arthra

Why do we Baha'is recite our obligatory prayers in privacy? Here may be the answer:


"THE reason why privacy hath been enjoined in moments of devotion is this, that thou mayest give thy best attention to the remembrance of God, that thy heart may at all times be animated with His Spirit, and not be shut out as by a veil from thy Best Beloved.

"Let not thy tongue pay lip service in praise of God while thy heart be not attuned to the exalted Summit of Glory, and the Focal Point of communion.

"Thus if haply thou dost live in the Day of Resurrection, the mirror of thy heart will be set towards Him Who is the Day-Star of Truth; and no sooner will His light shine forth than the splendour thereof shall forthwith be reflected in thy heart.

"For He is the Source of all goodness, and unto Him revert all things.

"But if He appeareth while thou hast turned unto thyself in meditation, this shall not profit thee, unless thou shalt mention His Name by words He hath revealed.

"For in the forthcoming Revelation it is He Who is the Remembrance of God, whereas the devotions which thou art offering at present have been prescribed by the Point of the Bayan, while He Who will shine resplendent in the Day of Resurrection is the Revelation of the inner reality enshrined in the Point of the Bayan --a Revelation more potent, immeasurably more potent, than the one which hath preceded it."

~ Selections from the Writings of the Báb, pp. 93-4.

Fadl

Hey Arthra,

That's a great quote, and very good to meditate on and influence how we pray.

I think it is important to note that by "privacy" is not meant alone. Certainly in the home or the place of worship would be "private" in the sense that it is not out in public. There is a similar prohibition in the Aqdas:

"To none is it permitted to mutter sacred verses
before the public gaze as he walketh in the street or
marketplace; nay rather, if he wish to magnify the
Lord, it behoveth him to do so in such places as have
been erected for this purpose, or in his own home. This
is more in keeping with sincerity and godliness"

-The Kitab-i-Aqdas

Also, it is important for Baha'is to understand that it is OK to say the Obligatory Prayers in the presence of others (your household, for example) or even to say it with someone at the same time. What is not permitted is "congregational prayer" except for in the Obligatory Prayer for the Dead which should be said in congregation.

By congregational prayer is not intended what we in the West tend to envision, but what is intended is the Obligatory Prayers as performed in Islam, where they must be performed in congregation whenever it is possible and there is more than one believer present. The Obligatory Prayers of Islam are performed "congregationally" by having one person stand to the front who leads and recites the prayer, while all others follow. This is what is annulled in the Baha'i Faith. However, should two or more believers which to say it at the same time, or even together, it is OK just so long as each person is mindful of his/her own prayer and performs the verses and actions for him or herself.
Naturally, doing this in public or in the street would not be appropriate whether you say it alone or not.

arthra

Thanks for post Fadl..

I particularly liked the part of the prayer above where it says:

But if He appeareth while thou hast turned unto thyself in meditation, this shall not profit thee, unless thou shalt mention His Name by words He hath revealed.