The Fast

Virtually all of the world's religions emphasize fasting as a means of spiritual purification. Each year, for example, Muslims abstain from food and drink between sunrise and sunset for twenty-eight days in a row. Christ's reference to the importance of fasting is recorded in Chapters six and nine of the Gospel of Matthew.

Bahá'u'lláh called on Bahá'ís to refrain from eating or drinking from sunrise to sunset for nineteen consecutive days each year from 2 March to 20 March. This period, known simply as "the Fast," is considered a time for deep reflection on one's own spiritual progress. Efforts are made to detach oneself from material desires. Bahá'ís rise before dawn to eat breakfast and to pray. Those who are ill are exempt from fasting, as are pregnant and nursing women, people under 15 or over 70 years old, travelers, and those engaged in arduous physical labor.

"Whatever duty Thou hast prescribed unto Thy servants... is but a token of Thy grace unto them, that they may be enabled to ascend unto the station conferred upon their own inmost being, the station of the knowledge of their own selves." -- Bahá'u'lláh

THE BAHÁ'Í CALENDAR

The Gregorian date is given first, followed by the day's appelation, and a description of the day's significance. After all is the date according to the Badí calendar (the calendar that first the Bábís and now the Bahá'ís followed).

March 21: Naw-Ruz; the first day of the Bahá'í year; 1 Bahá

April 9: Month of Jalál; 1 Jalál

April 13: The first day of Ridván; Declaration of Bahá'u'lláh; 13 Jalál

April 28: Month of Jamál; 1 Jamál

April 29: The ninth day of Ridván; 2 Jamál

May 2: The twelth day of Ridván; this is the final day of the period of Ridván; 5 Jamál

May 17: Month of 'Azamát; 1 'Azamát

May 23: Declaration of the Báb; 7 'Azamát

May 29: Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh; 13 'Azamát

June 5: Month of Núr; 1 Núr

June 24: Month of Rahmat; 1 Rahmat

July 9: Martyrdom of the Báb; 16 Rahmat

July 13: Month of Kalimát; 1 Kalimát

August 1: Month of Kamál; 1 Kamál

August 20: Month of Asmá'; 1 Asmá'

September 8: Month of 'Izzat; 1 'Izzat

September 27: Moht of Mashíyyat; 1 Mashíyyat

October 16: Month of 'Ilm; 1 'Ilm

October 20: Birth of the Báb; 5 'Ilm

November 4: Month of Qudrat; 1 Qudrat

November 12: Birth of Bahá'u'lláh; 9 Qudrat

November 23: Month of Qawl; 1 Qawl

November 26: The Day of the Covenant; 4 Qawl

November 28: The ascension of 'Abdu'l-Bahá; 6 Qawl

December 12: Month of Masá'il; 1 Masá'il

December 31: Month of Shara;, 1 Sharaf

January 19: Month of Sultán; 1 Sultán

February 7: Month of Mulk; 1 Mulk

February 26-28(29): Intercalary Days; 1-3(4) Intercalary Day

March 1: Intercalary Day; 4(5) Intercalary Day

March 2: Month of 'Alá; the first day of hte Bahá'í Fast; 1 'Alá

March 20: The final day of the Bahá'í Fast;19 'Alá