Feast of ‘Alá’ (Loftiness)

From Bahá’u’lláh

Cling firmly to obligatory prayer and fasting. Verily, the religion of God is like unto heaven; fasting is its sun, and obligatory prayer is its moon. In truth, they are the pillars of religion whereby the righteous are distinguished from those who transgress His commandments. We entreat God, exalted and glorified be He, that He may graciously enable all to observe that which He hath revealed in His Ancient Book. (Baha’u’llah, from a Tablet; compilation: ‘The Importance of Obligatory Prayer and Fasting”, prepared by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice)

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One who performeth neither good deeds nor acts of worship is like unto a tree which beareth no fruit, and an action which leaveth no trace. Whosoever experienceth the holy ecstasy of worship will refuse to barter such an act or any praise of God for all that existeth in the world. Fasting and obligatory prayer are as two wings to man's life. Blessed be the one who soareth with their aid in the heaven of the love of God, the Lord of all worlds. (Baha’u’llah, from a Tablet; compilation: ‘The Importance of Obligatory Prayer and Fasting,’ prepared by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice)

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Verily, I say, fasting is the supreme remedy and the most great healing for the disease of self and passion. (Baha’u’llah, from a Tablet; compilation: ‘The Importance of Obligatory Prayer and Fasting’, prepared by Research Department of the Universal House of Justice)

From ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

Feast of Mulk (Dominion)

From Bahá’u’lláh

Consider ... the revelation of the light of the Name of God, the Educator. Behold, how in all things the evidences of such a revelation are manifest, how the betterment of all beings dependeth upon it. This education is of two kinds. The one is universal. Its influence pervadeth all things and sustaineth them. It is for this reason that God hath assumed the title, "Lord of all worlds". The other is confined to them that have come under the shadow of this Name, and sought the shelter of this most mighty Revelation. They, however, that have failed to seek this shelter, have deprived themselves of this privilege, and are powerless to benefit from the spiritual sustenance that hath been sent down through the heavenly grace of this Most Great Name. How great the gulf fixed between the one and the other!... (Baha’u’llah, ‘Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh’; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. I, Baha’i Education)

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Teach ye your children so that they may peruse the divine verses every morn and eve. God hath prescribed unto every father to educate his children, both boys and girls, in the sciences and in morals, and in crafts and professions.... (Bahá'u'lláh, from a Tablet; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. 1, Extracts from the Writings concerning arts and crafts)

From ‘Abdu’l-Bahá