p14 epagomenality

Happy 'Ayyam-i-Ha!

By John Taylor; 2008 Feb 25, 19 Mulk, 164 BE

Tomorrow is the first day of a leap year Ayyam-i-Ha celebration, so we will have to suffer through five days of feasting and celebration instead of the usual four. Brace yourself. The kids were pleased to learn that they will be getting five presents instead of the usual four this year. Their first treat will take place tomorrow, when I plan to take them to the Cineplex in Ancaster; my brother, a carpenter, helped build it, but I have never been there yet. Several kids' films are available at this large place, and there is a favorite bookstore right next door, so all will be happy.

A few years ago I made a quibble that technically the interposed days should be called epagomenal days, not intercalary days, since only the fifth day on the leap year, which happens this year, is a true intercalary day. I thought that this had sunk irrevocably into the limbo of whacko ideas and obsolescent doctrines where all my writing goes; but no, to my surprise I just found out that my name has entered the exclusive realm of the Wikipedia, albeit only in a footnote. Check it out yourself at:

< http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayyám-i-Há>

Anyway, if you are looking for ideas on how to celebrate this occasion, the best place on the web that I found was Sue Mitchell's collection at:

<http://www.geocities.com/cwynne19/feast/ha/ayyamiha00.html>

I warn you, this is a female-dominated website. I did not find any men making helpful suggestions for crafts you can make up or activities for the kids on Ayyam-i-Ha. Why is that? Surely celebration is not foreign to male genes, or gonads, or whatever it is we have?

The most interesting essay here for the devotee of philosophy is the essay explaining the meaning of the term "Ha" in Arabic, called "Ayyam-i-Ha: Days outside of Time," by Karla Jamir. She gives a fun definition, even a funny definition, but not a funny ha, ha, definition, if you catch my drift. I will return to this later this Intercalary, though I fear that even a five day celebration is not going to be enough time to grasp this profound meaning "outside of time."

In any case, the American NSA, which may well have included some men, offers the following suggestion for communities celebrating Intercalary:

"Many churches distribute food baskets to the needy during their holiday season. The Baha'is can help with such projects and can observe Ayyam-i-Ha or various Baha'i Holy Days in a similar manner." (Developing Distinctive Baha'i Communities)

The Master offered a more general principle, that we try not to restrict our observances to something that impacts upon ourselves alone.

"... Undoubtedly, the friends of God, upon such a day, must leave tangible, philanthropic or ideal traces that should reach all mankind and not only pertain to the Baha'is."  'Abdu'l-Baha, Star of the West, Vol IX No 1, p9, quoted in Notes For Guidance for LSAs, p29.

And surely the greatest trace we can leave is that of happiness, both in ourselves and those whose lives we can reach out and touch during this time. Baha'u'llah, in ordaining this celebration in the Aqdas, writes,

"It behoveth the people of Baha, throughout these days, to provide good cheer for themselves, their kindred and, beyond them, the poor and needy, and with joy and exultation to hail and glorify their Lord, to sing His praise and magnify His Name; and when they end -- these days of giving that precede the season of restraint --let them enter upon the Fast." (Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 25)

Note that He is ordering us to be of good cheer. Inclined as I am to an attitude of philosophic misery and pessimism right now, in emulation of a philosopher I have been reading lately, Arthur Schopenhauer, I have no choice, I am forced to ditch my exquisite melancholia and become a happy and cheerful being. I know, I will save it for the fast. Judging my violent reactions to missing meals in the past, there will be more than enough funk to go around then. In any case, as a way of cheer-leading myself, I am planning an essay on the Ayyam-i-Ha duty of cheer, due out before the end of this Ayyam-i-Ha.

I will finish with an account of what must be among the Most Greatest Ayyam-i-Has ever, that of Haji Muhammad Tahir-i-Malmiri in 1878 or 1879, as passed on by his son, Adib Taherzadeh, whose last name means "son of Taher." Muhammad Tahir had a luncheon on that first day of Ayyam-i-Ha in the same tent with Baha'u'llah, and, as you will see, even got to share His leftovers. The only way it could have been better was if Abdu'l-Baha had been present. No doubt He was spreading cheer somewhere else at the time. He mentions a fasting prayer that was read before this meal; it would be nice to know which prayer that was. Anyway, here is the story:

 

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When asked by the friends to describe His impressions of the Blessed Beauty, he always recited in answer a Persian poem:

"And wonder at the vision I have dreamed, a secret by my muted tongue concealed; Beauty that is beyond the poet's word, by an unhearing world remains unheard."

The same believer has left to posterity an account of one of the feasts at which he had the honour to be present. These are his words recorded in his memoirs:

In the spring season Baha'u'llah used to stay at Mazra'ih for some time. Mazra'ih is situated at a distance of about two farsangs [about 12 kilometers] from the city of 'Akka. To attain His presence I used to go to Mazra'ih in the daytime and at night I stayed at the Pilgrim House.

On the first day of the Ayyam-i-Ha [Intercalary days] one of the pilgrims had invited Baha'u'llah and all the believers in 'Akka to lunch. I too went to Mazra'ih. Early in the morning a large tent was pitched in front of the entrance to the garden on a delightful open space. That morning all the believers, numbering almost two hundred, consisting of those who were living in the Holy Land and the pilgrims, came to Mazra'ih.

Around the time of noon, the Blessed Beauty came down from the Mansion and majestically entered the tent. All the believers were standing in front of the tent. Then Mirza Aqa Jan, standing in the presence of Baha'u'llah chanted a dawn prayer for fasting which had been revealed on that day. When the prayer was finished the Blessed Beauty instructed all to be seated. Every person sat down in the place where he was standing.

His blessed Person spoke to us and after His utterances were ended He asked, 'What happened to the Feast, is it really going to happen?' Thereupon a few friends hurried away and soon lunch was brought in. They placed a low table in the middle of the tent.

His blessed person and all the Aghsan sat around the table and since there was more room, He called some by name to join Him. Among these my name was called; He said, 'Aqa Tahir, come and sit.' So I went in and sat at the table in His presence. At some point Baha'u'llah said, 'We have become tired of eating. Those who have had enough may leave.' I immediately arose and His blessed Person left.

At first the food which was left over on His plate was divided among the friends, and then group after group entered the tent and had their meal. Everyone at this feast partook of both physical and spiritual food. I got the prayer of fasting from Mirza Aqa Jan and copied it for myself. Then in the evening all the friends returned to 'Akka. But the Master was not present that day. (Adib Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Baha'u'llah v 4, pp. 8-10)