Gather ye together with the utmost joy and fellowship and recite the verses revealed by the merciful Lord. By so doing the doors to true knowledge will be opened to your inner beings, and ye will then feel your souls endowed with stead-fastness and your hearts filled with radiant joy.
Prayer is essential in the weave of Baháʼí life, whether on an individual level, or society level. Devotional gatherings in which we meet with friends and neighbors, from different religious, and cultural backgrounds, are occasions that welcome any soul who wishes to experience the sweetness of prayer. These gatherings awaken the spiritual susceptibilities within the participants and generate feelings of fellowship and common cause in the participants, particularly in the spiritually heightened conversations that occur naturally at such times. When prayer is integrated with service projects performed by the participants together, they lead to the creation of a pattern of community life that is infused with the spirit of worship and focuses on achieving spiritual and material prosperity for all.
The perfect embodiment of worship and service appears in the institution of Mashríq-ul-Adhkár (Baháʼí Houses of Worship). The structure comprises a central building that forms the focal point of worship in a geographical area, and dependencies dedicated to the provision of education, healthcare and other services concerned with the social and economic progress of the community. It is a place where all people from different religious backgrounds gather to pray to God, the One Creator, each in their own way of worship. Also, they gather to consult and discuss the needs and challenges of their neighborhood or city, united in their love of God, love for humanity and sincere desire to serve for the good and prosperity of all people, free from any prejudice.
