The Baha’i year consists of 19 months of 19 days each. The months are named after the attributes of God. Each Baha’i community holds a Nineteen Day Feast on the first day of each Baha’i month.
The Feast has spiritual, administrative and social functions and is the primary locus of fellowship and community decision-making in each Baha’i locality.
Some Reflections for the Feast of Mercy (Rahmat in Arabic) – begins at sunset June 23
Photo by Kat Eghdamian
“This is the Day whereon the Ocean of God’s mercy hath been manifested unto men, the Day in which the Day Star of His loving-kindness hath shed its radiance upon them, the Day in which the clouds of His bountiful favor have overshadowed the whole of mankind. Now is the time to cheer and refresh the down-cast through the invigorating breeze of love and fellowship, and the living waters of friendliness and charity.”
– Baha’u'llah
“Every trouble that toucheth us in our love for Thee is an evidence of Thy tender mercy, every fiery ordeal a sign of the brightness of Thy light, every woeful tribulation a cooling draught, every toil a blissful repose, every anguish a fountain of gladness.”
– Baha’u'llah
“If thine eyes be turned towards mercy, forsake the things that profit thee and cleave unto that which will profit mankind”
– Baha’u'llah
Photo by Shirin Marshall-Hammond
“Every light paleth before the radiance of His light, and every other exponent of mercy
falleth short before the tokens of His mercy…”
– The Bab
“Verily, the clouds of the mercy of thy Lord have poured forth the rain of His greatest gift; the heat of the Sun of Truth hath become intense upon the plains, valleys and hills, and the winds of fecundation of the mercy of thy Lord have blown o’er the gardens, mountains and thickets. Therefore, O thou tree, be verdant, blossom, put forth leaves and bear beautiful fruits in this most Supreme Paradise! …”
– ‘Abdu’l-Baha
When, however, thou dost contemplate the innermost essence of all things, and the individuality of each, thou wilt behold the signs of thy Lord’s mercy in every created thing, and see the spreading rays of His Names and Attributes throughout all the realm of being, with evidences which none will deny save the froward and the unaware.”
– ‘Abdu’l-Baha
Photo by Jarnah Montersino
“The Sun of Reality is shining upon you, the cloud of mercy is pouring down, and the breezes of providence are wafting through your souls. Although the bestowal is great and the grace is glorious, yet capacity and readiness are requisite. Without capacity and readiness the divine bounty will not become manifest and evident. No matter how much the cloud may rain, the sun may shine and the breezes blow, the soil that is sterile will give no growth. The ground that is pure and free from thorns and thistles receives and produces through the rain of the cloud of mercy. No matter how much the sun shines, it will have no effect upon the black rock, but in a pure and polished mirror its lights become resplendent.”
– ‘Abdu’l-Baha
“O Lord, I have turned my face unto Thy Kingdom of oneness and am immersed in the sea of Thy mercy.
O Lord, enlighten my sight by beholding Thy lights in this dark night, and make me happy by the wine of Thy love in this wonderful age! …”
– ‘Abdu’l-Baha
View photos on the website “Nineteen Months” taken by photographers inspired by reflection on the month of Mercy – nineteenmonths.com is an international collaborative photo blog using spirituality to inspire photographers and in turn, inspire others.