The Baha'i New Year "Naw-Ruz"

166 Year of the Baha'i Era

"It is a New Year; that is to say, the rounding of the cycle of the year. A year is the expression of a cycle of the sun; but now is the begining of a cycle of Reality, a New Cycle, a New Age, a New Century, a New Time and a New Year. Therefor it is very blessed"
Abdu'l Baha


The Baha’i New Year starts on March 21, (the vernal equinox) which marks the first day of spring and the end of the Baha'i Faith’s annual Nineteen Day Fast. Naw Ruz means new day in Persian and it is one of nine holy days on which Baha’is suspend work. They typically celebrate the holy day at sunset on March 20 by gathering for prayer, as the sunset on which the holiday begins comes at the end of the Fast.


Baha'is follow the Badi ("wonderful") calendar, which consists of 19 months of 19 days each (361 days), with the addition of "Intercalary Days" (four in ordinary and five in leap years) between the 18th and 19th months to adjust the calendar to the solar year.

The months are named after the attributes of God. The Baha’i New Year is astronomically fixed and begins with the March equinox (March 21). The Baha’i Era commenced with the year of the Bab’s declaration (1844 A.D.).

The Baha'i Fast

The Baha'i year consists of 19 months and the Baha’i month consists of 19 days . Each month named after the attributes of God.The First month’s name is Bahá. It is an Arabic word which means Splendor. The second month is the month of Jalál (Glory), Jamál (Beauty ),…etc . The nineteenth month (‘Alá - Loftiness) is the month of the fast, usually 2–20 March, immediately after the termination of the Intercalary Days (Ayyam Al Ha), and is followed by the feast of Naw-Rúz.


During these nineteen days the fast is observed by abstaining from both food and drink from sunrise to sunset. As the month of the fast ends at the March equinox, the fast always falls in the same season, namely, spring in the Northern, and autumn in the Southern, Hemisphere; never in the extreme heart of summer nor in the extreme cold of winter, when hardship would be likely to result. At that season, moreover, the interval between sunrise and sunset is approximately the same all over the habitable portion of the globe, namely, from about 6 A.M. to 6 P.M.

“O Pen of the Most High! Say: O people of the world! We have enjoined upon you fasting during a brief period, and at its close have designated for you Naw-Rúz as a feast. Thus hath the Day-Star of Utterance shone forth above the horizon of the Book as decreed by Him Who is the Lord of the beginning and the end.”
Baha'u'llah , the Kitáb Al Aqdas-p16

“These are the ordinances of God that have been set down in the Books and Tablets by His Most Exalted Pen. Hold ye fast unto His statutes and commandments, and be not of those who, following their idle fancies and vain imaginings, have clung to the standards fixed by their own selves, and cast behind their backs the standards laid down by God. Abstain from food and drink from sunrise to sundown, and beware lest desire deprive you of this grace that is appointed in the Book.”
Baha'u'llah , the Kitáb Al Aqdas-p17

Fasting is enjoined on all the believers once they attain the age of 15 and until they reach the age of 70 years. But it is not binding on children and invalids, on travelers, or on those who are too old or too weak (including women who are with child or have babes at the breast).

“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. He, verily, is the Almighty, the Most Generous.”
Baha'u'llah , the Kitáb Al Aqdas-p16

The spiritual meaning of Fast:

There is much evidence to show that a periodical fast such as is enjoined by the Bahá’í teachings is beneficial as a measure of physical hygiene, but just as the reality of the Bahá’í fast does not lie in the consumption of physical food, but in the commemoration of God, which is our spiritual food, so the reality of the Bahá’í fast does not consist in abstention from physical food, although that may help in the purification of the body, but in the abstention from the desires and lusts of the flesh, and in severance from all save God.

“Fasting is a symbol. Fasting signifies abstinence from lust. Physical fasting is a symbol of that abstinence, and is a reminder; that is, just as a person abstains from physical appetites, he is to abstain from self-appetites and self-desires. But mere abstention from food has no effect on the spirit. It is only a symbol, a reminder. Otherwise it is of no importance. Fasting for this purpose does not mean entire abstinence from food. The golden rule as to food is, do not take too much or too little. Moderation is necessary. There is a sect in India who practice extreme abstinence, and gradually reduce their food until they exist on almost nothing. But their intelligence suffers. A man is not fit to do service for God with brain or body if he is weakened by lack of food. He cannot see clearly.”
‘Abdu’l-Bahá

Shoghi Effendi indicates that the fasting period is:
“…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, therefore, fundamentally spiritual in character. Fasting is symbolic, and a reminder of abstinence from selfish and carnal desires.”

The importance of obeying God’s commandments and laws:

“O ye peoples of the world! Know assuredly that My commandments are the lamps of My loving providence among My servants, and the keys of My mercy for My creatures. Thus hath it been sent down from the heaven of the Will of your Lord, the Lord of Revelation. Were any man to taste the sweetness of the words which the lips of the All-Merciful have willed to utter, he would, though the treasures of the earth be in his possession, renounce them one and all, that he might vindicate the truth of even one of His commandments, shining above the Dayspring of His bountiful care and loving-kindness.”
Baha'u'llah , the Kitáb Al Aqdas-p3

"O SON OF BEING! Walk in My statutes for love of Me and deny thyself that which thou desirest if thou seekest My pleasure."

Baha'u'llah , The Arabic Hidden Words – No.38

Northbrook Interfaith Walk

"Consort with the followers of all religions in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship" Baha'u'llah

The Northbrook Baha'i Community invites you to come and learn new ways of eliminating all forms of prejudice, at Northbrook public library in the Civic Room. A Family Friendly event!

Bike the Walk, Walk the Walk, or drive. Visit participating Houses of Worship and experience the rich cultural diversity that exists right in our own backyard. Come together to learn, experience and enjoy!

Northbrook is home to marvelous variety of religious traditions. The Northbrook Clergy Association and the Northbrook Community Relations Commission are co-sponsoring the Northbrook Interfaith Walk that will open the doors to 17 religious institutions for all to enjoy on Sunday April 26, 2009 from 1-4 PM.

The religious diversity of our community is a gift. This opportunity to learn about traditions of those that differ from our own is a unique one. We have the great opportunity to model mutual respect and the shared values of care and justice in a world that too often closes doors before reaching out.

Chicago Tribune

A small -town oasis

Wilmette preserves and enhances historic ambience while looking to the future

"Adding to the village's international charm is the filigree-domed Baha'i House of Worship, one of only seven Baha'i temples world- wide. Encircled by blossoms and fountains, it attracts international visitors year round. "

The Covenant of Baha’u’llah

Abdu’l-Baha mentioned about the power of the Covenant of Baha’u’llah that

“Know this for a certainty that today, the penetrative power in the arteries of the world of humanity is the power of the Covenant. The body of the world will not be moved through any power except through the power of the Covenant. There is no other power like unto this. This Spirit of the Covenant is the real Center of love and is reflecting its rays to all parts of the globe, which are resuscitating and regenerating man and illuminating the path to the Divine Kingdom."

Baha’i Election

Though the season of primaries is almost behind us, November is nearly half a year away and we could still be in for a lot more partisan politics and mudslinging. If it seems like there ought to be a more civil way to run democratic elections, members of the Baha’i faith say that’s because there is. And once a year, they refine a new democratic process in that big white temple in north suburban Wilmette. The 100th Baha’i National Convention was recently held there. Eight Forty-Eight contributor Jennifer Brandel watched the process.
Listen to the full story here:
http://chicagopublicradio.org/Content.aspx?audioID=24887

النظام الاداري البهائي

أنزل حضرة بهاء الله النظام الإداري الخاص به ، أي أنه أخبرنا عن المؤسسات البهائية التي يجب أن تعمل وتدير شئون العالم الإنساني
فلا وجود لرجال دين فى الدين البهائي بل مؤسسات بهائية هى نواة لما سيصبح فى المستقبل النظام العالمي

المؤسسات البهائية هي
بيت العدل الأعظم: وهو المؤسسة العليا فى الدين البهائي والذي يتوجه له جميع البهائيون في العالم. ويتم انتخابه كل خمس سنوات من قبل اعضاء المحافل المركزية فى العالم كله ، حيث يحق لهم انتخاب تسعة افراد بهائيين بالغين (من سن 21 سنة) من اى منطقة فى العالم.
المحفل الروحاني المركزي: ينتخب البهائيون في كل دولة أعضاؤه التسعة مرة في كل سنة، وهو المسئول عن الجامعة البهائية فى الدولة
المحفل الروحاني المحلي: هو الذي يقود شؤون الجامعة البهائية بالمدينة ويتم انتخاب أعضاؤه التسعة من قبل أعضاء الجامعة المحلية

جميع المؤسسات البهائية يتم انتخاب اعضاءها عن طريق الاقتراع السري فلا يسمح بالترشيحات او الدعاية. كما لايتلقى اعضاء المؤسسة اى اجر على مايقومون به من خدمات فهم يفعلون ذلك لوجه الله تعالى. من ناحية اخرى الانتخاب هو واجب مقدس على كل فرد بهائي ،لذلك يقوم كل فرد بالبحث والتحري بنفسه عن الاصلح لهذا النوع من الخدمة، كما يطلب التأييد والتوفيق من الله سبحانه وتعالى.

Prayer for Mashriq Al Adhkar

Prayer for Mashriq Al Adhkar

"O God, my aim, my hope! With hearts full of longing and breasts full of yearning, we beg of Thee and we supplicate at the threshold of Thy might to raise the Mashriqu'l Adhkar in Chicago, in the most speedy manner. Make its basis firm and its structure enduring, suffer its pillars to remain unshakable and make its columns of the steel and iron of firmness. Glorify its servants, beautify the characters and make the worshippers beloved. Suffer its nightingales to sing Ya-Baha'ul-Abha and warable the praises of our Lord, the Most Supreme. Make its men the standards unforded on the mountains of the world, and its women the sanctified angels of the tabernacle of the world! "

Abdu'l Baha

Mashriq Aladkhar

Mashriq Aladkhar - مشرق الاذكار

Mashriq Aladkhar is an Arabic phrase meaning Dawning Point of God's Remembrance.


“Blessed is he who, at the hour of dawn, centering his thoughts on God, occupied with His remembrance, and supplicating His forgiveness, directeth his steps to the Mashriqu’l Adhkar and, entering therein, seateth himself in silence to listen to the verses of God, the Sovereign, the Mighty, the All Praised. Say: The Mashirqu’l Adhkar is each and every building which hath been erected in cities and villages for the celebration of My praise. Such is the name by which it hath been designated before the throne of glory, were ye of those who understand. They who recite the verses of the All Merciful in the most melodious of tones will perceive in them that with which the sovereignty of earth and heaven can never be compared. From them they will inhale the divine fragrance of My worlds-worlds which today none can discern save those who have been endowed with vision through this sublime, this beauteous Revelation. Say: These verses draw hearts that are pure unto those spiritual worlds that can neither be expressed in words nor intimated by allusion. Blessed be those who hearken.”

Bahá’u’lláh, Kitab Alaqdas P 115-116 Translation from Arabic

طوبى لمن توجّه الى مشرق الاذكار في الاسحار ذاكراً متذكّراً مستغفراً واذا دخل يقعد صامتا لاصغآء ايات الله الملك العزيز الحميد.قل مشرق الاذكار انّه كلّ بيت بني لذكري في المدن والقرى كذلك سمّي لدى العرش ان انتم من العارفين. والذين يتلون آيات الرحمن باحسن الالحان اولئك يدركون منها مالايعادله ملكوت ملك السموات والارضين. وبها يجدون عرف عوالمي التى لايعرفها اليوم الا من اوتي البصر من هذا المنظر الكريم. قل انها تجذب القلوب الصافية الى العوالم الروحانية التي لاتعبر بالعبارة ولا تشار بالاشارة طوبى للسامعين

حضرة بهاء الله – كتاب الاقدس – فقرة 115/116 - ص68


“O people of the world! Build ye houses of worship throughout the lands in the name of Him Who is the Lord of all religions. Make them as perfect as is possible in the world of being, and adorn them with that which befitteth them, not with images and effigies. Then with radiance and joy, celebrate therein the praise of your Lord, the Most Compassionate. Verily, by His remembrance the eye is cheered and the heart is filled with light."

Bahá’u’lláh, Kitab Alaqdas p. 29 Translation from Arabic

يا ملأ الانشآء عمّروا بيوتاً باكمل ما يمكن في الامكان باسم مالك الاديان في البلدان وزيّنوها بما ينبغي لها لا بالصّور والامثال. ثمّ اذكروا فيها ربّكم الرّحمن بالرّوح والرّيحان الا بذكره تستنير الصّدور وتقرّ الابصار

حضرة بهاء الله – كتاب الاقدس -فقرة31 – ص19

The Fundamental of Spiritual Education


Education is of three kinds: material, human and spiritual.
Material education is concerned with the development of the body.
Human education is about civilization and progress. It deals with government, administration, charitable works, trades, arts, and handicrafts, sciences, great inventions and discoveries.
Spiritual education consists in acquiring divine perfections. This is true education, for by its aid the spiritual, the higher nature of the human being is developed.


In order to progress, humanity needs an educator who has clear authority as a material, human and spiritual educator.

Humanity has always been in need of such a perfect educator, one who can help it organize matters related to the nourishment and health of the body, inspire it to advance in knowledge, invention and discovery, and, most importantly, breathe into it the real life of the spirit. No ordinary human being can achieve these formidable tasks. Only the Manifestations of God have the power to accomplish them. These are chosen souls who are sent by God from time to time to be the Universal Educators of humanity.

“All men have been created to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization”

“The Purpose of the one true God, exalted be His glory, in revealing Himself unto men is to lay bare those gems that lie hidden within the mine of their true and inmost selves.”

“God’s purpose in sending His Prophets unto men is twofold. The first is to liberate the children of men from the darkness of ignorance, and guide them to the light of true understanding. The second is to ensure the peace and tranquility of mankind, and provide all the means by which they can be established.”

“Men at all times and under all conditions stand in need of one to exhort them, guide them and to instruct and teach them.”
From the Writings of Baha’u’llah

Station of Abdu’l-Baha:

Abdu’l-Baha is a most unique Figure in human history, and no previous religion has been blessed with such a Personage. Not only did Baha’u’llah give humanity His most sublime Revelation, but He also gave it His own Son.

“My name is Abdu’l-Baha. My qualification is Abdu’l-Baha. My reality is Abdu’l-Baha. My Praise is Abdu’l-Baha. Thralldom to the Blessed Perfection is my glorious and refulgent diadem, and servitude to all the human race my perpetual religion…No name, no title, no mention, no commendation have I, nor will ever have, except Abdu’l-Baha. This is my longing. This is my greatest yearning. This is my eternal life. This is my everlasting glory.”

What is the Baha’I Faith?

The Baha’I Faith is a world religion whose purpose is to unite all the races and peoples in one universal Cause and one common Faith. Baha’u’llah is the Promised One of all Ages. The Manifestations of God are like perfect mirrors that reflect the Light of God in all its Splendor. While God is beyond our reach, these perfect Beings come to us from time to time, live among us, give us guidance, and fill us with the energy we need to progress, materially and spiritually.

“That which the Lord hath ordained as the sovereign remedy and mightiest instrument for the healing of all the world is the union of all its peoples in one universal Cause, one common Faith.”

What is the reason behind our creation?

“O Son of Man! I loved thy creation, hence I created thee. Wherefore, do thou love Me, that I may name they name and fill the soul with the spirit of life.” The Hidden Words, Arabic

“The Immortality of the spirit is the fundamental basis of Divine Religions.”
‘Abdu’l Baha

Baha’is believe in one loving Creator who created us all in order to know and love Him. Baha’is believe that all the peoples of the world belong to one human family. The differences in color, backgrounds, traditions, thoughts and ideas should enhance our experience like a garden with flowers of every form, color and appearance.

Baha’is believe that all the religions teach the same truth. The only difference between them is that each have appeared in a different time in the history of humanity in order to help people to be educated according to the needs of that time. Baha’u’llah’s teachings address the needs and conditions of the world today.

The Soul – A sign of God

“Know, verily, that the soul is a sign of God, a heavenly gem whose reality the most learned of men hath failed to grasp, and whose mystery no mind, however acute, can ever hope to unravel. It is the first among all created things to declare the excellence of its Creator, the first to recognize His glory, to cleave to His truth, and to bow down in adoration before Him. If it be faithful to God, it will reflect His light, and will, eventually, return unto Him. If it fail, however, in its allegiance to its Creator, it will become a victim to self passion, and will, in the end, sink in their depths.”
Baha’u’llah

The Mind, Spirit and Soul

“The human spirit which distinguishes man from the animal is the rational soul, and these two names designate one thing. ……The human spirit, unless assisted by the spirit of faith, does not become acquainted with the divine secrets and the heavenly realities. It is like a mirror which, although clear, polished and brilliant, is still in need of light. Until a ray of the sun reflects upon it, it cannot discover the heavenly secrets.
But the mind is the power of the human spirit. Spirit is the lamp; mind is the light which shines from the lamp. Spirit is the tree, and the mind is the fruit. Mind is the perfection of the spirit and is its essential quality, as the sun’s rays are the essential necessity of the sun.”
Abdu’l Baha

Baha'u'llah - The Glory of God

Baha'u'llah - The Glory of God

The Prophet-Founder of the Baha'i Faith

"I was but a man like others, asleep upon My couch, when lo, the breezes of the All-Glorious were wafted over Me, and taught Me the knowledge of all that hath been. This thing is not from Me, but from One Who is Almighty and All-Knowing. And He bade Me lift up My voice between earth and heaven, and for this there befell Me what hath caused the tears of every man of understanding to flow."

Baha'u'llah

For Baha'is of Jewish background, He is the appearance of the promised "Lord of Hosts" come down "with ten thousands of saints."

For Baha'is of Buddhist background, He fulfils the prophecies for the coming of "a Buddha named Maitreye, the Buddha of universal fellowship" who will, according to Buddhist traditions, bring peace and enlightement to all humanity.

For Baha'is of Hindu background, He comes as the new incarnation of Krishna, the "Tenth Avatar" and the "Most Great Spirit". He is "the birthless, the deathless" the One who, "when goodness grows weak" returns "in every age" to "establish righteousness" as promised in the Bhagaved'Gita.

For Baha'is of Islamic background, He fulfils the promise of the Qur'an for the "Day of God" and the "Great Announcement" when "God" will come down "overshadowed with clouds."

For Baha'is of christian bachground, He fulfils the paradoxical promises of Christ's return "in the Glory of the Father" and as "a thief in the night."

مشرق الأذكار البهائي - The Baha'i House of Worship in the USA

مشرق الأذكار البهائي

بولميت إلينويز

ان مشرق الأذكار بولميت هو أحد سبعة مشارق أذكار موجودة في أنحاء العالم الآن .وهي ترمز إلى الأتحاد والدعاء إلى الله
ينفرد كل مشرق أذكار بطابعه المعماري الخاص إلا انهم جميعا يشتركون بوجود حدائق تلتف حول المبنى المكون من تسعة جوانب تحمل قبة هائلة كرمز للتعبير عن وحدة البشر وووحدة الأديان تحت مظلة الخالق
تم افتتاح مشرق الأذكار عام 1953م بعد أن استغرق بنائه أكثر من ثلاثين عاماً
تواريخ هامة
وضع حجر الأساس 1912م
بداية عملية البناء 1921
افتتاح مشرق الأذكار 1953
السعة داخل قاعة الدعاء 1.192 مقعد
الأبعاد :الارتفاع 138قدم (42 متر
قطر القبة 90 قدم (27.5 متر

ترحب مشارق الاذكار بالجميع، فهى مفتوحة للبهائيين ولغير البهائيين، جميع الاجناس والاعراق والديانات والعقائد مرحب بهم للدخول الى مشرق الاذكار والدعاء الى الله الواحد الاحد. كما تتلى فيها الآيات من الكتب المقدسة البهائية والكتب المقدسة لدى الديانات الاخرى ايضا كالمسيحية واليهودية والإسلام وغيرها.

وبذلك تكون مشارق الاذكار تعبيرا واضحا عن مبادئ الديانة البهائية، وهى
وحدانية الله، وحدة اصل الاديان ، وحدة الجنس البشري، والوحدة مع التنوع والتعدد

وبالاضافة الى مبنى مشرق الاذكار ، تلحق به ايضا ابنية او مؤسسات فرعية توفر الخدمات الاجتماعية والتعليمية والعلمية وهى :
مدرسة للايتام
مستشفى
صيدلية
دار للمسنين
جامعة للعلوم والاداب
دار ضيافة
مراكز ابحاث
وغيرها

The Bahá'í House of Worship

Wilmette, Illinois

One of only seven Bahá'í temples in the world at present, this unique structure stands for unity and invites prayer to God. While each temple has its own distinctive design, they all conform to a consistent theme: an area of gardens encircles a nine-sided structure covered by a single, majestic dome (symbolizing the unity of all people and religions under God). The House of Worship in Wilmette was dedicated in 1953 after more than 30 years of construction. French-Canadian architect Louis Bourgeois labored for 8 years to arrive at an appropriate design for such a lofty purpose.

A Single, Sacred Space

The building and gardens form a single, sacred space where all people are invited to pray to God and meditate in an atmosphere of beauty and light. The Bahá'í Faith recognizes the value of beauty. The Word of God revealed in every age is both beautiful and practical – creating a vision for the renewal of civilization.

Significant Dates
Cornerstone laid 1912
Building construction began 1921
Building completed, dedication 1953

Capacity

Seating in the auditorium 1,192

Dimensions
Height of auditorium interior 42 metersDiameter of dome 27.5 meters