Baháʼí prayer consists of obligatory and devotional prayers, both of which contain reverent words addressed to God, acknowledging God's greatness, holiness, and majesty.
Baháʼís between the ages of fifteen and seventy are required to perform one of three prescribed obligatory prayers daily.
Baháʼu'lláh, the founder of the Baháʼí Faith, encouraged Baháʼís to pray often. In his writings, he said that prayer should be used individually, as an act of worship, and collectively in meetings. Prayer, he felt, was essential to the development of spirituality. In Baháʼí, the benefit of prayer is believed to be obtained through the spiritual state brought about by prayer and not by the act of praying itself. Baháʼu'lláh wrote that a brief but joyful prayer was superior to a long prayer that does not induce the appropriate spiritual state. The spirit in which the prayer is offered is the most important aspect of prayer.
In the Baháʼí Faith, prayer can be used to obtain material goals, but prayer for the love of God is far superior. To that end, individual prayers should be offered in private and at a time when there are no distractions.
Also encouraged, collective prayers are usually performed by individuals taking turns reading prayers at the beginning of a meeting. Shoghi Effendi, who headed the Baháʼí Faith in the first half of the 20th century, wrote that prayers could be addressed to God, Baháʼu'lláh, or other manifestations of God, but he recommended they be addressed to Baháʼu'lláh.
Baháʼu'lláh prescribed three obligatory prayers, known as the short, the medium, and the long. Baháʼís are free to say one of the three each day. Specific times were set for the short and medium prayers: the short is to be said once between noon and sunset, while the medium is to be said three times a day, once between sunrise and noon, once between noon and sunset, and once between sunset and two hours after sunset. The long prayer, however, could be said at any time. The medium and long prayers include obligatory movements and gestures and are preceded by ablutions, which are the cleaning of the hands and face.
It is obligatory for Baháʼis to repeat the phrase "Alláh-u-Abhá," a form of the "Greatest Name," ninety-five times a day, as Baháʼu'lláh wrote in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas. Prayer beads are sometimes used for this purpose.
Through prayer, Baháʼís grow closer to God and God's manifestation, Baháʼu'lláh. Prayer helps individuals improve their conduct and character. Baháʼís also pray for divine guidance and assistance.
The central figures of the Baháʼí Faith (Báb, Baháʼu'lláh, and ʻAbdu'l-Bahá) have composed a collection of devotional prayers that cover various topics, such as meetings, healings, and specific times of the day. They wrote hundreds of prayers, many of which were originally contained in letters addressed to individuals. Most of them were written in Arabic or Persian, although Abdu'l-Baha wrote a few in Turkish. The first Baháʼí prayer book written in English, Tablets, Communes, and Holy Utterances, was published in 1900. Since then, several others have been published in English and several other languages. The short obligatory prayer has been translated into more than five hundred languages.
Baháʼís often gather informally in homes for devotional gatherings, in which participants take turns reading aloud from prayer books, fostering a reverent atmosphere.
Besides the obligatory prayers, there are prayers for assistance, detachment, forgiveness, healing, protection, spiritual growth, traveling, unity, and several other purposes.
Meditation, a form of prayer, is also encouraged in the Baháʼí Faith. While there is no set form for meditation, Baháʼís often engage in it alongside prayer and scripture study. Meditation. helps people to reflect, connect with their inner selves, and deepen their spiritual understanding. Meditation is helpful in preparing the soul to be more susceptible to the transformative power of God.
The essence of prayer in the Baháʼí Faith lies not only in the spoken words but in the spiritual state induced through prayer.
The focus of this category is on prayer in the Baháʼí Faith.
Recommended Resources
Baha'i Prayers: Sacred Prayers from the Baha'i Faith
This collection of Baha'i prayers and information about prayers is sorted into several categories, including newly translated Baha'i prayers, Baha'k daily practices, prayer devotional programs, the importance of obligatory prayer and fasting, and the short, medium, and long obligatory prayers. Prayers are also offered for aid and assistance, expectant mothers, America, children, the departed, detachment, divine springtime, evenings, families, and firmness in the covenant.
https://bahaiprayers.ca/
An individual initiative by Susan Gammage, and designed by Tim Freeman, the website lists Bahá'í prayers alphabetically, by purpose or source, such as abandoned, anguish, acceptance, anxiety, addictions, assistance, adversity, Ayyám-i-Há, best lover, blockages, bounties, chastity, cleanse, children, clinging to the cord, choice, comfort, chosen, cruelty, and several others. Also listed alphabetically are Bahá'í quotes, Bahá'í stories, and other subjects.
https://www.thebahaiprayers.com/
Featuring more than 12,000 Bahá’í prayers in more than 100 languages, the website's resources are also available as a mobile application for Android devices via Google Play and Apple iOS via the Apple App Store, its content can be found in several ways, by browsing the full list of prayers, searching the database, searching by language, the Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, Ridván Messages, The Kitáb-i-Íqán, and several others. Various opportunities and resources are included.
https://bahaiprayers.net/
Bahá’í Faith, The: A Selection of Bahá’í Prayers
The official website of the Worldwide Bahá’í Community features a selection of prayers revealed by Bahá’u’lláh, the Báb, and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, presented in no particular order. Those with names include "The Tablet of Ahmad," "Fire Tablet," and "The Long Healing Prayer." Several other prayers are listed, with the text of the prayer in English, followed by the author of the prayer. Several other resources are available on the site, including details on what Bahá’ís believe.
https://www.bahai.org/beliefs/life-spirit/devotion/articles-resources/selection-bahai-prayers
Begun in 1998 as a "Year of Service" volunteer project, the Bahá’í Prayers site has grown to include prayers in more than fifty languages and has been contributed to by individuals and Bahá’í institutions around the world. Its history, sponsorship, and credits are posted on the site, along with the prayers, sorted into Obligatory Prayers, General Prayers, Occasional Prayers, and indexes, the latter of which features the prayers of Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and The Báb.
https://bahaiprayers.org/
Available as a mobile application for Android devices through Google Play or for iOS through the Apple App Store. Recorded in several languages, the website sorts Bahá’í prayers according to obligatory, general, and occasional prayers, as well as additional prayers revealed by Bahá’u’lláh and by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Hidden words from the Arabic and from the Persian are included. Other resources include today's date on the Badi calendar, contact information, and links to the mobile apps.
https://www.bahaiprayers.io/
The article, which was presented by Kenneth E. Bowers, a member of the governing body of the Bahá'ís of the United States, on the Bahai Teachings website on March 24, 2017, is available in English and Spanish. It discusses the obligations and benefits of prayer within the Baha'i faith, with quotations from Baha’u’llah, Abdu’l-Baha, and The Bab. The author discusses the fact that the revealed prayers number in the hundreds, although Baha'is also pray in their own words.
https://bahaiteachings.org/how-why-bahais-pray/
