Obligatory Prayer (short)

Read online at https://bahai-library.com/compilations/prayers/BP-3.html or https://bahai-library.com/writings/bahaullah/aqdas/supplements.html#shortprayer.

The short prayer should be recited once a day at noon

"The short prayer, consisting of one verse, should be recited once a day at noon..."

(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 short prayer consists of one verse to be recited once a day at noon."

(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, April 25, 1937, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1525)

To be said from noon until sunset* (see below for sunset times)

"83. Question: Concerning the definition of "morning", "noon" and "evening".

"Answer: These are sunrise, noon and sunset. The allowable times for Obligatory Prayers are from morning till noon, from noon till sunset, and from sunset till two hours thereafter. Authority is in the hand of God, the Bearer of the Two Names."

(Bahá'u'lláh, Kitáb-i-Aqdas, Question no. 83)

"The definition of "noon" as the period "from noon till sunset" applies to the recitation of the short Obligatory Prayer as well as the medium one."

(Bahá'u'lláh, Kitáb-i-Aqdas Notes, no. 5.)

"The short obligatory prayer may be said at any time between noon and sunset."

(From a letter from the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the British Isles, cited in Principles of Bahá'í Administration, p. 8)

"The short prayer consists of one verse to be recited once a day at noon."

(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, April 25, 1937; quoted in Lights of Guidance, no. 1525, p. 466)

"The short prayer, consisting of one verse, should be recited once a day at noon;..."

(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual Assembly of India, April 27, 1937; quoted in Lights of Guidance, no. 1529, p. 467)

Preferable to be said standing

"Question: Should the third Obligatory Prayer be offered while seated or standing?

"Answer: It is preferable and more fitting to stand in an attitude of humble reverence."

(Bahá'u'lláh, Kitáb-i-Aqdas, Question no. 81 )

Notes

• The next passage makes clear that the "first Obligatory Prayer" is the long one and the text itself arranges the short obligatory prayer to be the last (third) one --see the supplement.
• The Synopsis indicates this: "9. It is preferable to offer the third (short) Obligatory Prayer while standing." (IV.A.9).

If prayer is forgotton, it is up to one's personal conscience as to what to do (not obligated to say the long prayer)

"The Universal House of Justice in a letter dated 26 April 1987, written on its behalf, provides the following general guidance concerning what is to be done when an individual forgets to say the Obligatory Prayer:

"The action of a believer who forgets to recite his obligatory prayer is a matter of personal conscience."

(Memorandum dated 2 February 1998 at https://bahai-library.com/uhj_contacting_obligatory_exemptions#s1a )

Additional References

• (See Obligatory Prayer for more details relevant to the short prayer (i.e., the information in common with the medium or long prayer such as the need to face the Qiblih, perform ablutions first, etc.).)
• For sunset times, see for example: http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/RS_OneDay.html