e most holy of places for Bah's. Other laws include the use of alcohol and narcotic drugs, which are strictly forbidden, unless used for medicinal purposes. It is believed that the substances do harm to the higher physical and mental faculties, therefore stunting any spiritual development. As for tobacco, it is not forbidden, but it is strongly criticized due to the harming of one's gift of health and prosperity that God has given. Bah's are required to fast (to have no food or water) from the second day of March to the twenty-first day, nineteen days in length, from sunrise to sunset. The fast is viewed as a time of spiritual preparation and regeneration for the believers and for the new year called Naw Ruz, which follows the nineteen day fast. The calendar followed by the Faith differs from a Christian calendar. It consists of nineteen months each having nineteen days, making a total of 361 days. On the nineteenth day, a celebration called a 'Feast' partakes among the Bah' community. It is here that they pray, sing, promote, encourage and consult with one another about the Faith. There is no Clergy and the Faith has no Priest, Mullah, or Rabbi leading the believers, it is left up to each individual believer to find their own self worth with God and not to be lead or influenced by others. Many faiths have a particular type of symbol, there is no official Bah' symbol, but a nine pointed star is often used. Nine is the highest numerical digit and as such, the Faith believes that a nine-pointed star portrays comprehensiveness, culmination and perfection. Bah's believe that again another messenger will come. The writings of the Faith proclaim it will be approximately one thousand years after the proclamation of Bah'u'llh.For forty-eight years Bah'u'llh was persecuted, exiled and shunned for his message and teachings of unity. Many Christians, Muslims and non-religious converted willingly to his message, while many judged and...
