He wishes also to stress the fact that, according to our
Bahá'í laws, work is forbidden on our nine Holy Days. Believers who have
independent businesses or shops should refrain from working on these days.
Those who are in government employ should, on religious grounds, make an effort
to be excused from work; all believers, whoever their employers, should do
likewise. If the government, or other employers, refuse to grant them these days
off, they are not required to forfeit their employment, but they should make
every effort to have the independent status of their Faith recognized and their
right to hold their own religious Holy Days acknowledged.
- Shoghi Effendi (From letter written
on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the American National Spiritual Assembly, dated 7
July 1947 -- Bahá'í News, No. 198; included in a letter from the Universal
House of Justice to all National Spiritual Assemblies, dated 28 January 1966;
‘Messages from the Universal House of Justice 1963-1986’)
