Devotional Gatherings

March 15, 2010

“The impulse to pray is a natural one springing from man’s love to God” -`Abdu’l-Bahá

One of our deepest human longings is to commune with our Creator. Praying together at a fixed time and place, in addition to strengthening bonds of unity and affection, brings a certain structure and realism to an activity in which our finite mortal minds reach out to the Infinite.  At Baha’i devotional gatherings prayers are read from the Bahá’í Scriptures as well as from the scriptures of the major revealed Religions such as Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and Hinduism.  Everyone is welcome to participate. There is no established ritual and no collection of funds.   In the Bahá’í Faith prayer is not congregational; one person prays at a time while the others are silent.  Participants are encouraged to bring prayers or favorite passages from the scriptures to share.

“Remembrance of God is like the rain and dew which bestow freshness and grace on flowers and hyacinths, revive them and cause them to acquire fragrance, redolence and renewed charm.”  -`Abdu’l-Bahá

Devotional meetings spring up naturally in a community where a conversation about the spiritual dimension of human existence is growing. In diverse settings, Bahá’ís and their friends and families unite with one another in prayer. There are no rituals; no one individual has any special role. Meetings consist largely of reading prayers and passages from the Bahá’í sacred texts in an informal yet respectful atmosphere. A spirit of communal worship is generated by these simple gatherings, and this spirit begins to permeate the community’s collective endeavors.

Today thousands upon thousands of such regular devotional meetings are held in localities throughout the world—in urban and suburban neighbourhoods, in hamlets and villages alike.

A more thorough exploration of the Bahá’í teachings on the subject of devotional life, including quotations from the Bahá’í writings on the topic, can be found in the Devotion topic collection within the What Bahá’ís Believe area of the website.