QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

1.    QUESTION:  Concerning the Most Great Festival.

 ANSWER:  The Most Great Festival commenceth  late in the afternoon of the thirteenth day of the  second month of the year according to the Bayan.  On the first, ninth and twelfth days of this  Festival, work is forbidden.

2.    QUESTION:  Concerning the Festival of the Twin Birthdays.

 ANSWER:  The Birth of the Abha Beauty+F1 was  at the hour of dawn on the second day of the  month of Muharram,+F2 the first day of which  marketh the Birth of His Herald.  These two days  are accounted as one in the sight of God.

3.    QUESTION:  Concerning the Marriage Verses.+F3

 ANSWER:  For men:  "We will all, verily, abide by  the Will of God."  For women:  "We will all,  verily, abide by the Will of God."

4.    QUESTION:  Should a man go on a journey without  specifying a time for his return--without indicating, in  other words, the expected period of his absence--and  should no word be heard of him thereafter, and all trace

+F1 Baha'u'llah +F2 First month of the Islamic lunar calendar +F3 In Arabic the two verses differ in gender

 of him be lost, what course should be followed by his  wife?

 ANSWER:  Should he have omitted to fix a time for  his return despite being aware of the stipulation of  the Kitab-i-Aqdas in this regard, his wife should  wait for one full year, after which she shall be free  either to adopt the course that is praiseworthy, or  to choose for herself another husband.  If, however,  he be unaware of this stipulation, she should abide  in patience until such time as God shall please to  disclose to her his fate.  By the course that is  praiseworthy in this connection is meant the  exercise of patience.

5.    QUESTION:  Concerning the holy verse:  "When We heard  the clamour of the children as yet unborn, We doubled  their share and decreased those of the rest."

 ANSWER:  According to the Book of God, the  estate of the deceased is divided into 2,520 shares,  which number is the lowest common multiple of  all integers up to nine, and these shares are then  distributed into seven portions, each of which is  allocated, as mentioned in the Book, to a  particular category of heirs.  The children, for  example, are allotted nine blocks of 60 shares,  comprising 540 shares in all.  The meaning of the  statement "We doubled their share" is thus that  the children receive a further nine blocks of 60  shares, entitling them to a total of 18 blocks all  told.  The extra shares that they receive are  deducted from the portions of the other categories

 of heirs, so that, although it is revealed, for  instance, that the spouse is entitled to "eight parts  comprising four hundred and eighty shares",  which is the equivalent of eight blocks of 60  shares, now, by virtue of this rearrangement, one  and a half blocks of shares, comprising 90 shares in  all, have been subtracted from the spouse's portion  and reallocated to the children, and similarly in  the case of the others.  The result is that the total  amount subtracted is equivalent to the nine extra  blocks of shares allotted to the children.

6.    QUESTION:  Is it necessary that the brother, in order to  qualify for his portion of the inheritance, be descended  from both the father and the mother of the deceased, or is  it sufficient merely that there be one parent in common?

 ANSWER:  If the brother be descended from the  father he shall receive his share of the inheritance  in the prescribed measure recorded in the Book;  but if he be descended from the mother, he shall  receive only two thirds of his entitlement, the  remaining third reverting to the House of Justice.  This ruling is also applicable to the sister.

7.    QUESTION:  Amongst the provisions concerning inheritance  it hath been laid down that, should the deceased  leave no offspring, their share of the estate is to revert to  the House of Justice.  In the event of other categories of  heirs, such as the father, mother, brother, sister and  teacher being similarly absent, do their shares of the  inheritance also revert to the House of Justice, or are they  dealt with in some other fashion?

 ANSWER:  The sacred verse sufficeth.  He saith,  exalted be His Word:  "Should the deceased leave  no offspring, their share shall revert to the House  of Justice" etc. and "Should the deceased leave  offspring, but none of the other categories of heirs  that have been specified in the Book, they shall  receive two thirds of the inheritance and the  remaining third shall revert to the House of  Justice" etc.  In other words, where there are no  offspring, their allotted portion of the inheritance  reverteth to the House of Justice; and where there  are offspring but the other categories of heirs are  lacking, two thirds of the inheritance pass to the  offspring, the remaining third reverting to the  House of Justice.  This ruling hath both general  and specific application, which is to say that  whenever any category of this latter class of heirs is  absent, two thirds of their inheritance pass to the  offspring and the remaining third to the House of  Justice.

8.    QUESTION:  Concerning the basic sum on which Huququ'llah  is payable.

 ANSWER:  The basic sum on which Huququ'llah  is payable is nineteen mithqals of gold.  In other  words, when money to the value of this sum hath  been acquired, a payment of Huquq falleth due.  Likewise Huquq is payable when the value, not  the number, of other forms of property reacheth  the prescribed amount.  Huququ'llah is payable  no more than once.  A person, for instance, who

 acquireth a thousand mithqals of gold, and payeth  the Huquq, is not liable to make a further such  payment on this sum, but only on what accrueth  to it through commerce, business and the like.  When this increase, namely the profit realized,  reacheth the prescribed sum, one must carry out  what God hath decreed.  Only when the principal  changeth hands is it once more subject to payment  of Huquq, as it was the first time.  The Primal  Point hath directed that Huququ'llah must be  paid on the value of whatsoever one possesseth;  yet, in this Most Mighty Dispensation, We have  exempted the household furnishings, that is such  furnishings as are needed, and the residence itself.

9.    QUESTION:  Which is to take precedence:  the Huququ'llah,  the debts of the deceased or the cost of the funeral  and burial?

 ANSWER:  The funeral and burial take precedence,  then settlement of debts, then payment of Huququ'llah.  Should the property of the deceased prove  insufficient to cover his debts, the remainder of his  estate should be distributed among these debts in  proportion to their size.

10.   QUESTION:  Shaving the head hath been forbidden in the  Kitab-i-Aqdas but enjoined in the Suriy-i-Hajj.

 ANSWER:  All are charged with obedience to the  Kitab-i-Aqdas; whatsoever is revealed therein is  the Law of God amid His servants.  The injunction  on pilgrims to the sacred House to shave the head  hath been lifted. 11.   QUESTION:  If intercourse take place between a couple  during their year of patience, and they become estranged  again thereafter, must they recommence their year of  patience, or may the days preceding the intercourse be  included in the reckoning of the year?  And once divorce  hath taken place, is it necessary that a further period of  waiting be observed?

 ANSWER:  Should affection be renewed between  the couple during their year of patience, the  marriage tie is valid, and what is commanded in  the Book of God must be observed; but once the  year of patience hath been completed and that  which is decreed by God taketh place, a further  period of waiting is not required.  Sexual intercourse  between husband and wife is forbidden  during their year of patience, and whoso committeth  this act must seek God's forgiveness, and, as a  punishment, render to the House of Justice a fine  of nineteen mithqals of gold.

12.   QUESTION:  Should antipathy develop between a couple  after the Marriage Verses have been read and the dowry  paid, may divorce take place without observance of the  year of patience?

 ANSWER:  Divorce may legitimately be sought  after the reading of the Marriage Verses and  payment of the dowry, but before the consummation  of the marriage.  In such circumstances there is  no need for observance of a year of patience, but  recovery of the dowry payment is not permissible.

13.   QUESTION:  Is the consent of the parents on both sides

 prerequisite to marriage, or is that of the parents on one  side sufficient?  Is this law applicable only to virgins or to  others as well?

 ANSWER:  Marriage is conditional upon the consent  of the parents of both parties to the marriage,  and in this respect it maketh no difference whether  the bride be a virgin or otherwise.

14.   QUESTION:  The believers have been enjoined to face in the  direction of the Qiblih when reciting their Obligatory  Prayers; in what direction should they turn when  offering other prayers and devotions?

 ANSWER:  Facing in the direction of the Qiblih is a  fixed requirement for the recitation of obligatory  prayer, but for other prayers and devotions one  may follow what the merciful Lord hath revealed  in the Qur'an:  "Whichever way ye turn, there is  the face of God."

15.   QUESTION:  Concerning the remembrance of God in the  Mashriqu'l-Adhkar "at the hour of dawn".

 ANSWER:  Although the words "at the hour of  dawn" are used in the Book of God, it is acceptable  to God at the earliest dawn of day, between dawn  and sunrise, or even up to two hours after sunrise.

16.   QUESTION:  Is the ordinance that the body of the deceased  should be carried no greater distance than one hour's  journey applicable to transport by both land and sea?

 ANSWER:  This command applieth to distances

 by sea as well as by land, whether it is an hour by  steamship or by rail; the intention is the hour's  time, whatever the means of transport.  The sooner  the burial taketh place, however, the more fitting  and acceptable will it be.

17.   QUESTION:  What procedure should be followed on the  discovery of lost property?

 ANSWER:  If such property be found in the town,  its discovery is to be announced once by the town  crier.  If the owner of the property is then found, it  should be delivered up to him.  Otherwise, the  finder of the property should wait one year, and if,  during this period, the owner cometh to light, the  finder should receive from him the crier's fee and  restore to him his property; only if the year should  pass without the owner's being identified may the  finder take possession of the property himself.  If  the value of the property is less than or equal to the  crier's fee, the finder should wait a single day from  the time of its discovery, at the end of which, if  the owner hath not come to light, he may himself  appropriate it; and in the case of property discovered  in an uninhabited area, the finder should  observe a three days' wait, on the passing of which  period, if the identity of the owner remain  unknown, he is free to take possession of his find.

18.   QUESTION:  With reference to the ablutions:  if, for  example, a person hath just bathed his entire body, must  he still perform his ablutions?

 ANSWER:  The commandment regarding ablutions  must, in any case, be observed.

19.   QUESTION:  Should a person plan to migrate from his  country, and his wife be opposed and the disagreement  culminate in divorce, and should his preparations for the  journey extend until a year hath passed, may this period  be counted as the year of patience, or should the day the  couple part be regarded as the starting-point of that  year?

 ANSWER:  The starting-point for computation is  the day the couple part, and if, therefore, they  have separated a year before the husband's departure,  and if the fragrance of affection hath not been  renewed between the couple, divorce may take  place.  Otherwise the year must be counted from  the day of his departure, and the conditions set  forth in the Kitab-i-Aqdas observed.

20.   QUESTION:  Concerning the age of maturity with respect  to religious duties.

 ANSWER:  The age of maturity is fifteen for both  men and women.

21.   QUESTION:  Concerning the holy verse:  "When travelling,  if ye should stop and rest in some safe spot, perform  ye ... a single prostration in place of each unsaid  Obligatory Prayer..."

 ANSWER:  This prostration is to compensate for  obligatory prayer omitted in the course of travel,  and by reason of insecure circumstances.  If,

 at the time of prayer, the traveller should find  himself at rest in a secure place, he should perform  that prayer.  This provision regarding the compensating  prostration applieth both at home and on a  journey.

22.   QUESTION:  Concerning the definition of a journey.+F1

 ANSWER:  The definition of a journey is nine hours  by the clock.  Should the traveller stop in a place,  anticipating that he will stay there for no less than  one month by the Bayan reckoning, it is incumbent  on him to keep the Fast; but if for less than  one month, he is exempt from fasting.  If he  arriveth during the Fast at a place where he is to  stay one month according to the Bayan, he should  not observe the Fast till three days have elapsed,  thereafter keeping it throughout the remainder of  its course; but if he come to his home, where he  hath heretofore been permanently resident, he  must commence his fast upon the first day after his  arrival.

23.   QUESTION:  Concerning the punishment of the adulterer  and adulteress.

 ANSWER:  Nine mithqals are payable for the first  offence, eighteen for the second, thirty-six for  the third, and so on, each succeeding fine being  double the preceding.  The weight of one mithqal

+F1 This relates to the minimum duration of a journey which exempts the +F1 traveller from fasting

 is equivalent to nineteen nakhuds in accordance  with the specification of the Bayan.

24.   QUESTION:  Concerning hunting.

 ANSWER:  He saith, exalted be He:  "If ye should  hunt with beasts or birds of prey" and so forth.  Other means, such as bows and arrows, guns, and  similar equipment employed in hunting, are also  included.  If, however, traps or snares are used, and  the game dieth before it can be reached, it is  unlawful for consumption.

25.   QUESTION:  Concerning the pilgrimage.

 ANSWER:  It is an obligation to make pilgrimage  to one of the two sacred Houses; but as to which, it  is for the pilgrim to decide.

26.   QUESTION:  Concerning the dowry.

 ANSWER:  Regarding dowry, the intention of  contenting oneself with the lowest level is nineteen  mithqals of silver.

27.   QUESTION:  Concerning the sacred verse:  "If, however,  news should reach her of her husband's death", etc.

 ANSWER:  With reference to waiting a "fixed  number of months" a period of nine months is  intended.

28.   QUESTION:  Again inquiry hath been made about the  teacher's share of the inheritance.

 ANSWER:  Should the teacher have passed away,  one third of his share of the inheritance reverteth

 to the House of Justice, and the remaining two  thirds pass to the deceased's, and not the teacher's,  offspring.

29.   QUESTION:  Again inquiry hath been made about the  pilgrimage.

 ANSWER:  By pilgrimage to the sacred House,      which is enjoined upon men, is intended both the  Most Great House in Baghdad and the House of  the Primal Point in Shiraz; pilgrimage to either of  these Houses sufficeth.  They may thus make  pilgrimage to whichever lieth nearer to the place  where they reside.

30.   QUESTION:  Concerning the verse:  "he who would take  into his service a maid may do so with propriety."

 ANSWER:  This is solely for service such as is  performed by any other class of servants, be they  young or old, in exchange for wages; such a  maiden is free to choose a husband at whatever  time she pleaseth, for it is forbidden either that  women should be purchased, or that a man should  have more wives than two.

31.   QUESTION:  Concerning the sacred verse:  "The Lord hath  prohibited ... the practice to which ye formerly had  recourse when thrice ye had divorced a woman."

 ANSWER:  The reference is to the law which  previously made it necessary for another man to  marry such a woman before she could again be  wedded to her former husband; this practice hath  been prohibited in the Kitab-i-Aqdas. 32.   QUESTION:  Concerning the restoration and preservation  of the two Houses in the Twin Spots, and the other sites  wherein the throne hath been established.

 ANSWER:  By the two Houses is intended the Most  Great House and the House of the Primal Point.  As for other sites, the people of the areas where  these are situated may choose to preserve either  each house wherein the throne hath been established,  or one of them.

33.   QUESTION:  Again inquiry hath been made about the  inheritance of the teacher.

 ANSWER:  If the teacher is not of the people of  Baha, he doth not inherit.  Should there be several  teachers, the share is to be divided equally  amongst them.  If the teacher is deceased, his  offspring do not inherit his share, but rather two  thirds of it revert to the children of the owner of  the estate, and the remaining one third to the  House of Justice.

34.   QUESTION:  Concerning the residence which hath been  assigned exclusively to the male offspring.

 ANSWER:  If there are several residences, the finest  and noblest of these dwellings is the one intended,  the remainder being distributed amongst the  whole body of the heirs like any other form of  property.  Any heir, from whichever category of  inheritors, who is outside the Faith of God is  accounted as non-existent and doth not inherit. 35.   QUESTION:  Concerning Naw-Ruz.

 ANSWER:  The Festival of Naw-Ruz falleth on the  day that the sun entereth the sign of Aries,+F1  even should this occur no more than one minute  before sunset.

36.   QUESTION:  If the anniversary either of the Twin  Birthdays or of the Declaration of the Bab occurreth  during the Fast, what is to be done?

 ANSWER:  Should the feasts celebrating the Twin  Birthdays or the Declaration of the Bab fall within  the month of fasting, the command to fast shall  not apply on that day.

37.   QUESTION:  In the holy ordinances governing inheritance,  the residence and personal clothing of the deceased  have been allotted to the male offspring.  Doth this provision  refer only to the father's property, or doth it apply  to the mother's as well?

 ANSWER:  The used clothing of the mother should  be divided in equal shares among the daughters,  but the remainder of her estate, including property,  jewellery, and unused clothing, is to be  distributed, in the manner revealed in the Kitab-i-Aqdas,  to all her heirs.  If, however, the deceased  hath left no daughters, her estate in its entirety  must be divided in the manner designated for men  in the holy Text.

38.   QUESTION:  Concerning divorce, which must be preceded

+F1 The vernal equinox in the northern hemisphere

 by a year of patience:  if only one of the parties is inclined  toward conciliation, what is to be done?

 ANSWER:  According to the commandment  revealed in the Kitab-i-Aqdas, both parties must  be content; unless both are willing, reunion cannot  take place.

39.   QUESTION:  In connection with the dowry, what if the  bridegroom cannot pay this sum in full, but instead were  to formally deliver a promissory note to his bride at the  time of the wedding ceremony, on the understanding that  he will honour it when he is able to do so?

 ANSWER:  Permission to adopt this practice hath  been granted by the Source of Authority.

40.   QUESTION:  If during the year of patience the fragrance  of affection be renewed, only to be succeeded by antipathy,  and the couple waver between affection and aversion  throughout the year, and the year endeth in antipathy,  can divorce take place or not?

 ANSWER:  In each case at any time antipathy  occurreth, the year of patience beginneth on that  day, and the year must run its full course.

41.   QUESTION:  The residence and personal clothing of the  deceased have been assigned to the male, not female,  offspring, nor to the other heirs; should the deceased have  left no male offspring, what is to be done?

 ANSWER:  He saith, exalted be He:  "Should the  deceased leave no offspring, their share shall revert  to the House of Justice..."  In conformity

 with this sacred verse, the residence and personal  clothing of the deceased revert to the House of  Justice.

42.   QUESTION:  The ordinance of Huququ'llah is revealed  in the Kitab-i-Aqdas.  Is the residence, with the  accompanying fixtures and necessary furnishings,  included in the property on which Huquq is payable,  or is it otherwise?

 ANSWER:  In the laws revealed in Persian We have  ordained that in this Most Mighty Dispensation  the residence and the household furnishings  are exempt--that is, such furnishings as are  necessary.

43.   QUESTION:  Concerning the betrothal of a girl before  maturity.

 ANSWER:  This practice hath been pronounced  unlawful by the Source of Authority, and it is  unlawful to announce a marriage earlier than  ninety-five days before the wedding.

44.   QUESTION:  If a person hath, for example, a hundred  tumans, payeth the Huquq on this sum, loseth half the  sum in unsuccessful transactions and then, through  trading, the amount in hand is raised again to the sum  on which Huquq is due--must such a person pay Huquq  or not?

 ANSWER:  In such an event the Huquq is not  payable.

45.   QUESTION:  If, after payment of Huquq, this same sum  of one hundred tumans is lost in its entirety, but

 subsequently regained through trade and business  dealings, must Huquq be paid a second time or not?

 ANSWER:  In this event as well, payment of  Huquq is not required.

46.   QUESTION:  With reference to the sacred verse, "God hath  prescribed matrimony unto you", is this prescription  obligatory or not?

 ANSWER:  It is not obligatory.

47.   QUESTION:  Supposing that a man hath wed a certain  woman believing her to be a virgin and he hath paid her  the dowry, but at the time of consummation it becometh  evident that she is not a virgin, are the expenses and the  dowry to be repaid or not?  And if the marriage had been  made conditional upon virginity, doth the unfulfilled  condition invalidate that which was conditioned upon  it?

 ANSWER:  In such a case the expenses and the  dowry may be refunded.  The unfulfilled condition  invalidateth that which is conditioned upon it.  However, to conceal and forgive the matter will,  in the sight of God, merit a bounteous reward.

48.   QUESTION:  "A feast hath been enjoined upon you..."  Is this obligatory or not?

 ANSWER:  It is not obligatory.

49.   QUESTION:  Concerning the penalties for adultery,  sodomy, and theft, and the degrees thereof.

 ANSWER:  The determination of the degrees of  these penalties rests with the House of Justice. 50.   QUESTION:  Concerning the legitimacy or otherwise of  marrying one's relatives.

 ANSWER:  These matters likewise rest with the  Trustees of the House of Justice.

51.   QUESTION:  With reference to ablutions, it hath been  revealed, "Let him that findeth no water for ablution  repeat five times the words 'In the Name of God, the Most  Pure, the Most Pure'":  is it permissible to recite this  verse in times of bitter cold, or if the hands or face be  wounded?

 ANSWER:  Warm water may be used in times of  bitter cold.  If there are wounds on the face or  hands, or there be other reasons such as aches and  pains for which the use of water would be harmful,  one may recite the appointed verse in place of the  ablution.

52.   QUESTION:  Is the recitation of the verse revealed to  replace the Prayer of the Signs obligatory?

 ANSWER:  It is not obligatory.

53.   QUESTION:  With reference to inheritance, when there  are full brothers and full sisters, would half-brothers  and half-sisters on the mother's side also receive a  share?

 ANSWER:  They receive no share.

54.   QUESTION:  He saith, exalted be He:  "Should the son of  the deceased have passed away in the days of his father  and have left children, they will inherit their

 father's share..."  What is to be done if the daughter  hath died during the lifetime of her father?

 ANSWER:  Her share of the inheritance should be  distributed among the seven categories of heirs  according to the ordinance of the Book.

55.   QUESTION:  If the deceased be a woman, to whom is the  "wife's" share of the inheritance allotted?

 ANSWER:  The "wife's" share of the inheritance is  allotted to the husband.

56.   QUESTION:  Concerning the shrouding of the body of the  deceased which is decreed to comprise five sheets:  does the  five refer to five cloths which were hitherto customarily  used or to five full-length shrouds wrapped one around  the other?

 ANSWER:  The use of five cloths is intended.

57.   QUESTION:  Concerning disparities between certain  revealed verses.

 ANSWER:  Many Tablets were revealed and dispatched  in their original form without being  checked and reviewed.  Consequently, as bidden,  they were again read out in the Holy Presence, and  brought into conformity with the grammatical  conventions of the people in order to forestall the  cavils of opponents of the Cause.  Another reason  for this practice is that the new style inaugurated  by the Herald, may the souls of all else but Him be  offered up for His sake, was seen to be marked by  substantial latitude in adherence to the rules of

 grammar; sacred verses therefore were then  revealed in a style which is for the most part in  conformity with current usage for ease of understanding  and concision of expression.

58.   QUESTION:  Concerning the blessed verse, "When travelling,  if ye should stop and rest in some safe spot, perform  ye ... a single prostration in place of each unsaid  Obligatory Prayer":  is this compensation for the Obligatory  Prayer missed by reason of insecure circumstances, or  is obligatory prayer completely suspended during travel,  and doth the prostration take its place?

 ANSWER:  If, when the hour of obligatory prayer  arriveth, there be no security, one should, upon  arrival in safe surroundings, perform a prostration  in place of each Obligatory Prayer that was  missed, and after the final prostration, sit cross-legged  and read the designated verse.  If there be a  safe place, obligatory prayer is not suspended  during travel.

59.   QUESTION:  If, after a traveller hath stopped and rested  it is the time for obligatory prayer, should he perform the  prayer, or make the prostration in its stead?

 ANSWER:  Except in insecure circumstances  omission of the Obligatory Prayer is not permissible.

60.   QUESTION:  If, due to missed Obligatory Prayers, a  number of prostrations are required, must the verse be  repeated after each compensating prostration or not?

 ANSWER:  It is sufficient to recite the designated  verse after the last prostration.  The several prostrations  do not require separate repetitions of the  verse.

61.   QUESTION:  If an Obligatory Prayer be omitted at home,  is it to be compensated for by a prostration or not?

 ANSWER:  In answer to previous questions it was  written:  "This provision regarding the compensating  prostration applieth both at home and on a  journey."

62.   QUESTION:  If, for another purpose, one hath performed  ablutions, and the time of obligatory prayer arriveth, are  these ablutions sufficient or must they be renewed?

 ANSWER:  These same ablutions are sufficient, and  there is no need for them to be renewed.

63.   QUESTION:  In the Kitab-i-Aqdas obligatory prayer  hath been enjoined, consisting of nine rak'ahs, to be performed  at noon, in the morning and the evening, but the  Tablet of Obligatory Prayers+F1 appeareth to differ from  this.

 ANSWER:  That which hath been revealed in  the Kitab-i-Aqdas concerneth a different Obligatory  Prayer.  Some years ago a number of the  ordinances of the Kitab-i-Aqdas including that  Obligatory Prayer were, for reasons of wisdom,

+F1 The Tablet containing the three Obligatory Prayers now in use

 recorded separately and sent away together with  other sacred writings, for the purposes of preservation  and protection.  Later these three Obligatory  Prayers were revealed.

64.   QUESTION:  In determining time, is it permissible to rely  on clocks and watches?

 ANSWER:  It is permissible to rely on clocks and  watches.

65.   QUESTION:  In the Tablet of Obligatory Prayers, three  prayers are revealed; is the performance of all three  required or not?

 ANSWER:  It is enjoined to offer one of these three  prayers; whichever is performed sufficeth.

66.   QUESTION:  Are ablutions for the morning prayer still  valid for the noonday prayer?  And similarly, are  ablutions carried out at noon still valid in the evening?

 ANSWER:  Ablutions are connected with the  Obligatory Prayer for which they are performed,  and must be renewed for each prayer.

67.   QUESTION:  Concerning the long Obligatory Prayer, it is  required to stand up and "turn unto God".  This seemeth  to indicate that it is not necessary to face the Qiblih; is  this so or not?

 ANSWER:  The Qiblih is intended.

68.   QUESTION:  Concerning the sacred verse:  "Recite ye the  verses of God every morn and eventide."

 ANSWER:  The intention is all that hath been sent  down from the Heaven of Divine Utterance.  The  prime requisite is the eagerness and love of  sanctified souls to read the Word of God.  To read  one verse, or even one word, in a spirit of joy and  radiance, is preferable to the perusal of many  Books.

69.   QUESTION:  May a person, in drawing up his will,  assign some portion of his property--beyond that which is  devoted to payment of Huququ'llah and the settlement of  debts--to works of charity, or is he entitled to do no more  than allocate a certain sum to cover funeral and burial  expenses, so that the rest of his estate will be distributed  in the manner fixed by God among the designated  categories of heirs?

 ANSWER:  A person hath full jurisdiction over his  property.  If he is able to discharge the Huququ'llah,  and is free of debt, then all that is recorded  in his will, and any declaration or avowal it  containeth, shall be acceptable.  God, verily, hath  permitted him to deal with that which He hath  bestowed upon him in whatever manner he may  desire.

70.   QUESTION:  Is the use of the burial ring enjoined  exclusively for adults, or is it for minors as well?

 ANSWER:  It is for adults only.  The Prayer for the  Dead is likewise for adults.

71.   QUESTION:  Should a person wish to fast at a time

 other than in the month of Ala', is this permissible or  not; and if he hath vowed or pledged himself to such a  fast, is this valid and acceptable?

 ANSWER:  The ordinance of fasting is such as hath  already been revealed.  Should someone pledge  himself, however, to offer up a fast to God,  seeking in this way the fulfilment of a wish, or to  realize some other aim, this is permissible, now as  heretofore.  Howbeit, it is God's wish, exalted be  His glory, that vows and pledges be directed to  such objectives as will profit mankind.

72.   QUESTION:  Again a question hath been asked concerning  the residence and personal clothing:  are these to  revert, in the absence of male offspring, to the House of  Justice, or are they to be distributed like the rest of the  estate?

 ANSWER:  Two thirds of the residence and personal  clothing pass to the female offspring, and  one third to the House of Justice, which God hath  made to be the treasury of the people.

73.   QUESTION:  If, upon completion of the year of patience,  the husband refuseth to allow divorce, what course should  be adopted by the wife?

 ANSWER:  When the period is ended divorce is  effected.  However, it is necessary that there be  witnesses to the beginning and end of this period,  so that they can be called upon to give testimony  should the need arise. 74.   QUESTION:  Concerning the definition of old age.

 ANSWER:  To the Arabs it denoteth the furthest  extremity of old age, but for the people of Baha it  is from the age of seventy.

75.   QUESTION:  Concerning the limit of fasting for someone  travelling on foot.

 ANSWER:  The limit is set at two hours.  If this is  exceeded, it is permissible to break the Fast.

76.   QUESTION:  Concerning observance of the Fast by  people engaged in hard labour during the month of  fasting.

 ANSWER:  Such people are excused from fasting;  however, in order to show respect to the law of  God and for the exalted station of the Fast, it is  most commendable and fitting to eat with  frugality and in private.

77.   QUESTION:  Do ablutions performed for the Obligatory  Prayer suffice for the ninety-five repetitions of the  Greatest Name?

 ANSWER:  It is unnecessary to renew the ablutions.

78.   QUESTION:  Concerning clothes and jewellery which a  husband may have purchased for his wife:  are these to be  distributed, after his death, amongst his heirs, or are  they specially for the wife?

 ANSWER:  Aside from used clothing, whatever  there may be, jewellery or otherwise, belongeth to

 the husband, except what is proven to have been  gifts to the wife.

79.   QUESTION:  Concerning the criterion of justness when  proving some matter dependent on the testimony of two  just witnesses.

 ANSWER:  The criterion of justness is a good  reputation among the people.  The testimony of all  God's servants, of whatever faith or creed, is  acceptable before His Throne.

80.   QUESTION:  If the deceased hath not settled his obligation  to Huququ'llah, nor paid his other debts, are these to be  discharged by proportionate deductions from the residence,  personal clothing and the rest of the estate, or are the  residence and personal clothing set aside for the male  offspring, and consequently the debts must be settled from  the rest of the estate?  And if the rest of the estate is  insufficient for this purpose, how should the debts be  settled?

 ANSWER:  Outstanding debts and payments of  Huquq should be settled from the remainder of the  estate, but if this is insufficient for the purpose,  the shortfall should be met from his residence and  personal clothing.

81.   QUESTION:  Should the third Obligatory Prayer be  offered while seated or standing?

 ANSWER:  It is preferable and more fitting to stand  in an attitude of humble reverence.

82.   QUESTION:  Concerning the first Obligatory Prayer

 it hath been ordained, "one should perform it at whatever  time one findeth oneself in a state of humbleness and  longing adoration":  is it to be performed once in twenty-four  hours, or more frequently?

 ANSWER:  Once in twenty-four hours is sufficient;  this is that which hath been uttered by the Tongue  of Divine Command.

83.   QUESTION:  Concerning the definition of "morning",  "noon" and "evening".

 ANSWER:  These are sunrise, noon and sunset.  The  allowable times for Obligatory Prayers are from  morning till noon, from noon till sunset, and from  sunset till two hours thereafter.  Authority is in the  hand of God, the Bearer of the Two Names.

84.   QUESTION:  Is it permissible for a believer to marry an  unbeliever?

 ANSWER:  Both taking and giving in marriage are  permissible; thus did the Lord decree when He  ascended the throne of bounteousness and grace.

85.   QUESTION:  Concerning the Prayer for the Dead:  should  it precede or follow the interment?  And is facing the  Qiblih required?

 ANSWER:  Recital of this prayer should precede  interment; and as regards the Qiblih:  "Whichever  way ye turn, there is the face of God."+F1

+F1 Qur'an 2:115 86.   QUESTION:  At noon, which is the time for two of  the Obligatory Prayers--the short midday prayer, and  the prayer to be offered in the morning, noon, and  evening--is it necessary in this case to perform two  ablutions or would one suffice?

 ANSWER:  The renewal of ablutions is unnecessary.

87.   QUESTION:  Concerning the dowry for village-dwellers  which is to be of silver:  is it the bride or bridegroom  who is intended or both of them?  And what is to be  done if one is a city-dweller and the other a village-dweller?

 ANSWER:  The dowry is determined by the  dwelling-place of the bridegroom; if he be a city-dweller,  the dowry is of gold, and if he be a  village-dweller, it is of silver.

88.   QUESTION:  What is the criterion for determining if  one is a city-dweller or a village-dweller?  If a city-dweller  taketh up residence in a village, or a village-dweller  in a city, intending to settle permanently, what  ruling is applicable?  Is the place of birth the deciding  factor?

 ANSWER:  The criterion is permanent residence  and, depending on where this is, the injunction in  the Book must be observed accordingly.

89.   QUESTION:  In the holy Tablets it hath been revealed that  when someone acquireth the equivalent of nineteen  mithqals of gold, he should pay the Right of God on that

 sum.  Might it be explained how much of this nineteen  should be paid?

 ANSWER:  Nineteen out of one hundred is established  by the ordinance of God.  Computation  should be made on this basis.  It may then be  ascertained what amount is due on nineteen.

90.   QUESTION:  When one's wealth exceeds nineteen, is it  necessary for it to increase by a further nineteen before  Huquq is due again, or would it be due on any increase?

 ANSWER:  Any amount added to nineteen is  exempt from Huquq until it reacheth a further  nineteen.

91.   QUESTION:  Concerning pure water, and the point at  which it is considered used.

 ANSWER:  Small quantities of water, such as one  cupful, or even two or three, must be considered  used after a single washing of the face and hands.  But a kurr+F1 or more of water remaineth unchanged  after one or two washings of the face,  and there is no objection to its use unless it is  altered in one of the three ways,+F2 for example its  colour is changed, in which case it should be  looked upon as used.

92.   QUESTION:  In a treatise in Persian on various questions,  the age of maturity hath been set at fifteen; is

+F1 This refers to a volume of approximately one half of a cubic metre +F2 Colour, taste and smell

 marriage likewise conditional upon the reaching of  maturity, or is it permissible before that time?

 ANSWER:  Since the consent of both parties is  required in the Book of God, and since, before  maturity, their consent or lack of it cannot be  ascertained, marriage is therefore conditional upon  reaching the age of maturity, and is not permissible  before that time.

93.   QUESTION:  Concerning fasting and obligatory prayer  by the sick.

 ANSWER:  In truth, I say that obligatory prayer  and fasting occupy an exalted station in the sight  of God.  It is, however, in a state of health that  their virtue can be realized.  In time of ill-health it  is not permissible to observe these obligations;  such hath been the bidding of the Lord, exalted be  His glory, at all times.  Blessed be such men and  women as pay heed, and observe His precepts.  All  praise be unto God, He who hath sent down the  verses and is the Revealer of undoubted proofs!

94.   QUESTION:  Concerning mosques, chapels and temples.

 ANSWER:  Whatever hath been constructed for the  worship of the one true God, such as mosques,  chapels and temples, must not be used for any  purpose other than the commemoration of His  Name.  This is an ordinance of God, and he who  violateth it is verily of those who have transgressed.  No harm attacheth to the builder, for he

 hath performed his deed for the sake of God, and  hath received and will continue to receive his just  reward.

95.   QUESTION:  Regarding the appointments of a place of  business, which are needed for carrying on one's work or  profession:  are they subject to the payment of Huququ'llah,  or are they covered by the same ruling as the  household furnishings?

 ANSWER:  They are covered by the same ruling as  the household furnishings.

96.   QUESTION:  Concerning the exchange of property held in  trust for cash or other forms of property, to guard against  depreciation or loss.

 ANSWER:  Regarding the written question on the  exchange of property held in trust to guard against  depreciation and loss, such exchange is permissible  on condition that the substitute will be equivalent  in value.  Thy Lord, verily, is the Expounder, the  Omniscient, and He, truly, is the Ordainer, the  Ancient of Days.

97.   QUESTION:  Concerning the washing of the feet in winter  and summer.

 ANSWER:  It is the same in both cases; warm  water is preferable, but there can be no objection  to cold.

98.   QUESTION:  A further question on divorce.

 ANSWER:  Since God, exalted be His glory, doth

 not favour divorce, nothing was revealed on  this issue.  However, from the beginning of the  separation until the end of one year, two people or  more must remain informed as witnesses; if, by the  end, there is no reconciliation, divorce taketh  place.  This must be recorded in the registry by the  religious judicial officer of the city appointed by  the Trustees of the House of Justice.  Observance of  this procedure is essential lest those that are  possessed of an understanding heart be saddened.

99.   QUESTION:  Concerning consultation.

 ANSWER:  If consultation among the first group of  people assembled endeth in disagreement, new  people should be added, after which persons to the  number of the Greatest Name, or fewer or more,  shall be chosen by lot.  Whereupon the consultation  shall be renewed, and the outcome, whatever  it is, shall be obeyed.  If, however, there is  still disagreement, the same procedure should be  repeated once more, and the decision of the  majority shall prevail.  He, verily, guideth whomsoever  He pleaseth to the right way.

100.  QUESTION:  Concerning inheritance.

 ANSWER:  Regarding inheritance, that which the  Primal Point hath ordained--may the souls of all  else but Him be offered up for His sake--is well  pleasing.  The existing heirs should receive their  allotted shares of the inheritance, while a statement  of the remainder must be submitted to  the Court of the Most High.  In His hand is the  source of authority; He ordaineth as He pleaseth.  In this regard, a law was revealed in the Land of  Mystery,+F1 temporarily awarding the missing heirs'  inheritance to the existing heirs until such time as  the House of Justice shall be established, when the  decree concerning this will be promulgated.  The  inheritance, however, of those who emigrated in  the same year as the Ancient Beauty, hath been  awarded to their heirs, and this is a bounty of God  bestowed upon them.

101.  QUESTION:  Concerning the law on treasure trove.

 ANSWER:  Should a treasure be found, one third  thereof is the right of the discoverer, and the other  two thirds should be expended by the men of  the House of Justice for the welfare of all people.  This shall be done after the establishment of the  House of Justice, and until that time it shall be  committed to the keeping of trustworthy persons  in each locality and territory.  He, in truth, is the  Ruler, the Ordainer, the Omniscient, the All-Informed.

102.  QUESTION:  Concerning Huquq on real estate which  yieldeth no profit.

 ANSWER:  The ordinance of God is that real estate  which hath ceased to yield income, that is,

+F1 Adrianople

 from which no profit accrueth, is not liable to  payment of Huquq.  He, verily, is the Ruler, the  Munificent.

103.  QUESTION:  Concerning the holy verse:  "In regions where  the days and nights grow long, let times of prayer be  gauged by clocks..."

 ANSWER:  The intention is those territories that  are remote.  In these climes, however, the difference  in length is but a few hours, and therefore  this ruling doth not apply.

104.  In the Tablet to Aba Badi', this holy verse hath  been revealed:  "Verily, We have enjoined on every  son to serve his father."  Such is the decree which  We have set forth in the Book.

105.  And in another Tablet, these exalted words have been  revealed:  O Muhammad!  The Ancient of Days hath  turned His countenance towards thee, making  mention of thee, and exhorting the people of God  to educate their children.  Should a father neglect  this most weighty commandment laid down in the  Kitab-i-Aqdas by the Pen of the Eternal King, he  shall forfeit rights of fatherhood, and be accounted  guilty before God.  Well is it with him who  imprinteth on his heart the admonitions of the  Lord, and steadfastly cleaveth unto them.  God, in  truth, enjoineth on His servants what shall assist  and profit them, and enable them to draw nigh  unto Him.  He is the Ordainer, the Everlasting. 106.  He is God, exalted be He, the Lord of majesty and  power!  The Prophets and Chosen Ones have all  been commissioned by the One True God,  magnified be His glory, to nurture the trees of  human existence with the living waters of uprightness  and understanding, that there may appear  from them that which God hath deposited within  their inmost selves.  As may be readily observed,  each tree yieldeth a certain fruit, and a barren tree  is but fit for fire.  The purpose of these Educators,  in all they said and taught, was to preserve man's  exalted station.  Well is it with him who in the  Day of God hath laid fast hold upon His precepts  and hath not deviated from His true and fundamental  Law.  The fruits that best befit the tree of  human life are trustworthiness and godliness,  truthfulness and sincerity; but greater than all,  after recognition of the unity of God, praised and  glorified be He, is regard for the rights that are  due to one's parents.  This teaching hath been  mentioned in all the Books of God, and reaffirmed  by the Most Exalted Pen.  Consider that which the  Merciful Lord hath revealed in the Qur'an, exalted  are His words:  "Worship ye God, join with Him  no peer or likeness; and show forth kindliness and  charity towards your parents..."  Observe how  loving-kindness to one's parents hath been linked  to recognition of the one true God!  Happy they  who are endued with true wisdom and understanding,  who see and perceive, who read and understand,  and who observe that which God hath

 revealed in the Holy Books of old, and in this  incomparable and wondrous Tablet.

107.  In one of the Tablets He, exalted be His words, hath  revealed:  And in the matter of Zakat, We have  likewise decreed that you should follow what hath  been revealed in the Qur'an. 
