In the Bayan, the Bab specified that the body of the deceased should be
wrapped in five sheets of silk or cotton. Baha'u'llah confirmed this
provision and added the stipulation that for "those whose means are
limited a single sheet of either fabric will suffice".
When asked whether the "five sheets" mentioned in the law referred to
"five full-length shrouds" or "five cloths which were hitherto customarily
used", Baha'u'llah responded that the intention is the "use of five
cloths" (Q and A 56).
Concerning the way in which the body should be wrapped, there is nothing
in the Baha'i Writings to define how the wrapping of the body is to be
done, either when "five cloths" are used or only "a single sheet". At
present, the Baha'is are free to use their judgement in the matter.
152. It is forbidden you to transport the body of the deceased a greater
distance than one hour's journey from the city #130
The intention of this command is to limit the duration of the journey to
one hour's time, irrespective of the means of transport that are chosen to
carry the body to the burial site. Baha'u'llah affirms that the sooner the
burial takes place, "the more fitting and acceptable will it be" (Q and A
16).
The place of death may be taken to encompass the city or town in which the
person passes away, and therefore the one hour's journey may be calculated
from the city limits to the place of burial. The spirit of Baha'u'llah's
law is for the deceased to be buried near where he or she dies.
153. God hath removed the restrictions on travel that had been imposed in
the Bayan. #131
The Bab decreed certain restrictions on travel which were to remain in
force until the advent of the Promised One of the Bayan, at which time the
believers were instructed to set out, even if on foot, to meet Him, since
the attainment of His presence was the fruit and purpose of their very
existence.
154. Raise up and exalt the two Houses in the Twin Hallowed Spots, and the
other sites wherein the throne of your Lord ... hath been established.
#133
Baha'u'llah identifies the "two Houses" as His House in Bag{~COMBINING MACRON BELOW~}h{~COMBINING MACRON BELOW~}dad,
designated by Him as the "Most Great House", and the House of the Bab in
S{~COMBINING MACRON BELOW~}h{~COMBINING MACRON BELOW~}iraz, both of which have been ordained by Him as sites of pilgrimage.
(See Q and A 29, 32 and note 54.)
Shoghi Effendi explained that "the other sites wherein the throne of your
Lord ... hath been established" refers to those places where the Person of
the Manifestation of God has resided. Baha'u'llah states that "the people
of the areas where these are situated may choose to preserve either each
house" wherein He resided, "or one of them" (Q and A 32). Baha'i
institutions have identified, documented, and where possible, acquired and
restored a number of the historical sites associated with the Twin
Manifestations.
155. Take heed lest ye be prevented by aught that hath been recorded in
the Book from hearkening unto this, the Living Book #134
The "Book" is the record of the revealed Word of the Manifestations of
God. The "Living Book" is a reference to the Person of the Manifestation.
These words contain an allusion to a statement of the Bab in the Persian
Bayan about the "Living Book", which He identifies as Him Whom God will
make manifest. In one of His Tablets Baha'u'llah Himself states: "The Book
of God hath been sent down in the form of this Youth."
In this verse of the Aqdas, and again in paragraph 168 of the Aqdas,
Baha'u'llah refers to Himself as the "Living Book". He cautions the
"followers of every other Faith" against seeking "reasons in their Holy
Books" for refuting the utterances of the "Living Book". He admonishes the
people not to allow what has been recorded in the "Book" to prevent them
from recognising His Station and from holding fast to what is in this new
Revelation.
156. tribute to this Revelation, from the Pen of Him Who was My Herald
#135
The "tribute" that Baha'u'llah quotes in this passage is from the Arabic
Bayan.
157. "The Qiblih is indeed He Whom God will make manifest; whenever He
moveth, it moveth, until He shall come to rest." #137
For a discussion of this verse see notes 7 and 8.
158. It is unlawful to enter into marriage save with a believer in the
Bayan. Should only one party to a marriage embrace this Cause, his or her
possessions will become unlawful to the other #139
The passage of the Bayan which Baha'u'llah here quotes draws the attention
of the believers to the imminence of the coming of "Him Whom God will make
manifest". Its prohibition of marriage with a non-Babi and its provision
that the property of a husband or wife who embraced the Faith could not
lawfully pass to the non-Babi spouse were explicitly held in abeyance by
the Bab, and were subsequently annulled by Baha'u'llah before they could
come into effect. Baha'u'llah, in quoting this law, points to the fact
that, in revealing it, the Bab had clearly anticipated the possibility
that the Cause of Baha'u'llah would rise to prominence before that of the
Bab Himself.
In God Passes By Shoghi Effendi points out that the Bayan "should be
regarded primarily as a eulogy of the Promised One rather than a code of
laws and ordinances designed to be a permanent guide to future
generations". "Designedly severe in the rules and regulations it imposed,"
he continues, "revolutionizing in the principles it instilled, calculated
to awaken from their age-long torpor the clergy and the people, and to
administer a sudden and fatal blow to obsolete and corrupt institutions,
it proclaimed, through its drastic provisions, the advent of the
anticipated Day, the Day when 'the Summoner shall summon to a stern
business', when He will 'demolish whatever hath been before Him, even as
the Apostle of God demolished the ways of those that preceded Him'" (see
also note 109).