The prohibition against taking another’s life is repeated by Bahá’u’lláh
in paragraph 73 of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas. Penalties are prescribed for
premeditated murder (see note 86). In the case of manslaughter, it is
necessary to pay a specified indemnity to the family of the deceased (see
Kitáb-i-Aqdas, # 188).
36. or adultery #19
The Arabic word "ziná", here translated as "adultery", signifies both
fornication and adultery. It applies not only to sexual relations between
a married person and someone who is not his or her spouse, but also to
extramarital sexual intercourse in general. One form of "ziná" is rape.
The only penalty prescribed by Bahá’u’lláh is for those who commit
fornication (see note 77); penalties for other kinds of sexual offence are
left to the Universal House of Justice to determine.
37. backbiting or calumny #19
Backbiting, slander and dwelling on the faults of others have been
repeatedly condemned by Bahá’u’lláh. In the Hidden Words, He clearly
states: "O Son of Being! How couldst thou forget thine own faults and busy
thyself with the faults of others? Whoso doeth this is accursed of Me."
And again: "O Son of Man! Breathe not the sins of others so long as thou
art thyself a sinner. Shouldst thou transgress this command, accursed
wouldst thou be, and to this I bear witness." This strong admonition is
further reiterated in His last work, "the Book of My Covenant": "Verily I
say, the tongue is for mentioning what is good, defile it not with
unseemly talk. God hath forgiven what is past. Henceforward everyone
should utter that which is meet and seemly, and should refrain from
slander, abuse and whatever causeth sadness in men."
38. We have divided inheritance into seven categories #20
The Bahá’í laws of inheritance apply only in case of intestacy, that is,
when the individual dies without leaving a will. In the Kitáb-i-Aqdas (#
109), Bahá’u’lláh instructs every believer to write a will. He elsewhere
clearly states that the individual has full jurisdiction over his property
and is free to determine the manner in which his or her estate is to be
divided and to designate, in the will, those, whether Bahá’í or
non-Bahá’í, who should inherit (Q and A 69). In this connection, a letter
written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi explains that:
...even though a Bahá’í is permitted in his will to dispose of his
wealth in the way he wishes, yet he is morally and conscientiously
bound to always bear in mind, while writing his will, the
necessity of his upholding the principle of Bahá’u’lláh regarding
the social function of wealth, and the consequent necessity of
avoiding its over-accumulation and concentration in a few
individuals or groups of individuals.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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