Bahá'í Funerals in the UK: Rites, Requirements, and Arranging a Service

The Bahá’í Faith is one of the world’s youngest major religions, founded in 19th-century Persia. Its funeral requirements are clear and specific, set out in its central text, the Kitáb-i-Aqdas. For families in the UK, the most significant practical challenges are the prohibition on cremation and the one-hour travel rule for burial — requirements that can be difficult to fulfil in some parts of the country.

The Kitáb-i-Aqdas Requirements

The Kitáb-i-Aqdas — the Most Holy Book of the Bahá’í Faith, revealed by Bahá’u’lláh — sets out the specific laws governing burial. The key requirements are:

• Burial, not cremation: The body must be buried. Cremation is explicitly prohibited. The body is understood to have served as the dwelling of the soul and should be treated with dignity and returned to the earth.
• The one-hour travel distance: The body should not be transported more than one hour’s journey from the place of death before burial. This rule is intended to ensure timely and respectful disposal.
• The burial shroud: The body should be wrapped in a shroud of silk or cotton (for adults). The shroud should be five yards in length.
• The burial ring: A ring bearing the text “I came forth from God, and return unto Him, detached from all save Him, holding fast to His Name, the Merciful, the Compassionate” is placed on the finger of the deceased (for adults aged 15 and over).
• The Prayer for the Dead: A specific prayer, revealed by Bahá’u’lláh, is recited at the funeral.

The laws of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas apply to Bahá’ís. For the funeral of a non-Bahá’í whose family wishes to include Bahá’í elements, the Local Spiritual Assembly can advise on what is appropriate.

Why Cremation Is Prohibited

The Bahá’í writings emphasise the honour and nobility of the human body. Bahá’u’lláh wrote that the body has been “fashioned” by God and deserves to be treated with respect in death as in life. The body is described as having been the “temple of the spirit” — and while the soul departs at death, the physical remains retain a dignity that should be honoured through burial in the earth.

This is not a preference or recommendation — it is a firm religious law. UK Bahá’í families must arrange burial regardless of the cost or logistical challenge. Where there is no designated Bahá’í cemetery nearby, burial in a conventional cemetery is perfectly acceptable.

The Bahá’í Prayer for the Dead

The Prayer for the Dead is the only obligatory Bahá’í prayer that is performed on behalf of another person. Its protocol is distinctive and should be understood by everyone attending the funeral:

• One person recites the prayer: Unlike most religious prayers that are said collectively, the Prayer for the Dead is recited by one person on behalf of all those present. All other attendees stand in silence while it is read.
• No clergy required: The Bahá’í Faith has no professional clergy. Any adult Bahá’í who has memorised the prayer or can read it may act as the prayer reader. The Local Spiritual Assembly can help identify an appropriate person if needed.
• The congregation’s response: At six specific points in the prayer, all present respond “Alláh-u-Abhá” (God is Most Glorious). This is the only verbal participation of the congregation.
• For adults only: The Prayer for the Dead is prescribed for those who have reached the age of maturity (15 and older in Bahá’í law). A different, simpler prayer may be said for children.

The prayer may be recited in Persian or Arabic (the original languages) or in translation. Most UK Bahá’í families use the authorised English translation.

The One-Hour Travel Distance Challenge

The one-hour travel rule is the requirement that causes most practical difficulty for UK Bahá’í families. Bahá’í cemeteries are not common in the UK, and in areas where the community is small, finding a burial plot within one hour’s drive of the place of death can be very difficult.

In practice, UK Bahá’í families typically:

• Bury in a conventional local cemetery, requesting a plot that can accommodate burial rites consistent with Bahá’í practice (including the shroud and ring).
• Contact the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United Kingdom (bahai.org.uk) who maintain records of cemeteries and plots that have been used by Bahá’ís and can advise on finding a suitable location.
• Seek guidance from the Local Spiritual Assembly, which can advise on the most practically appropriate arrangement where strict compliance is not achievable.

The Universal House of Justice — the supreme governing body of the Bahá’í Faith — has acknowledged that in some circumstances, particularly in diaspora communities, strict compliance with the one-hour rule may not be possible, and local assemblies are empowered to make practical judgements in accordance with the spirit of the law.

Working With the Local Spiritual Assembly

The Local Spiritual Assembly (LSA) is the elected nine-member governing body of the Bahá’í community in each locality. It is the first point of contact for families arranging a Bahá’í funeral in the UK.

The LSA can help with:

• Advising on local burial options and cemeteries that can accommodate Bahá’í requirements.
• Identifying someone to recite the Prayer for the Dead.
• Notifying the wider community and coordinating attendance at the funeral.
• Providing or sourcing the burial shroud and ring if not already available.
• Offering pastoral support to the family during the bereavement period.

To find your Local Spiritual Assembly, contact the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United Kingdom via bahai.org.uk. The national office can direct you to the relevant local assembly, or, where the local community is very small, can advise directly.