The Research Department has studied the questions about the
spiritual condition of souls of the non-Baha'i relatives of Baha'is, which were
contained in the letter dated 26 July 1991 from Mr…. to the Universal House of
Justice. Mr…. cites the following extract from a Tablet revealed by Baha'u'llah
and raises a number of issues about its meaning and application:
These blessed words were uttered by the Tongue of Grandeur
in the Land of Mystery, [Adrianople] exalted and glorified is His
utterance:
One of the distinguishing characteristics of this most great
Dispensation is that the kin of such as have recognized and embraced the truth
of this Revelation and have, in the glory of His name, the Sovereign Lord,
quaffed the choice, sealed wine from the chalice of the love of the one true
God, will, upon their death, if they
are outwardly non-believers, be graciously invested with divine forgiveness and
partake of the ocean of His mercy.
This bounty, however, will be vouchsafed only to such souls as have inflicted no harm upon Him Who is the Sovereign
Truth nor upon His loved ones. Thus hath it been ordained by Him Who is the
Lord of the Throne on High and the Ruler of this world and the world to come.
(Baha’u’llah, The Compilation of Compilations, vol. 1, Family)