June 24. On this date in 1949, Shoghi Effendi addressed a letter to an individual believer regarding the form of prayer, noting that "Bahá’u’lláh has reduced all ritual and form to an absolute minimum in His Faith."

June 24. On this date in 1949, Shoghi Effendi addressed a letter to an individual believer regarding the form of prayer, noting that "Bahá’u’lláh has reduced all ritual and form to an absolute minimum in His Faith."

He would advise you to only use the short midday Obligatory Prayer. This has no genuflections and only requires that when saying it the believer turn his face towards 'Akka where Bahá’u’lláh is buried. This is a physical symbol of an inner reality, just as the plant stretches out to the sunlight — from which it receives life and growth — so we turn our hearts to the Manifestation of God, Bahá’u’lláh, when we pray; and we turn our faces, during this short prayer, to where His dust lies on this earth as a symbol of the inner act. Bahá’u’lláh has reduced all ritual and form to an absolute minimum in His Faith. The few forms that there are - like those associated with the two longer obligatory daily prayers, are only symbols of the inner attitude. There is a wisdom in them, and a great blessing, but we cannot force ourselves to understand or feel these things, that is why He gave us also the very short and simple prayer, for those who did not feel the desire to perform the acts associated with the other two.
(24 June 1949)