BAHA'I
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Beliefs About
Death
Bahá'í
followers view life on earth as a preparation for life in the next world.
Baha'u'llah taught that life in the flesh is but the embryonic stage of
our existence, and that escape from the body is like a new birth through
which the human spirit enters on a fuller, freer life.
Embalming is not allowed, and cremation is forbidden. Interment must take
place within one hour's drive from the place where death occurs. The Bahá'í
faith has only a few official specified rituals.
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Funeral
Service
As there are
no clergy in the Bahá'í religion, the service is conducted
by the family or other Bahá'í members and would take
place either at a Bahá'í chapel or at the graveside.
Women and men are permitted to sit together and no head covering
is required. One of the few official Bahá'í rituals
is the recitation of the Prayer for the Dead at the funeral, read
by a Bahá'í on behalf of those assembled.
It is considered appropriate to send flowers or cards. Attendees
should dress respectfully, according to their culture. Mourners
would usually wear dark colors and no makeup.
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Prayer
for the Dead
O my God! This
is Thy servant and the son of Thy servant who hath believed in Thee
and in Thy signs, and set his face towards Thee, wholly detached from
all except Thee. Thou art, verily, of those who show mercy the most
merciful.
Deal with him, 0 Thou Who forgivest the sins of men and concealest
their faults, as beseemeth the heaven of Thy bounty and the ocean
of Thy grace. Grant him admission within the precincts of Thy transcendent
mercy that was before the foundation of earth and heaven. There is
no God but Thee, the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Generous.
Let him, then, repeat six times the greeting "Alhah-u-Abha,
and then repeat nineteen times each of the following verses:
— We all, verily, worship God.
— We all, verily, bow down before God.
— We all, verily, are devoted unto God.
— We all, verily, give praise unto God.
— We all, verily, yield thanks unto God.
— We all, verily, are patient in God.
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References:
funeral-care.com/customs.html#Bahai
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