Naw-Rúz: Selections from “Days of Remembrance,” writings of Lord Bahá’u’lláh (vegetarian) for Bahá’i Holy Days, Part 1 of 2

Today, it is a delight to present a selection from Lord Bahá’u’lláh’s (vegetarian) writings, “Days of Remembrance,” which expound on one of the nine holy days of the Baháʼí Faith, “Naw-Rúz,” (New Year), a day of celebration for spiritual renewal.

Naw-Rúz (New Year) 1. He is the Almighty

“Praised be Thou, O my God, that Thou have ordained Naw-Rúz as a festival unto those who have observed the Fast for love of Thee and abstained from all that is abhorrent unto Thee. Grant, O my Lord, that the fire of Thy love and the heat produced by the Fast enjoined by Thee may inflame them in Thy Cause, and make them to be occupied with Thy praise and with remembrance of Thee. […]

Thou are He through Whom the ensign ‘Praiseworthy are Thou in Thy works’ has been lifted up, and the standard ‘Obeyed are Thou in Thy behest’ has been unfurled. Make known this Thy station, O my God, unto Thy servants, that they may be made aware that the excellence of all things is dependent upon Thy bidding and Thy word, and the virtue of every act is conditioned by Thy leave and the good-pleasure of Thy will, and may recognize that the reins of men’s doings are within the grasp of Thine acceptance and Thy commandment. Make this known unto them, that nothing whatsoever may shut them out from Thy Beauty, in these days whereon the Christ exclaims: ‘All dominion is Thine, O Thou the Begetter of the Spirit (Jesus)!” and Thy Friend (Muḥammad) [Peace Be Upon Him] cried out: “Glory be to Thee, O Thou the Best-Beloved, for that Thou have uncovered Thy Beauty, and written down for Thy chosen ones what will cause them to attain unto the seat of the revelation of Thy Most Great Name, through which all the peoples have lamented except such as have detached themselves from all else except Thee, and set themselves towards Him Who is the Revealer of Thyself and the Manifestation of Thine attributes.’

He Who is Thy Branch and all Thy company, O my Lord, have broken this day their fast, after having observed it within the precincts of Thy court, and in their eagerness to please Thee. Do Thou ordain for Him, and for them, and for all such as have entered Thy presence in those days all the good Thou did destine in Thy Book. Supply them, then, with that which will profit them, in both this life and the life beyond. Thou, in truth, are the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.” […]