Individual Prohibitions
English Arabic Farsi

Muttering sacred verses in the street

Bahá’u’lláh
Partial translation
oceanoflights.org/029-for-muttering-sacred-verses-in-the-street-en/

Muttering sacred verses in the street

"To none is it permitted to mutter sacred verses before the public gaze as he walketh in the street or marketplace; nay rather, if he wish to magnify the Lord, it behoveth him to do so in such places as have been erected for this purpose, or in his own home. This is more in keeping with sincerity and godliness. Thus hath the sun of Our commandment shone forth above the horizon of Our utterance. Blessed, then, be those who do Our bidding.” 1

“To none is it permitted to mutter sacred verses before the public gaze as he walketh in the street or marketplace
This is an allusion to the practice of certain clerics and religious leaders of earlier Dispensations who, out of hypocrisy and affectation, and in order to win the praise of their followers, would ostentatiously mutter prayers in public places as a demonstration of their piety. Bahá’u’lláh forbids such behavior and stresses the importance of humility and genuine devotion to God.” 2


Babi Dispensation

“The reason why privacy hath enjoined in moments of devotion is this, that thou mayest give thy best attention to the remembrance of God, that thy heart may at all times be animated with His Spirit and not be shut out as by a veil from thy best Beloved. Let not thy tongue pay lip service in praise of God while thy heart be not attuned to the exalted Summit of Glory, and the Focal Point of communion.” 3


Islamic Dispensation

“Call upon your LORD humbly and in secret; for he loveth not those who transgress...” 4

“And do thou bring thy Lord to remembrance in thy soul, with humility and in reverence, without loudness in words …” 5


Christian Dispensation

“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.” 6



Footnotes

  1. Baha’u’llah, The Most Holy Book, para 108 ↩

  2. Notes to the Kitab-i-Aqdas no. 135 ↩

  3. Selections from the Writings of the Bab, Persian Bayan, Wahis IX, Chapter IV ↩

  4. The Holy Quran, Al-Araf 7:53 ↩

  5. The Holy Quarn, Al-Isra 17:110 ↩

  6. Matthew 6:5–8 ↩

Resources
Content