28 Mar | a.m

This is the Day whereon the Ocean of God's mercy hath been manifested unto men, the Day in which the Day Star of His loving-kindness hath shed its radiance upon them, the Day in which the clouds of His bountiful favor have overshadowed the whole of mankind. Now is the time to cheer and refresh the down-cast through the invigorating breeze of love and fellowship, and the living waters of friendliness and charity.

- Bahá’u’lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 7

Reflect, O people, upon the mercy of God and upon his favors, then thank him in mornings and evenings.

- Abdu’l-Bahá, Divine Philosophy, p. 26

19 Mar | p.m

IT is seemly that the servant should, after each prayer, supplicate God to bestow mercy and forgiveness upon his parents. Thereupon God's call will be raised: 'Thousand upon thousand of what thou hast asked for thy parents shall be thy recompense!'

- The Báb, Selections from the Writings of the Báb, p. 94

12 Mar | p.m

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.

- Baha'u'llah, Prayers and Meditations by Baha'u'llah, p. 65

12 Mar | a.m.

The traveller, the ailing, those who are with child or giving suck, are not bound by the Fast; they have been exempted by God as a token of His grace.

- Baha'u'llah, The Kitáb-i-Aqdas, p. 25

Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur'án, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (between right and wrong). So everyone of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting, but if anyone is ill or on a journey, the prescribed period, (should be made up) by days later.

- The Qur'an (Yusuf Ali tr), Súrah 2

11 Mar | p.m

Verily I say, there is a great station before God for fasting and prayer, but the favour therein exists when in health; when in feebleness, this action is not allowed. This is the Commandment of the True One both in the past and in the future.

- Bahá’u’lláh, Compilations, Baha'i Prayers 9, p. 14

Some people lay stress on fasting. They affirm that in augmenting the weakness of the body they develop a spiritual sensibility and thus they think to approach God. Weakening one's self physically does not necessarily contribute to spiritual progress. Humility, kindness, resignation, and all these spiritual attributes emanating from great physical strength are acceptable to God....Were physical weakness a virtue the dead would be perfect, for they can do nothing.

- Abdu’l-Bahá, Divine Philosophy, p. 98

11 Mar | a.m.

There are various stages and stations for the Fast and innumerable effects and benefits are concealed therein. Well is it with those who have attained unto them.

- Bahá’u’lláh, Compilations, The Importance of Obligatory Prayer and Fasting

Fasting is of two kinds - spiritual and material. The spiritual fasting comes first, and is the soul's refusal or denial of all kinds of evil actions and habits - this is the important fasting. The bodily fasting or abstinence from food, is a sign or witness to the inward fasting, and is of no value by itself. But when both kinds of fasting go together, then the effect upon the soul is as "light upon light."

- Abdu'l-Bahá, Compilations, Baha'i Prayers 9, p. 48

10 Mar | p.m

We beseech God to assist His people that they may observe the most great and exalted Fast, which is to protect one's eye from beholding whatever is forbidden and to withhold one's self from food, drink and whatever is not of Him. We pray God to confirm His loved ones that they may succeed in accomplishing that which they have been commanded in this Day.

- Bahá’u’lláh, Compilations, The Importance of Obligatory Prayer and Fasting

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.

- Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 69

10 Mar | a.m.

Muhammad, the Seal of the Prophets, and the most distinguished of God's chosen Ones, hath likened the Dispensation of the Qur'án unto heaven, by reason of its loftiness….And as the sun and moon constitute the brightest and most prominent luminaries in the heavens, similarly in the heaven of the religion of God two shining orbs have been ordained - fasting and prayer.

- Baha'u'llah, The Kitáb-i-Íqán, p. 38

O ye who believe! fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint.

- The Qur'an (Yusuf Ali tr), Súrah 2

9 Mar | p.m

The ordinance of fasting is such as hath already been revealed. Should someone pledge himself, however, to offer up a fast to God, seeking in this way the fulfilment of a wish, or to realize some other aim, this is permissible, now as heretofore. Howbeit, it is God's wish, exalted be His glory, that vows and pledges be directed to such objectives as will profit mankind.

- Baha'u'llah, The Kitáb-i-Aqdas, p. 128

9 Mar | a.m.

…the doings of men are all dependent upon Thy good-pleasure, and are conditioned by Thy behest. Shouldst Thou regard him who hath broken the fast as one who hath observed it, such a man would be reckoned among them who from eternity had been keeping the fast. And shouldst Thou decree that he who hath observed the fast hath broken it, that person would be numbered with such as have caused the Robe of Thy Revelation to be stained with dust, and been far removed from the crystal waters of this living Fountain.

- Baha'u'llah, Prayers and Meditations by Baha'u'llah, p. 67

8 Mar | p.m

Cling firmly to obligatory prayer and fasting. Verily, the religion of God is like unto heaven; fasting is its sun, and obligatory prayer is its moon. In truth, they are the pillars of religion whereby the righteous are distinguished from those who transgress His commandments. We entreat God, exalted and glorified be He, that he may graciously enable all to observe that which He hath revealed in His Ancient Book.

- Bahá’u’lláh, Compilations, The Importance of Obligatory Prayer and Fas

8 Mar | a.m.

Thou seest, O God of Mercy, Thou Whose power pervadeth all created things, these servants of Thine, Thy thralls, who, according to the good-pleasure of Thy Will, observe in the daytime the fast prescribed by Thee, who arise, at the earliest dawn of day, to make mention of Thy Name, and to celebrate Thy praise, in the hope of obtaining their share of the goodly things that are treasured up within the treasuries of Thy grace and bounty.

- Bahá'u'lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 299

The nineteen-day fast is a duty to be observed by all.... This fast is conducive to the spiritual development of the individual. The Greatest Name should be read every day.

- Abdu’l-Bahá, Tablets of Abdu’l-Bahá v1, p. 56

7 Mar | p.m.

In the Prayer of Fasting We have revealed: "Should Thy Will decree that out of Thy mouth these words proceed and be addressed unto them, 'Observe, for My Beauty's sake, the fast, O people, and set no limit to its duration,' I swear by the majesty of Thy glory, that every one of them will faithfully observe it, will abstain from whatsoever will violate Thy law, and will continue to do so until they yield up their souls unto Thee." In this consisteth the complete surrender of one's will to the Will of God.

- Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 337

7 Mar | a.m.

Blessed is he that observeth the fast wholly for Thy sake and with absolute detachment from all things except Thee.

- Bahá'u'lláh, Prayers and Meditations by Bahá'u'lláh, p. 10

[Fasting] essentially a period of meditation and prayer, of spiritual recuperation, during which the believer must strive to make the necessary readjustments in his inner life, and to refresh and reinvigorate the spiritual forces latent in his soul. Its significance and purpose are, fundamentally spiritual in character. Fasting is symbolic, and a reminder of abstinence from selfish and carnal desired."

- From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States, January 10, 1936

5 Mar | p.m

O SON OF MAN!

Deny not My servant should he ask anything from thee, for his face is My face; be then abashed before Me.

- Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words

Whosoever comes with one good act, God will give him tenfold. There is no doubt that the living Lord shall assist and confirm the generous soul.

- 'Abdu'l-Bahá to the friends in the east and the west: Star of The West, Vol. 6, No. 17, p. 139