The House of Justice has not prescribed any set forms to be
adopted in a Holy Shrine, whether it be in prayer, meditation or reading of the
Holy Scriptures, as long as the practices followed do not disturb the devotions
of others who are in the Shrine. It does not favour the adoption of the
practice of songs being sung with musical accompaniment in close proximity to
the Shrines. As you can well understand, such singing could well disturb those
who, within the Shrines, are engaged in their devotions.
There are, of course, special occasions, such as the commemoration of Holy Days
at the Bahá'í World Centre, when prayers and devotional readings are recited at
a gathering held near a Shrine, and the Tablet of Visitation chanted. A
devotional programme, with soloists and orchestral accompaniment, is also
planned at the entrance to the Terraces adjoining the Shrine of the Báb, in May
2001.
- The Universal House of Justice (From a letter dated 6 November 2000, written on behalf of the Universal
House of Justice to a Local Spiritual Assembly; compilation on ‘Selected
Guidance concerning Devotional Gathering’, prepared by the Research department
of the Universal House of Justice)
