Abstract

Devotions are an essential part of religious life and while they are, first and foremost, the means of communing with God, the Bahá’í concept of worship is inextricably bound to that of service to God and to humanity. The interplay between worship and service may be expressed in terms of the essential relationship between prayer and action, and between devotion to God and devotion to the betterment of the world. This chapter examines devotional life as it relates to individuals, the community, and the institutions within the Bahá’í Faith. It discusses the nature of worship; the purpose and characteristics of acts of devotion; prayer and meditation; obligatory prayer; devotional gatherings and their relationship with other communal and administrative activities; the role of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár; and the rhythm of Bahá’í devotional life.