The Babi and Baha'i Religion — Page 74
THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 74 vice tendered as a principle in the Sharia. Surpris- ingly enough, Bah a ’ull a h has not indicated what was to be done with the old furnishings. Also in the same breath he has said that in case the people could not observe this principle, Allah would forgive them (329). To lay down a principle in one breath and then to cancel it in the next is a peculiarity of the Bah a ’ i sharia. 20. On the point of mahar (alimony) in marriages, Bah a ’ull a h has ordained that it is to be nineteen misq a ls of gold in all cases, whether of people living in towns or in the countryside. This seems to be extremely unreasonable and impolitic, for all are not of the same standard of means. There are many people in the world for whom this mahar is too much. Are such people to remain celibate because they cannot afford the mahar prescribed ? 21. The rules laid down by Bah a ’ i sharia in regard to division of property of the deceased among his heirs is altogether arbitrary. It does not seem to be based on any principle, except that departures have been made from the Islamic Sharia— departures which seem to have brought no addi- tional benefit. 22. One point in the Bah a ‘ i sharia is that it is forbidden for anyone to sell slaves (150).