Most people have heard of Ramadan, the month of fasting and prayer performed by Muslims around the world. The Jewish culture fasts on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Many Christians fast throughout the season of Lent, leading up to Easter. One faith that often gets overlooked in today’s culture is the Bahá’í faith, even though the religion was considered to be the fastest-growing religion from 1910 to 2010. On March 2, the Bahá’í begin their ritual fast, which involves nineteen days of prayer and fasting to bring the individual closer to God. Let’s take a look at who the Bahá’í are.
Beliefs of Bahá’í Faith
The Bahá’í religion began in about 1844, in the Persian and Ottoman regions. The Bab is considered the forerunner of the faith. There are three core beliefs that establish the doctrine:
- Unity of God
- Unity of religion
- Unity of humanity
In the Bahá’í faith, God is considered to be too great for an individual to understand. Each person has a purpose to know and love God. Members also believe that the teachings of the world’s religions are all from the same God. The Bahá’í believe in the abolition of prejudice, having the understanding that humans are equal. Through service to others, the soul becomes closer to God.
The Bahá’í not only disallow prejudice by race, but they also believe that men and women are equal. There is a harmony between religion and science. They find unity in diversity, without being disrespectful to the customs of others. One of their founding social principles is education, going as far as believing in compulsory education for everyone. They work toward a world peace and elimination of extremes in wealth and poverty.
At one time, it was thought that the Bahá’í faith was a sect of Islam, but most scholars today now believe differently. It has its own teachings, law and history. A better analogy might be that of how Christianity came out of Judaism. Muslims consider Bahá’ís to be apostate or deserters of the Islam faith, which has led to persecution.
Each Bahá’í is obliged to perform daily prayers that are fixed in word and form. Members of the faith may also offer other prayers as they choose, but there is no prescribed form. Bahá’ís do not as a rule drink alcohol or use illicit drugs. Gambling and gossip are forbidden. They don’t adhere to rituals, except in the form of the obligatory prayers. The Bahá’í do not get involved in partisan politics.
The Nineteen-Day Fast
Among the Bahá’í faith, this period of fasting in March is obligatory for both men and women once they turn 15 years old. Children younger than 15 and adults over the age of 70 are exempt, as are women who are pregnant or nursing. It’s not just a period of not eating or drinking, but smoking is not allowed either from sunrise to sundown. During the day, the believer should meditate and pray, making adjustments in his or her spiritual life to do better.
Bahá’ís Around the World
In 2013, it was estimated that there are about five million or more Bahá’ís worldwide. They are in more countries than any other religion except Christianity. Although the faith does not make news in the same manner as other religions, it still is very active in social development. The Bahá’í International Community works closely with many international organizations designed to benefit those in need. They consult with the World Health Organization. The UN also invited a prominent Bahá’í as the only speaker without government backing in one of their major forums. It’s worth taking notice of their beliefs and respecting their fast during the upcoming days.