The Bahá’í Fast begins every year on the 2nd of March. It is indeed an important month in the life of every Bahá’í. If one wants to improve one’s fasting experience, it seems that deepening in the Law of Fasting is essential, not just before the fast but during the fast as well. No doubt, it is a valuable to read about why we fast, with what spirit we should fast, and what benefits there are with fasting, as we fast. As an aid, here is a compilation on the fast which can be downloaded here Compilation on Fasting.
The story of Badi is fairly well-known and there is a compilation on his life in a previous post at this blog (click here). As to the picture of Badi;
The Shah, who was usually eager to see the photographs of prisoners, ordered a photograph to be taken of Badi’, especially when he had heard the stories of his fortitude under torture. This photograph shows the brazier of fire containing the rods of iron in the foreground and is the best testimony to the spirit of steadfastness and resignation, of calm and assurance which Badi”s face portrays. (Adib Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Baha’u'llah v 3, p. 186)
Abdu’l-Baha says the following about the picture of Badi.
We have also sent unto thee a photograph of His Holiness the glorious Badí whom thy Lord did send to His Highness Nassir-ed’Din-Shah with a manifest epistle by which He perfected the proof and evidence to the people of Persia. … He was sitting between the executioners at the time of his death with all dignity, while turning unto God. (Abdu’l-Baha, Tablets of Abdu’l-Baha v3, p. 717)
But, torture, brand, and torment him as they might, they saw naught but steadfastness and silence, and found naught but dumb endurance [on his part]. So, when the torture gave no result, they [first] photographed him (the executioners on his left and on his right, and he sitting bound in fetters and chains beneath the sword with perfect meekness and composure), and then slew and destroyed him. This photograph I sent for, and found worthy of contemplation, for he was seated with wonderful humility and strange submissiveness, in utmost resignation. (Abdu’l-Baha, A Traveller’s Narrative, p. 58)
Here are two pictures of Badi, worthy of contemplation.
