Comments on: Beyond Food: The Real Purpose of the Baha’i Fast

By: Margaret Tash

Margaret Tash — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 21:22:48 +0000

In reply to Arezoo Mohebpour. Dear Arezoo, Thank you for your kind words. May you have a blessed Fast and joyous Naw-Ruz!

By: Arezoo Mohebpour

Arezoo Mohebpour — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 09:28:51 +0000

Really enjoyed reading this. Thank you.

By: David Perkins

David Perkins — Sat, 09 Mar 2019 01:20:04 +0000

Interesting that there is about a 7 hour discrepancy on average between the southern hemisphere fast and the northern. The final day of the fast is before the equinox. The southern hemisphere leads to it from longer days, while the northers hemisphere leads to it from shorter days. Interesting that the equinox wasn’t the central day.

By: Margaret Tash

Margaret Tash — Fri, 08 Mar 2019 22:48:07 +0000

In reply to Sue Khavari.

Thanks for your insightful comments, Sue! If we remember that obligatory prayer and fasting are for our benefit – not God’s. – that can sustain our efforts. Sincere intentions and perseverance are our guiding light. For those who cannot fast for health reasons, the benefits of the Fast are still achievable, since Shoghi Effendi wrote that it is essentially a time of ‘spiritual recuperation.’ I can easily measure my physical fast but struggle to perceive if I’ve made any spiritual gains. 🙂 Thanks again for sharing your thoughts during this sacred time of year!

By: Sue Khavari

Sue Khavari — Fri, 08 Mar 2019 01:55:28 +0000

Let’s do the math: there are 55 periods of the Fast between the ages of 15 and 70. Fifty-five times that you can be obedient to this law, barring the times of exceptions, such as illness, etc. When I became a Baha’i many years ago, I said to myself that maybe I could not always be kind, generous, and all those wonderful virtues that we should be, but by golly, I could fast and say my daily obligatory prayer. This I could do. Now I am 80 and long past being able to fast. However, there is a deep satisfaction in my soul that I can look back on my life and feel that stiffening of the backbone, that obedience, has greatly enhanced and blessed my whole life. Just do it this very difficult thing and be glad the rest of your life that you did!

By: Margaret Tash

Margaret Tash — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 01:36:20 +0000

In reply to Peter Gyulay.

Thanks, Peter! The idea of self-compassion is so true. We need to trust in God’s love rather than think we’ll be punished if we’re not perfect. If we are doing our best … don’t we think God knows that? I’m pretty sure my fasting efforts over these years have given Him some good laughs! 🙂

By: Peter Gyulay

Peter Gyulay — Sun, 17 Feb 2019 22:13:45 +0000

Thanks for the article Margaret! It’s a good reminder that in all aspects of Bahai life, fasting included, we have to do our best but have self-compassion as well!

By: Margaret Tash

Margaret Tash — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 13:42:43 +0000

In reply to Linda Sawka. Thanks, Linda! :)

By: Linda Sawka

Linda Sawka — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 02:23:18 +0000

Wonderful article, Margaret! Thank you!

By: Margaret Tash

Margaret Tash — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 00:15:21 +0000

In reply to K’omolo Elvis Otieno Lorry.

Dear K’omolo, Thank you for your very thoughtful question! The 19-day Baha’i Fast ends with the vernal (spring) equinox in the northern hemisphere, usually March 20 or 21. We then celebrate our new year, which is ‘Naw-Ruz’ (Persian for ‘new day’). I feel sure there will be an article in a few days about Naw-Ruz but, for now, here is an article from last year which I’m sure you’ll enjoy reading!
http://bahaiteachings.org/time-celebrate-renewal-world