Ayyám-i-Há, the Fast and Naw-Rúz
GC-33466
Download as PDF
To all believers in the United Kingdom
Dearly loved Friends,
The National Spiritual Assembly extends its heartfelt love to the friends in the United Kingdom as the Fast approaches, that precious, annual 19-day period of prayer and spiritual rejuvenation. Ahead of the Fast comes Ayyám-i-Há – another special time during which friendship, hospitality and charity are offered. Of these unique days, Bahá’u’lláh writes in The Kitáb-i-Aqdas:
It behoveth the people of Bahá, throughout these days, to provide good cheer for themselves, their kindred and, beyond them, the poor and needy, and with joy and exultation to hail and glorify their Lord, to sing His praise and magnify His Name; and when they end—these days of giving that precede the season of restraint—let them enter upon the Fast.
Following the Fast, the festival of Naw-Rúz provides another wonderful opportunity to gather with family, friends, neighbours, colleagues and community of interest. With last year’s celebrations of the Twin Holy Days fresh in our memories, and with only seven months to go before the bicentenary of the Birth of the Báb, Naw-Rúz is an occasion where relationships can be consolidated and spirits rekindled for the work of the year ahead. Bahá’u’lláh writes:
Thou hast made this Day to be the source of all days, inasmuch as Thou hast showered upon it the revelations of the Throne of Thy majesty and the signs of Thy transcendent favour.
Days of Remembrance, Selection no.5
Ayyám-i-Há runs from 26 February to 1 March. The Fast begins at sunset on 1 March and ends at sunset on 20 March 2019 when Naw-Rúz begins. Naw-Rúz is a Holy Day where work is suspended and the friends are encouraged to make arrangements to take this time off from work or school.
Brief statements on each of the Holy Days as well as Ayyám-i-Há are available from the UK Bahá’í Resources website, at http://admin.bahai.org.uk/study-guides/, which may be of use to you in explaining the Holy Days to others.
The National Spiritual Assembly takes this opportunity to wish all of the friends a very happy Ayyám-i-Há, a blessed Fast, and joyful Naw-Rúz. May your every endeavour offered in service to the Cause be blessed and confirmed in the year ahead.
With loving Bahá’í greetings,
Patrick O’Mara,
Secretary