June 14, 2014

The condition of non-Baha’i relatives after death -- explanation by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice

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)