Unlike other religions, the Baha’i have no specialized clergy. Rather,
Baha’is believe in the priesthood of all believers. All members of a Baha’i
community take equal part in all religious activities.
The hierarchy of the Baha’i Faith is not clerical in nature, but is based
upon elected councils. Local councils are elected by communities, who then go
on to elect state or provincial councils, who then go on to elect national
councils, who then go on to elect the members of the Universal House of
Justice, the highest authority in the Baha’i hierarchy. Although women are
allowed to participate in lower levels of these councils, only men may appear
in the UHJ.
Although these elections would seem a political process, for the Baha’is it
is simply a decision by the community of who would best represent them, and not
an expression of base political motivations. Baha’is do not engage in politics:
they are not allowed to run for secular office, nor do they even vote in
secular elections.
The Baha’i Calendar and Holidays
The Baha’is follow their own special calendar, which was revealed to them by
Baha’u’llah in the Kitab-i-Aqdas. Unlike the Islamic calendar, which is lunar,
the Baha’i calendar is solar with a 365 day year. (366 in leap year).
The year is split up into 19 months, each of which has 19 days. There are
also four intercalary days (5 in leap years) between the 18th and 19th months.
Although they differ in the number of months, the week stays the same with 7
days.
Baha’is have a special 19 day period of prayer and fasting known as Ridvan.
During this time no Baha’i may eat during daylight hours, they may only eat at
nighttime. This holy month is celebrated between the months of Jalal and Jamal
oin the Baha’i calendar, April 21st to May 9th of the Gregorian calendar. The
1st, 9th and 12th day of Ridvan are counted as special holy days in and of
themselves.
Besides the three special dates of Ridvan, there are 8 other holy days in
the Baha’i Faith:
Baha’i Holy Days
Naw-Ruz (Baha’i New
Year) March 21
1st Day of Ridvan
April 21
9th Day of Ridvan
April 29
12th Day of Ridvan May
2
Declaration of the Bab
May 23
Ascension of Baha’u’llah
May 29
Martyrdom of the Bab
July 9
Birth of the Bab
October 20
Birth of Baha’u’llah
November 12
Day of the Covenant
November 26
Ascension of Abdul-Baha
November 28
During all holidays save the Day of the Covenant and the Ascension of
Abdul-Baha Baha’is may not work and must celebrate with prayer and fasting.