kevin Locke:

 

[arthra]

"Do not bring our fasts to an end with this fast, O my Lord, nor the covenants Thou hast made with this covenant."

(Baha'u'llah, Prayers and Meditations by Baha'u'llah, p. 82)

 

[arthra]

Track by Elika Mahony

"Every Hour of These Days" is from the album 'Meditations from the Fast'.

 

[arthra]

Another year has passed and the Baha'i Fast begins on the morrow ... at sunrise and ends when the sun sets. I thought the above was very informative about the Fast and that the "threat" could be revived.

You might check out this site:

Fasting | What Bahá’ís Believe

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.”

Bahá’u’lláh, Bahá’í Prayers, p. 259