Tabib-i Jami‘-i ‘Illat-ha

Prayer and supplication hold a vital and foundational place in the Bahá’í Faith and in the life of every Bahá’í. Yet, perhaps we have not had the opportunity to explore and reflect deeply enough upon the nature and influence of prayer. This book has been prepared and compiled in light of the extraordinary significance of prayer and supplication.

The initial idea for this work dates back five decades, to a time when the esteemed author traveled to Malaysia in a spirit of service. There, through conversations with newly declared Bahá’í youth, the first outline of this book took shape as a brief pamphlet. In subsequent years, its content was gradually expanded and shared on various occasions with Bahá’í youth in Iran.

The first part of the present volume explores the vital importance and central role of prayer and supplication in the life of a Bahá’í. The second part examines the inner state and attitude of one who prays. Yet the most distinctive feature of this book lies in the author’s lived experience of prayer, drawn from several decades of personal reflection and practice, presented in the third part.

There is a special sweetness in describing spiritual realities through the lens of daily experience—particularly for those living in this age, when the corroding and destructive forces of materialism encompass the world, and when, without drawing upon the mighty powers of the spirit, even the very thought of progress can seem difficult to sustain.