Tag: Nineteen Day Feast

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Tag: "Nineteen Day Feast"

tag name Nineteen Day Feast type: Practices; Terminology

web link bahai-library.com/tags/Nineteen_Day_Feast
related tags – Bahá'í activities; Bahá'í meetings; Feasts; Recurrent events
referring tags Consultation; Kitáb-i-Aqdas, Selected topics; Su'al va Javab (Questions and Answers, Kitáb-i-Aqdas); Timings of Feasts and Holy Days; Unity Feast
Inventory subject Nineteen-Day Feast; Spiritual meetings; gatherings; devotional gatherings; feasts
notes

See also:
– Bahai org: Nineteen Day Feast
– Compilation Nineteen Day Feast

selected quotations
(authoritative sources)
These quotations reflect common presentations of Bahá’í views; the materials below may show a wider range of interpretations and contexts:

"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 Bahá’í festivities and as such constitutes the ordination of the Nineteen Day Feast. In the Arabic Bayán the Báb called upon His followers to gather together once every nineteen days to show hospitality and fellowship. Bahá’u’lláh here confirms this and notes the unifying role of such occasions.
‘Abdu’l‑Bahá and Shoghi Effendi after Him have gradually unfolded the institutional significance of this injunction. ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá 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 Bahá’í community, including the sharing of news and messages.
In answer to a question as to whether this injunction is obligatory, Bahá’u’lláh stated it was not (Q&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."

– Kitáb-i-Aqdas, Note 82

"Regarding the time for the holding of the Nineteen Day Feasts and elections: the Guardian would advise your Assembly to urge the friends to hold such gatherings on the prescribed day before sunset. If impossible, then it is permissible to hold them on the preceding day. In connection with the nine holy days however the friends should consider it obligatory to celebrate them on the prescribed day before sunset."

– From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, 24 December 1939 to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada, in compilation Nineteen Day Feast, extract 30

"Concerning the matter of the devotions at Nineteen Day Feasts. We see no contradiction in the three statements of the beloved Guardian. In essence they all describe exactly the same procedure, namely, that the Feast is opened with devotional readings, that is to say prayers and meditations, from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, the Bab, and the Master. Following these passages may be read from other Tablets, from the Holy Scriptures of previous Dispensations, and from the writings of the Guardian. It is clear, however, that the beloved Guardian would not wish his own words to be read as part of an arranged devotional programme in which they would be interspersed among words of Holy Scripture. In other words, at the Nineteen Day Feast, where words of the Guardian are to be read they should follow any selections from the Scriptures and not be mixed with them. This does not mean, however, that subsequently in the Feast, any of these types of writings may not be read as suitable during the consultation."

– From a letter of the Universal House of Justice to the Hands of the Cause of God, August 25, 1965: cited in a letter from the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer, October 15, 1972, in Lights of Guidance, no. 818

bahaidata.org Q4635 · Links to Bahá'í wikis (bahai9, bahaipedia, etc.)

references en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nineteen_Day_Feast; bahaiquotes.com/subject/feast; bahaiquotes.com/subject/feast-children; bahaiquotes.com/subject/feast-language; bahaiquotes.com/subject/feast-non-bahais; www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/search#q=Feast

"Nineteen Day Feast" has been tagged in:

27 results from the Main Catalog
4 results from the Chronology
1 result from the Chronology Canada

from the main catalog (27 results; collapse)

sorted by

2023. From Outsider to Outsider: A Study of Iranian Bahá'ís' Identity in Iran and the United States. Naghme Naseri Morlock. The denial of a national identity of Bahá'ís in Iran; their experiences in the U.S.; cultural differences between immigrant and American Bahá'ís; the importance of religious identity; how religious, national, and cultural identities are negotiated. Articles.
2019-09. Worldview and the Laws of the Bayán. Nader Saiedi. Explores the Persian Bayán's spiritual worldview and laws through four talks, offering insights into the Báb's Dispensation. Audio.
2018/2025. Additional Tablets, Extracts and Talks. Abdu'l-Bahá, Bahá'í World Centre, trans. . 216 selections, last updated 2025. Writings.
2018. Reflections on the Principle of Unity/Oneness, Some. Hooshmand Badee. Reflections on the message of Bahá'u'lláh creating the oneness of humanity and a global society that is based on unity and love rather than factors such as economic and political gains. Articles.
2014. Nineteen Day Feast. Moojan Momen. Brief excerpt, with link to article offsite. Encyclopedia.
2013-2018/2023. Feast Programs. Susan Gammage. Programs for nine Bahá'í months, with Youtube links for opening and closing music, a selection of relevant quotations, and some commentary or annotations. Compilations-personal.
2012-11. Names of the Bahá'í Months, The: Separating Fact from Fiction. Moojan Momen, Robert Stockman, comp. . A blog post, compiled for the Wilmette Institute, on the original source of the names of the months of the Badí calendar — taken from a dawn prayer by the Fifth Shí’í Imám, Muhammad al-Báqir, for the month of Ramadan. Essays.
2011-09. Feast, Nineteen-Day. Christopher Buck. Encyclopedia.
2011-03-15. Abdu'l-Baha's talks can be used in devotional portion of Feast. Universal House of Justice. Letter confirming that it is permissible to use informal "talks" of Abdu'l-Bahá in the devotional portion of Feast. UHJ-letters.
2009-11-03. Guidance on the Use of Talks at Feast. National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States. Whether it is appropriate to read talks by Universal House of Justice members and others at the Nineteen Day Feast, and whether such talks have been, and should be, authenticated. NSA-letters.
2009-05-17. Celebration of the Nineteen Day Feast. Universal House of Justice. Guidance on adapting the Nineteen Day Feast amid community growth, emphasizing decentralization, inclusivity, and flexible administration while preserving unity and core Bahá’í principles. UHJ-letters.
2008-12-16. Allowance of non-Bahá'ís at Feast. National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States. A directive from the UHJ via the NSA of the US confirming that, if a non-Bahá'í attends a Feast, the "administrative portion" may be held and just modified if need be, rather than postponed. NSA-letters.
2003. Bahá'í: Religion and Diet. Paul Fieldhouse. Short overview of fasting, feast, and diet. Encyclopedia.
2002. Mystical Dimensions of the Bahá'í Administrative Order, The. Kavian Sadeghzade Milani. The Bahá'i Administrative Order can be seen as a mystical entity, and there are some parallels between it and Sufism. For Bahá'is the encounter with the Administrative Order is critical to the mystical path. Articles.
2001-04-10. Nineteen-Day Feast, Scheduling the. Universal House of Justice. Two letters about the composition, structure, and scheduling of Nineteen-Day Feasts. UHJ-letters.
2000. Guidance for Bahá'í Groups. National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States. The purpose, organization, functioning, limitations, privileges and responsibilities of Bahá'í groups; guidance for individuals about application of Bahá'í laws, such as marriage and divorce; and guidance for Assemblies that have reverted to group status. NSA-documents.
2000. Bahá'í Feast Book. Bahá'u'lláh, Abdu'l-Bahá, Kate Lindsay, comp. . Quotations for all 19 Feasts, nicely laid-out with graphics and suitable for printing. Compilations-personal.
2000. Of Paramount Importance: Addressing the Paucity of Music in Bahá'í Devotional Practice. Michael Knopf. Short overview of the use of music in Bahá'í feasts, holy day celebrations, and temples. Essays.
1996-02. Persian-speaking Believers in Anglophone Communities. Universal House of Justice. Some Persian expatriates feel deprived of participation in Bahá'í gatherings because of an inability to understand English. UHJ-letters.
1996. Messages from the Universal House of Justice 1963-1986: Third Epoch of the Formative Age. Universal House of Justice, Geoffrey W. Marks, comp. . Books.
1996. Nineteen Day Feast. John Walbridge. Encyclopedia.
1995. Community as Family, The: Opportunities of Growth. Ros Gabriel. Essays.
1995. Rituals: An American Bahá'í dilemma. Linda Walbridge. The nature of Bahá'í "Feasts" and related American observances and formalities. Essays.
1991-03. Spiritual Health of American Community. Universal House of Justice. Publication of a letter addressing an individual's concerns for the spiritual health of the American Bahá’í community, and suggestions for personal action. (Letter dated Dec. 24 1990, published March 1991.) UHJ-letters.
1991. Feast, Nineteen Day. Bahá'u'lláh, Abdu'l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi, Universal House of Justice. Compilation Compilations.
1988. Lights of Guidance: A Bahá'í Reference File. Bahá'u'lláh, Abdu'l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi, Universal House of Justice, Helen Bassett Hornby, comp. . The classic Bahá'í reference book. This is its first online edition. Compilations-personal.
1986. Six-Year Plan, 1986-1992. Universal House of Justice. Outline of Bahá'í goals for 1986-1992, and collection of letters from the House. UHJ-documents.

from the Chronology (4 results; collapse)

1905-05-23 —
- It consisted of a devotional portion and a social part. The administrative aspect of the Feast was developed in the 1930s. [BFA2:245; SA208]
- Howard and Mary MacNutt, along with Julia Grundy, had been on pilgrimage early in the year and had been encouraged to hold Feasts by 'Abdu'l-Bahá.
- In a meeting of NY Board of Council at the home of Mr. Arthur Pillsbury Dodge on the 19th of May, Mr. Howard MacNutt described a Nineteen Day Feast he had attended in Acca. The Board then planned the First Nineteen Day Feast to be held the following Tuesday, June 2nd at the home of Mr. Fleming. [Highlights of the First 40 Years of the Bahá'í Faith in New York, City of the Covenant, 1892-1932 by Hussein Ahdieh p10]
1923-11-04 —
- Martha Root and Agnes Alexander were present. [PH33]
1939-11-04 — The first Nineteen Day Feast was held in San Salvador with four Bahá'ís in attendance.
1989-08-27 — The Universal House of Justice sent a message offering clarification on the subject of the Nineteen Day Feast. [Universal House of Justice 27 August, 1989, AWH192-4]

from the Chronology of Canada (1 result)

1922-12-11 — First formal Nineteen-day Feast held in Montreal (Feast of Questions) [OBCC159]

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tag name	Nineteen Day Feast	type:	Practices; Terminology
web link	bahai-library.com/tags/Nineteen_Day_Feast
related tags	– Bahá'í activities; Bahá'í meetings; Feasts; Recurrent events
referring tags	Consultation; Kitáb-i-Aqdas, Selected topics; Su'al va Javab (Questions and Answers, Kitáb-i-Aqdas); Timings of Feasts and Holy Days; Unity Feast
Inventory subject	Nineteen-Day Feast; Spiritual meetings; gatherings; devotional gatherings; feasts
notes	See also: – Bahai org: Nineteen Day Feast – Compilation Nineteen Day Feast
selected quotations (authoritative sources)	These quotations reflect common presentations of Bahá’í views; the materials below may show a wider range of interpretations and contexts: "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 Bahá’í festivities and as such constitutes the ordination of the Nineteen Day Feast. In the Arabic Bayán the Báb called upon His followers to gather together once every nineteen days to show hospitality and fellowship. Bahá’u’lláh here confirms this and notes the unifying role of such occasions. ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá and Shoghi Effendi after Him have gradually unfolded the institutional significance of this injunction. ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá 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 Bahá’í community, including the sharing of news and messages. In answer to a question as to whether this injunction is obligatory, Bahá’u’lláh stated it was not (Q&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." – Kitáb-i-Aqdas, Note 82 "Regarding the time for the holding of the Nineteen Day Feasts and elections: the Guardian would advise your Assembly to urge the friends to hold such gatherings on the prescribed day before sunset. If impossible, then it is permissible to hold them on the preceding day. In connection with the nine holy days however the friends should consider it obligatory to celebrate them on the prescribed day before sunset." – From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, 24 December 1939 to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada, in compilation Nineteen Day Feast, extract 30 "Concerning the matter of the devotions at Nineteen Day Feasts. We see no contradiction in the three statements of the beloved Guardian. In essence they all describe exactly the same procedure, namely, that the Feast is opened with devotional readings, that is to say prayers and meditations, from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, the Bab, and the Master. Following these passages may be read from other Tablets, from the Holy Scriptures of previous Dispensations, and from the writings of the Guardian. It is clear, however, that the beloved Guardian would not wish his own words to be read as part of an arranged devotional programme in which they would be interspersed among words of Holy Scripture. In other words, at the Nineteen Day Feast, where words of the Guardian are to be read they should follow any selections from the Scriptures and not be mixed with them. This does not mean, however, that subsequently in the Feast, any of these types of writings may not be read as suitable during the consultation." – From a letter of the Universal House of Justice to the Hands of the Cause of God, August 25, 1965: cited in a letter from the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer, October 15, 1972, in Lights of Guidance, no. 818
bahaidata.org	Q4635 · Links to Bahá'í wikis (bahai9, bahaipedia, etc.)
references	en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nineteen_Day_Feast; bahaiquotes.com/subject/feast; bahaiquotes.com/subject/feast-children; bahaiquotes.com/subject/feast-language; bahaiquotes.com/subject/feast-non-bahais; www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/search#q=Feast