Obligatory Baháʼí prayers are prayers which are to be said daily by Baháʼís according to a fixed form decreed by Baháʼu'lláh. Prayers in the Baháʼí Faith are reverent words which are addressed to God, and refers to two distinct concepts: obligatory prayer and devotional prayer (general prayer). The act of prayer is one of the most important Baháʼí laws for individual discipline. and the purpose of the obligatory prayer is to foster the development of humility and devotion. The obligation of daily obligatory prayer was prescribed by Baháʼu'lláh, the founder of the Baháʼí Faith, in his book of laws, the Kitáb-i-Aqdas.
In the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, Baháʼu'lláh confirmed the law of daily obligatory prayer and wrote that the specific obligatory prayer was recorded in a separate tablet or writing. Baháʼu'lláh wrote the text mentioned, but never released it in order to avoid provoking conflict with Muslims. The purpose of the obligatory prayer is to foster the development of humility and devotion.]]
Unlike general prayers in the Baháʼí Faith, there are specific regulations concerning the obligatory prayers; however, obligatory prayer is a personal spiritual obligation and thus no Baháʼí administrative sanction can be obtained if a Baháʼí fails to say their prayer daily.
Medium prayer
The medium obligatory prayer must be said three times during the day: once between sunrise and noon, once between noon and sunset, and once after sunset till two hours after sunset. It includes a series of positions and movements from one position to the next, along with specific supplications. The prayer stresses the power and loftiness of God, and the grace that is shown through his revelation.
Long prayer
The long obligatory prayer can be said anytime during the day. It includes a series of positions and movements from one position to the next, along with specific supplications. The prayer also includes parts where the supplicant says the Greatest Name of God in the form of "Allah-u-Abha" at several points. The text of the long obligatory prayer can be found in Baháʼu'lláh's Prayers and Meditations. This prayer is known in Arabic as salat and as namaz in Persian, and is similar to the Islamic salat.
Laws
There are a number of laws and practices associated with the obligatory prayers concerning how to say the obligatory prayer, when Baháʼís are exempt from saying the obligatory prayers, and what to do if one misses saying an obligatory prayer.
Practices
There are certain practices that must be associated with the saying of the obligatory prayers. They include performing ablution, which consist of washing the hands and face, before the obligatory prayer. In the case that water is unavailable, or its use harmful to the face or hands, the verse "In the Name of God, the Most Pure, the Most Pure" should be repeated five times. The prayer should be said while the reader is facing the Qiblih which is the Shrine of Baháʼu'lláh. It is also preferable for the reader to be standing while saying the obligatory prayers in an attitude of humble reverence. Baháʼí's are also obliged to repeat the Greatest Name (Alláh-u-Abhá) 95 times a day while sitting. Ablutions are also prescribed for this, but it is not necessary to do them again if the repetitions are done right after the daily obligatory prayer.
Exemptions
Exemptions from saying the obligatory prayer include: