To National Spiritual Assemblies
Dear Bahá'í friends,
From time to time questions have arisen about the
application of the law of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas on the observance of Bahá'í Holy
Days. As you know, the recognition of Bahá'í Holy Days in at least ninety-five
countries of the world is an important and highly significant objective of the
Nine Year Plan, and is directly linked with the recognition of the Faith of
Bahá'u'lláh by the civil authorities as an independent religion enjoying its
own rights and privileges.
The attainment of this objective will be facilitated and
enhanced if the friends, motivated by their own realization of the importance
of the laws of Bahá'u'lláh, are obedient to them. For the guidance of believers
we repeat the instructions of the beloved Guardian:
He wishes also to stress the fact that, according to our
Bahá'í laws, work is forbidden on our nine Holy Days. Believers who have
independent businesses or shops should refrain from working on these days.
Those who are in government employ should, on religious grounds, make an effort
to be excused from work; all believers, whoever their employers, should do
likewise. If the government, or other employers, refuse to grant them these
days off, they are not required to forfeit their employment, but they should
make every effort to have the independent status of their Faith recognized and
their right to hold their own religious Holy Days acknowledged. (From letter
written on behalf of the Guardian to the American National Spiritual Assembly,
dated 7 July 1947 -- Bahá'í News, No. 198, p. 3)
This distinction between institutions that are under full or partial Bahá'í control is of a fundamental importance. Institutions that are entirely managed by Bahá'ís are, for reasons that are only too obvious, under the obligation of enforcing all the laws and ordinances of the Faith, especially those whose observance constitutes a matter of conscience. There is no reason, no justification whatever, that they should act otherwise ... The point which should be always remembered is that the issue in question is essentially a matter of conscience, and as such is of a binding effect upon all believers. ... (From letter written on behalf of the Guardian to the American National Spiritual Assembly, dated 2 October 1935 -- Bahá'í News, No. 97, p. 9)
In addition, steps should be taken to have Bahá'í children
excused, on religious grounds, from attending school on Bahá'í Holy Days
wherever possible. The Guardian has said:
Regarding children: at fifteen a Bahá'í is of age as far as
keeping the laws of the Aqdas is concerned -- prayer, fasting, etc. But
children under fifteen should certainly observe the Bahá'í Holy Days, and not
go to school, if this can be arranged, on these nine days. (From a letter
written on behalf of the Guardian to the American National Spiritual Assembly,
dated 25 October 1947)
National Assemblies should give this subject their careful
consideration, and should provide ways and means for bringing this matter to
the attention of the believers under their jurisdiction so that, as a matter of
conscience, the mass of believers will uphold these laws and observe them.
With loving Bahá'í greetings,
The Universal House of Justice
(Messages from the Universal House of Justice 1963 to 1986)
