Believers
have also raised the question about smoking during Bahá'í meetings. It is
entirely within the authority of Local and National Spiritual Assemblies to
prohibit smoking in meetings held under their auspices. An Assembly may well
feel that it does not wish to raise an additional barrier to seekers by
prohibiting smoking at public meetings . . . and firesides in case it is
offensive to some seekers. In the case of Nineteen Day Feasts or meetings of
Assemblies or committees, it is not right that friends who find smoking
offensive should be made to endure it in Bahá'í meetings which they are
required or expected to attend. If certain individuals feel that they must
smoke, then arrangements, such as a break in the meeting, could be made for
their convenience. It would, of course, be entirely inappropriate to smoke
during the devotional part of a Feast, or at any other devotional gathering.
- The Universal House of Justice (From a letter dated March 4, 1974, to a
National Spiritual Assembly; compilation: Developing Distinctive Baha’i
Communities, NSA of USA, 1998 edition)
