Three prayers revealed by Bahá'u'lláh — Short, Medium, and Long — of which each Bahá'í chooses one to recite daily.
Tagged: Daily Prayer Prayer Bahá'í
Historical Context
Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith, revealed three obligatory prayers in Arabic: a Short prayer of a few lines affirming God's oneness and the worshipper's servitude, a Medium prayer for morning, noon, and evening, and a Long prayer with prescribed postures, recited once in twenty-four hours. Daily obligatory prayer is one of the central ordinances of Bahá'í personal life. Authorized translations are held by the Bahá'í World Centre and the texts are reproduced only in official editions, so this page links to them rather than reprinting them.
Use and Practice
Each Bahá'í aged fifteen to seventy chooses one of the three prayers to recite every day: the Short at midday, the Medium three times a day, or the Long once in a day, in each case after washing the hands and face and turning toward the Qiblih, the direction of Bahá'u'lláh's resting place.
References
- Bahá'í Reference Library Free / open access
- Bahá'í Library Online Free / open access
Related Prayers and Creeds
- Bahá'í Prayers — Revealed prayers of Bahá'u'lláh, the Báb, and 'Abdu'l-Bahá for occasions, needs, and gatherings of every kind.
Related Across the Site
- Al-Fatiha Prayer or Creed — The opening chapter of the Qur'an, recited in every unit of the ritual prayer.
- Amidah Prayer or Creed — The standing prayer at the center of every Jewish prayer service, recited silently while standing.
- Jesus Prayer Prayer or Creed — A short, repeated invocation of Jesus asking for mercy, central to the Orthodox hesychast tradition.
- Nitnem Prayer or Creed — The daily banis (hymns) prescribed for Sikh devotion: morning, evening, and night prayers from the Sikh scriptures.
- Refuge Prayer (Tisarana) Prayer or Creed — The formula of going for refuge to the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha — the act that makes a person a Buddhist.
- Salah Prayer or Creed — The ritual prayer performed five times daily, with fixed postures, recitations, and the closing testimony (Tashahhud).
- The Angelus Prayer or Creed — A thrice-daily prayer of versicles and Hail Marys commemorating the Annunciation and the Incarnation.
- The Lord's Prayer (Our Father) Prayer or Creed — The prayer Jesus taught his disciples in Matthew 6 and Luke 11, shared by Christians of every tradition.