Fast

Gregorian equivalent dates
Year	Fasting
2023	March 2 – 20
2024	March 1 – 19
2025	March 1 – 19
2026	March 2 – 20
2027	March 2 – 20

Fasting refers to a period of 19 days when Bahá’ís are required to abstain from eating or drinking from sunrise to sunset. In the Bahá’í calendar one month is 19 days long, and each month has a name associated with the attributes of God. The 19th month named ‘Alá’ (Loftiness) is the month of fasting, and it falls in between the celebrations of Ayyám-i-Há and Naw-Rúz. Ayyám-i-Há refers to the 4 or 5 days required to synchronize the calendar with the solar year. Naw-Rúz marks the beginning of the Bahá’í year, and it coincides with the vernal equinox, which falls on either March 20th or 21st. Therefore in the Gregorian calendar the dates of fasting will start either on the 1st or 2nd of March (see table).

Purpose

Bahá'ís observe the Fast during the month of ‘Alá’ each year.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá when asked what the divine wisdom of fasting was replied that there were many, but expounded on three in particular. He stated first that the people should follow in the example of the divine Manifestations, describing how the process of revelation and divine inspiration so overpowered their Soul that little time or appetite was left for food or drink.

“ For example, when Moses went up to Mount Sinai to establish the religion of God, He fasted for forty days; and fasting was therefore enjoined upon the Israelites to awaken and admonish them. Likewise Christ, at the beginning of the foundation of His divine religion, the establishment of His teachings, and the formulation of His admonitions, disregarded for forty days all physical necessities and refrained from food and drink... In the same way, in the beginning of His manifestation, the Báb would be so overcome with emotion at the revelation of the divine verses that for days He would confine himself to drinking tea. Likewise, in the days when He was instituting the divine teachings, and when the divine verses would be sent down continuously, Bahá’u’lláh would be so overwhelmed with the intensity of their influence and the emotions surging within His heart that He would take but little food.

Our meaning is that it has been enjoined upon the generality of the people to fast likewise for a few days, that they might follow the example of the divine Manifestations and call to mind Their state and condition... For every sincere soul who has a beloved aspires to whatever condition his beloved is experiencing.

”

Next ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said:

“ The second wisdom is that fasting is conducive to spiritual awareness. One’s heart grows more tender, one’s spirituality is increased, and as a result one’s thoughts become purely focused on the remembrance of God. Such awareness and awakening leads inexorably to spiritual progress. ”

Lastly ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said:

“ The third wisdom is this. There are two kinds of fast: material and spiritual. The material fast consists in abstaining from food and drink, that is, refraining from satisfying the physical appetites. But the true and spiritual fast is for man to forsake covetous desires, heedlessness, and evil and animalistic attributes. The material fast is therefore a symbol of that spiritual fast. It is like saying: “O Divine Providence! As I am abstaining from bodily desires and from all occupation with food and drink, even so purify and sanctify my heart from the love of anyone save Thyself, and shield and protect my soul from corrupt inclinations and satanic qualities, that my spirit may commune with the breaths of holiness and fast from the mention of all else besides Thee.” ”

Who is required to fast

In the Kitáb-i-Aqdas Bahá’u’lláh states: "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". The age of maturity is set at 15 for both men and women.

Exemptions from Fasting

Reddit has related posts about exemptions from fasting:

• Fasting tips Megathread
• Don’t fast in a way that will make you sick
• How many hours is everyone fasting through?
• What's the point of the fast?

Bahá’u’lláh exempted from fasting "those who are weak from illness or age". Additionally, "God hath exempted women who are in their courses from obligatory prayer and fasting" and Bahá’u’lláh prescribes instead the repeating of “Glorified be God, the Lord of Splendor and Beauty” ninety-five times between the noon of one day and the next.

Concerning prayer and fasting while one is sick, Bahá’u’lláh has said:

“ In truth, I say that obligatory prayer and fasting occupy an exalted station in the sight of God. It is, however, in a state of health that their virtue can be realized. In time of ill-health it is not permissible to observe these obligations; such hath been the bidding of the Lord, exalted be His glory, at all times. Blessed be such men and women as pay heed, and observe His precepts. All praise be unto God, He who hath sent down the verses and is the Revealer of undoubted proofs! ” — Kitáb-i-Aqdas, Questions and Answers

Concerning a definition of old age, Bahá’u’lláh has stated "To the Arabs it denoteth the furthest extremity of old age, but for the people of Bahá it is from the age of seventy." Shoghi Effendi has stated "people who attain the age of seventy are exempt, whether or not they are weak".

External Links

• Fast, bahai9.com - links to various quotes related to the fast