The Baha' i' Funeral Rite
funeral service and burial
-usually at gravesite -required to recite 'Prayer for the Dead' done in a dignified manner -service open to all -where permitted, body should be placed with feet toward Qiblih, or Baha'u'llah's resting place -can be accomplished within the Christian notion of being buried facing East -burial in cemetery would be preferable -monuments and markers should also be adorned with the emblem of Baha'l -no specific times of mourning -permitted to hold memorial services as they choose
preparation of remains (Baha)
-washing the body is a great honor -nothing should enhance/delay the decomposition process -embalming & cremation are forbidden unless mandated by law -anatomical donation is allowed for medical purposes -anything used for medical research must be buried rather than cremated
Baha I ring inscription
"I came forth from God, and return unto Him, detached from all save Him, holding fast to His Name, the Merciful, the Compassionate"
pre-service considerations
- the sooner the burial the better, sometimes within 24 hours -deceased should not be buried more than an hour's journey from the place of death
basic tenets of the Baha faith
-abandonment of all forms of prejudice -full equality of women -unity and relativity of all religious truth -elimination of extremes in wealth and poverty -universal education -personal responsibility to search for truth -Global Commonwealth of Nations -true religion is in harmony with reason and scientific knowledge
dressing & casketing
-after washing, the deceased is to be clothed in a shroud of silk or cotton -the shroud is a piece of cloth approx. 7 yards or meters in length, when used for a person of normal height and weight, can be wrapped around the body in one piece, this is more difficult than to cut it into four one yard or meter pieces, each one used for the feet and legs, trunk, shoulders, head, with the longer three foot piece wrapped the length of the body to hold the other pieces in place -not necessary to cover the face, but the shroud may be wrapped over the top of the head, as a shawl (Radpour) -those 15 and older will be adorned with the Baha i burial ring placed on the forefinger, the local assemblies will usually have these rings available
removal of remains (Baha)
-body must be washed before removal to the funeral home -if not possible, the faith community may wash the body or permit the funeral home to do so
Mirza Husayn-Ali Nuri
-born in Tehran in 1817, died in 1892 -became prophet of Babism -He founded the Baha'i faith -wrote letters to religious & political leaders throughout the world
Baha notification of death:
-no formal clergy involved in the burial process -family will contact the local community of faith and inform them of death
Baha 'i beliefs:
-roots in Islam -faith of inclusion -sees God's revelation is all faith practices and believes that each messenger (Abraham, Moses, Buddha, Zoroaster, Jesus, and Muhammad) has given mankind a glimpse into the Divine wil and purpose -most practice/doctrine is based upon writings of Bab
who was the first to promote the coming of the Baha'u'llah (glory of god) in the modern world?
Bab, or Gate (1819-1850)
who is the head of the Universal House of Justice?
Headed by nine adult members of the faith who are elected by secret ballot every 5 years
where is the headquarters for the Baha faith located?
Universal House of Justice in Haifa, Isreal on the slopes of Mt. Camel
where is the oldest Baha' house of worship located?
Wilmette, Illinois
who was able to continue the work of Mirza Husayn-Ali Nuri?
his son, Abdu'l-Baha, eventually bringing the faith to the West and throughout the US and Canada in 1912
