Notes to Aqdas, Sentence #113
Notes from the Authorized Translation
70. Exile and imprisonment are decreed for the
thief # 45
Baha'u'llah states that the determination of the degree of
penalty, in accordance with the seriousness of the offence,
rests with the House of Justice (Q and A 49). The punishments
for theft are intended for a future condition of society, when
they will be supplemented and applied by the Universal
House of Justice.
71. on the third offence, place ye a mark upon his
brow so that, thus identified, he may not be accepted
in the cities of God and His countries # 45
The mark to be placed on the thief's forehead serves the
purpose of warning people of his proclivities. All details
concerning the nature of the mark, how the mark is to be
applied, how long it must be worn, on what conditions it
may be removed, as well as the seriousness of various
degrees of theft have been left by Baha'u'llah for the
Universal House of Justice to determine when the law is
applied.
Earl Elder's Notes
1. This command abrogates the law of al-Bayan that force was not to be used in punishment of the Babis.
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