Service and worship are at the heart of the pattern of community
life that Bahá'ís around the world are trying to bring into being.
They are two distinct, yet inseparable elements that propel the
life of the community forward. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá writes that, “Success
and prosperity depend upon service to and worship of God”.
Prayer
is integral to Bahá'í life, whether at the level of the
individual, the community, or the institutions. Bahá'ís turn their
hearts in prayer to God repeatedly throughout the day—imploring
His assistance, supplicating Him on behalf of loved ones, offering
praise and gratitude, and seeking divine confirmations and
guidance. In addition, meetings of consultation and gatherings
where friends have come together to undertake one or another
project commonly begin and end with prayers.
Bahá'ís
also host gatherings in which friends, Bahá'ís and others alike,
unite together in prayer, often in one another’s homes. Devotional
meetings such as these serve to awaken spiritual susceptibilities
within the participants, and in concert with the acts of service
they perform, lead to a pattern of community life that is infused
with the spirit of devotion and focused on the attainment of
spiritual and material prosperity.
The integration of
devotion and service finds expression in the institution of the
Mashriqu’l-Adhkár. The structure comprises a central building that
forms the focal point of worship in a geographical area, and
dependencies dedicated to the provision of education, healthcare
and other services concerned with the social and economic progress
of the community. Although there are but a few Mashriqu’l-Adhkárs
in the world today, the seeds for their eventual establishment are
being planted in an increasing number of communities, and in the
future every locality will benefit from such a physical structure.