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"lighten and uplift
them, so that they may soar on the wings of the Divine verses"
-Baha'u'llah

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Questions
and Answers cont.
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 Kitáb-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 Kitáb-i-Aqdas concerneth a different Obligatory
Prayer. Some years ago a number of the ordinances of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas including that
Obligatory Prayer were, for reasons of wisdom, 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'lláh 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'lláh,
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.
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