ANSWER: This practice hath been pronounced unlawful by the Source of
Authority, and it is unlawful to announce a marriage earlier than
ninety-five days before the wedding.
44. QUESTION: If a person hath, for example, a hundred tumans, payeth the
Huquq on this sum, loseth half the sum in unsuccessful transactions and
then, through trading, the amount in hand is raised again to the sum on
which Huquq is due--must such a person pay Huquq or not?
ANSWER: In such an event the Huquq is not payable.
45. QUESTION: If, after payment of Huquq, this same sum of one hundred
tumans is lost in its entirety, but subsequently regained through trade
and business dealings, must Huquq be paid a second time or not?
ANSWER: In this event as well, payment of Huquq is not required.
46. QUESTION: With reference to the sacred verse, "God hath prescribed
matrimony unto you", is this prescription obligatory or not?
ANSWER: It is not obligatory.
47. QUESTION: Supposing that a man hath wed a certain woman believing her
to be a virgin and he hath paid her the dowry, but at the time of
consummation it becometh evident that she is not a virgin, are the
expenses and the dowry to be repaid or not? And if the marriage had been
made conditional upon virginity, doth the unfulfilled condition invalidate
that which was conditioned upon it?
ANSWER: In such a case the expenses and the dowry may be refunded. The
unfulfilled condition invalidateth that which is conditioned upon it.
However, to conceal and forgive the matter will, in the sight of God,
merit a bounteous reward.
48. QUESTION: "A feast hath been enjoined upon you..." Is this obligatory
or not?
ANSWER: It is not obligatory.
49. QUESTION: Concerning the penalties for adultery, sodomy, and theft,
and the degrees thereof.
ANSWER: The determination of the degrees of these penalties rests with the
House of Justice.
50. QUESTION: Concerning the legitimacy or otherwise of marrying one's
relatives.
ANSWER: These matters likewise rest with the Trustees of the House of
Justice.
51. QUESTION: With reference to ablutions, it hath been revealed, "Let him
that findeth no water for ablution repeat five times the words 'In the
Name of God, the Most Pure, the Most Pure'": is it permissible to recite
this verse in times of bitter cold, or if the hands or face be wounded?
ANSWER: Warm water may be used in times of bitter cold. If there are
wounds on the face or hands, or there be other reasons such as aches and
pains for which the use of water would be harmful, one may recite the
appointed verse in place of the ablution.
52. QUESTION: Is the recitation of the verse revealed to replace the
Prayer of the Signs obligatory?
ANSWER: It is not obligatory.
53. QUESTION: With reference to inheritance, when there are full brothers
and full sisters, would half-brothers and half-sisters on the mother's
side also receive a share?
ANSWER: They receive no share.
54. QUESTION: He saith, exalted be He: "Should the son of the deceased
have passed away in the days of his father and have left children, they
will inherit their father's share..." What is to be done if the daughter
hath died during the lifetime of her father?
ANSWER: Her share of the inheritance should be distributed among the seven
categories of heirs according to the ordinance of the Book.
55. QUESTION: If the deceased be a woman, to whom is the "wife's" share of
the inheritance allotted?
ANSWER: The "wife's" share of the inheritance is allotted to the husband.
56. QUESTION: Concerning the shrouding of the body of the deceased which
is decreed to comprise five sheets: does the five refer to five cloths
which were hitherto customarily used or to five full-length shrouds
wrapped one around the other?
ANSWER: The use of five cloths is intended.