Note 87

87. Should ye condemn the arsonist and the murderer to life imprisonment, it would be permissible according to the provisions of the Book. # 62

Shoghi Effendi, in response to a question about this verse of the Aqdas, affirmed that while capital punishment is +P205 permitted, an alternative, "life imprisonment", has been provided "whereby the rigours of such a condemnation can be seriously mitigated". He states that "&Baha'u'llah has given us a choice and has, therefore, left us free to use our own discretion within certain limitations imposed by His law". In the absence of specific guidance concerning the application of this aspect of &Baha'i law, it remains for the Universal House of Justice to legislate on the matter in the future.