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The annual nineteen day Fast: a time of spiritual purification
From March 2-20, Baha'is worldwide observe the annual fasting period by refraining from eating or drinking from sunrise to sunset. As in many world religions, the Fast is a time for reflecting on one's spiritual progress and making an effort to detach from material desires.
During the Fast, Baha'is age 15 and older typically rise before dawn to eat breakfast and pray. At sunset they break the Fast, often gathering with Baha'i friends to enjoy a meal together. The following are exempt from fasting, as it could be harmful to their health: those younger than 15 and older than 70, the ill or infirm, women who are pregnant, nursing or menstruating, travelers and those engaged in heavy physical labor.
The 19 day Fast is "essentially a period of meditation and prayer, of spiritual recuperation, during which the believer must strive to make the necessary readjustments in his inner life, and to refresh and reinvigorate the spiritual forces latent in his soul. Its significance and purpose are, therefore, fundamentally spiritual in character." (Baha'i Reference Library)
‘Abdu'l-Bahá stated about the Fast, “This material fast is an outer token of the spiritual fast; it is a symbol of self-restraint, the withholding of oneself from all appetites of the self, taking on the characteristics of the spirit, being carried away by the breathings of heaven and catching fire from the love of God.”
Baha'is celebrate the start of a new year with the arrival of spring
After sundown on March 20 - the eve of the vernal equinox - Baha'is throughout the world will celebrate Naw-Ruz, the start of the Baha'i New Year. For Baha'is this is a religious holiday that marks the end of the nineteen day Fast. It is one of the nine Baha'i holy days on which work and school is to be suspended.
The Baha'i Faith originated in Persia (present-day Iran), and the Baha'i calendar adopted the Persian new year holiday, Naw-Ruz, which has been celebrated for thousands of years at the vernal equinox.
Baha'is observe Naw-Ruz through prayer, meditation, readings from Baha'i scripture and festive gatherings.
A unique calendar: 19 months of 19 days each
The Baha'i calendar dates back to the ministry of the Bab (1844-1853), who heralded the imminent appearance of Baha'u'llah (1817-1892), the founder of the Baha'i Faith.
Also known as the Badi Calendar, the Baha'i calendar is divided into 19 months of 19 days each. The Baha'i year begins on March 21, the first day of spring. Days begin and end at sunset, and the week begins on Saturday.
On the first day of every Baha'i month, Baha'i communities gather for Feast, which includes prayer, fellowship, and discussion of the spiritual and social affairs of the Baha'i community.
Baha'i months and days of the week are named after attributes of God. The 19 months in the Baha'i year include: Splendour, Glory, Beauty, Grandeur, Light, Mercy, Words, Perfection, Names, Might, Will, Knowledge, Power, Speech, Questions, Honour, Sovereignty, Dominion and Loftiness.
Related items:
- The website nineteen days, which started in 2008 as a collaborative project between Baha'i friends and fellow bloggers Amy and Leila, shares moments of their early mornings and early evenings for the nineteen days of the Baha'i Fast. Guest photographers also share their photos and personal thoughts.
- Phillipe Copeland, in his blog Baha'i Thought, posted every day during the 2010 Fast his reflections and experiences during this special time.
- George Dannells, in his blog Baha'i Views, posted discussions about the Fast that he found on the World Wide Web.
- On YouTube - Singer, songwriter and life coach, Laura Harley, talks about the Baha'i Fast and sings a prayer:
Comments
Fasting equals eating and drinking nothing at all?
Hi there guys. I love coming back to this site and learn lots about the Bahai Faith. When you Fast, do you eat and drink nothing at all? That's only during the day right? What about night? You do drink and eat? or just drink? Thanks and i envy the courage! Peace.
About the Baha'i fasting period
Thank you for your positive comments about this site. We're glad to know that you are finding it useful.
We appreciate your questions about the 19-Day Baha'i Fast. Baha'is who are able to fast, do not eat or drink anything between sunrise and sunset from March 2nd through March 20th. Baha'is do eat and drink once the sun sets and often wake up before sunrise to eat and drink. More information about the Baha'i fasting period can be found here: http://www.bahai.us/fasting.
fasting
The annual Nineteen-Day Fast: a time of spiritual purification
Interesting article about the bahai faith but, I don't really think I can do it. Fast for nineteen days. I think the longest I've ever gone was like 3 days. I respect all those who do it.
Interesting article about
Interesting article about the bahai faith
I agree completely, I didn't
I agree completely, I didn't even know this religion existed until I read this article.
How does one go so long on a
How does one go so long on a fast? I can't even go 3 days with out eating. I applaud you all.
The way to do it...
The practise with Baha'i and Muslim fasting is to have a substantial breakfast before dawn and then have supper after sunset. The total amount of food isn't redused that much, but none of it is in daylight hours.
What is the reasoning for
Very cool!
I stumbled across this acticle and have been hooked on learning about Baha'i faith and fasting ever since. Thank you so much for this well written article!
I just came across this
I just came across this article and I must say it is very interesting about the bahai faith.
I would be interested in the
I would be interested in the astronomical implications of using a calendar with 19 months of 19 days each, in Baha'i teaching. I wish I knew more regarding these areas, they should be subject to better promotion.
I just became aware of the
I just became aware of the doctrines of the Bahai faith and I could say that they are the guiding light for the spiritual self of an individual. But going for nineteen days of fasting will involve sheer determination though.
To alvin
Just wanna
Just wanna let you know that Baha'i calendar can be easily accessed via your Firefox browser. I just bookmark the Bahai Calendar plugin, and here is the link https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/8526
This is a very useful
This is a very useful article. thanx
Fasting is spiritual
There is lots of practice for fasting around the globe. Fasting is spiritual and many have the belief this works out well purifying the soul. I have never heard about the Baha'is people and their calendar have the different days. Well nice to hear about this topic, it is really interesting. Thank you Thonosn for providing the link for Baha'is calendar. Cheers :) regards, Royal
Unaware of This
Hi, Accidently came accross your post, just wanted to leave a message that I did not know thatthere was any other faith on the world that fasted for prolonged periods of time apart from the muslim faith during Ramadan, but it was good to learn this that others faiths do this as well for spiritual strength.
Thank you very much for the
Thank you very much for the excellent and useful subject.
Fasting is good for purification
I am not a member of the Bahai faith but I do know that fasting can be good for purifying the soul. It can be difficult to undertake but the end result is quite rewarding.
Is there any holy day
Is there any holy day calendar available online for this religion? The christian calendars are very easy to find, I cannot say the same about some other religions. I think it would be an interesting idea for somebody to come up with the idea of centralizing all religious calendars into one single big calendar. Have you guys ever thought about that?
Interfaith holy day calendar
A list of Baha'i holy days can be found on the following page of this site: http://www.bahai.us/bahai-calendar. You may also be interested in the Interfaith calendar on the following website, which includes Baha'i holy days:http://www.interfaithcalendar.org/index.htm.
It is so nice to hear of the
If you've been Baha'i just over a year...
fasting
fasting
Hi Everyone, This is my 4th year as a Bahai and the Fast gets easier each year. Going from Sunrise to Sunset without eating and drinking is not that hard. It makes you realize how our physical bodies are so demanding. It also makes you realize what hunger and thirst feels like and that millions of people on this planet live with this pain everyday. I do believe we are spiritual beings living in material bodies. The fast makes us connect to that spiritial side when we spend more time in prayer and meditation. Finding the Bahai Faith has changed my life to one of celebration and joy. One humanity, One God, One Religion. I wish all people would at least investigate this Faith. It makes so much sense and could be a chance for all mankind to bring about peace.
Fasting (One of the two pillars of The Faith)
Fasting and Prayers are two mightiest pillars of the Bahai Faith. This year is of special significance as I'm fasting at my parent's home. They are very respectful of my spiritual choice and it is a bounty to be involved Spiritual progress of one's own self (disciplining for the soul). Baha'i fast according Baha'u'llah (the founder of the Baha'i Faith) was adopted from the Fast done by the Bab, the fore-runner of Baha'u'llah. In the book written by Bab (Both in Persian and Arabic) he mentions about the Fast to be done in the last month of 'Ala (Loftiness) which is from March 2nd to March 20th in the Gregorian Calendar. It makes sense to me personally after investigation that if we fast in summer, the days are long (in most parts of the world) and in winter it is short. Considering the astronomical significance of the Vernal Equinox, where day and night are equal, Baha'i Fast is around this time where we fast for almost 12 hours. For more information please read http://bahai-library.com/encyclopedia/fasting.html
Baha'i has some common
Baha'i has some common things in common with mormonism. They fast as well.
It sounds like a very good
It sounds like a very good way to build up determination, perseverance, detachment and obedience. Hope all the non-Baha'i readers keep reading more about the Baha'i faith - follow your heart and investigate the truth for yourself!
What is the significance
Fasting can kill
Reply to fasting can kill
Not permitted to fast when ill
Baha'u'llah, the prophet-founder of the Baha'i Faith, explicitly prohibits Baha'is who are physically ill from fasting:
"In truth, I say that obligatory prayer and fasting occupy an exalted station in the sight of God. It is, however, in a state of health that their virtue can be realized. In time of ill-health it is not permissible to observe these obligations; such hath been the bidding of the Lord, exalted be His glory, at all times."
It is also for this reason that Baha'u'llah made other groups of people exempt from fasting such as children, the elderly, pregnant and breastfeeding women, those engaging in heavy labour, those travelling and menstruating women.
Hope you find this helpful.
fasting
Is it yours too
Very nice site!
Not dangerous to your health
I am totally tired,
I am totally tired, suffering. Women can be excempt provided they say certain prayers. Which is what? I
Re: I am totally tired,
The Kitab-i-Aqdas (p. 23) states, "God hath exempted women who are in their courses from obligatory prayer and fasting. Let them, instead, after performance of their ablutions, give praise unto God, repeating ninety-five times between the noon of one day and the next, "Glorified be God, the Lord of Splendour and Beauty".
Concerning fasting and obligatory prayer for those that are sick, the Kitab-i-Aqdas states in question and answer #93: "In truth, I say that obligatory prayer and fasting occupy an exalted station in the sight of God. It is, however, in a state of health that their virtue can be realized. In time of ill health it is not permissible to observe these obligations; such hath been the bidding of the Lord, exalted be His glory, at all times. Blessed such hath been the bidding of the Lord, exalted be His glory, at all times. Blessed be such men and women as pay heed, and observe His precepts. All praise be unto God, He who hath sent down the verses and is the Revealer of undoubted proofs!”
A letter from the Universal House of Justice dated Mar 27, 2000 states: "There is a degree of latitude in this matter and that, ultimately, it is left to the conscience of the individual concerned to determine whether or not the degree of his or her illness is such that the exemption from saying the obligatory prayers applies."
I would Like know , that is
I would Like know , that is it same as Roza for Muslims during Ramadan????
Daily Meds
Is it yours too
Very nice site!
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