The Universal House of Justice
Baha’i World Center
Department of the Secretariat
9 May 1993
To all National Spiritual Assemblies
Dear Baha'i Friends,
Applicability of the Laws of the Kitab-i-Aqdas
In the introduction to the English translation of the
Kitab-i-Aqdas it is stated that its publication does not increase the number of
laws which are binding on Baha'is. As an assistance to those friends who may
not have a clear understanding of the matter, the Universal House of Justice
has instructed us to send you the attached copy of a letter which it wrote to
the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Iceland, on 9 June 1974, to
identify those laws which were not then universally applicable. The law of
Huququ'llah was applied universally at Ridvan 1992. In due course, the
Universal House of Justice will announce further applications of the laws when
the friends have had the opportunity of familiarizing themselves with the Most
Holy Book and when it is propitious to do so. National Spiritual Assemblies are
asked to share this letter and its enclosure with the friends under their
jurisdiction.
With loving Baha'i greetings,
For Department of the Secretariat
The Universal House of Justice
9 June 1974
The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Iceland
Dear Baha'i Friends,
Thank you for your letter of 4 March 1974 enclosing the
enquiry from the Baha'i Group of Isafjordur. 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 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 d. 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.l & m The laws concerning the
travelling of a husband away from his wife.
IV.C.1.n & 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. [It became universally applicable at Ridvan 1992]
IV.D.1.d The law of the Mashriqu’l-Adkar 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. [please
see July 2014 letter from the Universal House of Justice]
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 & 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 & 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, 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
ear.
All the exhortations, listed in section IV.D.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-Adkar 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,
(signed) The Universal House of Justice
