Texts 20 - 38
20
We have divided inheritance into seven categories:
to the children, We have allotted nine parts comprising
five hundred and forty shares; to the wife, eight parts
comprising four hundred and eighty shares; to the
father, seven parts comprising four hundred and twenty
shares; to the mother, six parts comprising three
hundred and sixty shares; to the brothers, five parts or
three hundred shares; to the sisters, four parts or two
hundred and forty shares; and to the teachers, three
parts or one hundred and eighty shares. Such was the
ordinance of My Forerunner, He Who extolleth My
Name in the night season and at the break of day.
When We heard the clamour of the children as yet
unborn, We doubled their share and decreased those of
the rest. He, of a truth, hath power to ordain
whatsoever He desireth, and He doeth as He pleaseth
by virtue of His sovereign might.
21
Should the deceased leave no offspring, their share
shall revert to the House of Justice, to be expended by
the Trustees of the All-Merciful on the orphaned and
widowed, and on whatsoever will bring benefit to the
generality of the people, that all may give thanks unto
their Lord, the All-Gracious, the Pardoner.
22
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. Such is the command which hath
been given, in majesty and glory, by Him Who is the
All-Possessing, the Most High.
23
If the deceased should leave none of the specified
heirs, but have among his relatives nephews and nieces,
whether on his brother's or his sister's side, two thirds
of the inheritance shall pass to them; or, lacking these,
to his uncles and aunts on both his father's and his
mother's side, and after them to their sons and
daughters. The remaining third of the inheritance
shall, in any case, revert to the Seat of Justice. Thus
hath it been laid down in the Book by Him Who ruleth
over all men.
24
Should the deceased be survived by none of those
whose names have been recorded by the Pen of the Most
High, his estate shall, in its entirety, revert to the
aforementioned Seat that it may be expended on that
which is prescribed by God. He, verily, is the
Ordainer, the Omnipotent.
25
We have assigned the residence and personal
clothing of the deceased to the male, not female,
offspring, nor to the other heirs. He, verily, is the
Munificent, the All-Bountiful.
26
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, as prescribed in the Book of
God. Divide ye their share amongst them with perfect
justice. Thus have the billows of the Ocean of
Utterance surged, casting forth the pearls of the laws
decreed by the Lord of all mankind.
27
If the deceased should leave children who are
under age, their share of the inheritance must be
entrusted to a reliable individual, or to a company, that
it may be invested on their behalf in trade and business
until they come of age. The trustee should be assigned
a due share of the profit that hath accrued to it from
being thus employed.
28
Division of the estate should take place only after
the &Huququ'llah hath been paid, any debts have been
settled, the expenses of the funeral and burial defrayed,
and such provision made that the deceased may be
carried to his resting-place with dignity and honour.
Thus hath it been ordained by Him Who is Lord of the
beginning and the end.
29
Say: This is that hidden knowledge which shall
never change, since its beginning is with nine, the
symbol that betokeneth the concealed and manifest,
the inviolable and unapproachably exalted Name. As
for what We have appropriated to the children, this is a
bounty conferred on them by God, that they may
render thanks unto their Lord, the Compassionate, the
Merciful. These, verily, are the Laws of God; transgress
them not at the prompting of your base and selfish
desires. Observe ye the injunctions laid upon you by
Him Who is the Dawning-place of Utterance. The
sincere among His servants will regard the precepts set
forth by God as the Water of Life to the followers of
every faith, and the Lamp of wisdom and loving
providence to all the denizens of earth and heaven.
30
The Lord hath ordained that in every city a House
of Justice be established wherein shall gather counsellors
to the number of &Baha, and should it exceed this
number it doth not matter. They should consider
themselves as entering the Court of the presence of
God, the Exalted, the Most High, and as beholding
Him Who is the Unseen. It behoveth them to be the
trusted ones of the Merciful among men and to regard
themselves as the guardians appointed of God for all
that dwell on earth. It is incumbent upon them to take
counsel together and to have regard for the interests of
the servants of God, for His sake, even as they regard
their own interests, and to choose that which is meet
and seemly. Thus hath the Lord your God commanded
you. Beware lest ye put away that which is clearly
revealed in His Tablet. Fear God, O ye that perceive.
31
O people of the world! Build ye houses of worship
throughout the lands in the name of Him Who is the
Lord of all religions. Make them as perfect as is possible
in the world of being, and adorn them with that which
befitteth them, not with images and effigies. Then,
with radiance and joy, celebrate therein the praise of
your Lord, the Most Compassionate. Verily, by His
remembrance the eye is cheered and the heart is filled
with light.
32
The Lord hath ordained that those of you who are
able shall make pilgrimage to the sacred House, and
from this He hath exempted women as a mercy on His
part. He, of a truth, is the All-Bountiful, the Most
Generous.
33
O people of &Baha! It is incumbent upon each one
of you to engage in some occupation--such as a craft, a
trade or the like. We have exalted your engagement in
such work to the rank of worship of the one true God.
Reflect, O people, on the grace and blessings of your
Lord, and yield Him thanks at eventide and dawn.
Waste not your hours in idleness and sloth, but occupy
yourselves with what will profit you and others. Thus
hath it been decreed in this Tablet from whose horizon
hath shone the day-star of wisdom and utterance. The
most despised of men in the sight of God are they who
sit and beg. Hold ye fast unto the cord of means and
place your trust in God, the Provider of all means.
34
The kissing of hands hath been forbidden in the
Book. This practice is prohibited by God, the Lord of
glory and command. To none is it permitted to seek
absolution from another soul; let repentance be between
yourselves and God. He, verily, is the Pardoner, the
Bounteous, the Gracious, the One Who absolveth the
repentant.
35
O ye servants of the Merciful One! Arise to serve
the Cause of God, in such wise that the cares and
sorrows caused by them that have disbelieved in the
Dayspring of the Signs of God may not afflict you. At
the time when the Promise was fulfilled and the
Promised One made manifest, differences have
appeared amongst the kindreds of the earth and each
people hath followed its own fancy and idle imaginings.
36
Amongst the people is he who seateth himself
amid the sandals by the door whilst coveting in his
heart the seat of honour. Say: What manner of man art
thou, O vain and heedless one, who wouldst appear as
other than thou art? And among the people is he who
layeth claim to inner knowledge, and still deeper
knowledge concealed within this knowledge. Say:
Thou speakest false! By God! What thou dost possess is
naught but husks which We have left to thee as bones
are left to dogs. By the righteousness of the one true
God! Were anyone to wash the feet of all mankind, and
were he to worship God in the forests, valleys, and
mountains, upon high hills and lofty peaks, to leave no
rock or tree, no clod of earth, but was a witness to his
worship--yet, should the fragrance of My good
pleasure not be inhaled from him, his works would
never be acceptable unto God. Thus hath it been
decreed by Him Who is the Lord of all. How many a
man hath secluded himself in the climes of India,
denied himself the things that God hath decreed as
lawful, imposed upon himself austerities and mortifications,
and hath not been remembered by God, the
Revealer of Verses. Make not your deeds as snares
wherewith to entrap the object of your aspiration, and
deprive not yourselves of this Ultimate Objective for
which have ever yearned all such as have drawn nigh
unto God. Say: The very life of all deeds is My good
pleasure, and all things depend upon Mine acceptance.
Read ye the Tablets that ye may know what hath been
purposed in the Books of God, the All-Glorious, the
Ever-Bounteous. He who attaineth to My love hath
title to a throne of gold, to sit thereon in honour over
all the world; he who is deprived thereof, though he sit
upon the dust, that dust would seek refuge with God,
the Lord of all Religions.
37
Whoso layeth claim to a Revelation direct from
God, ere the expiration of a full thousand years, such a
man is assuredly a lying impostor. We pray God that
He may graciously assist him to retract and repudiate
such claim. Should he repent, God will, no doubt,
forgive him. If, however, he persisteth in his error,
God will, assuredly, send down one who will deal
mercilessly with him. Terrible, indeed, is God in
punishing! Whosoever interpreteth this verse otherwise
than its obvious meaning is deprived of the Spirit of
God and of His mercy which encompasseth all created
things. Fear God, and follow not your idle fancies.
Nay, rather, follow the bidding of your Lord, the
Almighty, the All-Wise. Erelong shall clamorous
voices be raised in most lands. Shun them, O My
people, and follow not the iniquitous and evil-hearted.
This is that of which We gave you forewarning when
We were dwelling in &Iraq, then later while in the Land
of Mystery, and now from this Resplendent Spot.
38
Be not dismayed, O peoples of the world, when
the day-star of My beauty is set, and the heaven of My
tabernacle is concealed from your eyes. Arise to further
My Cause, and to exalt My Word amongst men. We
are with you at all times, and shall strengthen you
through the power of truth. We are truly almighty.
Whoso hath recognized Me will arise and serve Me
with such determination that the powers of earth and
heaven shall be unable to defeat his purpose.
Texts 20 - 38 |