> Endowments dedicated to charity revert to God, the Revealer of Signs. None
> hath the right to dispose of them without leave from Him Who is the
> Dawning-place of Revelation.
This passage of the Kitab Aqdas is clear. Even manner of disposition of the
House of the Bab in Shiraz, which was specifically left by the Bab to His widow
Khadjih Bagum was brought before Baha'u'llah for decision.
> After Him, this authority shall pass to the
> Aghsan, and
> after them to the House of Justice--should it be established in the world by
> then--that they may use these endowments for the benefit of the Places which
> have been exalted in this Cause, and for whatsoever hath been enjoined upon
> them by Him Who is the God of might and power.
There are two different ways to read this passage: Chronological and
hierarchal.
Chronologically, it suggests that waqf properties will be administered by the
Aghsan (i.e. Abdu'l-Baha and His successors) and then by the House of Justice.
In a hierarchical reading, it would suggest that the primary decision about
disposition of the waqf resides with the Aghsan, but the House of Justice, when
formed, has a role in execution of this decision.
That is, it could be understood that the House of Justice, when formed, would
assist Abdu'l-Baha in execution of decisions He made regarding waqf properties.
Incidentally, I'm not suggesting that the second reading is necessarily more
accurate, just another possibility.
> Otherwise, the endowments
> shall
> revert to the people of who speak not except by His leave and judge not
> save
> in accordance with what God hath decreed in this Tablet--lo, they are the
> champions of victory betwixt heaven and earth--that they may use them in the
> manner that hath been laid down in the Book by God, the Mighty, the
> Bountiful."
Now this is the part I don't understand. Since Baha'u'llah has already
mentioned the Aghsan and the House of Justice, then who has He in mind in this
passage? Note the transition word: Otherwise!
Regards,
Ahang.
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