Ayyám Al Há - أيام الهاء

The Baha'i calendar consists of 19 months and the Baha’i month consists of 19 days, giving 361 days, requiring the addition of four or five more days. Ayyám Al Há form the intercalary days that fill out the 365 or 366 days of the solar year.

Baha'u'llah specified in the Kitáb Al Aqdas that the Days of Ha should be inserted in the calendar just before the month of fasting:
"Let the days in excess of the months be placed before the month of fasting. We have ordained that these, amid all nights and days, shall be the manifestations of the letter Há, and thus they have not been bounded by the limits of the year and its months...and when they end--these days of giving that precede the season of restraint--let them enter upon the Fast. Thus hath it been ordained by Him Who is the Lord of all mankind."

This holiday begins each year on the evening of February 25 and ends at sunset on March 1st. Of this period Bahá'u'lláh writes:
"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."

As in His prayer for Ayyám Al Há, Bahá'u'lláh juxtaposes these "days of giving" with the Fast's "season of restraint." Ayyám Al Há is intended partly as spiritual preparation for the Fast, a reminder of its approach, and a way of fostering the detachment from material things so necessary for the Fast.

“Ayyam Al Ha" is an Arabic phrase means literally the "Days of Ha" ("Ha" is an Arabic letter corresponding to the English "H") the numerical value of "Há" is 5, the sum of the numerical values of the letters in the "Báb," and the maximum number of intercalary days."Há" is also the first letter of an Arabic pronoun commonly used in Arabic religious writings to refer to God, or "the Divine Essence." "Há" by itself is used as a symbol of "the Essence of God," and was the subject of many Arabic essay on its mysteries.

Bahá'u'lláh has designated the intercalary days "amid all the nights and days" as manifestations of the letter Há"--that is, as Days of the Divine Essence. Thus Ayyám Al Há can be thought of as days that symbolize eternity, infinity, and the mystery and unknowable Essence of God Himself. Contemplation during these days of the timeless mystery of the Essence of God provides us the "joy and exultation" with which to "sing His praise and magnify His Name."

 

أيام الهاء

يتبع التقويم البهائي السنة الشمسية التي تتألف من 365 يوما وخمس ساعات وخمسين دقيقة. وتتألف السنة البهائية من تسعة عشر شهرا، كل شهر منها تسعة عشر يوما سُميت على أسماء صفات الله (فيكون المجموع 361 يومًا) يضاف إلى ذلك الأيام الزائدة وهي أربعة أيام، أو خمسة أيام في السنوات الكبيسة. هذه الايام الزائدة سميت بأيام الهاء وقد حدد حضرة بهاء الله موقعها في السنة البهائية بان تكون قبل شهر الصوم العلا

:15يتفضل حضرة بهاء الله في الكتاب الاقدس، فقرة

واجعلوا الايام الزّائدة عن الشّهور قبل شهر الصّيام، انّا جعلناها مظاهر الهاء بين اللّيالي والايام لذا ما تحددّت بحدود السّنة والشّهور، ينبغي لاهل البهاء ان يطعموا فيها انفسهم وذوي القربى ثم الفقراء والمساكين، ويهللنّ ويكبّرنّ ويسبّحنّ ويمجّدنّ ربّهم بالفرح والانبساط. واذا تمّت ايام الاعطاء قبل الامساك، فليدخلنّ في الصّيام كذلك حكم مولى الانام

تبدأ أيام الهاء كل عام مساء يوم الخامس والعشرين من شهر فبراير وتنتهي عند غروب شمس اليوم الأول من شهر مارس. وقد أوصى حضرة بهاء الله بإقامة الولائم، والضيافة، والإنفاق على الفقراء والمساكين، احتفالا بها

وتعقد فيها اجتماعات بكلّ محبّة وسرور وابتهاج وتتزيّن فيها مجالس عامّة ويكون الجميع فيها زمرة واحدة، فتتجسّد في الأبصار وحدة الأمّة وألفتها واتّحادها
حضرة عبد البهاء

المدلولات الروحانية لايام الهاء

هذه الأيام الزائدة على الشهور قد امتازت بانتسابها إلى "الهاء" وهو حرف يساوي في الحساب الأبجدي العدد خمسة، وهو أكبر عدد يمكن أن تصل إليه عدة أيام الهاء. وكذلك يشير حرف الهاء إلى مدلولات ومعان روحانية، ومن جملة ما يرمز إليه "الهوية الإلهية"، أي" ذات الغيب المنيع"، أي" الله" سبحانه وتعالى.وهي تعتبر اعداداً روحانياً لفترة الصوم

هذه ايام الهاء وأمرنا الكل أن ينفقوا فيها على انفسهم وعلى الذين توجهوا إلى هذا المقام المرفوع أن اذكروا الله فيها ثم اعرفوا قدرها لأنها تحكي عن هذا الاسم الذي به سخر الله الغيب والشهود

حضرة بهاء الله

قد تشرفت الأيام يا إلهي بالأيام التي سميتها بالهاء كأن كل يوم منها جعلته مبشراً ورسولاً ليبشر الناس بالأيام التي فيها فرضت الصيام على خلقك وبريتك ليستعد كل نفس للقائها ويعين في قلبه محلاً لها ويطهره باسمك لنزولها عليه

حضرة بهاء الله

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."

House of Worship restoration necessitates partial closing

To enable further restoration of the Baha'i House of Worship and begin construction of the new Visitors Center, the lower level of the House of Worship, which currently houses the Visitors Center and bookstore, will be closed to the public for approximately one year, from May 19, 2008, to May 2009.

The auditorium (prayer hall), on the upper level of the House of Worship, will remain open for prayers and meditation. The elevator to the auditorium will not be available so access to the auditorium will be by stairs only during this period. The gardens are wheelchair accessible.

Guides will continue to offer tours of the temple, and restrooms will be available. During the partial closing, visitors will enter the temple from the corner of Linden Avenue and Sheridan Road, walking along the reflecting pool before ascending the stairs to the auditorium.

There will be a limited number of spaces in the House of Worship parking lot to the west of the building. Parking on nearby streets also will be available.

Prayer for the Mashriqu'l Adhkar

"O Lord, O Thou Who dost bless all those who stand firm in the Covenant by enabling them, out of their love for the Light of the World, to expend what they have as an offering to the Mashriqu'l Adhar, the dayspring of Thy wide-spread rays and the proclaimer of Thine evidences, help Thou, both in this world and the world to come, these reghteous, these upright and pious ones to draw ever nearer to Thy sacred Threshold, and make bright their faces with Thy dazzling splendors.
Verily art Thou the Generous, the Ever-Bestowing."

Abdu'l Baha

The Ridwan Festival

In April 1863, before leaving Baghdad, Bahá'u'lláh and His companions camped in a garden on the banks of the Tigris River. From 21 April to 2 May, Bahá'u'lláh shared with those Bábis in His company that He was the Promised One foretold by the Báb--foretold, indeed, in all the world's scriptures.

The garden became known as the Garden of Ridwan, which indicates "paradise" in Arabic. The anniversary of the twelve days spent there are celebrated in the Bahá'í world as the most joyous of holidays, known as the Ridwan Festival.

On 3 May 1863, Bahá'u'lláh rode out of Baghdad, on His way to Constantinople, the imperial capital, accompanied by His family and selected companions. He had become an immensely popular and cherished figure. Eyewitnesses described the departure in moving terms, noting the tears of many scholars, government officials and onlookers and the honor paid to Him by the authorities. After four months in Constantinople, Bahá'u'lláh was sent as a virtual state prisoner to Adrianople (modern Edirne), arriving there on 2 December 1863. During the five years He spent there, Bahá'u'lláh's reputation continued to grow, attracting the intense interest of scholars, government officials and diplomats.

He refers to His Declaration as “the Day of supreme felicity” and He describes the Garden of Ridwán as “the Spot from which He shed upon the whole of creation the splendours of His Name, the All-Merciful”.

The Declaration of Bahá’u’lláh is celebrated annually by the twelve-day Ridwán Festival, described by Shoghi Effendi as “the holiest and most significant of all Bahá’í festivals”

Baha'u'llah called Ridwan the Most Great Festival and the King of Festivals. He said:

"Call ye to mind, O people, the bounty which God hath conferred upon you. Ye were sunk in slumber, and lo! He aroused you by the reviving breezes of His Revelation, and made known unto you His manifest and undeviating Path"

The Baha'i House of Worship - Chicago Tribune - March 27,2008

Even if you're completely broke, you can always enjoy the view from this village's lakefront parks.

Baha'i House of Worship

100 Linden Avenue, Wilmette;

One of the most arresting pieces of architecture in the Chicago area is the nine-sided, domed Baha'i temple, one of only seven in the world.

Free and open to the public every day of the year; the temple has an informative visitor's center and the awe-inspiring Auditorium.

Prayer for Mashriqu'l-Adhkar

"O God, my God! I implore Thee with a throbbing heart and streaming tears to aid whosoever expendeth his energy for the erection of this House, and the construction of this Building wherein Thy name is mentioned every morn and every eve.

O God! Send down Thy divine increase on whosoever endeavoreth to serve this edifice and exerteth himself to raise it amongst the kindreds and religions of the world. Confirm him in every good deed in promoting the welfare of mankind. Open Thou the doors of wealth and abundance unto him and make him an heir to the treasures of the Kingdom, which perish not. Make him a sign of Thy bestowals among the peoples and reinforce him by the sea of Thy generosity and bounty, surging with waves of Thy grace and favor. Verily, Thou art the Generous, the Merciful and the Bountiful.

Abdu'l Baha, Baha'i Prayers

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