Bahai 101

Lesson 4: Principles Of The Faith

What Does A Bahai Community Look Like & Do?

The Bahai Faith today has grown to over 6,000,000 members. They live in over 225 different countries of the world. They come together as unified communities, with several different activities, that will help to move mankind forward.

The major function of the Bahai community is centered around the Bahai Calendar. This calendar was first devised by Baha'u'llah. It is set up into nineteen days in one month. This causes nineteen months to fall into one year, with four or five days left over. The last few days of the year, taking place at the end of February, are known as Ayyam'i'Ha, or "Intercelary Days". These are the days of light, and is a time where Bahais celebrate, serve together, and give gifts.

Each month is named after an attribute of God. While most are simply a new month, there is one special month in March, which also signifies the beginning of spring and a new year. The month after Ayyam'i'Ha is a month of fasting. For nineteen days, Bahais are not allowed to eat or drink after sunrise or before sunset. A Bahai will begin fasting at the age of 15. There are, however, reasons to not be required to fast. If one is sick, menstruating, pregnant, or over 70, fasting is not required. Fasting is important to Bahais because it is a way of giving up a material means in order to show devotion and love towards God.

At the beginning of each month, Bahais will hold a Feast, either in a Bahai Center or in someone's home. The Feast is divided into three sections. First is prayer, which must be from the writings of a prophet such as Baha'u'llah. Next is the administrative portion. This is where all the Bahais in the community can hear correspondence from assemblies and schools, as well as talk about recommendations for the Local Spiritual Assembly and ways that they wish to see the community move forward. The third element of the Bahai Feast is the social portion. It is said that at least water should be offered in one's home during this time. It is also a time for playing games, talking, singing, or whatever the community wishes to do. Feast will differ in every area because of culture, but will always have these three distinct elements.

There are nine Holy Days included in a Bahai Year. These include the births, deaths, and declarations of the prophets, the Bab and Baha'u'llah. There is no design for celebrating these Holy Days, but it is recommended that every Bahai takes that day off of work to acknowledge the Holy Day.

The Bahai Faith is also evolving into several different areas. Every year, every Bahai in the world receives a message from the Universal House of Justice for the "New Year" or Nawruz. This message lays out a plan that will establish the focus of the communities for the next year or years. These plans speak on establishing new areas for the faith, such as in education for children, and also speak about protection of the Faith.

The focus of Bahai Communities now is the establishment of resources. Communities and people who are interested in the Faith attend what is called a Ruhi Study Circle. This is a sequence of books that goes through the principles of the Faith through Baha'u'llah's quotes. As this grows, children’s classes are being established, as well as several grassroots efforts for service, the arts, or whatever the study circle wishes to focus on.

Besides study circles, there are also several spontaneous meetings of believers of any kind for prayer circles or devotions. This time is used for anyone to get together to pray. Some are focused on a topic, while others are more flexible.

Two other ways that Bahais will meet is through deepening and fireside. Deepenings often study a book or concept in the Faith with someone who has knowledge of the topic. A fireside has a focus for seekers, those investigating the Faith. It is an informal discussion where the seeker can ask questions and discuss books with the believers.

The greatest attribute of the Bahai Faith today is the members. The diversity in almost any community you go to is wide. It is that diversity that keeps the community united.

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