Bahá’í Laws/Wills and Burial
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Writings and learning to know and love God. No one should believe in something only because his parents, friends, or religious leaders believe. Each Bahá’í must believe as a result of his own study and prayer.
Instead of having clergy to manage the affairs of the community Bahá’ís elect a Spiritual Assembly of nine members. The Spiritual Assembly is responsible for handling marriages and burials, planning teaching activities, spending funds, and providing for the education of children.
8. Wills and Burial[edit]
Bahá’u’lláh has given several laws concerning wills and burials. Each Bahá’í must leave an official will. The will should say how one wants his money and property divided—what should be given to his family, to the Fund, and so on. It is also wise to state in one’s will that one is a Bahá’í and wants to be buried according to Bahá’í laws. This is important because many Bahá’ís have non-Bahá’í relatives who are not aware of Bahá’í burial procedures.
Any Bahá’í can conduct a funeral service, though the Local Spiritual Assembly is responsible for seeing that the service is arranged properly. A Bahá’í funeral should be simple. Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá have revealed beautiful prayers for the departed; these are often read, along with other prayers and selections from the Writings. Non-Bahá’ís may have Bahá’í funerals if they wish.
Bahá’ís may not be cremated. Bodies must be buried, and the burial must be within one hour’s journey from the place of death. Often people spend much time and money shipping the body of a relative half way around the world to be buried in a certain place. Bahá’ís do not believe it matters where one’s physical body is laid to rest because when one dies, he enters a new spiritual life where place means nothing. Also Bahá’ís regard the whole earth as their home, not just one small area of it.