The Path
Toward Spirituality:
Sacred Duties and Practices of the Bahá'í Life
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"O Son of Light! Forget all save Me and commune with My spirit."
--Bahá'u'lláh
The Bahá'í Writings declare that prayer is "absolutely indispensable" to "inner spiritual development." "It is not sufficient for a believer merely to accept and observe the teachings. He should, in addition, cultivate the sense of spirituality which he can acquire chiefly by means of prayer." The Faith has "the spiritual power to re-create us if we make the effort to let that power influence us, and the greatest help in this respect is prayer."
What is prayer? Prayer is "Conversation with God." It is a state of spiritual communion between the worshiper and his Creator. If two people love one another, their greatest desire is to be in the presence of the other, to converse with their beloved. Similarly, the lovers of God desire to be in God's presence, to converse with Him. We can fulfill this desire through the practice of prayer. There are two types of prayers in the Bahá'í Faith, the obligatory prayer and other prayers, which are not obligatory.
A. Obligatory Prayer
Bahá'u'lláh, in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas (the Most Holy Book), ordains the recital of obligatory prayer: "We have commanded you to pray and fast from the beginning of maturity; this is ordained by God, your Lord and the Lord of your forefathers." He further states, "In truth, I say that obligatory prayer and fasting occupy an exalted station in the sight of God." 'Abdu'l-Bahá has written that obligatory prayers are "conducive to humility and submissiveness, to setting one's face toward God and expressing devotion to Him." Through the prayer, "man holdeth communion with God, seeketh to draw near unto Him, converseth with the true Beloved of one's heart, and attaineth spiritual stations."
The obligatory prayer, as its name indicates, is mandatory. Bahá'u'lláh has revealed three Obligatory Prayers: the short, the medium, and the long. Bahá'ís are required to recite one of these Obligatory Prayers each day, but whichever one is selected must be said according to the specific instructions provided for that prayer. We are certainly free to offer more than one Obligatory Prayer if we wish, but we are not required to do so.
The short Obligatory Prayer is to be recited once a day at "noon." "Noon" has been defined in the Writings as any time between noon and sunset. If, on the other hand, a Bahá'í chooses to recite the medium Obligatory Prayer, then he must recite this prayer in the "morning, at noon, and in the evening." "Morning" is the period from sunrise until noon; "noon" is from noon till sunset; and "evening" is from sunset till two hours after sunset. The long Obligatory Prayer may be recited at any time during a twenty-four hour period. Like the short Obligatory Prayer, it is recited only once in the day.
There are certain features and instructions that relate to all three Obligatory Prayers. The first is the direction in which the believer must face while praying. When reciting the obligatory prayer, the worshiper must face in the direction of the Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh, which is located near 'Akká, Israel. Like other regulations connected with the obligatory prayer, the act of turning towards the Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh is symbolic: "This is a physical symbol of an inner reality, just as the plant stretches out to the sunlight -- from which it receives life and growth -- so we turn our hearts to the Manifestation of God, Bahá'u'lláh, when we pray ...."
At what age is the obligatory prayer binding? It is binding on believers beginning from the time of maturity, which Bahá'u'lláh has defined as 15 years of age. One must recite the obligatory prayer until the age of 70, after which one is exempt. Moreover, illness is an exemption: "In time of ill-health it is not permissible to observe these obligations ...." Also, "Exemption from obligatory prayer is granted to those who find themselves in such a condition of insecurity that the saying of the Obligatory Prayers is not possible." It should be noted that recital of the obligatory prayer is not suspended during travel, so long as one can find a "safe place" to perform it.
Another feature is that the obligatory prayer is to be offered individually, "in the privacy of one's chamber," and not in congregation. ("Congregational prayer, in the sense of formal obligatory prayer which is to be recited in accordance with a prescribed ritual" is not practiced in the Bahá'í Faith. The only exception to this law is the Prayer for the Dead, which is "recited by one of those present while the remainder of the party stands in silence.")
Ablutions precede the recital of obligatory prayer. Ablutions "consist of washing the hands and the face in preparation for prayer. In the case of the medium Obligatory Prayer, this is accompanied by the recitation of certain verses." "That ablutions have a significance beyond washing may be seen from the fact that even should one have bathed oneself immediately before reciting the Obligatory Prayer, it would still be necessary to perform ablutions."
There are certain bodily movements associated with the medium and long Obligatory Prayers. These include raising one's hands in supplication, kneeling and bowing one's forehead to the ground, and other movements. Shoghi Effendi has explained that the few simple directions given by Bahá'u'lláh for the Obligatory Prayers are of a great spiritual help to the believer. Additionally, they help the worshipper "to fully concentrate when praying and meditating." The short Obligatory Prayer does not involve any bodily movements; it only requires that the believer stand while praying.
The Bahá'í Writings indicate that the Obligatory Prayers have been endowed with a special potency, which only those who regularly recite them can adequately appreciate. "The friends should therefore endeavor to make daily use of these prayers, whatever the peculiar circumstances and conditions of their life." We have been promised that "regular, whole-hearted, obedience to this law will in itself nourish the growth of spirituality."
(Some of the features and movements of the Obligatory Prayers are explained in Appendix A in the book.)
B. Other Prayers
We have, in addition, to the Obligatory Prayers, many other beautiful and powerful prayers revealed by Bahá'u'lláh, the Báb, and 'Abdu'l-Bahá. They have revealed prayers for healing, unity, children, families, assistance, meetings, overcoming difficulties, and for many other purposes and occasions. Unlike the obligatory prayer, the non-obligatory prayers have no specific regulations. They may be recited at any time by anyone. There is no need to face the Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh or conform to the other requirements of the obligatory prayer. We are free to use these prayers in meetings, or individually, as we please.
The Writings do, however, give us guidance on how we may generally improve the quality of our devotions. For example, whom should we turn to during prayer? We are free to pray either to God or His Manifestation, but the Writings state that "While praying it would be better to turn one's thoughts to the Manifestation as He continues, in the other world, to be our means of contact with the Almighty." Further, "our prayers would certainly be more effective and illuminating if they are addressed to Him [God] through His Manifestation, Bahá'u'lláh." Rather than focussing on the Manifestation's physical image, we should, while praying, try to think of His qualities and His Spirit.
For what should we pray? "The true worshiper, while praying, should endeavor not so much to ask God to fulfill his wishes and desires, but rather to adjust these and make them conform to the Divine Will. Only through such an attitude can one derive that feeling of inner peace and contentment which the power of prayer alone can confer."
Is it permissible to pray in our own words? The Writings state that "Of course prayer can be purely spontaneous ...." We should, however, keep in mind that the prayers revealed by Bahá'u'lláh, the Báb, and 'Abdu'l-Bahá have a special power that human words lack: "the revealed Word is endowed with a power of its own...." In addressing God, Bahá'u'lláh has declared, "No words that any one beside Thee may utter can ever beseem Thee, and no man's description except Thine own description can befit Thy nature."
Does God answer all prayers? 'Abdu'l-Bahá has said that God "answers the prayers of all His servants when according to His supreme wisdom it is necessary." If we ask for things which God does not desire for us, there is no answer to our prayer. He explains, "We pray, 'O God! Make me wealthy!' If this prayer were universally answered, human affairs would be at a standstill. There would be none left to work in the streets, none to till the soil, none to build, none to run the trains.... The affairs of the world would be interfered with, energies crippled and progress hindered. But whatever we ask for which is in accord with divine wisdom, God will answer. Assuredly!"
If God does answer our prayers, how do we know what the answer is? The Writings state that prayers are answered through action: "It is not sufficient to pray diligently for guidance, but this prayer must be followed by meditation as to the best methods of action and then action itself. Even if the action should not immediately produce results, or perhaps not be entirely correct, that does not make so much difference, because prayers can only be answered through action and if someone's action is wrong, God can use that method of showing the pathway which is right." This quotation implies that we should pray about a question, meditate as to the best approach, and then act. Guidance is when the doors open after we have knocked.
Quotations for Reflection
1. What is the wisdom of prayer?
"The wisdom of prayer is this: That it causeth a connection between the servant and the True One, because in that state man with all heart and soul turneth his face towards His Highness the Almighty, seeking His association and desiring His love and compassion. The greatest happiness for a lover is to converse with his beloved, and the greatest gift for a seeker is to become familiar with the object of his longing; that is why with every soul who is attracted to the Kingdom of God, his greatest hope is to find an opportunity to entreat and supplicate before his Beloved, appeal for His mercy and grace and be immersed in the ocean of His utterance, goodness and generosity.
"Besides all this, prayer and fasting is the cause of awakening and mindfulness and conducive to protection and preservation from tests...."
('Abdu'l-Bahá, Bahá'í World Faith, p. 368)
2. What is the most acceptable prayer? Does prayer need to be prolonged?
"The most acceptable prayer is the one offered with the utmost spirituality and radiance; its prolongation hath not been and is not beloved by God. The more detached and the purer the prayer, the more acceptable is it in the presence of God."
(Selections from the Writings of the Báb, p. 78)
"We don't have to pray and meditate for hours in order to be spiritual."
(On behalf of Shoghi Effendi, "Spiritual Foundations" # 56)
3. What is the reason privacy been enjoined in moments of devotion?
"The reason why privacy hath been enjoined in moments of devotion is this, that thou mayest give thy best attention to the remembrance of God, that thy heart may at all times be animated with His Spirit, and not be shut out as by a veil from thy Best Beloved. Let not thy tongue pay lip service in praise of God while thy heart be not attuned to the exalted Summit of Glory, and the Focal Point of communion."
(Selections from the Writings of the Báb, pp. 93-94)
4. Do the obligatory prayers have a greater effectiveness and power than non-obligatory prayers?
"... the obligatory prayers are by their very nature of greater effectiveness and are endowed with a greater power than the non-obligatory ones ..."
(On behalf of Shoghi Effendi, "Spiritual Foundations" # 41)
5. What is the significance of the words and movements of the obligatory prayer?
"Know thou that in every word and movement of the obligatory prayer there are allusions, mysteries and a wisdom that man is unable to comprehend, and letters and scrolls cannot contain."
('Abdu'l-Bahá, "Spiritual Foundations" # 27)
"Bahá'u'lláh has reduced all ritual and form to an absolute minimum in His Faith. The few forms that there are -- like those associated with the two longer obligatory daily prayers, are only symbols of the inner attitude. There is a wisdom in them, and a great blessing, but we cannot force ourselves to understand or feel these things, that is why He gave us also the very short and simple prayer, for those who did not feel the desire to perform the acts associated with the other two."
(On behalf of Shoghi Effendi, "Spiritual Foundations" # 59)
6. Are there certain times when prayer is more effective?
"Occupy thyself in remembrance of the Beauty of Him Who is the Unconstrained, at early morn and seek communion with Him at the hour of dawn."
(Bahá'u'lláh, "Spiritual Foundations" # 11)
"Prayer verily bestoweth life, particularly when offered in private and at times, such as midnight, when freed from daily cares."
(Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, p. 202)
Illustration
"When 'Abdu'l-Bahá was in New York, He called to Him an ardent Bahá'í and said, 'If you will come to Me at dawn tomorrow, I will teach you to pray.'
"Delighted, Mr M arose at four and crossed the city, arriving for his lesson at six. With what exultant expectation he must have greeted this opportunity! He found 'Abdu'l-Bahá already at prayer, kneeling by the side of the bed. Mr M followed suit, taking care to place himself directly across.
"Seeing that 'Abdu'l-Bahá was quite lost in His Own reverie, Mr M began to pray silently for his friends, his family and finally for the crowned heads of Europe. No word was uttered by the quiet Man before him. He went over all the prayers he knew then, and repeated them twice, three times -- still no sound broke the expectant hush.
"Mr M surreptitiously rubbed one knee and wondered vaguely about his back. He began again, hearing as he did so, the birds heralding the dawn outside the window. An hour passed, and finally two. Mr M was quite numb now. His eyes, roving along the wall, caught sight of a large crack. He dallied with a touch of indignation but let his gaze pass again to the still figure across the bed.
"The ecstacy that he saw arrested him and he drank deeply of the sight. Suddenly he wanted to pray like that. Selfish desires were forgotten. Sorrow, conflict, and even his immediate surroundings were as if they had never been. He was conscious of only one thing, a passionate desire to draw near to God.
"Closing his eyes again he set the world firmly aside, and amazingly his heart teemed with prayer, eager, joyous, tumultuous prayer. He felt cleansed by humility and lifted by a new peace. 'Abdu'l-Bahá had taught him to pray!
"The 'Master of `Akká' immediately arose and came to him. His eyes rested smilingly upon the newly humbled Mr M. 'When you pray,' He said, 'you must not think of your aching body, nor of the birds outside the window, nor the cracks in the wall!'
"He became very serious then, and added, 'When you wish to pray you must first know that you are standing in the presence of the Almighty!'"
(Vignettes from the Life of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, pp. 131-132)
Study References
1. The three Obligatory Prayers are included among the "Supplementary Texts" in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, are printed in Prayers and Meditations, pp. 314-323, may be found in most Bahá'í prayer books, and have been reprinted in Appendix A of the present book.
2. Explanations of the some of the features and movements of the Obligatory Prayers are contained in the footnotes in Appendix A.
3. For additional details regarding obligatory prayer, see the Kitáb-i-Aqdas.
4. Prayers and Meditations contains numerous prayers by Bahá'u'lláh. Prayers by Bahá'u'lláh, the Báb, and 'Abdu'l-Bahá may be found in the book Bahá'í Prayers.
5. For more on the nature of prayer, see the compilation entitled "Spiritual Foundations: Prayer, Meditation, and the Devotional Attitude."
Sample Study Questions
A. Study Questions
1. The sense of spirituality can be acquired chiefly by what means?
2. According to 'Abdu'l-Bahá, obligatory prayers are conducive to what?
3. What are the definitions of "morning," "noon," and "evening" in relation to the three Obligatory Prayers?
4. What is the significance of turning toward the Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh when saying the obligatory prayer?
5. What are the exemptions for the Obligatory Prayers?
6. Ablutions consist of what?
7. To whom should we turn our thoughts to in prayer?
8. For what should we pray?
9. Prayer can only be answered through what?
10. What is the significance of the words and movements of the obligatory prayer?
B. Memorization Exercises
"The obligatory prayers are binding inasmuch as they are conducive to humility and submissiveness, to setting one's face toward God and expressing devotion to Him. Through such prayer man holdeth communion with God, seeketh to draw near unto Him, converseth with the true Beloved of one's heart, and attaineth spiritual stations."
('Abdu'l-Bahá, "Spiritual Foundations" # 23)
"Know thou that in every word and movement of the obligatory prayer there are allusions, mysteries and a wisdom that man is unable to comprehend, and letters and scrolls cannot contain."
('Abdu'l-Bahá, "Spiritual Foundations" # 27)
"The most acceptable prayer is the one offered with the utmost spirituality and radiance; its prolongation hath not been and is not beloved by God. The more detached and the purer the prayer, the more acceptable is it in the presence of God."
(Selections from the Writings of the Báb, p. 78)
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