1. 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,
Compilations, The Importance of Obligatory Prayer and Fasting)
2. One who
performeth neither good deeds nor acts of worship is like unto
a tree which beareth no fruit, and an action which leaveth no
trace. Whosoever experienceth the holy ecstasy of worship will
refuse to barter such an act or any praise of God for all that
existeth in the world. Fasting and obligatory prayer are as
two wings to man's life. Blessed be the one who soareth with
their aid in the heaven of the love of God, the Lord of all
worlds.
(Baha'u'llah,
Compilations, The Importance of Obligatory Prayer and Fasting)
3. Cling firmly
to obligatory prayer and fasting. Verily, the religion of God
is like unto heaven; fasting is its sun, and obligatory prayer
is its moon. In truth, they are the pillars of religion
whereby the righteous are distinguished from those who
transgress His commandments. We entreat God, exalted and
glorified be He, that he may graciously enable all to observe
that which He hath revealed in His Ancient Book.
(Baha'u'llah,
Compilations, The Importance of Obligatory Prayer and Fasting)
4. We beseech God
to assist His people that they may observe the most great and
exalted Fast, which is to protect one's eye from beholding
whatever is forbidden and to withhold one's self from food,
drink and whatever is not of Him. We pray God to confirm His
loved ones that they may succeed in accomplishing that which
they have been commanded in this Day.
(Baha'u'llah,
Compilations, The Importance of Obligatory Prayer and Fasting)
5. Praise be unto
Him Who hath revealed laws in accordance with His
good-pleasure. Verily, He is sovereign over whatsoever He
wisheth. O My friends! Act ye in accordance with what ye have
been commanded in the Book. Fasting hath been decreed for you
in the month of 'Ala. Fast ye for the sake of your Lord, the
Mighty, the Most High. Restrain yourselves from sunrise to
sunset. Thus doth the Beloved of mankind instruct you as
bidden by God, the All-Powerful, the Unconstrained. It is not
for anyone to exceed the limits laid down by God and His law,
nor should anyone follow his own idle imaginings. Well is it
with the one who fulfilleth My decrees for the love of My
Beauty, and woe to the one who neglecteth the Dayspring of
Command in the days of his Lord, the Almighty, the
Omnipotent.
(Baha'u'llah,
Compilations, The Importance of Obligatory Prayer and Fasting)
6. This is one of
the nights of the Fast, and during it the Tongue of Grandeur
and Glory proclaimed: There is no God beside Me, the
Omnipotent Protector, the Self-Subsisting. We, verily, have
commanded all to observe the Fast in these days as a bounty on
Our part, but the people remain unaware, except for those who
have attained unto the purpose of God as revealed in His laws
and have comprehended His wisdom that pervadeth all things
visible and invisible. Say: By God! His Law is a fortress unto
you, could ye but understand. Verily, He hath no purpose
therein save to benefit the souls of His servants, but, alas,
the generality of mankind remain heedless thereof. Cling ye to
the cord of God's laws, and follow not those who have turned
away from the Book, for verily they have opposed God, the
Mighty, the Beloved.
(Baha'u'llah,
Compilations, The Importance of Obligatory Prayer and Fasting)
7. In the realm
of worship, fasting and obligatory prayer constitute the two
mightiest pillars of God's holy Law. Neglecting them is in no
wise permitted, and falling short in their performance is of a
certainty not acceptable. In the Tablet of Visitation He saith:
"I beseech God, by Thee and by them whose faces have been
illumined with the splendors of the light of Thy countenance,
and who, for love of Thee, have observed all whereunto they
were bidden." (2) He declareth that observance of the
commands of God deriveth from love for the beauty of the
Best-Beloved. The seeker, when immersed in the ocean of the
love of God, will be moved by intense longing and will arise
to carry out the laws of God. Thus, it is impossible that a
heart which containeth the fragrance of God's love should yet
fail to worship Him, except under conditions when such an
action would agitate the enemies and stir up dissension and
mischief. Otherwise, a lover of the Abha Beauty will assuredly
and continually demonstrate perseverance in the worship of the
Lord.
(`Abdu'l-Baha,
Compilations, The Importance of Obligatory Prayer and Fasting)
8. The laws of
God regarding fasting and obligatory prayer are absolutely
incumbent upon His servants. Therefore, they must turn their
faces to the Point of Adoration of the celestial Concourse,
hold fast to the most sublime Station, and pray and supplicate
that they may be freed from the doubts of misinterpretation.
This is the way of 'Abdu'l-Bahá. This is the religion of 'Abdu'l-Bahá.
This is the path of 'Abdu'l-Bahá. Whoever cherisheth the love
of Baha, let him choose this straight path. Whoever abandoneth
this path, verily, he is of them who are shut out as by a veil
from Him. Shouldst thou observe any soul who is in doubt about
this commandment or who misinterpreteth it, but hath no secret
motive or defiance in what he doeth, be friendly towards him,
and with the utmost cordiality and through kind speech,
endeavor to turn him from the path of such interpretation
towards the plain meaning of the verses of God.
(`Abdu'l-Baha,
Compilations, The Importance of Obligatory Prayer and Fasting)
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