Baha'i Library Forum

Here's a question that I can't find the answer to.. what happens if you break the fast during the daylight hours? And not accidentally. (This is strictly hypothetical). And how does that pertain to "unofficial" Baha'is?

Abstain from food and drink from sunrise to sundown, and beware lest desire
deprive you of this grace that is appointed in the Book.

-Baha'u'llah, Kitab-i-Aqdas paragraph 17

hi Briren; If desire is the thing which causes you to break the fast during the daylight hours of
the month of Ala, you will miss out on the grace which is appointed by God for those who
keep the fast.

If an intelligent decision causes you to break the fast early, it is quite possible that this grace will
be given to you by God, the All-knowing. For example, God exempts a person who feels ill.
I have sometimes decided to break the fast because of problems with my blood-sugar. Other
times, fasting exacerbated my symptoms of atypical depression. I felt like I was loosing balance
and sanity which connected me to other people.

This year, so far, I am able to fast without feeling ill. Also, I am able to remain balanced and
connected to other people.

I am certain that if I either fast or make an intelligent decision not to fast, based on the provisions
offered by God, He will generously grant me that grace which is promised.

love; Peter

Also, all things are conditioned on the acceptance of God.
Knowing this, we can each strive to live in a way which
brings smiles to God.

God knows who is a sincere and striving Baha'i.
Ideally, the Baha'is will seek fellowship with their
fellow Baha'is and accept them too -one-by-one. This
is more challenging and interesting, as well as being a more
hopeful thing for mankind. It is a workshop, not a showcase.
It is a place to work out imperfections and develop new
characteristics, gradually, through trial and error.

-Peter

Thank you for this answer. I was asking becuase I've been feeling very ill lately while I've been fasting. I sometimes have problems with low blood sugar that causes me to become jittery and fatigued. I also tend to have strong stomach cramps when I don't eat (not like hunger pains). I haven't experienced these yet, but I have already had a low blood sugar episode, so I'm not sure how that will affect the rest of my fast.

Thank you very much, again.

Briren; Recovering from blood sugar problems is an important priority.
Your body is giving you signs which should be heeded. I learned that
the habits which are good for a person with hypoglycemia are also those
which can prevent it in the first place.

Best wishes on steadily improving your health and happiness
and may the grace of God to you be abundant.

love; Peter

Hey Briren, the last thing God wants is for us to feel unwell due to the fast.

The law of the Fast is ordained for those who are sound and healthy; as to those who are ill or debilitated, this law hath never been nor is now applicable.

Thank you. It's not that I'm "ill" I just get really cranky and very sleepy when I don't eat. I can barely function. Like I said, I also get bad stomach pains. I know God understands, if I could fast I would, but it seems as if it is bad for my health at this point in time.

Greetings, Briren!

briren08 wrote:I've recently discovered the Baha'i Faith and am still in the process of finding out about it. Any information or encouragement is appreciated.

Please consider this enthusiastic encouragement!

As to information, if you care to send me your address at:
brucedlimber@aol.com
I'll be most happy to send you an overview of the Faith that you might find helpful!

Best regards, and I wish you good hunting!

Bruce