Obligatory Prayer (long)
Read online at https://bahai-library.com/compilations/prayers/BP-5.html or see The Long Obligatory Prayer with pictures of movements (PDF).
Power of[edit]
"Of the new Obligatory Prayers that were later revealed, the long Obligatory Prayer should be said at those times when one feeleth himself in a prayerful mood. In truth, it hath been revealed in such wise that if it be recited to a rock, that rock would stir and speak forth; and if it be recited to a mountain, that mountain would move and flow. Well is it with the one who reciteth it and fulfilleth God's precepts. Whichever prayer is read will suffice."
The long prayer to be recited once in 24 hours along with genuflexions[edit]
"The long prayer should be recited once in every 24 hours, and is accompanied by certain physical acts."
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual Assembly of India, April 27, 1937, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1529)
"The medium prayer should be recited three times a day: in the morning, at noon, and in the evening. It is accompanied by certain physical gestures such as kneeling, raising the hands, etc. The long prayer which is also accompanied by regulations should be recited once every twenty-four hours.
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, April 25, 1937, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1525)
Genuflexions[edit]
Raising of hands[edit]
- https://bahai-library.com/uhj_questions_obligatory_prayer#s3 (section 3 and 4)
Repetitions and order of genuflexions[edit]
"The Universal House of Justice received your letter of 7 January 1975, enquiring about the correct way of following certain instructions in the Long Obligatory Prayer, and has asked us to give you this reply.
"In following the direction stating: 'Let him then stand and raise his hands twice in supplication, and say ... ': the believer does not have to read twice the paragraph which follows. Whether the believer raises his hands twice before the reciting of the paragraph, or commences the reciting after having raised his hands once, and raises them a second time soon thereafter, is left to his choice.
"As to the direction which states: 'Let him then raise his hands thrice, and say ... ', an individual believer asked the beloved Guardian the following question:
'...the direction to raise the hands thrice and say "Greater is God than every great one." Does this mean after every raising of the hands, or only to be said once, after the three raisings?'
"Shoghi Effendi's secretary answered on his behalf as follows: 'The hands should be raised three times and each time the sentence be repeated in conjunction with the act.'"
- (From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice, February 13, 1975: Notes on Obligatory Prayers and Ablutions, A Compilation of the Universal House of Justice, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1534)
No alteration of text for gender permissible[edit]
"Also concerning your question about the prayers and changing the pronouns: This cannot be done, even in the long Obligatory Prayer or the healing prayers. Either we must ignore this mere detail or say a prayer that applies to our sex or number...."
- (Unfolding Destiny, p. 173)
"Allah-u-Abha" is the Form of the Greatest Name to be Used in the Long Obligatory Prayer[edit]
"Shoghi Effendi has explained that 'Allah-u-Abha' should be used when the Greatest Name is to be repeated three times in the Long Obligatory Prayer."
- (From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer, January 28, 1977: Notes on Obligatory Prayers and Ablutions, A Compilation of the Universal House of Justice, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1533)
Exemptions[edit]
Exemptions for those truly unable to perform genuflexions yet who wish to perform the prayer[edit]
Preferable for those unable to perform prayer to choose short prayer[edit]
- https://bahai-library.com/uhj_prayers_disabled (1st quotation at the bottom of the page)
