July 8. On this date in 1993, the Universal House of Justice wrote an individual, answering "questions on the law of Huqúqu’lláh."

 

July 8. On this date in 1993, the Universal House of Justice wrote an individual, answering "questions on the law of Huqúqu’lláh."

72. "The Office of Huqúqu’lláh in the Holy Land referred to…"

The Office of Huqúqu’lláh in the Holy Land referred to the Universal House of Justice the questions on the law of Huqúqu’lláh attached to your letter of 21 April 1993, and we have been instructed to send you the following answers.

1.There are, indeed, differences among a person’s debts in relation to the calculation and payment of Huqúqu’lláh. With regard to computation, debts are, naturally, to be offset against assets. With regard to priority of payment, one should take into account the terms of a loan. If a schedule of payments has been specified, and one will be able to meet them from anticipated income when they are due, one should, of course, pay one’s Huqúqu’lláh in the meantime. If, however, one cannot meet the payment of both, the debt must take precedence.

2.The relative priority of the payment of Huqúqu’lláh and of contributing to the funds of the Faith is made clear in section 105 [7] of the compilation on Huqúqu’lláh. The House of Justice does not wish to go beyond this at the present time.

3.Freedom is left to each husband and wife to decide whether to comply with their obligations to Huqúqu’lláh jointly or separately because the House of Justice does not wish to interfere with the right of each couple to decide how they wish to deal with their own finances. One couple may prefer to own their property jointly; another may prefer to keep their respective properties separate; or there may be various combinations of these arrangements.

(8 July 1993, written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer)