Nineteen-Day Fast

Part of a series on the
Baháʼí Faith
Central figures Baháʼu'lláh The Báb ʻAbdu'l-Bahá
Basics Teachings Unity of God Unity of humanity Unity of religion Laws Prayer Calendar Nineteen Day Feast
Key scripture Kitáb-i-Aqdas Kitáb-i-Íqán The Hidden Words Some Answered Questions Other Texts
Institutions Covenant of Baháʼu'lláh Administrative Order The Guardianship Universal House of Justice Spiritual Assemblies
History Baháʼí history Timeline Bábism Persecution
People Shoghi Effendi Hands of the Cause Apostles Other Baháʼís Bábis Letters of the Living Mullá Husayn Táhirih
Places House of Worship Shrine of Baháʼu'lláh Qiblih Shrine of the Báb Síyáh-Chál World Centre Pilgrimage Haifa Acre
Other topics Socioeconomic development Progressive revelation Cosmology Symbols Prophecies Statistics Orthography
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Adherents of the Baháʼí Faith observe a sunrise-to-sunset fast for nineteen days every March. The practice is regarded as one of the most significant obligations of a Baháʼí, along with daily obligatory prayers. There are several exemptions to the fast, such as pregnancy or illness, and it only applies to those 15 to 70 years old.

The nineteen-day fast was instituted by the Báb, a central figure of the religion. It was later affirmed by Baháʼu'lláh, the founder, and explained in his Kitáb-i-Aqdas. The purpose of the fast is to practice abstinence from carnal desires, rejuvenate one's inner spiritual life, and bring to mind the deprivation experienced by prophets.^[2]

The nineteen days of fasting occur immediately after Ayyam-i-Ha, the four or five intercalary days of the Baháʼí calendar dedicated to prepare for the upcoming month of restraint. The fast concludes at the festival of Naw Ruz, on the vernal equinox (20–21 March, depending on the year).

For 2024, fasting takes place from 1-19 March.^[3]