Devotion or worship is the feeling or expression of reverence and love for, and faithfulness to, God. In the general sense of religious devotion and worship, it may take many outward forms, e.g. the rituals and ceremonies carried out by followers of the world's various religions. At its core, devotion to God is a spiritual condition in which a human being desires nearness to and communication with the divine. According to Bahá'u'lláh, worship plays a fundamental role in the personal development of a human being,[1] as well as in the collective development of humanity.
For Bahá'ís, devotion takes various complementary forms which all meet the central purpose of exalting God's Word and celebrating His praise. The personal worship of Bahá'ís often takes the form of prayer, and the recital of and meditation upon sacred scripture (especially the words of the Manifestations of God) in a reverent spiritual atmosphere. Certain specific forms of devotion are prescribed to Bahá'ís, such as the obligatory prayers and the repetition of the Greatest Name of God, observance of the Nineteen-day Fast, and the reading of sacred scripture at least once every morning and evening. In addition, Bahá'ís are encouraged to engage in communal worship with others, for instance, through regular devotional gatherings; reflecting Bahá'u'lláh's command to "consort with the followers of all religions", these gatherings are open to people of all, regardless of their background, religious or otherwise.
Service to humanity is a valid and essential form of worship for Bahá'ís, providing a way for devotion to God to be expressed through concrete action for the betterment of the world. In His address to the Letters of the Living, the Báb notably stated:
| “ | "The days when idle worship was deemed sufficient are ended. The time is come when naught but the purest motive, supported by deeds of stainless purity, can ascend to the throne of the Most High and be acceptable unto Him…"[2] | ” |
Beyond encouraging simple acts of charity, Bahá'u'lláh also elevated work done in the spirit of service to the status of worship:
| “ | "It is enjoined upon every one of you to engage in some form of occupation, such as crafts, trades and the like. We have graciously exalted your engagement in such work to the rank of worship unto God, the True One."[3] | ” |
The inseparability of worship and service is fully expressed through the institution of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkar ("Dawning-place of the praise of God"), as ordained by Bahá'u'lláh. Although the Mashriqu'l-Adhkar (known in English as a Bahá'í House of Worship) does function as a place of worship—one open to the followers of all religions—it is a far more complex institution. It was envisioned by Bahá'u'lláh as including a number of dependencies dedicated to the service of humanity through social, humanitarian, educational, and scientific pursuits.[4][5] With the House of Worship itself to be located at the centre, the Mashriqu'l-Adhkar reflects both the centrality of devotion to God to all human endeavours, and service as a natural expression of the desire to be near to God.
References[edit]
- ↑ The Short Obligatory Prayer emphasises the role played by worship in the personal development of a human being: "I testify, O my God, that Thou hast created me to know Thee and to Worship Thee..." https://www.bahai.org/r/636636986
- ↑ https://reference.bahai.org/en/t/nz/DB/db-22.html
- ↑ https://www.bahai.org/r/491674573
- ↑ Momen, M. (1997). "The Bahá'í Community". A Short Introduction to the Bahá’í Faith. Oxford, UK: One World Publications. ISBN 1851682090.
- ↑ Rafati, V.; Sahba, F. (1989). "Bahai temples". Encyclopædia Iranica.
