September 13. On this date in 1998, the Universal House of Justice wrote that "One of the tasks of the Representatives is to assist in educating the believers in the law of Huqúqu’lláh and its importance."

 

 

September 13. On this date in 1998, the Universal House of Justice wrote that "One of the tasks of the Representatives is to assist in educating the believers in the law of Huqúqu’lláh and its importance."

98. "One of the tasks of the Representatives is to assist in educating the…"

One of the tasks of the Representatives is to assist in educating the believers in the law of Huqúqu’lláh and its importance. Naturally, this process of education cannot be limited to those whose possessions reach the amount to bring them within the obligation of the law, since this fact is often known only to the individual concerned. Children, also, should learn the law of the Right of God as part of their Bahá’í education. Sometimes friends become so enthused with the concept of this law that they express the wish to make contributions to the Huqúqu’lláh Fund, even though they are not obliged to do so. The House of Justice has stated that it is permissible for the Representatives to accept such contributions.

In other words, if someone, out of their love for the Cause, makes a payment to Huqúqu’lláh, it is not for the Representative to question whether or not that person is under obligation to pay it; he should graciously accept it.

This, as you can see, is quite different from actually encouraging Bahá’ís to pay more Huqúqu’lláh than the law of God requires them to do, and such encouragement would be a departure from the spirit of the law as Bahá’u’lláh has revealed it.

(13 September 1998, written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer)