Dear Baha'i friends,
Thank you for your letter of 4 March 1974 enclosing the inquiry from the Baha'i Group of Isafjoerdur. It has become apparent from a number of questions we have received that many believers are not clear which are those laws already binding upon the Baha'is in the West. We therefore feel it is timely to clarify the situation, and the simplest way is to state those laws listed in the Synopsis and Codification of the Kitab-i-Aqdas which are not at present binding upon the friends in the western world. For ease of reference we give the numbers of the sections listed.
IV.A.(4)(c) The
law regarding the exemption from obligatory prayer granted to women in their
courses.
IV.A.(10) The
law concerning ablutions, with the exception of the ablutions required for the
Medium Obligatory Prayer which are described in Section CLXXXII of Prayers and
Meditations and are required for the recitation of that prayer.
IV.A.(12) The
law concerning actions to be taken in place of an Obligatory Prayer missed on
account of insecure conditions.
IV.B.(5)(a) The
definition of travellers for the purpose of exemption from fasting. Instead of these definitions the believers in
the West should observe the following guidance given by the beloved Guardian's
<p278> secretary on his behalf:
"travellers are exempt from fasting, but if they want to fast while
they are travelling, they are free to do so. You are exempt the whole period of
your travel, not just the hours you are in a train or car, etc. ..."
IV.B.(5)(f) The
law regarding the exemption from fasting granted to women in their courses.
IV.C.(1)(i) The
laws governing betrothal.
IV.C.(1)(j) The
law concerning the payment of a dowry by the groom to the bride on marriage.
IV.C.(1)(1) and (in) The laws concerning the travelling of a husband away from his wife
IV.C.(1)(n) and (o) The laws relating to the virginity of the wife.IV.C.(2)(b) That
part of the divorce law relating to fines payable to the House of Justice.
IV.C.(3) The law of inheritance. This is normally covered by civil laws of
intestacy at the present time.
IV.D.(1)(a) The
law of pilgrimage.
IV.D.(1)(b) The
law of Huququ'llah is not yet applied to the western friends.
IV.D.(1)(d) The
law of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkar is gradually being put into effect.
IV.D.(1)(f) The
Baha'i Festivals are being celebrated by the western friends on their
anniversaries in the Gregorian calendar until such time as the Universal House
of Justice deems it desirable to pass supplementary legislation necessary for
the full implementation of the Badi' calendar.
IV.D.(1)(j) The
age of maturity applies only to Baha'i religious duties as yet. On other matters it is subject to the civil
law of each country. The age of
administrative maturity in the Baha'i community has, for the time being, been
fixed at 21.
IV.D.(1)(k) For
the burial of the dead the only requirements now binding in the West are to
bury the body (not to cremate it), not to carry it more than a distance of one
hour's journey from the place of death, and to say the Prayer for the Dead if
the deceased is a believer over the age of 15.
IV.D.(1)(p) The
law of tithes.
IV.D.(1)(q) The
law concerning the repetition of the Greatest Name 95 times a day.
IV.D.(1)(r) The
law concerning the hunting of animals.
IV.D.(1)(t), (u), (v) and (w) The laws relating to the finding of lost property, the
disposition of treasure trove, the disposal of objects held in trust and
compensation for manslaughter are all designed for a future state of
society. These matters are usually
covered by the civil law of each country.
IV.D.(1)(y) (xiv), (xv), (xvi) and (xvii) Arson, adultery,
murder and theft are all forbidden to Baha'is, but the punishments prescribed
for them in the Kitab-i-Aqdas are designed for a future state of society. Such
matters are usually covered by the civil laws of each country.
IV.D.(1)(y) (xxv), (xxx), (xxxi) and (xxxii) The laws
prohibiting the use of the type of pools which used to be found in Persian
baths, the plunging of one's hand in food, the shaving of one's head and the
growth of men's hair below the lobe of the car.
All the exhortations, listed in section IVD.(3), are applicable universally at the present time insofar as it is possible for the friends to implement them; for example, the exhortation to teach one's children to chant the Holy Verses in the Mashriqu'l-Adhkar can be literally carried out only on a limited scale at the present time, but the friends should, nevertheless, teach their children the Holy Writings as far as possible.
With loving Baha'i greetings,
The Universal House of Justice
(Messages from the Universal House of Justice, ‘1963-1986’)
