The Baha'i Studies Listserv > On Fri, Nov 12, 2010 at 6:37 AM, Stephen Gray <[email protected]> > wrote: > > > What is the record of how gradual the laws have been implemented? > > What > > laws were in effect in previous period and now? Also, each sect has > > a different head and thus recongnizes different levels of law, > > at least in theory. Where are the current laws lists for various > > communities like the West and China?
First, so far as I know the rules here, I don't think Stephen has broken them. He has quoted texts from Marangella and Remey, without giving links to the sources, and he has asked a question that someone here might know the answer to, and that is relevant to the list purposes and topic. I can't answer the question, and I wonder whether the followers of Marangella and Remey could either -- I doubt the topic is of any interest to them today. I'm no expert on these groups, but I think they are interested in the details of Bahai Law only in so far as they can rehearse their arguments supporting their distinctive positions. As for what the Universal House of Justice has said about the laws of the Aqdas that are currently binding on Bahais in the West, I've found the following rather dated list (1974): ======================== 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 Bahá'ís 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 Kitáb-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 travelers 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: "Travelers are exempt from fasting, but if they do want to fast while they are traveling, 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 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) and (m) The laws concerning the traveling of a husband away from his wife. * IV.C.(1)(n) and (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'lláh is not yet applied to the Western friends. **(As of Ridvan 1992, this law is now binding)** * IV.D.(1)(d) The law of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkar is gradually being put into effect. * IV.D.(1)(f) The Bahá'í 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. * IV.D.(1)(j) The age of maturity applies only to Bahá'í religious duties as yet. On other matters it is subject to the civil law of each country. The age of administrative maturity in the Bahá'í 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.(l)(r) The law concerning the hunting of animals. * IV.D.(1)(t), (u), (v) and (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) and (xvii) Arson, adultery, murder and theft are all forbidden to Bahá'ís, but the punishments prescribed for them in the Kitáb-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) and (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-Adhkar 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. Letter from the Universal House of Justice, dated June 9, 1974, to a National Spiritual Assembly (With subsequent change indicated in parenthesis and **bold case**) ============ and ========== "... the Universal House of Justice instructs us to say that according to its ruling, the Law of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas that the lapse of time between engagement and marriage should not exceed ninety-five days is binding on Persian believers wherever they reside, if both parties are Persian. This law is not applicable, however, if one of the parties is a Western believer." (From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to a National Spiritual Assembly, October 31, 1977) ------------------- >From the last, I surmise that what applies to Bahais living in China, would depend on their origin: Western, Persian or Chinese (or other), and is probably something left to the believers themselves to decide. There can be no administrative sanctions (loss of voting rights) where there is no Bahai Administration, so there must generally be no need for anyone else to take an interest in who follows which laws. Sen ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -- Sen McGlinn http://senmcglinn.wordpress.com *** In reality, the radiant, pure hearts are the Mashrak-el-Azcar and from them the voice of supplication and invocation continually reacheth the Supreme Concourse. Tablets of `Abdu'l-Baha Abbas, p. 678 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -- __________________________________________________ You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:[email protected] Unsubscribe: send a blank email to mailto:leave-539304-27401.54f46e81b66496c9909bcdc2f7987...@list.jccc.edu Subscribe: send subscribe bahai-st in the message body to [email protected] Or subscribe: http://list.jccc.edu:8080/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=bahai-st Baha'i Studies is available through the following: Mail - mailto:[email protected] Web - http://list.jccc.edu:8080/read/?forum=bahai-st News (on-campus only) - news://list.jccc.edu/bahai-st Old Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] New Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]
