Non-obligatory prayers mentioned for daily recitation
Not to add to obligatory prayer; no one can add another to that and if people did, the life of the friends would be spent in mere prayer; Healing prayer and the like only for occasional use when the need arises (not daily)[edit]
"I remember a prayer, which you wrote, has been asked by a certain friend to be read daily. I believe sometimes the friends through their zeal and ardour do things that are not asked in the Cause. We have only one prayer that we have to say daily. No one in the world has the power, given to him by Bahá'u'lláh to add another to that daily prayer. If we should admit this the life of the friends will soon be spent in mere prayer, which is not the aim of the Cause. The healing prayer and such ones are only for occasional use when the need arises."
- (On behalf of Shoghi Effendi, August 12th, 1926, Arohanui, p. 20)
Repetition of Prayers or Verses at certain time of day not binding[edit]
"In relation to questions 13 and 14, we wish to note that in the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh and 'Abdu'l-Bahá, there are numerous examples of Their recommending to the friends that certain prayers and verses be recited at a certain time of day or a certain number of times. It is the view of the Research Department that, unless specified, such recommendations do not necessarily represent injunctions binding on all the friends."
- (Memorandum of the Research Department, dated 6 August 1997)
Sample recommendations mentioned for daily recitation (though as per above, not apparently binding)[edit]
Exhortations[edit]
Hidden Words (for recitation "day and night")[edit]
"It behoveth us one and all to recite day and night both the Persian and Arabic “Hidden Words”, to pray fervently and supplicate tearfully that we may be enabled to conduct ourselves in accordance with these divine counsels. These holy Words have not been revealed to be heard but to be practiced."
See also[edit]
Ishráqát for recitation "at eventide and at dawn"[edit]
"Blessed art thou, who hast fixed thy gaze upon Me, for this Tablet which hath been sent down for thee--a Tablet which causeth the souls of men to soar. Commit it to memory, and recite it. By My life! It is a door to the mercy of thy Lord. Well is it with him that reciteth it at eventide and at dawn."
- (Bahá'u'lláh, Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 119)
Render thanks to God at eventide and at dawn[edit]
"Ponder ye in your hearts the grace and the blessings of God and render thanks unto Him at eventide and at dawn."
- (Bahá'u'lláh, Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 26)
Travel-teaching[edit]
Travel-teachers in foreign lands (to recite prayer "day and night")[edit]
"Whoever sets out on a teaching journey to any place, let him recite this prayer day and night during his travels in foreign lands."
- ('Abdu'l-Bahá, Bahá'í Prayers, p. 178)
For travel-teachers in the South of the United States (for perusal "every morning")[edit]
"Every soul who travels through the cities, villages and hamlets of these States and is engaged in the diffusion of the fragrances of God, should peruse this commune every morning..."
- ('Abdu'l-Bahá, Bahá'í Prayers, p. 186)
For teachers in the Central States of the United States (for recital "every morning")[edit]
"Let the spreaders of the fragrances of God recite this prayer every morning..."
- ('Abdu'l-Bahá, Bahá'í Prayers, p. 187)
For teachers in Canada (for recital "every morning")[edit]
"The spreaders of the fragrances of God should recite this prayer every morning: "
- ('Abdu'l-Bahá, Bahá'í Prayers, p. 190)
'Abdu'l-Bahá's daily recitation[edit]
Tablet of Visitation 'Abdu'l-Bahá ('Abdu'l-Bahá indicates as calling God "at dawntide and in the night-season")[edit]
"With this prayer doth Thy servant call Thee, at dawntide and in the night-season."
- ('Abdu'l-Bahá, Bahá'í Prayers, p. 235)
Prayer of 'Abdu'l-Bahá for Bahíyyih Khánum "at morn and eventide"[edit]
"Dear and deeply spiritual sister! At morn and eventide, with the utmost ardour and humility, I supplicate at the Divine Threshold, and offer this, my prayer..."
