Baha’i Prayers: Structure and Interiority

Analyzing the language of prayer in the compilation *The Prayers and Meditations of Baha'u'llah*, side-by-side in English and the original Arabic/Persian, a common structure is found in which a prayer begins with almost always the same opening praise of God *ṣubḥanika* (Glory be to Thee / Magnified by Thy name / Praised be Thou), followed by affirming the means (e.g., the Manifestation of God, blood of martyers, sighs of true lovers of God) by which one is empowered to make requests of God.  Then a request stated and there is an affirmation of God's power to do His will and a listing of some of His names and attributes. The author compares this basic structure to Islamic prayers from different traditions. He then reflects upon what this basic structure may convey about the nature of one's internal life as well as how prayer might become shared in interfaith devotional gatherings.