The Divine wisdom in fasting is manifold. Among them is
this: As during those days (i.e. the period of fasting which the followers
afterward observe) the Manifestation of the Sun of Reality, through Divine
inspiration, is engaged in the Descent of Verses, the instituting of Divine Law
and the arrangement of Teachings, through excessive occupation and intense
attraction there remains no condition or time for eating and drinking. For
example, when His Holiness Moses went to Mount Tur (Sinai) and there engaged in
instituting the Law of God, he fasted forty days. For the purpose of awakening
and admonishing the people of Israel, fasting was enjoined upon them.
Likewise His Holiness Christ in the beginning of instituting
the Spiritual Law, the systematizing of the Teachings and the arrangement of
counsels, for forty days abstained from eating and drinking. In the beginning the
disciples and Christians fasted. Later the assemblages of the chief Christians
changed fasting into Lenten observances.
Likewise the Koran having descended in the month Ramazan,
fasting during that month became a duty. In like manner His Holiness the Supreme
(the Bab), in the beginning of the Manifestation, through the excessive effect
of descending Verses, passed days in which his nourishment was reduced to tea
only.
