Baha'i Funeral Services
In terms of death, the Baha’i faith teaches that there is a separate consciousness or soul for every human. Upon death, the soul is free from physical bonds and enters the spiritual world, a timeless extension of the universe. Spiritual development determines whether one is closer or farther from God.
Baha’i practices do not permit embalming unless it is required by law. Believers also bury the body within one hour’s travel time from the place of death because they discourage becoming attached to any particular geographic site.
Services are normally held within two or three days after the death. Guests may dress according to personal preference and local custom. The family arranges for the officiate to read the prayers. Those who are not of the Baha’i faith are not required to nor discouraged from participating.
Overall, the Baha’i funeral customs are relaxed and designed to accommodate the personal preferences of the family.
There is no clergy in the Baha’i Faith, therefore, the conduct of the service and arrangements for interment may be left to the relatives of the deceased in consultation with the local Baha’i community. Each service is unique. A specific “Prayer for the Dead” which was revealed by Baha'u'llah, the Prophet-Founder of the Baha’i Faith, is the only essential element of the Baha’i Funeral Service which can take place either in the chapel or at graveside.
The “Prayer for the Dead” is recited by one person while all present stand.
"O my God! This is Thy servant and the son of Thy servant who hath belie ved in Thee and in Thy signs, and set his face towards Thee, wholly detached from all else except Thee. Thou art, verily, of those who show mercy the most merciful.
Deal with him, O 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 "Allah-u-Abha" and then repeat nineteen times each of the following lines (See note below):
"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."Baha’u’llah
If the deceased is a woman, “This is Thy handmaiden and the daughter of Thy handmaiden...” is substituted and appropriate gender changes are made.
Baha’is often choose to have additional memorial services. Such gatherings are planned by relatives of the deceased or by Baha’i communities and usually consist of prayers and readings from the sacred scriptures of the Baha’i Faith.
