In the realm of worship, fasting and obligatory prayer
constitute the two mightiest pillars of God's holy Law. Neglecting them is in
no wise permitted, and falling short in their performance is of a certainty not
acceptable. In the Tablet of Visitation He saith: "I beseech God, by Thee
and by them whose faces have been illumined with the splendours of the light of
Thy countenance, and who, for love of Thee, have observed all whereunto they
were bidden." He declareth that observance of the commands of God deriveth
from love for the beauty of the Best-Beloved. The seeker, when immersed in the
ocean of the love of God, will be moved by intense longing and will arise to
carry out the laws of God. Thus, it is impossible that a heart which containeth
the fragrance of God's love should yet fail to worship Him, except under
conditions when such an action would agitate the enemies and stir up dissension
and mischief. Otherwise, a lover of the Abhá Beauty will assuredly and
continually demonstrate perseverance in the worship of the Lord.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Compilation: ‘The Importance of Obligatory Prayer and Fasting’, prepared by the
Research Department of the Universal House of Justice)
