Perhaps there is not a single religion in the world in which observing of fast is not recommended. In its true meaning
fasting is not just abstaining from
food or drink. In Sanskrit, the ancient oriental language, fasting is known as “Upavasa’ which is made up of two roots: ‘upa’ means ‘near’ and ‘vasa’ means ‘to stay’. So, it suggests that ‘Upavasa’ or ‘fasting’ is ‘staying near’ God. Its deep implication is to acquire such spiritual sublimity, piousness of thought and purity of resolve that lead us closer to godliness.
Thousands of followers of the Bahá’í religion observe fast for a period of 19
days (2-20 March) in obedience to Baha’u’llah (1817-1892), the prophet founder of the Bahá’í Faith. In the ‘Most Holy Book’, Baha’u’llah exhorts: “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. He hath exempted from this those who are weak from illness or age, as a bounty from His Presence ....” (The Kitab-i-Aqdas, 10). Be it clarified here that in the Bahá’í Faith, the age of maturity is 15 for obligatory spiritual duties whereas it is 21 for an administrative purpose. The duration of Bahá’í fast is 19 days since Bahá’í Calendar is divided into 19 months of 19 days each. Before the fast begins, 4 days (in Leap Year, 5 days) are segregated as intercalary days or Ayyam-e-Ha – the days in which Bahá’ís are encouraged to generously donate and help the poor and the needy, extend hospitality and spend their days in deeper studies of the Holy Texts. The days of Ayyam-e-Ha also serve as days preparing for the fast. Bahá’í New Year or Naw-Rúz starts on 21st March as soon as the fasting period ends. This, too, seems to have a symbolic connotation. New, festive chapters of life open after passing through the rigors of
self-constraint and sacrifice. In a prayer revealed by Baha’u’llah we come across these words: “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. Grant, O my Lord, that the fire of Thy love and the heat produced by the fast enjoined by Thee may inflame them in Thy Cause, and make them to be occupied with Thy praise and with remembrance of Thee.”.
What is the mode and nature of Bahá’í fast? As preceded above, in any religion fasting is an exterior symbol of interior transformation. Bahá’í fast is no exception. During nineteen days the fast is observed by abstaining from both food and drink from sunrise to sunset (say 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.). The fast ends at the vernal equinox when it is spring season in the Northern hemisphere while it is autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. Children below 15 years, travelers, those involved in hard physical work or those who are too old or weak as well as women who are with child, breast-feeding or in their courses are exempted from the fast.
Not only from food or drink, one also has to abstain from smoking, chewing of tobacco and similar
habits. This is a wonderful psychological aspect of the fast. Refraining from these habits for 19 days goes a long way in weaning from them. Psychologists are of the view that all such habits seem to be stronger in the beginning but when we resolve to get rid of them, gradually their intensity weakens. So these 19 days provide a psycho-spiritual pretext for doing away with certain unwanted habits.
However, the implication of Bahá’í fast is far more than this. It stands for our reorientation towards God and turning face from mortal attractions. As Abdul-Baha has said: “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”. A fast observed only with such a sublime motive, can truly be a fast. We, in our entire life, are ‘in-takers’ only. Wandering in the endless desert of lust and desires, we forget that everlasting happiness is not in running after the mirages of momentary pleasures but in forsaking them and finding a seat in the shade of the Supreme Beauty. At this juncture of the pomp and pride of our fleeting lives, Bahá’í fast reminds us of this mystic power of sacrifice and self-constraint.
More reviews about the FASTING FOR GOD