Exploring the Impact of Memorizing the Words of God on Individuals and on the Local Community of Bimbo

Introduction

My experience with memorization began during my childhood, and it was deeply rooted in the Bahá’í Community of Goma where I was raised. My father embraced the Bahá’í Faith from Christianity when I was seven years old, a drastic departure from his previous opposition to it and his efforts to persuade my mother to convert from her belief in the Bahá’í Faith to Christianity. As I was limited in my understanding of my father’s spiritual journey, his previous religious stance initially confused me. Today, however, I often joke that ironically, my father evolved to be an even more devout Bahá’í than my mother.

His fervor manifested in his insistence that we memorize various quotations and prayers. Failure to do so could result in certain consequences. As part of children classes, we were invited to recite these passages at community gatherings during Bahá’í Holy Days.

In this blog post, I will briefly discuss the importance of memorization in the Bahá’í Faith. In addition, I will report on the experience of memorization gatherings in the locality of Bimbo in the Central African Republic (CAR). To close, I will share how the practice of committing the Word of God to memory has had an impact on a few individuals.

The Importance of Memorization in the Bahá’í Faith

The Central figures of the Bahá’í Faith emphasized the value of committing the Words of God to memory long before the Training Institute made it a common practice. The Báb instructed that “…every breast which committeth His [Bahá’u’lláh’s] Words to memory, God shall cause, if it were that of a believer, to be filled with His love….”[2] Furthermore, in the Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, Bahá’u’lláh proclaimed: “Blessed art thou […] for this Tablet which hath been sent down for thee—a Tablet which causeth the souls of men to soar. Commit it to memory, and recite it….”[3]

Bahá’ís recognize the significance of committing the Word of God to memory and its transformative power over the human heart. We bear in mind Bahá’u’lláh’s teaching: “The Word of God is the king of words and its pervasive influence is incalculable. […] The Word is the master key for the whole world, inasmuch as through its potency the doors of the hearts of men, which in reality are the doors of heaven, are unlocked.”[1]

Echoing His Father, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá emphasized that “memorizing the texts of the holy Tablets, and of perspicuous words and statements is highly praiseworthy….”[4]

Committing the Words of God to memory is particularly vital in the teaching field. Its purpose is to differentiate one’s own interpretations of the Writings and to transmit the authentic Words of God. Thus, “…the ideal way of teaching is to substantiate our points by continual reference to the actual words of Bahá'u'lláh and the Master. This approach safeguards the Cause from individual misinterpretations. The truth lies in what these divine Lights have stated, hence their words should authenticate our statements.”[5] And to close, Shoghi Effendi adds, “the friends should read the Writings and be able to quote from the Tablets when discussing subjects pertaining to the Faith.”[6]

Memorization Gatherings: An Experience From the Locality of Bimbo in CAR

The locality of Bimbo, located in the cluster of Bimbo—one of the most advanced clusters in CAR—holds a special devotional gathering at the Bahá’í Centre on the last Sunday of each month. This gathering is dedicated to memorization. After the opening prayers, individuals retire into a corner to memorize prayers or quotations of their choosing. To support those who cannot read, experienced tutors accompany adults, while animators and children class teachers work with junior youth and children. Once the allotted time to memorize is over, everyone regroups to share their progress. Those who have not completed their memorization tasks are encouraged to continue throughout the week.

The Auxiliary Board member, Mr. Jean Robert Yokodjean, reported that the concept for these gatherings originated from the Institutional meeting that launched the Nine Year Plan in CAR. Participants were contemplating the Elements of the Framework for Action[7], with a particular focus on engaging in the prevalent discourses in society. To be effective in these discussions, they acknowledged the need to enrich their ability to commit the Words of God to memory. Indeed, in the context of executing the Plan, the Universal House of Justice called on “the friends to memorize selections from the Writings. If a believer finds it difficult to memorize, he may be encouraged to make for his own use a selection of extracts, however brief, which he could reread and enjoy at his own leisure, to satisfy his inner soul.”[8] Subsequently, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of CAR introduced this theme in seminars aiming at raising the institutional capacity of Local Spiritual Assemblies throughout the country.

Furthermore, Mr. Yokodjean emphasized the significance of these gatherings in the locality of Bimbo. One key reason is the strong sense of mutual support that permeates the sessions. Additionally, many have expressed that while memorization can be challenging when done alone, it becomes easier and more enjoyable in these gatherings.

In some communities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where illiteracy is widespread, the primary means of accessing the Word of God is through memorization. Remarkably, the friends even memorize messages from the Universal House of Justice, often transmitted through songs. Nevertheless, the experience of Bimbo stands out because it involves the entire community, making it a truly remarkable example among these stories.

Insights From Individuals’ Experiences with Memorization

A friend once observed that committing the Word of God to memory is akin to ingesting medicine. Regardless of one's faith in the remedy, it will nonetheless engage with the body to eradicate the disease. She reached this conclusion after years of rejecting the concept of God and His Words in her adolescence and early adulthood. After studying Book 1 and committing the quotations in it to memory, however, she found they had a profound impact on her that even the most thought-provoking philosophical ideas she devoured did not. The quotations would arise within her, uninvited, influencing her thoughts and actions.

This experience isn't isolated. Mr. Yokodjean reported a personal transformation he observed in a Muslim woman while she was studying Book 1. With the help of her tutor, she had memorized every quotation in that book. She shared that when tackling obstacles or offering advice, she would fortify her points with a quotation. For instance, a neighbor remembered her ending a gossip session by declaring, “…backbiting quencheth the light of the heart, and extinguisheth the life of the soul”.[9]

Similarly, a friend who regularly participates in memorization gatherings in the CAR conveyed that these sessions have assisted him in expanding the number of prayers and quotations he can recall, as well as revisiting those he had previously forgotten. He shared a dream where his late mother seemed to be in need of prayers. Upon awakening, he realized he had donated his printed prayer book, and his phone was not able to access the electronic version. To his distress, he had not committed to memory a single prayer for the departed. The following morning at the devotional gathering, he found it much simpler to select a prayer to memorize.

I want to express my sincere gratitude to Ms. Bitiya Elias in Ethiopia, as well as Messrs Jean Robert Yokodjean and Ismaël Sobogon in CAR for sharing their experiences. I'm also grateful to Susan Flores, Reema Jones, and Faith Alusia for their meticulous proofreading of this composition. Nevertheless, I am fully responsible for any remaining errors.

References

[1]Bahá’u’lláh, Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh Revealed After the Kitáb-i-Aqdas 173 (1988).

[2]The Báb, Selections from the Writings of the Báb 98-99 (1982).

[3]Bahá’u’lláh, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf 175 (1988)

[4] Research Department at the Bahá’í World Centre, Importance of Deepening Our Knowledge and Understanding of the Faith, 32 (Compilation 1983)

[5] Id., at 215

[6] Id., at 105

[7]Letter Dated 24 July 2013 on Behalf of the Universal House of Justice to The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Canada, para 5

[8] Research Department of the Bahá’í World Centre, The Local Spiritual Assemblies (Compilation) 1354 (1991)

[9]Bahá’u’lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh 125 (1988).

In retrospect, this rigorous practice was advantageous. By the time I engaged with the Institute process, I had already memorized many quotations in the Ruhi books, often in their extended forms. Furthermore, I came to appreciate this aspect of my upbringing after a conversation with a friend from Iran. She shared that when she was growing up, Bahá’í youth were compelled to memorize a substantial amount of the writings, the Kitáb-i-Aqdas included, primarily because government officials could arrest anyone in possession of Bahá’í literature.

Two years into the Nine Year Plan, Bahá’í communities globally are experiencing diverse avenues to accelerate the release of the society-building power of the Faith in ever greater measures, and we can learn from each other. Apart from the evident personal benefits of memorizing the Word of God, the community of Bimbo has directly associated this practice with effective participation in the prevalent discourses in society. Significantly, the concept of memorization gatherings did not remain at an abstract level, but rather the community of Bimbo is experiencing it in action.

Do you have similar experiences to share? Please let us know in the comments section.

Acknowledgements