Fast
From Bahaikipedia
The Fast is a time period between March 2nd and 20th during which Bahá’ís abstain from food or drink from sunrise to sunset of the same day. On the Bahá’í Calendar the fast falls on the 19th month of `Ala'. The fast usually ends with the celebration of Naw-Rúz.
Praised be Thou, O my God, that Thou hast ordained Naw-Rúz as a festival unto those who have observed the fast for love of Thee and abstained from all that is abhorrent unto Thee. [1]
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[edit] Purpose
‘Abdu’l-Bahá explains:
"Fasting is a symbol. Fasting signifies abstinence from lust. Physical fasting is a symbol of that abstinence, and is a reminder; that is, just as a person abstains from physical appetites, he is to abstain from self-appetites and self-desires."[2]
Further he explains:
"Fasting is a symbol. Fasting signifies abstinence from lust. Physical fasting is a symbol of that abstinence, and is a reminder; that is, just as a person abstains from physical appetites, he is to abstain from self-appetites and self-desires. But mere abstention from food has no effect on the spirit. It is only a symbol, a reminder. Otherwise it is of no importance. Fasting for this purpose does not mean entire abstinence from food. The golden rule as to food is, do not take too much or too little. Moderation is necessary. There is a sect in India who practice extreme abstinence, and gradually reduce their food until they exist on almost nothing. But their intelligence suffers. A man is not fit to do service for God with brain or body if he is weakened by lack of food. He cannot see clearly."[2]
[edit] Who is required to fast
Bahá’u’lláh states in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas: "We have commanded you to pray and fast from the beginning of maturity; this is ordained by God, your Lord and the Lord of your forefathers". [3] Certain individuals however are exempt from fasting, as outlined in the following section.
[edit] Exceptions from Fasting
Kitáb-i-Aqdas states: "He hath exempted from this those who are weak from illness or age" [3]
"The exemption of those who are weak due to illness or advanced age from offering the obligatory prayers and from fasting is explained in Questions and Answers. Bahá’u’lláh indicates that in "time of ill-health it is not permissible to observe these obligations" (Q&A 93). He defines old age, in this context, as being from seventy (Q&A 74). In answer to a question, Shoghi Effendi has clarified that people who attain the age of seventy are exempt, whether or not they are weak."[4]
"God hath exempted women who are in their courses from obligatory prayer and fasting. Let them, instead, after performance of their ablutions, give praise unto God, repeating ninety-five times between the noon of one day and the next 'Glorified be God, the Lord of Splendour and Beauty'."[5]
[edit] References
- ↑ http://bahai-library.org/writings/bahaullah/pm/046.html
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://bahai-library.org/books/gandhi/node30.html
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 http://www.bahai-library.org/writings/bahaullah/aqdas/aqdas.html#K10
- ↑ http://www.bahai-library.org/writings/bahaullah/aqdas/notes.html#n14
- ↑ http://www.bahai-library.org/writings/bahaullah/aqdas/notes.html#n20
[edit] External Links
Bahá’í Writings on the Fast http://www.bcca.org/bahaivision/fast.html
