Ancestors/Descendants
From Lights of Guidance (to categorize or add to subpages)[edit]
Faith of Believer Attracts God's Mercy to Souls of Parents[edit]
"In reference to your questions about ancestors and descendants, we have been directed to say that while there are Tablets from Bahá'u'lláh stating that faith in the Manifestation of God on the part of a believer attracts God's mercy to the souls of departed parents the House of Justice knows of no text in Bahá'í Writings to support the statement that a believer's seven past generations and seven generations to descend from him are blessed when that person becomes a Bahá'í. You may also be familiar with the statement of Abdu'l-Bahá that 'it is permitted to ask for advancement, forgiveness, mercy, beneficence, and blessings for a man after his death.... Therefore children ... must implore pardon and forgiveness for their parents.' (From "Some Answered Questions" pages 268-269)."
- (From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer, February 23, 1978, in Lights of Guidance, no. 760)
True Believer in Better Position to Intercede for Ancestors[+F1 (See also: No. 699)][edit]
"We cannot take the teaching that if a believer remains steadfast till the end of his life he will be the means of the spiritual awakening of all his ancestors too literally, especially as it is only reported, and not in an authenticated form. However, we can be assured that the true and faithful believer will be in a much better position to intercede for his ancestors, and aid in their development than if he were not spiritually enlightened."
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, December 12, 1942, in Lights of Guidance, no. 761)
