82 Verily It Is Enjoined Upon You To Offer A Feast Once In Every Month #57
This injunction has become the basis for the holding of monthly Baha'i
festivities and as such constitutes the ordination of the Nineteen Day
Feast. In the Arabic Bayan the Bab called upon His followers to gather
together once every nineteen days to show hospitality and fellowship.
Baha'u'llah here confirms this and notes the unifying role of such
occasions.
'Abdu'l-Baha and Shoghi Effendi after Him have gradually unfolded the
institutional significance of this injunction. 'Abdu'l-Baha emphasized the
importance of the spiritual and devotional character of these gatherings.
Shoghi Effendi, besides further elaborating the devotional and social
aspects of the Feast, has developed the administrative element of such
gatherings and, in systematically instituting the Feast, has provided for
a period of consultation on the affairs of the Baha'i community, including
the sharing of news and messages.
In answer to a question as to whether this injunction is obligatory,
Baha'u'llah stated it was not (Q and A 48). Shoghi Effendi in a letter
written on his behalf further comments:
Attendance at Nineteen Day Feasts is not obligatory but very
important, and every believer should consider it a duty and
privilege to be present on such occasions.
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