Fast - need to obey

General Need to obey the Fast

"Strengthen thou the foundation of the Faith of God, and worship the Almighty. Be constant in offering obligatory prayer, and be mindful of fasting. Day and night devote thyself to prayer, supplication and entreaty, especially at the prescribed times."

('Abdu'l-Bahá, The Importance of Obligatory Prayer and Fasting, sec. 2, no. 8)

(See also 'Abdu'l-Bahá, The Importance of Obligatory Prayer and Fasting, sec. 2, no. 3)

IV.B."1. The sublime station occupied by fasting in the Bahá'í Revelation."

(also importance)

"QUESTION: Concerning fasting and obligatory prayer by the sick.

"ANSWER: 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 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!"

(Kitáb-i-Aqdas Question and Answer no. 93)

"Obligatory prayer and fasting are among the most great ordinances of this holy Dispensation."

('Abdu'l-Bahá, The Importance of Obligatory Prayer and Fasting, sec. 2, no. 1)

"As regards fasting, it constitutes, together with the obligatory prayers, the two pillars that sustain the revealed Law of God."

"Regarding the vital character and importance of the Divine ordinances and laws {the context here is about the Fast}, and the necessity of complete obedience to them by the believers, we thus read in the Gleanings, p. 175:

'Know verily that the essence of justice and the source thereof are both embodied in the ordinance prescribed by Him Who is the Manifestation of the Self of God amongst men, if ye be of them that recognize this truth. He doth verily incarnate the highest, the infallible standard of justice unto all creation. Were His law to be such as to strike terror in the hearts of all that are in heaven and on earth, that law is naught but manifest justice. The fears and agitation which the revelation of this law provoke in men's hearts should indeed be likened to the cries of the suckling babe weaned from his mother's milk, if ye be of them that perceive...'

((On behalf of?) Shoghi Effendi, Directives from the Guardian, pp. 27-29)

"Thou hast written about the Fast. This is a most weighty matter and thou shouldst exert thine utmost in its observance. It is a fundamental of the Divine law, and one of the pillars of the religion of God."

('Abdu'l-Bahá, The Importance of Obligatory Prayer and Fasting, sec. 2, no. 25)

"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 splendours of the light of Thy countenance, and who, for love of Thee, have observed all whereunto they were bidden." 2He 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 Abhá Beauty will assuredly and continually demonstrate perseverance in the worship of the Lord."

2. "I beseech God ... were bidden," translated by Shoghi Effendi; see Prayers and Meditations by Bahá'u'lláh, CLXXX

('Abdu'l-Bahá, The Importance of Obligatory Prayer and Fasting, sec. 2, no. 2)

Now imperative for believers to deepen their awareness of the blessings conferred by devotional laws such as the Fast including carrying out all their aspects

"We have determined, therefore, that it is imperative for all the believers to deepen their awareness of the blessings conferred by the laws which directly foster the devotional life of the individual and, thus, of the community. The essentials of these laws are known to all Baha'is, but acquiring greater insight into their significance must include carrying out all the divinely revealed aspects of their observance. These are the laws which pertain to obligatory prayer, fasting and recitation of the Greatest Name ninety-five times a day."

(Universal House of Justice, Dec. 28, 1999)

Righteousness of those observing the Fast (or the error of those failing to observe it)

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Importance of Obligatory Prayer and Fasting, sec. 1, no. 3, 4, 6, 13, 14)

See also

• Fast - applicability of (the Fast being for all to follow (besides the exempted))