Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the questions that have been rolling in. Send additional questions to Nancy Watters, nancy@luminous-tones.com. You may also use the forum to ask additional questions, share your experiences or make comments. We hope this stimulates discussion in your community, and that you are creating many wonderful chants of your own.
1. What are some of the the benefits of chanting, as described in Bahá’í Writings?
2. Where does it say that Baha'is can sing and/or recite prayers in unison (together, simultaneously)?
3. What type of singing and chanting can be included in the devotional portion of Baha'i 19-day feasts?
4. Is chanting together "congregational prayer"?
5. What styles of singing and chanting are "reverent" and "respectful"?
Reverence: Honour or respect felt or shown; A feeling of profound awe, respect and love; veneration
6. When composing chants and songs using the Baha'i Writings, are minor alterations in the text permissible, and can words or phrases be repeated?
1. What are some of the the benefits of chanting, as described in Bahá’í Writings?
- Frees people from the chains of care and sorrow
- Creates sweetness, harmony, exhilaration
- Uplifts stainless hearts to realms of spirit which cannot be described
- Adds immeasurably to the vitality and spirit of the community
- Exalts sad and despondent hearts
- Enables a deeper comprehension of the sacred texts
- Causes souls to leap for joy
- Serves as a ladder by which souls may ascend to the realm on high
- Unfolds the inner potentialities of life
- Causes hearts become tumultuous and rise towards the Kingdom of Abhá
- Inflames people with the fire of the love of God
- Kindles and quickens souls
- Attracts the hearts of all
2. Where does it say that Baha'is can sing and/or recite prayers in unison (together, simultaneously)?
- “. . .if they chant supplications together, in a good and effective voice, that is very good.” [‘Abdul-Bahá, Tablets of ‘Abdul-Bahá, p. 464]
- “It would be good to sing prayers in unison, if this could be done with a sweet melody that touches the heart.” [ ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Compilation on Music, p. 3]
- "I am straining my ears toward the East and toward the West, toward the North and toward the South that haply I may hear the songs of love and fellowship chanted in the meetings of the faithful." [H.M. Balyuzi, Abdu'l-Bahá - The Centre of the Covenant, p. 405]
- “It is entirely proper to set prayers to music, and the friends are free to sing prayers in unison.” [From a letter of the Universal House of Justice to the NSA of Australia, Feb. 6, 1973, Compilation on Music, p. 6]
- “Virtually synonymous with devotions in many cultures is the chanting or singing of prayers and songs.” ITC, 3 November 2001, to the Continental Boards of Counsellors, in Wildfire, p. 19
3. What type of singing and chanting can be included in the devotional portion of Baha'i 19-day feasts?
- “A distinction of vital importance should, however, be clearly established between the singing of hymns composed by the believers and the chanting of the Holy Utterances.” "Regarding your question about singing during the devotional portion of the Feast, you are correct in your suggestion that the lyrics in such music should be drawn from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, the Báb and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. The friends are welcome to use music containing non-scriptural lyrics to enrich and enliven other parts of their feasts." [Compilation on Music, p. 11]
4. Is chanting together "congregational prayer"?
- "You have asked whether it is permissible for the friends to chant a prayer collectively. There is a difference between chanting a prayer collectively and congregational prayer. The latter is a formal prayer usually led by an individual using a prescribed ritual. Congregational prayer in this form is forbidden in the Faith except in the case of the Prayer for the Dead. While reciting prayers in unison and spontaneously joining in the recitation of the Words of God is not forbidden, the friends should bear in mind the advice of the beloved Guardian on this subject when he stated that: `...although the friends are thus left free to follow their own inclination, ... they should take the utmost care that any manner they practice should not acquire too rigid a character, and thus develop into an institution." From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer, February 6, 1975, Lights of Guidance, p. 460
5. What styles of singing and chanting are "reverent" and "respectful"?
Reverence: Honour or respect felt or shown; A feeling of profound awe, respect and love; veneration
- “We would assume also that the friends will always keep in mind that whether read, chanted or sung, prayers should be uttered with a proper sense of reverence.” Universal House of Justice to NSA of Australia, 6 February 1973, Compilation on Music, p. 6
- “Music should lead to spirituality, and provided it creates such an atmosphere there can be no objection against it.” [Letter of SE to an individual believer, 17 March 1935, Music: A Ladder for the Soul, p. 21]
- “The believers are called upon to strive to obtain a deeper understanding of the concept of sacredness in the Bahá'í teachings, from which they can determine their own forms of conduct by which reverence and respect are to be expressed.“ [On behalf of the UHJ, 24 Sept. 1987, Wildfire p. 13]
- “…concerning the clapping of hands in songs where the Greatest Name is used, the House of Justice does not want to draw hard and fast rules. Clearly such matters are secondary and subject to cultural considerations, customs, and the social conventions prevailing in a given society.” … for example, clapping, as part of religious expression, is considered offensive; in other cultures, clapping is a means of keeping the rhythm of a hymn, especially in the absence of a musical instrument, and is integral to religious experience; among other peoples, clapping may constitute a demonstration of religious fervour. " "Therefore, it is left to the National Spiritual Assembly to weigh each case with care and sensitivity in light of the prevailing cultural milieu and, if necessary, provide guidance to the friends.” October 1, 1986, from the Universal House of Justice to the International Teaching Centre, no. 20
6. When composing chants and songs using the Baha'i Writings, are minor alterations in the text permissible, and can words or phrases be repeated?
- “It is permissible to use selections from the Holy Writings as lyrics to be accompanied by musical compositions and to repeat verses or words.” Baha’i Writings on Music, compiled by the Universal House of Justice, p. 9 & 10
- “No doubt prayer and parts of the Tablets, “Hidden Words”, etc. will be suitable, but he does not feel it would be advisable to abridge any given part, in other words to leave out parts of a paragraph or a meditation and foreshorten it in this manner.” From a letter dated 3 July 1949 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer.
- "In response to a question from a believer concerning minor alterations of words for the sake of correct accent or the addition of a word for the sake of perfect meter, the beloved Guardian stated the following: “Slight alterations in the text of the prayers are permissible, and I would advise you to give a musical form to the revealed word itself which I feel will be exceedingly effective. I will pray that the Beloved may inspire you to accomplish this great service to His Cause.” (In the handwriting of Shoghi Effendi, appended to a letter date 8 April 1931 written on his behalf to an individual believer.)