Naw-Rúz Confirmed in the Most Holy Book

*A retelling that quotes the **Kitáb-i-Aqdas** of Bahá'u'lláh, with the notes and the Questions and Answers published with it. Passages in quotation marks are the words of that volume.*

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The Báb gave His followers a new calendar. The notes to the Kitáb-i-Aqdas explain that "In the Bayán, the Báb ordained the month of 'Alá to be the month of fasting, decreed that the day of Naw-Rúz should mark the termination of that period, and designated Naw-Rúz as the Day of God."

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Bahá'u'lláh revealed the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, His Most Holy Book, in 'Akká in about 1873, and in it He confirmed that calendar. "The number of months in a year, appointed in the Book of God, is nineteen," He wrote. "Of these the first hath been adorned with this Name which overshadoweth the whole of creation." That first month is named Bahá, and its first day is Naw-Rúz.

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In the same Book He joined the Fast and the festival: **"O people of the world! We have enjoined upon you fasting during a brief period, and at its close have designated for you Naw-Rúz as a feast."** The Báb had not fixed a place in the year for the few days left over after nineteen months of nineteen days. Bahá'u'lláh settled it in the next lines: "Let the days in excess of the months be placed before the month of fasting."

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Of the first day of the month of Bahá He wrote: "Happy the one who entereth upon the first day of the month of Bahá, the day which God hath consecrated to this Great Name." And: "Say: This day, verily, is the crown of all the months and the source thereof, the day on which the breath of life is wafted over all created things."

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When He was later asked about Naw-Rúz, Bahá'u'lláh answered: **"The Festival of Naw-Rúz falleth on the day that the sun entereth the sign of Aries, even should this occur no more than one minute before sunset."** The notes add that Naw-Rúz can therefore fall on 20, 21 or 22 March, depending on the time of the equinox.

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*This is a retelling. For the fuller account, see the **Kitáb-i-Aqdas** of Bahá'u'lláh, paragraphs 16, 111 and 127, Questions and Answers 35, and notes 26 and 27.*

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