In the 'Aqdas' Baha’u’llah permits certain exceptions to
this general obligation of fasting, among them are included those who do hard
work, such as workers in heavy industries.
But while a universal obligation, the observance of the
nineteen day fast has been made by Baha’u’llah the sole responsibility of the
individual believer. No Assembly has the right to enforce it on the friends, or
to hold anybody responsible for not observing it. The believer is free,
however, to ask the advice of his Assembly as to the circumstances that would
justify him to conscientiously break such a fast. But he is by no means
required to do so.
- Shoghi Effendi (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an
individual believer, March 9, 1937; compilation: Lights of Guidance)
