Daily Life & Practice

Baha’is do not drink alcohol. This can have a big impact on their social lives, depending on the degree to which their social groups depend on this drug for entertainment or release. Baha’is feel that alcohol is an unhealthy and often degrading crutch that too many people depend on in society. Baha’is do recognize that this law is hard for new believers at first, but once a person lives without drinking for a while they often find it liberating.

For a Baha’i, the only wine is the spiritual wine: that which pours forth in the form of their Holy Writings and Divine Teachings. For a Baha’i, the true intoxication is to be whole-heartedly in love with God and His universe. While this may sound silly to some, to a Baha’i who has devoted his life to the service of humanity, who has offered up his soul for the regeneration of the world, who has sacrificed his ego for the benefit of all mankind; the love of God is the underlying motivation. How many people want to be part of some Great Cause, something bigger than themselves, to leave some legacy or imprint on the world? How many people want to feel complete, whole, and hopeful for the future of the world? To a Baha’i, this is the most cherished wine imaginable, and to sacrifice all this so one can keep drinking a beer once in a while seems ludicrous. As Abdu’l-Baha wrote in a prayer, “O my Lord! Lift Thou the veil from before his sight. Rain down Thy plenteous bounties upon him, intoxicate him with the wine of love for Thee, make him one of Thy angels whose feet walk upon this earth even as their souls are soaring through the high heavens. Cause him to become a brilliant lamp, shining out with the light of Thy wisdom in the midst of Thy people.” (SWA, p. 121).

Once a year, Baha’is fast for nineteen days in a row. This is in the month of March, and it means that Baha’is do not eat or drink during daylight hours. Baha’is start fasting once they turn fifteen. Those who are pregnant, who are very sick, who are over the age of seventy, or who do extremely physically demanding work are all exempted from this Law. As Abdu’l-Baha wrote, “Fortunate are ye to have obeyed the commandment of God, and kept this fast during the holy season. For this material fast is an outer token of the spiritual fast; it is a symbol of self-restraint, the withholding of oneself from all appetites of the self, taking on the characteristics of the spirit, being carried away by the breathings of heaven and catching fire from the love of God.” (SWA, p. 69)

The Fast becomes a time of personal renewal, inner reflection, and intense prayer; and it is often regarded as the most spiritual time of the year for Baha’is. The Baha’i Fast can be a truly purifying experience. Baha’u’llah wrote in a prayer, addressing God, of the Baha’i month of Fasting, “Thou hast endowed every hour of these days with a special virtue, inscrutable to all except Thee, Whose knowledge embraceth all created things. Thou hast, also, assigned unto every soul a portion of this virtue in accordance with the Tablet of Thy decree and the Scriptures of Thine irrevocable judgment.” (Baha’u’llah; PM pg. 143).

"The wisdom of prayer is this: That it causeth a connection between the servant and the True One,..." ~ Abdu'l-Baha

Beyond these daily obligatory prayers, Baha’is pray for many other reasons and occasions. Prayer is very important to Baha’is. To be a Baha’i means to create a strong and powerful connection to our Creator. Baha’is believe this connection is established, sustained, and renewed through prayer. Baha’i Writings state that “The wisdom of prayer is this: That it causeth a connection between the servant and the True One, because in that state man with all his heart and soul turneth his face towards His Highness the Almighty, seeking His association and desiring His love and compassion. The greatest happiness for a lover is to converse with his beloved, and the greatest gift for a seeker is to become familiar with the object of his longing; that is why with every soul who is attracted to the Kingdom of God, his greatest hope is to find an opportunity to entreat and supplicate before his Beloved, appeal for His mercy and grace and be immersed in the ocean of His utterance, goodness and generosity...” (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, URW pg. 9)

Baha’i rituals and daily practices are fairly simple and include reciting the Holy Writings in the morning and in the evening. This can be just a phrase or it may be a few pages. By Holy Writings, in this sense, Baha’is are referring only to the Writings of Baha’u’llah, the Founder of the Faith, which we consider to be the Word of God. Baha’is believe that the Word of God has power in their lives. As Baha’u’llah wrote, “Know thou, moreover, that the Word of God -- exalted be His glory -- is higher and far superior to that which the senses can perceive, for it is sanctified from any property or substance. It transcendeth the limitations of known elements and is exalted above all the essential and recognized substances. It became manifest without any syllable or sound and is none but the Command of God which pervadeth all created things. It hath never been withheld from the world of being. It is God's all-pervasive grace, from which all grace doth emanate. It is an entity far removed above all that hath been and shall be. “(TB, p. 140).

There is also a daily Obligatory Prayer (see FAQ#) and an Arabic phrase, which is called The Greatest Name, ninety-five times in a row. The phrase is “Allah-u-Abha.” This means ‘God is most great.’ Baha’is often use prayer beads to keep track of counting. For many, this is a great meditative tool for settling your mind and clearing our thoughts before saying daily prayers.

"Observe My commandments, for the love of My beauty." ~ Baha'u'llah

One of the goals of life for Baha’is is to become detached. The idea of detachment for Baha’is does not mean that they give up all possessions and retreat from the world. Baha’u’llah wrote, “Seclude not yourselves in your churches and cloisters. Come ye out of them by My leave, and busy, then, yourselves with what will profit you and others.” (SLH, p. 69). Baha’u’llah clearly called humanity to work in this world to help make it a better place.

Baha’is believe that detachment is a state of mind, not a condition of the material world. As a Baha’i, money is earned as a means to an end; it is a way to effect change—but the accumulation of treasure purely for personal aggrandizement is prohibited. Money is seen as a very dangerous temptation, and Baha’is know that to be wealthy can be a difficult test for many people. As Baha’u’llah wrote, “O ye that pride yourselves on mortal riches! Know ye in truth that wealth is a mighty barrier between the seeker and his desire, the lover and his beloved. The rich, but for a few, shall in no wise attain the court of His presence nor enter the city of content and resignation. Well is it then with him, who, being rich, is not hindered by his riches from the eternal kingdom, nor deprived by them of imperishable dominion. By the Most Great Name! The splendor of such a wealthy man shall illuminate the dwellers of heaven even as the sun enlightens the people of the earth!” (HW).

“O Son of Being! Bring thyself to account each day..." ~ Baha'u'llah

While Baha’is believe that God will show us justice, they also appeal to God’s mercy, so that His benevolence may encompass them and allow them to overcome their weaknesses. Baha’is do not confess their sins before any other mortal, however they do call themselves to account in private moments in prayer. As Baha’u’llah wrote, “O Son of Being! Bring thyself to account each day ere thou art summoned to a reckoning; for death, unheralded, shall come upon thee and thou shalt be called to give account for thy deeds.” (HW).

“O My Servants! Ye are the trees of My garden; ye must give forth goodly and wondrous fruits...” ~ Baha'u'llah

Baha’is are exhorted to perform their work with a spirit of service to mankind in their hearts, not just to earn a paycheck. This spirit of service means they strive to see the bigger picture of their daily jobs in how they contribute to society and that becomes their motivation. Through this, they offer each day’s work to their Lord as a form of worship.

"Man's merit lieth in service and virtue and not in the pageantry of wealth and riches." ~ Baha'u'llah

"My home is the home of peace. My home is the home of joy and delight. My home is the home of laughter and exultation. Whosever enters through the portals of this home, must go out with gladsome heart. This is the home of light, whosever enters here must become illumined..." ~ Abdu'l-Baha

For Baha’is, marriage is the most sacred institution in society; an institution to be supported, upheld, and cherished by the entire community. The Baha’i concept of marriage is different from any other concept seen by humanity’s major world religions. Baha’i marriages are unions of equals. Married men and women see each other as the wings of the same bird, where each member has the same responsibility to sacrifice for the sake of the institution of marriage, and each with the same access to the benefits that marriage offers as a ‘fortress of well-being’ in our lives. As Abdu’l-Baha wrote about husbands and their wives, “They are two helpmates, two intimate friends who should be concerned about the welfare of each other” (‘Abdu’l-Bahá; SWA p.122)

Additionally, the raising of children is also a sacred responsibility. Baha’is do not see children as their own, rather, they see them as spiritual beings who belong to God, and who are entrusted to their parents for their education and well-being. It is their task to raise them; to give them love, support, discipline, and guidance, and to awaken spiritual perceptions in them.  In turn, it is the children's duty to have the utmost respect for their parents. Baha'u'llah writes "The fruits of the tree of existence are trustworthiness, loyalty, truthfulness and purity. After the recognition of the oneness of the Lord, exalted be He, the most important of all duties is to have due regard for the rights of one's parents. This matter hath been mentioned in all the Books of God." Additionally, everyone in a Baha’i family turns to the Holy Writings and to Baha’i consultation in order to resolve disputes, to overcome tests and difficulties, and to make big decisions.

*From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of New Zealand, December 28th, 1980

"Strive, then, to abide, heart and soul, with each other as two doves in the nest, for this is to be blessed in both world." ~ Abdu'l-Baha

The institution of marriage is held in high regard in the Baha'i Holy texts, and all Baha’is who marry are highly encouraged to make it work. Family unity is so important for Baha’is that all Baha’is are required to get the consent/blessing of every living parent before a marriage can be performed. Of course, marriage can often be challenging. Today, marriage has too often become the easy target for change when things are not pleasant in our lives. Baha’is, on the other hand, believe that the first target for change should be their own inner self. Once we are right with God, all our other relationships seem to find their proper balance. Baha’is are striving to make marriage a true fortress for well-being in society. Baha’is admit that they have much to learn, but Baha’is work to see a world where marriages last a lifetime; where husbands and wives lovingly serve each other; where couples really think about the commitment before they get married; where people have realistic expectations for what marriage can offer; and where the entire society bands together to support, encourage, and inspire married folks to keep their vows and be the true helpmates of each other that God intended. As Abdu’l-Baha wrote, “Baha’i marriage is the commitment of the two parties one to the other, and their mutual attachment of mind and heart. Each must, however, exercise the utmost care to become thoroughly acquainted with the character of the other, that the binding covenant between them may be a tie that will endure forever. Their purpose must be this: to become loving companions and comrades and at one with each other for time and eternity....” (SWA, p. 118)

In the Baha'i Writings, the husband and wife are regarded as a single soul; "...The Lord, peerless is He, hath made woman and man to abide with each other in the closest companionship, and to be even as a single soul. They are two helpmates, two intimate friends, who should be concerned about the welfare of each other. If they live thus, they will pass through this world with perfect contentment, bliss and peace of heart, and become the object of divine grace and favour in the Kingdom of heaven. But if they do other than this, they will live out their lives in great bitterness, longing at every moment for death, and will be shamefaced in the heavenly realm. Strive, then, to abide, heart and soul, with each other as two doves in the nest, for this is to be blessed in both worlds." ~ Abdu'l-Baha (SWA, p. 122)

To a Baha’i, one of the worst sins is to backbite. As Abdu’l-Baha writes, “How blessed are these aims, especially the prevention of backbiting! I hope that you may become confirmed therein, because the worst human quality and the most great sin is backbiting; more especially when it emanates from the tongues of the believers of God.” (LG, p. 91). This means that in all our conversations we try not to speak ill of others.

Any Baha’i will tell you from personal experience that this is often very difficult to do. It is a struggle that takes constant vigilance to steer conversations from negative topics to positive topics. Baha’is are told to “refrain from idle talk,” (Baha’u’llah, GWB, p. 264). In this, they try not to waste the precious moments of their lives in conversations that serve no uplifting purpose.

In truth, Baha’is feel that their contribution to their Faith is not just a Baha’i Cause, but is really to the eternal Cause of God. It is a Cause that has been alive in the world, educating and spiritualizing all of humanity throughout the ages. Therefore, to contribute to the Baha’i Faith is to contribute to Judaism, to Christianity, to Islam, to Hinduism, and to the many native traditions of the world that brought spiritual truth to the mankind. As Baha’u’llah wrote, “This is the changeless Faith of God, eternal in the past, eternal in the future.” (GWB p. 136). For Baha’is, their one wish is to do some deed that will penetrate the bounds of time and last throughout humanity’s history. For Baha’is, they can be a part of no other Cause that is greater than the Cause of God in the world. Their prayer is this, “Assist me, then, through Thy strengthening grace, so to serve Thy Cause amidst Thy servants that I may show forth what will cause me to be remembered as long as Thine own kingdom endureth and Thy dominion will last.” (Baha’u’llah, PM, p. 60).