Huqúqu'lláh

Huqúqu'lláh (ArB|ﺣﻘﻮﻕ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ, "Right of God"), sometimes called the Law of Huqúq is a socio-economic and spiritual law of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, a charter document of the Bahá'í Faith. In its most basic form, it states that Bahá'ís should pay a 19% voluntary tax on any wealth in excess of what is necessary to live comfortably, after the remittance of any outstanding debt, to the head of the Bahá'í Faith. The money is then disbursed to social and economic development projects, or similar philanthropic purposes.

Purpose

Huqúqu'lláh is said to enable the individual to “purify one’s riches and earthly possessions,” (COC, Vol. I, p. 499, #1129) insuring the collection of sufficient funds “that the general Treasury is strengthened,” (COC, Vol. I, p. 494, #1117) which makes it possible “to promote the interests of the Cause throughout the Bahá’í world,” (LOG, p. 307, #1037) and eventually provide for “the relief of the poor, the disabled, the needy, and the orphans,” (COC, Vol. I, p. 513, #1173) and other philanthropical purposes. The offering of Huqúqu'lláh is a spiritual obligation, the fulfillment of which has been left to the conscience of each Bahá’í. While the community may be reminded of the requirements of the law of Huqúqu'lláh, it is a principle that no Bahá’í may be appealed to nor solicited to pay it. This offering is to be considered separate from giving to the various Bahá’í funds and takes precedence over them.

Calculation

The payment of Huqúqu'lláh is based on the calculation of the value of the individual’s possessions, which includes one’s merchandise, property and income, after all necessary expenses have been paid. If a person has possessions or wealth in excess of what is necessary, equal in value to at least nineteen mithqáls of gold (19 mithqáls equal to 2.2246 ounces, currently roughly US$1,800), it is a spiritual obligation to pay nineteen percent of the total amount, once only, as Huqúqu'lláh. Thereafter, whenever an individual acquires more possessions or wealth from income by the amount of at least nineteen mithqáls of gold, one is to pay nineteen percent of this increase, and so on for each further increase.

During the lifetime of Bahá’u’lláh, the offering were made directly to him, and following his death, to `Abdu'l-Bahá. In his Will and Testament, `Abdu'l-Bahá provided that Huqúqu'lláh be offered after him “through the Guardian of the Cause of God”. (WT, p. 15.) There now being no Guardian, it is offered through the Universal House of Justice as the Head of the Faith. Use of this fund is determined by the Universal House of Justice to promote the Faith of God and its interests and for various philanthropic purposes. Payment of Huqúqu'lláh is also made through an appointed trustee.

Exemptions

Certain categories of possessions are exempt from the payment of the Huqúqu'lláh, such as one’s residence, necessary household furnishings, business or professional equipment and furnishings, and others. Bahá'u'lláh has left it to the individual to decide which items are considered necessary and which are not. Specific provisions are outlined to cover cases of financial loss, the failure of investments to yield a profit and for the payment of the Huqúqu'lláh in the event of the person’s death.

ee also

*Hájí Amín
*`Alí-Muhammad Varqá
*Khums, the Islamic equivalent of Huqúqu'lláh

References

*cite book
author=Bahá'u'lláh
authorlink=Bahá'u'lláh
year=1873
title=The Kitáb-i-Aqdas: The Most Holy Book
publisher=Bahá'í Publishing Trust
location=Wilmette, Illinois, USA
id=ISBN 0853989990
url=http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/b/KA/

*cite book
year=2000
title=Huqúqu'lláh, the Right of God
publisher=Bahá'í Pub. Trust
id=ISBN 8186953639

*cite book
author=Universal House Of Justice
authorlink=Universal House of Justice
year=1987
title=Huququ'llah
publisher=Baha'i Distribution Service
id=ISBN 0900125659

*cite book
author=Research Department Of The Universal House Of Justice
year=
title=Right of God, The: Huququ'llah
publisher=Baha'i Publications Canada and Palabra Publications
id=ISBN 088867130X
url=http://www.bahaibookstore.com/productdetails.cfm?PC=675

*cite book
author = Compilations
year = 1991
title = Compilation of Compilations, Volume I
editor = Research Department of the Universal House of Justice
location = Bahá’í World Centre
publisher = Bahá’í Publications Australia
id =
url = http://bahai-library.com/file.php5?file=compilation_compilations_1&language=All

External links

* [http://www.bahai.org.br/virtual/huquq1.htm Huqúqu'lláh] - Text of a talk given by the Trustee of Huququ'llah, Dr. Ali-Muhammad Varqa

* [http://bahai-library.com/compilations/huququllah.html Huqúqu'lláh - A Compilation] - Text from "Compilation of Compilations" Vol. I, pp. 489-527

* [http://bahai-library.com/?file=uhj_huququllah_transactions Examples of Huququ'llah Transactions] - By the Universal House of Justice (1991)