How ‘Abdu’l-Baha responded to pleads from the friends to accept gifts

I am most grateful for your services; in truth you have served me. You have extended hospitality. Night and day you have been ready to serve and to diffuse the divine fragrances. I shall never forget your services, for you have no purpose but the will of God and you desire no station but entry into the Kingdom of God. Now you have brought presents for the members of my family. They are most acceptable and excellent but better than all these are the gifts of the love of God which remain preserved in the treasuries of the heart. These gifts are evanescent but those are eternal; these jewels must be kept in boxes and vaults and they will eventually perish but those jewels remain in the treasuries of the heart and will remain throughout the world of God for eternity. Thus I will take to them your love, which is the greatest of all gifts. In our house they do not wear diamond rings nor do they keep rubies. That house is sanctified above such adornments. I, however, have accepted your gifts; but I entrust them to you for you sell and send the proceeds to the fund for the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár in Chicago. 
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, November 30, New York, recorded by Mahmud Zarqani; ‘Mahmud’s Diary’)

Payment of Huquq after a believer’s death

QUESTION: If the deceased hath not settled his obligation to Ḥuqúqu’lláh, nor paid his other debts, are these to be discharged by proportionate deductions from the residence, personal clothing and the rest of the estate, or are the residence and personal clothing set aside for the male offspring, and consequently the debts must be settled from the rest of the estate? And if the rest of the estate is insufficient for this purpose, how should the debts be settled?

ANSWER: Outstanding debts and payments of Ḥuqúq should be settled from the remainder of the estate, but if this is insufficient for the purpose, the shortfall should be met from his residence and personal clothing. 

- Baha’u’llah  (‘Questions and Answers’; ‘The Kitab-i-Aqdas’)

Being in the presence of Baha’u’llah when Tables were revealed -- recalled by Haji Mirza Haydar-‘Ali

Once I requested to be in Baha'u'llah's room when He was revealing Tablets. This request met with His approval. As I entered His room, I heard streams of words sweeping along in a torrential flow from His lips. It seemed that the atmosphere, the floor, the walls, and every atom in the room was filled with perfume. Only those who have had this indescribable experience can ever imagine what I mean. The flow of revelation continued for about five minutes. Then Baha'u'llah said to me, "You have on several occasions been here when the revelation of Tablets has taken place. Should the people of the whole world wish to be present and hear the words of revelation, We would permit them. But since We have approved courtesy and ordained it upon men, we are reluctant to display this power publicly."

- Haji Mirza Haydar-‘Ali  ('The Delight of Hearts')

“The basic sum on which Huqúqu’lláh is payable…” – Baha’u’llah explains

The basic sum on which Huqúqu’lláh is payable is nineteen mithqáls of gold. In other words, when money to the value of this sum hath been acquired, a payment of Huqúq falleth due. Likewise Huqúq is payable when the value, not the number, of other forms of property reacheth the prescribed amount. Huqúqu’lláh is payable no more than once. A person, for instance, who acquireth a thousand mithqáls of gold, and payeth the Huqúq, is not liable to make a further such payment on this sum, but only on what accrueth to it through commerce, business and the like. When this increase, namely the profit realized, reacheth the prescribed sum, one must carry out what God hath decreed. Only when the principal changeth hands is it once more subject to payment of Huqúq, as it was the first time. The Primal Point hath directed that Huqúqu’lláh must be paid on the value of whatsoever one possesseth; yet, in this Most Mighty Dispensation, We have exempted the household furnishings, that is such furnishings as are needed, and the residence itself. 

- Baha’u’llah  (‘Questions and Answers’; ‘The Kitab-i-Aqdas’)

“obedience to this Law is a matter of conscience”

…The devoted believer who is privileged to pay "the Right of God", far from seeking excuses for evading this spiritual obligation, will do his utmost to meet it. On the other hand, inasmuch as obedience to this Law is a matter of conscience, and payment of Huqúqu'lláh is a voluntary act, it would not be seemly to go beyond informing the Persian friends of their spiritual obligation, and leaving to them to decide what they wish to do about it.

The same principle applies to those friends who spend lavishly on their families, who purchase or build residences and furnish them far in excess of their needs, and rationalize these expenditures in their desire to avoid payment of Huqúqu'lláh. Likewise those friends who marry non-Persians and reside in Europe or other countries should not be pressed, but informed and left to decide for themselves.

- The Universal House of Justice  (From a letter dated 26 February 1973; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. I, Huququ’llah)

The law of Huququ’llah “promotes the common good and contributes to the spiritualization of humanity”

Beyond the bestowal of such spiritual benefits upon the individual, this law promotes the common good and contributes to the spiritualization of humanity through the promotion of a new attitude towards the acquisition and use of material resources necessary for great collective enterprises designed to improve all aspects of life. Indeed, the institution of Huqúqu’lláh is a key instrument for constructing the foundation and supporting the structure of the New World Order of Bahá’u’lláh, serving as a powerful element in the growth of a world civilization.

- The Universal House of Justice  (From a letter dated 21 June 2016)

The law of Huququ’llah allows the believers to “express their personal sense of devotion to God in a profoundly private act of conscience.”

In ordaining the mighty law of Huqúqu’lláh, the Blessed Beauty has vouchsafed a favour unto His ardent lovers through which they can express their personal sense of devotion to God in a profoundly private act of conscience. This sacred law creates a direct and vital link between the individual believer and the Head of the Faith, enables the friends to become firm and steadfast, and, as the beloved Master affirms, exerts “a great influence on their hearts and souls”. Above all, when those privileged to pay the Right of God offer it in a spirit of joy, fellowship, and contentment, it will impart prosperity and protection, purify their worldly possessions, and enable them and their offspring to benefit from the fruits of their endeavours. 

- The Universal House of Justice (From a letter dated 21 June 2016)

Paying Huquq during one’s own lifetime or through one’s will

Great is the recompense that God has ordained for the true and devoted souls, the pure and detached beings who have spontaneously bequeathed a portion of their earthly possessions to the Cause of God, either during their own lifetimes or through their wills, and have had the privilege and honour of discharging their obligations to Huqúqu'lláh.

Give assurance on my behalf to the donors and to the survivors of those who have ascended unto God, affirming that these efforts and donations are bound to attract divine confirmations, heavenly blessings and incalculable favours, and to promote the manifold interests of the International Bahá'í Community. Well is it with them, inasmuch as God has enabled them to fulfil that which shall elevate their stations in this world and in the world to come. 

- Shoghi Effendi  (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, 23 June 1945, translated from the Persian) The Compilation of Compilations, vol. I, Huququ’llah)

‘Abdu’l-Baha’s response to offers of financial assistance and gifts - an account during His last days in America

In his famous diaries Mirza Mahmud recounts a story of 'Abdu'l-Baha when He was in New York shortly before His departure from the United States:

... that day some of the friends presented 'Abdu'l-Baha with some funds, but He did not take them in spite of their persistently begging Him to accept them. He said: 

"Offer it up to the poor on my behalf. It would be as if I have personally given it to them. But for me the best gift is the unity between the loved ones of God, their service to the Cause, the diffusion of divine fragrances and their carrying out the teachings and exhortations of the Blessed Beauty..."

On such occasions the believers became very sad, because their offerings were not accepted by their Beloved. In spite of this, the believers in New York, knowing that these were the last few days of His stay in the United States, gathered some presents for the members of the Holy Family (including the wife of 'Abdu'l-Baha, His sister, daughters and other female members of His household) . .. . Some of the friends had vowed together that they would persist in their request for acceptance of the gifts, that they would cling to the hem of His garment and not leave His presence until He had accepted their offerings. They presented their gifts and earnestly pleaded with Him to take them. He then spoke to them in these words:

How to become free from material attachments

Question: How must we cut our hearts from the World?

‘Abdu’l-Baha said:

“The hearts that are directed towards God, the love that burns in them, that love will separate them from all other things; that love will be the wall that will come between them and every other desire”

“The nearer to God the farther from the world; the nearer to the fire, the farther from the cold; the nearer to life, the farther from death. This is the balance, this is the balance!”

- 'Abdu'l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, recorded by Anne Apperson Flint, February 1899, Akka)

A blessed soul…

Many a chilled heart, O my God, hath been set ablaze with the fire of Thy Cause, and many a slumberer hath been wakened by the sweetness of Thy voice. How many are the strangers who have sought shelter beneath the shadow of the tree of Thy oneness, and how numerous the thirsty ones who have panted after the fountain of Thy living waters in Thy days!

Blessed is he that hath set himself towards Thee, and hasted to attain the Day-Spring of the lights of Thy face. Blessed is he who with all his affections hath turned to the Dawning-Place of Thy Revelation and the Fountain-Head of Thine inspiration. Blessed is he that hath expended in Thy path what Thou didst bestow upon him through Thy bounty and favor. Blessed is he who, in his sore longing after Thee, hath cast away all else except Thyself. Blessed is he who hath enjoyed intimate communion with Thee, and rid himself of all attachment to any one save Thee.

I beseech Thee, O my Lord, by Him Who is Thy Name, Who, through the power of Thy sovereignty and might, hath risen above the horizon of His prison, to ordain for every one what becometh Thee and beseemeth Thine exaltation.

Thy might, in truth, is equal to all things. 

- Baha’u’llah  (‘Prayers and Meditations by Baha’u’llah’)

The “mystic feeling that unites man with God”

…the core of religious faith is that mystic feeling that unites man with God. This state of spiritual communion can be brought about and maintained by means of meditation and prayer. And this is the reason why Bahá'u'lláh has so much stressed the importance of worship. 

- Shoghi Effendi  (From a letter dated 8 December 1935 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, published in "Bahá'í News" 102, August 1936; The Compilation of Compilations, Vol. II, The Importance of Prayer, Meditation and the Devotional Attitude)

First Trustee of Huququ’llah - Jinab-i-Shah Muhammad from Manshad, received from Baha’u’llah the title of Aminu'l-Bayan (Trustee of the Bayan)

To receive Huququ'lláh, Bahá'u'lláh brought into being one of the great institutions of the Faith, the Trusteeship of Huququ'lláh.

The first to be honoured with being appointed Trustee of Huququ'lláh was Jinab-i-Shah Muhammad from Manshad, Yazd, who eventually received from the Blessed Beauty the title of Aminu'l-Bayan (Trustee of the Bayan). Aminu'l-Bayan had embraced the Faith in its early years and had the bounty of entering the presence of Bahá'u'lláh in Baghdad. The fire of love kindled in his heart made him impatient to offer his services to the Threshold of his Beloved, and this undertaking he followed until the last moment of his life, surrendering all material belongings in the path of service. Encompassed by hardship, danger and lack of means, this trusted servant of Bahá'u'lláh, in journey after journey, would carry the friends' donations of Huququ'lláh and their petitions to the Sacred Threshold and, in return, bring them news and Tablets from the Blessed Perfection.

Huququ’llah (The Right of God) -- a talk by the Hand of the Cause Dr. ‘Ali-Muhammad Varqa at the Sixth International Convention, Haifa, May 1, 1988

Dearly loved friends,

At the inception of the Six Year Plan of the Universal House of Justice, which coincided with dramatic changes in many aspects of society, a new arena for rapid development of the Faith of God has been attained and the purpose and aim of Bahá'u'lláh's Revelation have been unveiled before the very eyes of Government Authorities, Heads of States and Scholars who were not even aware of its existence.

At this rightful time the Universal House of Justice has emphasized the importance of acquiring knowledge of the laws and ordinances revealed by Bahá'u'lláh, and adopted the translation of the most Holy Book, the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, into English as one of the sublime goals of this new plan.

Among the commandments and decrees revealed in this sacred Book is the law of Huququ'lláh, previously applicable only to the friends in the East. The Western friends became aware of this law with the dissemination of the compilation of the Holy text and the Sacred writings prepared by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice.

Huququ'lláh is an Arabic word composed of two words, "Huquq" meaning "Rights" and "Allah" meaning "God". Therefore, Huququ'lláh means "The Rights of God", a part of the individual's possessions and income offered at the Threshold of the Lord.

Read more…

Spiritual condition of believer with respect to Huquq

The one true God -- exalted be His glory -- hath ever been and will continue to be exalted above every expression of praise and is sanctified from the world of existence and all the riches therein. Whatsoever proceedeth from Him produceth a fruit the benefits of which revert to the individuals themselves. Ere long will they perceive the truth of that which the Tongue of Grandeur hath uttered aforetime and will utter hereafter. And such benefits will indeed accrue if the Huquq is offered with the utmost joy and radiance and in the spirit of perfect humility and lowliness. 

- Baha’u’llah  (‘The Compilation of Compilations, vol. 1, Huququ’llah)

God preserves everything we offer Him

O peoples of the world! Whatsoever ye have offered up in the way of the One True God, ye shall indeed find preserved by God, the Preserver, intact at God's Holy Gate. O peoples of the earth! Bear ye allegiance unto this resplendent light wherewith God hath graciously invested Me through the power of infallible Truth, and walk not in the footsteps of the Evil One, [1] inasmuch as he prompteth you to disbelieve in God, your Lord, and verily God will not forgive disbelief in Himself, though He will forgive other sins to whomsoever He pleaseth. [2] Indeed His knowledge embraceth all things... 

- The Báb  (Excerpts from Qayyumu’l-Asma, ‘Selections from the Writings of the Báb’)

[1] cf. Qur'an. 2:204

[2] cf. Qur'an. 4:51  

The “progress and promotion of the cause of God depend on material means.”

Nothing that existeth in the world of being hath ever been or ever will be worthy of mention. However, if a person be graciously favoured to offer a penny-worth -- nay even less -- in the path of God, this would in His sight be preferable and superior to all the treasures of the earth. It is for this reason that the one true God -- exalted be His glory -- hath in all his heavenly Scriptures praised those who observe His precepts and bestow their wealth for His sake. Beseech ye God that He may enable everyone to discharge the obligation of Huquq, inasmuch as the progress and promotion of the cause of God depend on material means. If His faithful servants could realize how meritorious are benevolent deeds in these days, they would all arise to do that which is meet and seemly. In His hand is the source of authority and He ordaineth as He willeth. He is the Supreme Ruler, the Bountiful, the Equitable the Revealer, the All-Wise.

- Baha’u’llah  (The Compilation of Compilations, vol.1, Huququ’llah)

Story: Every Penny Counts...

During one of Hájí Amín’s journeys to the Holy Land to visit ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in the late 19th or early 20th century — delivering the offerings of the Bahá’ís in payment of Huqúqu’lláh, as part of his duties as Trustee of the Right of God — the experience turned into discontent. Upon handing over the funds he had collected to the beloved Master, he was asked, “Hájí, was there anything else?”

At the time, the Trustee’s whole life flashed before his eyes. Most probably, he would have wished to be anywhere else in the world, rather than being challenged on his trustworthiness. Of course, the Master had full trust in him. But He knew something was missing. 

Back in his quarters that evening, dear Hájí Amin knelt down to God in subjugation and prayer, asking for guidance. At the moment he knelt, a piece of metal hit the hard surface of the naked floor, and the chiming sound grabbed his attention and interrupted his prayers.

It turned out that a penny had slipped through a tear in the lining of his overcoat, making his delivery of the Huqúqu’lláh payments short by one penny, in the presence of his beloved. The love of God came to safeguard him in less than 24 hours, and with that missing payment found, Hájí’s face was saved…

“Economic life is an arena for the expression of honesty, integrity, trustworthiness, generosity, and other qualities of the spirit.”

In the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh, the nobility inherent to every human being is unequivocally asserted; it is a fundamental tenet of Bahá’í belief, upon which hope for the future of humankind is built. The soul’s capacity to manifest all the names and attributes of God—He Who is the Compassionate, the Bestower, the Bountiful—is repeatedly affirmed in the Writings. Economic life is an arena for the expression of honesty, integrity, trustworthiness, generosity, and other qualities of the spirit. The individual is not merely a self-interested economic unit, striving to claim an ever-greater share of the world’s material resources. “Man’s merit lieth in service and virtue”, Bahá’u’lláh avers, “and not in the pageantry of wealth and riches.” 

- The Universal House of Justice  (From a letter dated 1 March 2017)