In
reference to your questions about ancestors and descendants, we have been
directed to say that while there are Tablets from Baha’u’llah 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
Baha'i 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 Baha'i. You may also
be familiar with the statement of 'Abdu’l-Baha 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.” (Some Answered Questions)."
- The Universal House of Justice (From a letter written
on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual
believer, February 23,
1978; compilation: ‘Lights of Guidance’)
