Kamál, 01 ‘Ilm (Knowledge), 180 B.E.
Celebration of the Birth of the Báb
Reflections on the Life of the Spirit
Quote for Reflection:
The daily obligatory prayers are three in number. The shortest one consists of a single verse which has to be recited once every twenty-four hours and at midday. The medium, which begins with the words, “The Lord is witness that there is none other God but He,” has to be recited three times a day, in the morning, at noon and in the evening. This prayer is accompanied by certain physical acts and gestures. The long prayer, which is the most elaborate of the three, has to be recited only once in every twenty-four hours, and at any time one feels inclined to do so.
The believer is entirely free to choose any one of these three prayers, but is under the obligation of reciting one of them, and in accordance with any specific directions with which it may be accompanied. — Shoghi Effendi 1
Questions for Consideration:
What does the word “obligatory” mean?
How many daily obligatory prayers has Bahá’u’lláh revealed?
Should we recite all three prayers every day?
If we choose to say the Long Obligatory Prayer, how many times should we recite it each day?
How many times, if we choose to say the Medium Obligatory Prayer?
How many times, if we choose the Short Obligatory Prayer? 2
Google Bard Response:
What does the word “obligatory” mean?
The word “obligatory” means “required by law or duty.” In the context of Bahá’í prayer, it means that we are required to recite one of the three obligatory prayers each day.
How many daily obligatory prayers has Bahá’u’lláh revealed?
Bahá’u’lláh has revealed three daily obligatory prayers:
- The Short Obligatory Prayer
- The Medium Obligatory Prayer
- The Long Obligatory Prayer
Should we recite all three prayers every day?
We are not required to recite all three obligatory prayers every day. We can choose to recite one of the three prayers each day.
If we choose to say the Long Obligatory Prayer, how many times should we recite it each day?
The Long Obligatory Prayer can be recited once a day, at any time we choose.
How many times, if we choose to say the Medium Obligatory Prayer?
The Medium Obligatory Prayer should be recited three times a day, in the morning, at noon, and in the evening.
How many times, if we choose the Short Obligatory Prayer?
The Short Obligatory Prayer should be recited once a day, at midday.
Which prayer should we choose?
We are free to choose any of the three obligatory prayers, but we are under the obligation of reciting one of them each day. We may want to choose the prayer that best meets our needs and circumstances. For example, if we are busy, we may want to choose the Short Obligatory Prayer. If we have more time, we may want to choose the Medium Obligatory Prayer or the Long Obligatory Prayer.
We can also change our minds about which prayer we want to recite at any time. We are not locked into one prayer forever.
The most important thing is to recite one of the obligatory prayers each day with sincerity and devotion. When we pray, we are connecting with God and opening ourselves up to His love and guidance.
- Bahá’u’lláh, The Báb, ’Abdu’l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi, and Universal House of Justice. “Prayer and Devotional Life: A Compilation of Extracts from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, the Báb, and ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá and the Letters of Shoghi Effendi and the Universal House of Justice.” Bahá’í Reference Library, February 2019. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/compilations/prayer-devotional-life/7#361847979.
. ↩ - Ruhi Institute. Reflections on the Life of the Spirit. 4.1.2.PE May 2020. Vol. Book 1. 6 vols. Embarking on a Path of Service. Cali, Columbia: Ruhi Institute, 2020, 21-22. https://www.ruhi.org/en/walking-a-path-of-service/#RLS ↩
Frameworks for Understanding the World 
Steve, that is a gigantic collection of prayers! I am impressed.
LikeLiked by 1 person