"As regards fasting, it const.i.tutes, together with the obligatory prayers, the two pillars that sustain the revealed Law of G.o.d. They act as stimulants to the soul, strengthen, revive and purify it, and thus insure its steady development."

"The ordinance of fasting is, as is the case with these three prayers (obligatory) a spiritual and vital obligation enjoined by Baha'u'llah upon every believer who has attained the age of fifteen. In the Aqdas He thus writes: 'We have commanded you to pray and fast from the beginning of maturity; this is ordained by G.o.d, your Lord and the Lord of your forefathers. He has exempted from this those who are weak from illness or age, as a bounty from His Presence, and He is the Forgiving, the Generous.'

"And in another pa.s.sage He says: 'We have enjoined upon you fasting during a brief period, and at its close have designated for you Naw-Ruz as a Feast... The traveller, the ailing, those who are with child or giving suck, are not bound by the Fast... Abstain from food and drink, from sunrise to sundown, and beware lest desire deprive you of this grace that is appointed in the Book.'

"Also in the 'Questions and Answers' that form an appendix to the Aqdas, Baha'u'llah reveals the following: 'Verily, I say that G.o.d has appointed a Great station for fasting and prayer. But during good health its benefit is evident, and when one is ill, it is not permissible to fulfill them.'

Concerning the age of maturity, He reveals in the appendix of that same Book: 'The age of maturity is in the fifteenth year; women and men are alike in this respect.' Regarding the vital character and importance of the Divine ordinances and laws, and the necessity of complete obedience to them by the believers, we thus read in the Gleanings, p. 175:

'Know verily that the essence of justice and the source thereof are both embodied in the ordinance prescribed by Him Who is the Manifestation of the Self of G.o.d amongst men, if ye be of them that recognize this truth.

He doth verily incarnate the highest, the infallible standard of justice unto all creation. Were His law to be such as to strike terror in the hearts of all that are in heaven and on earth, that law is naught but manifest justice. The fears and agitation which the revelation of this law provoke in men's hearts should indeed be likened to the cries of the suckling babe weaned from his mother's milk, if ye be of them that perceive...'

"The fasting period, which lasts nineteen days starting as a rule from the second of March every year and ending on the twentieth of the same month, involves complete abstention from food and drink from sunrise till sunset.

It is essentially a period of meditation and prayer, of spiritual recuperation, during which the believer must strive to make the necessary readjustments in his inner life, and to refresh and reinvigorate the spiritual forces latent in his soul. Its significance and purpose are, therefore, fundamentally spiritual in character. Fasting is symbolic, and a reminder of abstinence from selfish and carnal desires."

72: FAST (THE)

"Regarding your question concerning the Fast: Travellers are exempt from fasting, but if they want to fast while they are travelling, they are free to do so. You are exempt the whole period of your travel, not just the hours you are in a train or car, etc. If one eats unconsciously during the fasting hours, this is not breaking the Fast as it is an accident. The age limit is 70 years, but if one desires to fast after the age limit is pa.s.sed, and is strong enough to, one is free to do so. If during the Fast period a person falls ill and is unable to fast, but recovers before the Fast period is over, he can start to fast again and continue until the end. Of course the Fast, as you know, can only be kept during the month set aside for that purpose."

73: FEAST DAY (CHANGING OBSERVANCE OF)

"This is really a matter of secondary importance, and should be decided by the a.s.sembly. Meetings which have been publicly advertised for a certain date cannot obviously be cancelled."

74: FEAST (NATURE OF)

"Concerning the nature of the Nineteen-Day Feast, in the Aqdas, Baha'u'llah clearly revealed the spiritual and social character of this Inst.i.tution. Its administrative significance, however, has been stressed by the Guardian in direct response to the growing needs of the Baha'i Community in this formative period of the Baha'i era for better training in the principles and practice of Baha'i administration."

75: NAW-RuZ FEAST (OBSERVANCE OF FEAST DAY CALENDAR)

"The Naw-Ruz Feast should be held on March 21 before sunset and has nothing to do with the 19-day Feast. The 19-day Feast is administrative in function whereas the Naw-Ruz is our New Year, a Feast of hospitality and rejoicing."

76: NAW-RuZ, TIME OF CELEBRATION OF

"Regarding Naw-Ruz: If the vernal equinox falls on the 21st of March before sunset, it is celebrated on that day. If at any time after sunset, Naw-Ruz will then, as stated by Baha'u'llah, fall on the 22nd. As to which spot should be regarded as the standard, this is a matter which the Universal House of Justice will have to decided. The American NSA need not therefore take any action in this matter at present."

77: FEAST (TIME FOR HOLDING)

"Regarding the time for the holding of the Nineteen-Day Feasts and elections; the Guardian would advise your a.s.sembly to urge the friends to hold such gatherings on the prescribed day before sunset. If impossible, then it is permissible to hold them on the preceding day. In connection with the nine holy days, however, the friends should consider it obligatory to celebrate them on the prescribed day before sunset."

78: FEASTS (ATTENDANCE AT)

"Attendance at 19-Day Feasts is not obligatory but very important, and every believer should consider it a duty and a privilege to be present on such occasions."

"He wishes the Baha'is to press for recognition of their right to observe their own Holy Days, and to observe them whenever possible in strict accordance with our teachings."

79: FEASTS AND ANNIVERSARIES--BAHa'i

"The Baha'i Day starts and ends at sunset, and consequently the date of the celebration of Baha'i Feasts should be adjusted to conform to the Baha'i Calendar Time..."

80: FUND (HOW EVERY BELIEVER CAN TEST THE MEASURE OF HIS FAITH)

"He wishes you particularly to impress the believers with the necessity of maintaining the flow of their contributions to the Temple, and also to stress the importance of the Inst.i.tution of the National Baha'i Fund which, in these early days of the administrative development of the Faith, is the indispensable medium for the growth and expansion of the Movement.

Contributions to this fund const.i.tute, in addition, a practical and effective way whereby every believer can test the measure and character of his Faith, and to prove in deeds the intensity of his devotion and attachment to the Cause."