The Day of Covenant, is a day of reflection for the Baha is. The Covenant is the uniting force of the Baha i faith. It is the agreement through which the Baha is on turning towards an appointed successor will receive constant divinely ordained guidance. The Baha is offer their thanks to God for His constant guidance extended to Humanity. Actually, it is the instructed day of Abdu l Baha, the son of Baha u llah, to be commemorated as the day of the Centre of the Covenant s appointment.
This is observed as a Holy Day by the Baha is and is held annually. The Day of Covenant was created by Abdu l Baha on the request of the Bahaais of America in the early 1900s, who were keen on celebrating his birthday. Now, Abdu l Baha was born on 23 May, the day of the Declaration of the Bab (another Holy Day of the Baha is). He felt, that day belonged particularly to the Bab and therefore he chose another date, 26 November to observe the Day of Covenant.
Bahaullah s oldest son, Abdul Baha was Bahaullah s appointed successor or the center of Baha u llah s Covenant along with His followers. He was also the authorized Interpretor of His Father s Writings and was also the perfect example of His Father s Teachings. In a contrast to the other Baha i Holy Days, this day does not demand refrain from work and neither is it compulsory to celebrate the day.
Though Abdu l Baha is no Prophet in His own right, such is His distinction that His writings are a vital part of the Bahai Holy Writings. The Baha is revere Him as the Master . Abdu l Baha did not want this Holy Day to be suspended from work as He never wanted to be on an equal level with Baha u llah. Moreover, He considered Himself to be His Father s servant.
The greatness of Abdu l Baha lies in the fact that He never sought honor for Himself, nor did he wish to achieve glory, but He always wished to be known as His Father s servant. His name, Abdu l Baha also implies the servant of Baha .
The Day of Covenant is a celebration of Abdu l Baha s life, but in a deeper sense it depicts the celebration of the establishment of the Covenant of the Baha u llah. The day marks a greater emphasis on the promise made by Baha u llah to His followers that in exchange of their obedience, He would ensure them their unity and also establish the Kingdom of God on Earth through them.
Baha u llah commanded His followers to turn to the Center of the Covenant, which is represented by Abdu l Baha, after His death. Therefore, the Master and the Covenant are inseparable and a celebration of one will automatically be a celebration for the other also.
However, in the Bahaai faith, the Day of Covenant and the anniversary of the Passing of Abdu l Baha are the only two Holy Days when work is not required to be suspended.