March 26
Thou has asked which is
to take precedence: the Huququ'lláh, the debts of the deceased, or the cost of
burial. It is God's command that the cost of burial take precedence, then
payment of debts, then the Right of God. Verily He is the One Who will pay due
recompense, the All- Rewarding, the All-Generous. If the property is not equal
to the debts, the estate must be distributed in direct proportion to each debt.
The settlement of debts is a most important command set forth in the Book. Well
is it with him who ascendeth unto God, without any obligations to Huququ'lláh
and to His servants. It is evident that the Huququ'lláh hath priority over all
other liabilities; however, as a token of mercy, He Who is the Dawning-Place of
Revelation hath commanded that which hath been revealed by His life-giving and
omniscient Pen in this Tablet. (Baha’u’llah, The Compilation of Compilation,
vol. I, Huqúqu'lláh)
