Bahá’í dates
National Spiritual Assembly
nsa@bahai.org.uk
9 February 2016
3 Mulk 172 B.E.
To all believers in the United Kingdom
Dearly loved Friends,
As this Bahá’í year draws to a close we are pleased to provide you with information concerning the significant dates in the Bahá’í calendar until Naw-Rúz 174 B.E, in 2017.
Ayyám-i-Há this year runs from 26-29 February 2016. The fasting month begins immediately after Ayyám-i-Há, on 1 March 2016, and ends at Naw-Rúz 173 B.E. The Holy Days for next year are stated below, with commemoration times added where relevant, which have been adjusted to accommodate British summer time.
Holy Days on which work is suspended:
- Naw-Rúz on 20 March 2016 (1 Bahá)
- First day of Riḍván on 20 April 2016 (13 Jalál), at about 4 p.m.
- Ninth day of Riḍván on 28 April 2016 (2 Jamál)
- Twelfth day of Riḍván on 1 May 2016 (5 Jamál)
- Declaration of the Báb on 23 May 2016 (8 ‘Aẓamat), which is commemorated at about two hours after sunset on 22 May
- Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh on 28 May 2016 (13 ‘Aẓamat), at 4 a.m.
- Martyrdom of the Báb on 9 July 2016 (17 Raḥmat), at about 1 p.m.
- Birth of the Báb on 1 November 2016 (18 ‘Ilm)
- Birth of Bahá’u’lláh on 2 November 2016 (19 ‘Ilm)
Holy Days on which work is not suspended:
- Day of the Covenant on the 25 November 2016 (4 Qawl)
- Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá on the 27 November 2016 (6 Qawl), at 1 a.m.
The commemoration times listed above should be observed, if feasible. Where no times are specified, the believers are free to gather at any time during the day which they find convenient.
The Feast days, ideally celebrated on the first day of the month, correspond with the following dates:
- Bahá (Splendour) — 20 March 2016
- Jalál (Glory) — 8 April 2016
- Jamál (Beauty) — 27 April 2016
- ‘Aẓamat (Grandeur) — 16 May 2016
- Núr (Light) — 4 June 2016
- Raḥmat (Mercy) — 23 June 2016
- Kalimát (Words) — 12 July 2016
- Kamál (Perfection) — 31 July 2016
- Asmá’ (Names) — 19 August 2016
- ‘Izzat (Might) — 7 September 2016
- Mashíyyat (Will) — 26 September 2016
- ‘Ilm (Knowledge) — 15 October 2016
- Qudrat (Power) — 3 November 2016
- Qawl (Speech) — 22 November 2016
- Masá’il (Questions) — 11 December 2016
- Sharaf (Honour) — 30 December 2016
- Sulṭán (Sovereignty) — 18 January 2017
- Mulk (Dominion) — 6 February 2017
- Ayyám-i-Há — 25-28 February 2017
- ‘Alá’ (Loftiness) — 1 March 2017
- We hope the above information may be of assistance to you.
With loving Bahá’í greetings,
Patrick O’Mara,
Secretary