Community dawn prayers
See Mashriqu'l-Adhkár for the organization of these meetings and the building to host time.
"Dawn Prayers" may take place from dawn until up to two hours after sunrise[edit]
"QUESTION: Concerning the remembrance of God in the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár "at the hour of dawn".
"ANSWER: Although the words "at the hour of dawn" are used in the Book of God, it is acceptable to God at the earliest dawn of day, between dawn and sunrise, or even up to two hours after sunrise."
- (Bahá'u'lláh, Kitáb-i-Aqdas, Question and Answer, no. 15)
"With reference to attending dawn prayers in the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, the Bahá'í House of Worship, Bahá'u'lláh has explained that, although the actual time specified in the Book of God is "the hour of dawn", it is acceptable at any time from "the earliest dawn of day, between dawn and sunrise, or even up to two hours after sunrise" (Q and A 15)."
- (Bahá'u'lláh, Kitáb-i-Aqdas, Note, no. 142)
(As goal for Local Spiritual Assembly); Not only prayers but Sacred Writings can be read, including those memorized[edit]
"Can daily early morning prayer sessions be held? If so, where and when? (If this is not feasible every day, an effort could be made to hold such sessions less frequently. At such devotional meetings not only prayers, but suitable selections from the Sacred Writings could be read. Bahá'u'lláh has pointed out that upon the Word of God "must depend the gathering together and spiritual resurrection of all men", that "every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God is endowed with such potency as can instill new life into every human frame", and that were man to "taste the sweetness of the words which the lips of the All-Merciful have willed to utter, he would, though the treasures of the earth be in his possession, renounce them one and all, that he might vindicate the truth of even one of His commandments". It is because of such considerations that the Five Year Plan calls for the friends to memorize selections from the Writings. If a believer finds it difficult to memorize, he may be encouraged to make for his own use a selection of extracts, however brief, which he could reread and enjoy at his own leisure, to satisfy his inner soul.)"
See also[edit]
Where these gatherings would fit into the pattern of daily life (esp. rural), such meetings could be regular;
Attendance at such gatherings is not to be obligatory (though ideal for more and more to take part)[edit]
"One of the characteristics of Bahá'í society will be the gathering of the believers each day during the hours between dawn and two hours after sunrise to listen to the reading and chanting of the Holy Word. In many communities at the present time, especially in rural ones, such gatherings would fit naturally into the pattern of the friends' daily life, and where this is the case it would do much to foster the unity of the local community and deepen the friends' knowledge of the Teachings if such gatherings could be organized by the Local Spiritual Assembly on a regular basis. Attendance at these gatherings is not to be obligatory, but we hope that the friends will more and more be drawn to take part in them. This is a goal which can be attained gradually."
Prayer meetings may be organized for smaller groups if distance is a problem;
Prayer meetings might begin once a week as a first step[edit]
"We have been watching with profound interest the manner in which the goal of encouraging the friends to meet for dawn prayers is being carried out. In some rural areas this has become already an established practice of the friends and indeed a source of blessing and benefit to them as they pursue their activities during the day, as well as increasing the consciousness of community solidarity. In other areas, the friends have found that, because of the distances involved, better results are obtained by meeting for prayer in smaller groups. In yet other areas, as a first step, plans have been made to meet for dawn prayers once a week."
Application Question[edit]
If one's community has community dawn prayers, would the recommendation for family prayer and reading be fulfilled?
