Dawn Prayers

Landscape Architect and Urban Designer James Craig interweaves Baha'i principles with community rebuilding and shares his vision of the new era of community building, using fractals as a metaphor.

1. The Tablet of Ahmad has been invested by Bahá’u’lláh with a special potency and significance, and should therefore be accepted as such and be recited by the believers with unquestioning faith and confidence, that through them they may enter into a much closer communion with God, and identify themselves more fully with His laws and precepts.“  —From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi.

This tablet reveals a mystical supplication and answer between the twin stations of Bahá'u'lláh, human and divine, that expresses a powerful message of victory and great promise. 

Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night and start worrying? Do small worries ever multiply into major disasters in the dark in your head? 

Abdul-Baha says, " O seeker of truth! If thou desirest that God may open thine eye, thou must supplicate unto God, pray to and commune with Him at midnight."

the midnight prayer reminds us of God's covenant to us that says He will never leave us. Even when we wake up scared in the dark. Sellp well, peaceful one.

Bahá ʼu' lláh has revealed three obligatory prayers (this is the medium length one), any of which can be chosen, and when used in the way prescribed, fulfills the obligation. THey should be said individually but are not ddependant on a private spot.

Performing ablutions (which are washing the hands and face in preparation for prayer), and facing East, are fixed requirements for the recitation of obligatory prayers.

"By 'morning,' "noon," and 'evening,' mentioned in connection with Obligatory Prayers, it is meant respectively the intervals between sunrise and noon, between noon and sunset, and from sunset till two hours before sunset."

Age two is a good time to introduce your children or grandchildren to spiritual education. And prayer is the superpower they don't even know they have. Children love when adults pray for them. These morning prayers will inspire you and your children to start the day with gratitude. You can imagine your children as portals to pray through, so you can reach all of the children on the planet with your prayers.

1. Blessed is the spot...

Spending time with the Divine before starting your day, making your lists, and focusing on others, is grounding and purpose driven. It is the way to be organized and go about your day with intention, instead of reacting to the craziness of the outer world. When your inner world is calm, it has a calming effect your outer world, too.

1.  I give praise to thee, O my God, that Thou has awakened me out of my sleep and brought me forth after my disappearance....

He who puts his trust in God, God will suffice him.

He who fears God, God will send him relief.

- Baha’u’llah  

(Quoted by Hand of the Cause Balyuzi in

While Baha’u’llah was in Baghdad, in about 1861, the Governor was wrongfully dismissed from his position, placed under house-arrest and cut off from all association with anyone outside. A personal friend of the dismissed Governor (Vali) by the name 'Abdu'llah Pasha, found himself prevented from meeting him. As he too was threatened, he realized that he stood in great danger. He had no one to turn to but Bahá'u'lláh, Who received him graciously and kindly, advising him not to grieve. He instructed him on how to go about seeing the Vali. 'Go and tell the Vali from Us,' He told 'Abdu'llah Pasha, 'to put his trust wholly in God, and repeat every day, nineteen times, these two verses: "He who puts his trust in God, God will suffice him" and "He who fears God, God will send him relief."' This, the Vali did, and after three days the conditions in the Ottoman Capital changed drastically, and the Governor of Baghdad was returned to his position.

Baha'i Points of Interest, (Adapted from ‘Baha'u'llah -The King of Glory’, by Balyuzi)

Having clung tenaciously to Thy Cord, O my God, I have detached myself from all mankind, and having set my face towards the habitation of Thy tender mercy, I have turned away from all created things...

Praised be Thou for having kindled that light in the glass of the Concourse on high, for having guided that bird of faithfulness to the nest of the Abhá Kingdom... 

I know not, O my God, what the Fire is which Thou didst kindle in Thy land...

Fill up for me the cup of detachment from all things, and in the assembly of Thy splendors and bestowals, rejoice me with the wine of loving Thee... 

O SON OF BOUNTY! Out of the wastes of nothingness, with the clay of My command I made thee to appear, and have ordained for thy training every atom in existence and the essence of all created things...

Make Thy beauty to be my food, and Thy presence my drink, and Thy pleasure my hope, and praise of Thee my action, and remembrance of Thee my companion, and the power of Thy sovereignty my succorer, and Thy habitation my home, and my dwelling-place the seat Thou hast sanctified from the limitations imposed upon them who are shut out as by a veil from Thee...

Thou seest me, O my Lord, with my face turned towards the heaven of Thy bounty and the ocean of Thy favor, withdrawn from all else beside Thee...

Consider the prejudice of patriotism this is one globe one land one country god did not divide it...

Know thou that every soul is fashioned after the nature of God, each being pure and holy at his birth...

May all your intentions center in the welfare of humanity, and may you seek to sacrifice yourselves in the pathway of devotion to mankind...

Every time I attempt to make mention of Thee, I am hindered by the sublimity of Thy station and the overpowering greatness of Thy might...

I beg Thee to forgive me and those who support Thy Faith...

The Sun of Truth hath risen above the horizon of this world and cast down its beams of guidance...

 This is a child that hath sprung from the loins of one of Thy servants to whom Thou hast granted a distinguished station in the Tablets of Thine irrevocable decree in the Books of Thy behest...

These children are the plants of Thine orchard, the flowers of Thy meadow, the roses of Thy garden...

Protect these children, graciously assist them to be educated and enable them to render service to the world of humanity...

Lauded be Thy name, O Lord my God!