Baha'ism

Practices

Prayer

Baha’i salat ‘compulsory ritual prayer’ will be recognisable to those familiar with Islamic prayer although the content and form of the salat differs considerably. Baha’is are obliged to pray salat daily after performing ablutions by washing the hands and face and standing in the direction of Baha’ Allah’s tomb which is the Baha’i qiblah. To fulfill the obligation of salat, which may only be performed individually and not in congregation, the believer is given a choice of performing at least one from three prayers composed by Baha’ Allah.55 The prayers can be performed in whichever language the believer chooses.

The first prayer, known in English as the “Long Obligatory Prayer” can be performed at any time of the day or night and involves a series of recitations, bows, prostrations and phrases glorifying God.56 The second prayer, the “Medium Obligatory Prayer” is performed three times a day at morning, noon and evening. It consists of a shorter number of recitations than the Long Obligatory Prayer which have long and short forms (to be said at the discretion of the believer) and also includes bows and supplications.57 The third prayer, the “Short Obligatory Prayer” consists of a single verse recited while standing. It is performed once a day between noon and sunset. The common English translation of the prayer is as follows:

I bear witness, O my God, that Thou hast created me to know Thee and to worship Thee. I testify, at this moment, to my powerlessness and to Thy might, to my poverty and to Thy wealth. There is none other God but Thee, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting.58

As well as salat, Baha’is are required to recite al-ism al-a‘zham ‘the Greatest Name’59 ninety-five times daily after ablutions. Baha’is are also encouraged to pray using supplications and devotions penned by the major figures of the Baha’i religion. The prayers of the Bab and Baha’ Allah have particular significance, a number of which are held to have a special power when recited by the believer. See Appendix B for a selection of prayers and passages from Baha’i scripture.

The concept of ritual impurity has been abrogated in Baha’i shari‘ah. Instead ablutions, consisting of washing the hands and face, are performed preceding each time ritual acts of worship are to be performed.60

It is mistakenly believed by many Baha’is that congregational prayer (prayer performed in unison by more than one person) is forbidden except for the funeral prayer. In actual fact, it is only forbidden to pray obligatory salat in congregation (with the exception of the funeral salat) and any other devotional prayers may be said in congregation if the believers so choose.61

In the absence of formal congregational worship as practiced by other faiths, Baha’is have developed an informal ritual for recitation of prayers and scripture, which involves believers sitting quietly – often with closed or downcast eyes – while an individual recites a prayer or passage of scripture. Prayers – including salat – can be chanted or recited in the original languages or in any translation.

Next > Baha'ism: Practices: Fasting

References

55In al-Kitab al-Aqdas Baha’ Allah had specified a salat of nine rak‘at thrice daily, however the text of this prayer was lost and so he abrogated the command of al-Kitab al-Aqdas and instituted the salat which Baha’is practice today.

56Bahá’u’lláh, The Kitáb-i-Aqdas (Haifa: Bahá’í World Centre, 1992) 92.

57Bahá’u’lláh, The Kitáb-i-Aqdas (Haifa: Bahá’í World Centre, 1992) 98.

58Bahá’u’lláh, The Kitáb-i-Aqdas (Haifa: Bahá’í World Centre, 1992) 100.

59The “Greatest Name” is considered by Baha’is to refer to Baha’ Allah. Here the recitation is in the form: allahu abha’ “God is the Most Glorious”.

60Bahá’u’lláh, The Kitáb-i-Aqdas (Haifa: Bahá’í World Centre, 1992) 47.

61Lights of Guidance, 460.

Next > Baha'ism: Practices: Fasting