ANSWER: The Festival of Naw-Ruz falleth on the day that the sun entereth
the sign of Aries,(16) even should this occur no more than one minute
before sunset.
36. QUESTION: If the anniversary either of the Twin Birthdays or of the
Declaration of the Bab occurreth during the Fast, what is to be done?
ANSWER: Should the feasts celebrating the Twin Birthdays or the
Declaration of the Bab fall within the month of fasting, the command to
fast shall not apply on that day.
37. QUESTION: In the holy ordinances governing inheritance, the residence
and personal clothing of the deceased have been allotted to the male
offspring. Doth this provision refer only to the father's property, or
doth it apply to the mother's as well?
ANSWER: The used clothing of the mother should be divided in equal shares
among the daughters, but the remainder of her estate, including property,
jewellery, and unused clothing, is to be distributed, in the manner
revealed in the Kitab-i-Aqdas, to all her heirs. If, however, the deceased
hath left no daughters, her estate in its entirety must be divided in the
manner designated for men in the holy Text.
38. QUESTION: Concerning divorce, which must be preceded by a year of
patience: if only one of the parties is inclined toward conciliation, what
is to be done?
ANSWER: According to the commandment revealed in the Kitab-i-Aqdas, both
parties must be content; unless both are willing, reunion cannot take
place.
39. QUESTION: In connection with the dowry, what if the bridegroom cannot
pay this sum in full, but instead were to formally deliver a promissory
note to his bride at the time of the wedding ceremony, on the
understanding that he will honour it when he is able to do so?
ANSWER: Permission to adopt this practice hath been granted by the Source
of Authority.
40. QUESTION: If during the year of patience the fragrance of affection be
renewed, only to be succeeded by antipathy, and the couple waver between
affection and aversion throughout the year, and the year endeth in
antipathy, can divorce take place or not?
ANSWER: In each case at any time antipathy occurreth, the year of patience
beginneth on that day, and the year must run its full course.
41. QUESTION: The residence and personal clothing of the deceased have
been assigned to the male, not female, offspring, nor to the other heirs;
should the deceased have left no male offspring, what is to be done?
ANSWER: He saith, exalted be He: "Should the deceased leave no offspring,
their share shall revert to the House of Justice..." In conformity with
this sacred verse, the residence and personal clothing of the deceased
revert to the House of Justice.
42. QUESTION: The ordinance of Huququ'llah is revealed in the
Kitab-i-Aqdas. Is the residence, with the accompanying fixtures and
necessary furnishings, included in the property on which Huquq is payable,
or is it otherwise?
ANSWER: In the laws revealed in Persian We have ordained that in this Most
Mighty Dispensation the residence and the household furnishings are
exempt--that is, such furnishings as are necessary.