| [Ar] The Right of God. A monetary payment, instituted
in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, made by the
believers to God, the proceeds of which 'revert to
the Authority in the Cause to whom all must turn'36 (in the time of Bahá'u'lláh,
the Manifestation Himself; in the time of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, the Centre of the Covenant; in the time of Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian;
and, presently, Universal
House of Justice): 'Should a person acquire one hundred mit̲h̲qáls of gold, nineteen mit̲h̲qáls thereof
belong unto God, the Creator of earth and heaven.'37 The payment of Huqúqu'lláh 'serves as a means of
purifying the earthly possessions' of those who pay it.38 |
| The payment of Huqúqu'lláh is worked out thus: 'If a person has possessions
equal in value to at least 19 mit̲h̲qáls in gold, it is a spiritual obligation for him to pay 19% of the total amount, once
only, as Huqúqu'lláh. Certain categories of possessions, such as one's
residence, are exempt from this. Thereafter, whenever his income, after all expenses
have been paid, increases the value of his possessions by the amount of at least 19 mit̲h̲qáls of gold, he is to pay
19% of this increase, and so on for each further increase.'39 |
| Bahá'u'lláh describes the
payment of Huqúqu'lláh as a spiritual obligation and bounty; 'It is incumbent
upon everyone to discharge the obligation of the Huqúq. The advantages gained
form this deed revert to the persons themselves.'40 However, the payment must be made
in the right spirit for it to be acceptable: ' . . .the acceptance of the offerings
dependeth on the spirit of joy, fellowship and contentment that the righteous souls
who fulfill this injunction will manifest. If such is the attitude acceptance is permissible, and not otherwise.'41 |
| Huqúqu'lláh is not payable on certain possessions: 'We have exempted
the residence and the household furnishings, that is such furnishings as are needful.'42 The Universal House
of Justice has clarified this further: 'It is clear from the Writings that a person
is exempt from paying Huqúqu'lláh on his residence and such household
and professional equipment as are needful. It is left to the discretion of the individual
to decide which items are necessary and which are not.'43 |
| Bahá'u'lláh appointed Trustees
who acted on His behalf in matters related to the Huqúqu'lláh. Today
the Universal House
of Justice appoints the Trustees. |
| 'Bahá'u'lláh was very anxious
that no one should ever feel forced to pay the Huqúq' and 'insisted that no
one should be solicited to pay'.44 For many years He did not accept any payments at all. |
| The Huqúqu'lláh is not for the personal use of the Centre of the Cause
but is rather to be spent on the promotion of the Faith and for charitable purposes.45 At present it is spent for the same purposes as the International
Fund.46 |
| However, 'the Huqúq should not be confused with the normal contributions
of a believer to the International Funds. Although both are donated to the Centre of
the Cause — today to the House
of Justice — there is a great difference between the two. The Huqúq
in reality does not belong to the individual, as it is the right of God,
whereas ordinary donations are given by the believer from his own resources . . .'47 |
| The law of Huqúqu'lláh is not yet binding on any but the Iranian believers,
although all Bahá'ís are free to
observe it.* |
| [BD 112-113] |
| * This description was published in 1989. In 1992, when the Kitáb-i-Aqdas was published in English, the law of Huqúqu'lláh became binding on the
believers in certain areas in the West. To determine whether the law of Huqúqu'lláh
is applicable in your area, please contact your local or national spiritual assembly. |
| [ABG] |
 |
| Right of God; payment by believers
instituted in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas. |
| [BG 19] |
|
| The "Right of God". Instituted in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, it
is an offering made by the Bahá'ís through the Head of the Faith for the purposes specified in the Bahá'í
Writings. |
| [KA-G 253] |
|
| See also: Funds |
