Concerning translation of the phrase “Alláh-u-Abhá” into another language for purposes of its recitation 95 times

19 May 2015

Dear Bahá’í Friend,

Your email letter of 10 March 2015, asking on behalf of a fellow believer whether it is appropriate to translate the phrase “Alláh-u-Abhá” into another language for purposes of its recitation 95 times a day, has been received at the Bahá’í World Centre and forwarded to our Office for reply. The following has been provided in response to a similar query posed to the Universal House of Justice on a previous occasion:

The Universal House of Justice has received your email letter of 29 December 2008, asking why such terms as “Alláh-u-Abhá” and “Yá Bahá’u’l-Abhá” are used by Bahá’ís rather than being translated into their native tongues, and has asked us to respond as follows.

The House of Justice on another occasion has clarified that the Greatest Name is to be used in its original language for the recitation of “Alláh-u-Abhá” 95 times a day, as well as for its use in the Long Obligatory Prayer and the Prayer for the Dead. It has also clarified that to translate words such as “Alláh-u-Abhá”, “Yá Bahá’u’l-Abhá”, “Mashriqu’l-Adhkár” and “Ḥazíratu’l-Quds” into one’s native language is not acceptable. One exception to this is the alternative use of the words “Right of God” or their equivalent into other languages while the term “Huqúqu’lláh” gradually becomes a part of Bahá’í vocabulary.

In general, one should bear in mind that all translations are, to some degree, inadequate. For instance, the beloved Guardian has pointed out in ... God Passes By that the word “Bahá” signifies at once the “Glory”, the “Splendour” and the “Light” of God; there is no single word in English which can express all these. It is, of course, desirable that there be no loss of meaning through translation; thus, it is preferable that certain terms directly related to the Manifestation of God remain in their original form. (From a letter dated 22 February 2009 written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer)

With loving Bahá’í greetings,

Office of Correspondence

(Baha’i Library Online)

Request for a believer to be designated as a martyr to the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh

23 March 2015

Dear Bahá’í Friend,

Further to the email letter dated 1 December 2014 from the Office of Correspondence, regarding your request that Alonzo Twine be designated as a martyr to the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh, the Universal House of Justice has considered the matter and has asked us to convey the following.

The House of Justice is well aware that, not only in Iran, but across the world in far flung settings, especially in those periods when the light of the Faith was penetrating new areas, individuals newly enkindled by the fire of love for Bahá’u’lláh faced situations of fanaticism and cruelty, sometimes resulting in laying down their lives for the Cause of God and earning the station of martyrdom. Others have arisen with such detachment and power as to be reckoned among the Faith's heroes and saints. God is aware of all things, and the station of each soul is recognized and safeguarded by Him. This is true also for that noble and illumined soul, Alonzo Twine.

At the present time, however, there is no mechanism for systematically reviewing such cases and no criteria established for gathering adequate information and making a final judgement. The designation of a person as a martyr has historically been done by the head of the Faith at the time of a person's passing and not retrospectively. Without a system that would provide a means for fully and fairly addressing obscure cases in remote regions over nearly a century of the systematic spread of the Cause, the House of Justice is reluctant to make a determination in the few specific instances brought to its attention, all with varying degrees of documentation and evidence.

Your care in bringing this tragic but soul-stirring story to the attention of the House of Justice is warmly appreciated. It will offer heartfelt supplications in the Holy Shrines for the progress of Mr. Twine's soul throughout the worlds of God.

With loving Bahá'í greetings,

Department of the Secretariat

(Baha’i Library Online)

Interlinear Editions of the Bahá'í Writings and the Computer Translation Aid (CTA) software

8 March 2015

Dear Bahá’í Friend,

Your email letter of 21 January 2015, regarding interlinear editions of Bahá’í Writings and the availability of the Computer Translation Aid (CTA) software, has been received by the Universal House of Justice, which has asked us to respond as follows.

The custom of publishing interlinear editions of the Qur’án arose out of particular conditions and assumptions within Islám that do not exist in the Bahá’í Faith. Although such editions served the need for non-Arabic speakers to understand what they were reading, interlinear editions of the Bahá’í Writings are unnecessary for Bahá’ís, as believers who do not know the original languages are free to read the Writings in translation. Those who wish to compare the translation with the Arabic or Persian text can do so easily enough by referring to the relevant editions, while printing both in juxtaposition would tend to distract all other readers from their primary focus ― the reading and study of the Text.

Your suggestion regarding the benefits of an open availability of the CTA software has been noted.

With loving Bahá’í greetings,

Department of the Secretariat

(Baha’i Library Online)

Responses to “conflicts, injustices, and suffering… symptoms of the disintegration of the old world order”

13 January 2015

Dear Bahá’í Friend,

The Universal House of Justice has received your email letter of 7 August 2014, in which you seek guidance regarding the response of Bahá’ís to conflicts, such as that in the Middle East, and the humanitarian concerns they cause, and has asked that we convey the following.

The heart of a Bahá’í cannot but be distressed when contemplating the desperate state of global affairs. The friends must remember, however, that the conflicts, injustices, and suffering they observe are symptoms of the disintegration of the old world order. Ultimately, political affairs must be reordered and the lesser peace established, for humanity is a single entity and the best interests of any part are inextricably bound up with the best interests of the whole. Yet, so long as particular nations, peoples, and political factions pursue their own interests, whether by political, economic, or military means and often at the expense of others, the great challenges facing humanity will remain insoluble. While each side portrays its position in terms of what is just and right, using whatever means available to gain public favor — especially the media and global forums — Bahá’ís must be careful not to be drawn into such arguments, for they are the well-wishers of all peoples and nations. “Let them refrain from associating themselves, whether by word or by deed, with the political pursuits of their respective nations, with the policies of their governments and the schemes and programs of parties and factions”, Shoghi Effendi stated. “In such controversies they should assign no blame, take no side, further no design, and identify themselves with no system prejudicial to the best interests of that world-wide Fellowship which it is their aim to guard and foster.”

Posting the Bahá’í Writings on Personal Websites and Blogs

6 November 2014

Dear Bahá’í Friend,

Your email letter of 9 November 2009, requesting electronic files of Bahá’í texts for use in sharing the writings online, was received by the Office of Public Information at the Bahá’í World Centre. At the time your letter was received, work had begun to introduce a significantly revised presentation of the Bahá’í Reference Library website, and consequently a reply was held in abeyance. The work has reached a point where the new site is available for viewing, and it is now timely to draw the site to your attention and to convey to you the following comments.

The Universal House of Justice has been pleased to note the steady strengthening of the Bahá’í presence on the World Wide Web in recent years, and it looks forward to the continued unfoldment of this process. Whether through personal websites, blogs, public sites, or social networks, an increasing number of believers have found ways to present the Faith and its teachings and to share with others their understanding of its perspectives on a wide variety of issues, thereby enhancing the Faith’s online presence.

The Bahá’í Reference Library is the authoritative online source for the Bahá’í writings, and the friends may use the texts it contains in ways they feel are appropriate, bearing in mind the terms of use set forth on the site. With respect to individuals making the writings available on the Internet, this can, in itself, be a worthy endeavor, but certain cautions must be observed. First, making available a comprehensive presentation of the writings is generally the responsibility of Bahá’í institutions on official websites; whilst individuals may present some of these writings on their own sites, it would be preferable if for a complete presentation users are directed to official Bahá’í websites, including the site of the Bahá’í Reference Library….

With loving Bahá’í greetings,

Department of the Secretariat

(Messages from the Universal House of Justice 2001-2022)

In Vitro Fertilization

28 October 2014

Dear Bahá’í Friend,

The Universal House of Justice has received your email letter of 17 September 2014 in which you and your husband, …, seek guidance regarding the disposition of embryos and has asked that we reply as follows.

The Bahá’í view of matters pertaining to infertility is balanced. While it appreciates the value of medical techniques that enable previously childless couples to enjoy the blessings of a family, the teachings define such limits as are necessary to preserve the dignity of the individual and the sanctity of marriage.

The House of Justice does not wish to legislate at this time on the disposition of any embryos following the in vitro fertilization process. Hence, for the time being, it is left to the Bahá’í couple to decide what to do with the unused embryos.

In your letter you mention the possibility of donating the embryos to another couple seeking fertility treatment. Statements made by the beloved Guardian establish the principle that, for Bahá’ís, the process of reproduction pertains to a husband and wife. Furthermore, the option you have suggested, which involves the adoption by one couple of an embryo derived from the sperm and ovum of another couple and implanted in the womb of the adoptive mother, is very closely related to the concept of surrogacy and raises additional complex issues. As you know, the House of Justice has determined that the spiritual and social implications involved in surrogacy are too far-reaching for such procedures to be permissible for Bahá’ís. In light of this, the option of your donating the remaining embryos to another couple would not be acceptable.

Homosexuality

9 May 2014

Dear Bahá’í Friend,

Your email letter dated 11 January 2014 has been received by the Universal House of Justice. We have been asked to convey to you the following.

You express concern about the challenge Bahá’ís encounter in understanding and upholding the Teachings in the face of powerful social forces influencing public attitudes towards homosexuality. In this connection, you observe that some Bahá’ís are susceptible to the argument that the Faith must change to keep up with what are perceived to be progressive social values, while some others, despite their firm adherence to the Teachings, are unable to resolve the incongruity between the Bahá’í perspective and attitudes prevailing in the wider society. Your thoughtful analysis of the issues you raise is warmly appreciated.

The contemporary discussion surrounding homosexuality, which began in the West and is increasingly promoted in other parts of the world, generally takes the form of a false dichotomy, which compels one to choose between a position that is either affirming or rejecting. It is understandable that Bahá’ís would be sensitive to acts of prejudice or oppression in any form and to the needs of those who suffer as a result. But to align with either side in the public debate is to accept the premises on which it is based. Moreover, this debate occurs within the context of a rising tide of materialism and consequent reorientation of society, over more than a century, which has among its outcomes a destructive emphasis on sexuality. Various philosophies and theories have eroded precepts of right and wrong that govern personal behavior. For some, relativism reigns and individuals are to determine their own moral preferences; others dismiss the very conception of personal morality, maintaining that any standard that restrains what is considered a natural impulse is harmful to the individual and ultimately to society. Self indulgence, in the guise of expressing one’s true nature, becomes the norm, even the touchstone of healthy living. Consequently, sexuality has become a preoccupation, pervading commerce, media, the arts, and popular culture, influencing disciplines such as medicine, psychology, and education and reducing the human being to an object. It is no longer merely a part of life, but becomes the defining element of a person’s identity. At its most extreme, the doctrine aggressively propagated in some societies is that it is abnormal for adolescents to restrain their sexual impulses, unreasonable for young adults to marry without first having had sexual relations, and impossible for a married couple to remain monogamous. The unbounded expression of sexuality in almost any form is thought to be natural and is accepted as a matter of course, the only limitation being to cause no harm to others, while any notion to the contrary is deemed narrow-minded or retrogressive. The question of same-sex marriage arises not simply as an appeal for fairness within a framework of existing values but as another step, presumed to be inevitable, in clearing away the vestiges of what is regarded to be a repressive traditional morality.

Promotion of the Equality of Men and Women in Society

21 January 2014

Dear Bahá’í Friend,

The Universal House of Justice has received your email letter … in which you pose thoughtful and probing questions about the application of the principles of the oneness of mankind and the equality of men and women, as well as the promotion of the Bahá’í teachings in the wider society…. We have been asked to convey the following.

Among your questions is how the roles of men and women should be defined and reinforced when applying Bahá’í principles in current and future society. In its Ridván 2012 message, the House of Justice indicated that it is not possible today to glimpse “anything but an intimation, distant and indistinct, of the future society to which the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh is destined to give rise”, and it observed that none should “suppose that the civilization towards which the divine teachings impel humankind will follow merely from adjustments to the present order.” Rather, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá has stated that “‘among the results of the manifestation of spiritual forces will be that the human world will adapt itself to a new social form’”. It is impossible at present to foresee how the principles of the Faith will be applied as the process of organic change unfolds under the influence of the Divine Plan. However, we may, through personal daily study and through acts of service to the Faith and to one’s fellow man and by resolving questions through prayerful reflection and sincere consultation, come to a better understanding of how to apply the teachings in our daily lives and contribute to the advancement of society—including matters pertaining to gender equality.

Participation in Politics and Social Activities

24 December 2013

[Authorized translation from the Persian]

Dear Bahá’í Friend,

Your letter dated 5 October 2013, in which you raise a number of questions related to the discussions that took place at the recent conference of the Association of Friends of Persian Culture in Chicago, was received by the Universal House of Justice. It has asked us to convey the following.

The House of Justice noted with appreciation your concern for safeguarding
 the interests of the Cause. In response to your questions, it should be noted
 that non-involvement in politics is one of the principles of the Bahá’í Faith and cannot be disregarded by any individual or institution. The House of Justice has repeatedly, and most recently in its message of 2 March 2013 addressed to the believers in the Cradle of the Faith [online here], elaborated a framework within which Bahá’ís may participate in constructive social activities and interactions without deviating a hair’s breadth from this law of Bahá’u’lláh.

Concerning the contents of the talk given by one of the prominent believers at this conference, no doubt you have by now seen his response to the open letter.

Women and Membership of the Universal House of Justice

22 December 2013

Dear Bahá’í Friend,

The Universal House of Justice has received your email letter dated 1 August 2013, asking how to respond to a question that arose in an online forum … and that concerns the ineligibility of women for membership on the House of Justice in relation to the Bahá’í principle of the equality of men and women. We have been directed to say that, while no one answer will satisfy every individual, the following principles should be considered.

Only God, the Creator of mankind and of each human soul, knows the purpose of His creation and exactly what, at each stage of its development, is required for its fulfillment. This purpose, through His great love, is conveyed to mankind by the Divine Manifestation. As Bahá’u’lláh affirms, “No man, however acute his perception, can ever hope to reach the heights which the wisdom and understanding of the Divine Physician have attained.” The Manifestation “doeth as He willeth” in establishing His laws and ordinances in accordance with human reality and His intended aims for individual and collective transformation. To recognize Bahá’u’lláh is to have faith in His authority to make the judgments necessary to guide the progress of humanity through the course of the Dispensation.

As you are aware, among the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh for this age is the equality of men and women—a revolutionary step forward in religious history that has set the stage for the advancement of women in every field of human endeavor. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá has explained:

Pilgrims' Notes: Considerations for Sharing

12 August 2013

Dear Bahá’í Friend,

The Universal House of Justice has received your email letter of 5 January 2013 in which you seek guidance about posting online the pilgrimage accounts of ... and we have been directed to convey the following.

Shoghi Effendi permitted the sharing, among the believers, of the notes taken down by pilgrims. At the same time, however, he discouraged widespread dissemination of the notes through publishing them and indicated that it would not be appropriate to give them out to members of the general public. As explained in a letter written on his behalf:

The notes of all pilgrims, whoever they may be, taken during the time of the Master or hence, are merely personal impressions of the pilgrim and have to be considered as such. They have no special significance. Everything which either the Master or Shoghi Effendi desired to communicate to the friends they have mentioned in their letters. Hearsay and notes of pilgrims have only a personal value, because they reawaken past impressions. In many cases Shoghi Effendi has gone a step further and even discouraged publishing them....

...The interests of the Cause have often suffered from reports taken over by pilgrims — not untruths, but misunderstandings — and it is our duty to do our utmost for that aim. (From a letter dated 19 February 1929 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual)

Views on Homosexuality

22 April 2013

Dear Bahá’í Friend,

The Universal House of Justice has received your email letters of 11 March 2011 and 5 May 2012 describing your struggle to reconcile the Bahá’í teachings with your own views on homosexuality, which have evolved as you have reflected on your relationship with your son. We have been asked to convey to you the following and in so doing express our regret that, owing to the pressure of work at the Bahá’í World Centre and the time necessary to carefully consider the many facets of your heartfelt questions, our reply has been so long delayed. The House of Justice appreciates the candour with which you have expressed your concerns, and your earnest desire to comprehend aspects of the teachings more fully is warmly acknowledged.

The understanding about human beings today is heavily influenced by materialistic assumptions. Perspectives of social movements, leaders of thought, and the media are shaped by them. Even the findings of science are interpreted according to such prevalent cultural notions. It is not surprising, then, that there are many ideas about human identity and behaviour in contemporary society commonly accepted as truths that conflict with the Bahá’í teachings. Yet, as Bahá’u’lláh asks every thoughtful soul, “Where shalt thou secure the cord of thy faith and fasten the tie of thine obedience?” His answer, revealed in innumerable passages, is, as you know, unambiguous. “The All-Knowing Physician hath His finger on the pulse of mankind.” “No man, however acute his perception,” He affirms, “can ever hope to reach the heights which the wisdom and understanding of the Divine Physician have attained.” And He counsels not to weigh “the Book of God with such standards and sciences as are current amongst you, for the Book itself is the unerring Balance established amongst men”, and in “this most perfect Balance whatsoever the peoples and kindreds of the earth possess must be weighed….” The Manifestation institutes His laws and ordinances in accordance with His intrinsic knowledge of human reality and His intended aims for individual and collective transformation. From a Bahá’í perspective, then, it is the teachings of the Manifestation of God that clarify the essential elements of human identity.

Adhering to Bahá’í Standards of Morality

19 April 2013

To three Bahá’ís

Dear Bahá’í Friends,

Your email letter …, regarding the difficulties experienced by young Bahá’í men and women in Western countries in adhering to certain of Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings, was received…. Your thoughtful questions were carefully considered by the Universal House of Justice, which has instructed us to write to you as follows.

You state that the disparity between the sexual mores of contemporary Western society and the standards of the Bahá’í teachings, which, you indicate, are “in accordance with the moral code of the East,” poses a considerable challenge to the current generation of young believers. In this connection you explain that, since, historically, a great deal of shame was associated with sexuality in European society, and so much energy was directed towards hiding and suppressing it, to abstain from sexual relations before marriage is now negatively viewed as pietism. You add that today marriage is delayed into the thirties after young people have completed their education and saved money for a home, that married life is more complex than in the past since both spouses usually work, and that those who profess ideals of chastity, as in the priesthood, often fall prey to illicit behaviour. Further, you suggest that many young Bahá’ís struggle to meet the standard of purity set forth in the teachings and that other young people may be reticent to join the Faith out of a reluctance to uphold it. The House of Justice appreciates the sincerity with which you have expressed your thoughts and acknowledges the very real sense of concern you feel, as the gulf between the principles laid down by Bahá’u’lláh and the generally accepted practices of society continues to widen.

Clarifications on Bahá'í electoral process when encountered three-way tie when two of the individuals are members of minorities

7 November 2012

Dear Bahá’í Friend,

The Universal House of Justice has received your email letter of ... seeking clarification of a passage in its message to the Bahá’ís of the world dated 25 March 2007 about the strengthening of the Bahá’í electoral process and asking how to resolve a three-way tie vote when two of the individuals are members of minorities. We have been asked to convey the following in response.

The purpose of the 25 March letter is to bring to the attention of the friends certain aspects of the Bahá’í electoral process that have a bearing on the sound and healthy development of the community. Your question concerns the sentence that states, “From among the pool of those whom the elector believes to be qualified to serve, selection should be made with due consideration given to such other factors as age distribution, diversity, and gender.” The meaning is not that one should cast one’s vote simply on the basis of the factors mentioned, but that one should give those factors due consideration when choosing among all those one believes to be qualified. This statement is based on explicit comments made by Shoghi Effendi concerning the criteria a believer should keep in mind when voting. He wrote:

“They should disregard personalities and concentrate their attention on the qualities and requirements of office, without prejudice, passion or partiality. The Assembly should be representative of the choicest and most varied and capable elements in every Bahá’í community.” (In the handwriting of Shoghi Effendi, appended to a letter dated 11 August 1933 written on his behalf to an individual believer and published in The Compilation of Compilations, vol. 1 (Maryborough: Bahá’í Publications Australia, 1991), no. 712

This principle is further elaborated by the Guardian in The Advent of Divine Justice:

Remarks of former member of the Universal House of Justice Hartmut Grossmann concerning the timing of the Lesser Peace

22 October 2012

Dear Bahá’í Friend,

Your email letter of 28 August 2012, forwarding notes taken by a believer of remarks purportedly made by Mr. Hartmut Grossmann concerning various topics including the date of the Lesser Peace during a talk he gave at a Bahá’í winter school, has been received at the Bahá’í World Centre and passed to our Office for reply. The following has been provided in response to a similar query posed to the Universal House of Justice about the same set of notes:

“It is unclear whether the notes are accurate. Nevertheless, while the perspectives of former members of the Universal House of Justice are no doubt accorded a certain respect because of insights that derive from their experience, such views are to be regarded by their fellow believers as matters of personal opinion and weighed in light of the Teachings.”

“With regard to the timing of the Lesser Peace, Shoghi Effendi stated, in a letter written on his behalf in 1946, “All we know is that the Lesser and the Most Great Peace will come—their exact dates we do not know.” (From a letter dated 19 March 2012 written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer)

With loving Bahá’í greetings,

Office of Correspondence

(Baha’i Library Online)

Recitation of the Tablet of Visitation at Holy Day Observances

8 February 2012

Dear Bahá’í Friend,

Your email letter of 26 September 2011 regarding the time at which the Tablet of Visitation is to be recited during programs held to commemorate the Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh has been received by the Universal House of Justice. We have been asked to respond as follows.

As you know, the Bahá’í day starts and ends at sunset. While on some of the anniversaries the believers may gather at any time during the day they find convenient, the Guardian has advised that, if feasible, the friends should commemorate certain Holy Days at the following times:

• The Declaration of the Báb at about 2 hours after sunset.
• The First Day of Riḍván at about 3:00 p.m.
• The Martyrdom of the Báb at about noon.
• The Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh at 3:00 a.m.
• The Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá at 1:00 a.m.

The House of Justice has further clarified that the observance of those Holy Days for which particular times are specified, as indicated above, is to take place at local standard time, rather than daylight saving time. In accordance with this schedule, the observances held on each Holy Day succeed one another for an entire twenty-four hours, as the earth turns on its axis. If two neighboring communities in different time zones wish to hold a joint meeting, they would, presumably, use the standard time of the zone in which they meet. In high latitudes, where there are extremes of daylight and darkness, it is permissible to go by the clock.

Racial Prejudice and the Divine Plan

10 April 2011

Dear Bahá’í Friend,

The Universal House of Justice appreciates your thoughtful inquiry concerning the relationship between eliminating racial prejudice and participating in activities of the Five Year Plan, which was presented in your email letter dated 13 October 2009. The delay in responding was unavoidable in order to allow the time necessary for consideration of the issues raised in light of the progress of the Plan. No doubt, you have by now carefully studied the message of the House of Justice dated 28 December 2010 to the Conference of the Continental Boards of Counsellors, which has a direct bearing on many of your questions.

In your letter, you observe that the many activities carried out in the past by the American Bahá’í community to address racial concerns, despite their obvious merit and the results achieved to date, have been limited in their effect and have not been systematic in nature. Your review of such efforts suggests a cyclical pattern, with fits and starts, in which a certain course of action is presented with fanfare by the institutions, many believers take part although others remain on the sidelines, activities reach a peak, and then, after months or perhaps years, attention wanes, and the community is drawn to other areas until some incident occurs or a new heartfelt appeal is uttered, thus beginning the cycle anew. Simply to repeat the approaches implemented in the past, then, will surely not produce a satisfactory result. The House of Justice notes that the pattern you describe was a characteristic common to many facets of community life, leading it, in 1996, to set the Bahá’í world on a new course. During the Four Year Plan, it wrote:

Inclusion of talks of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in the devotional program of the Nineteen Day Feast

15 March 2011

Dear Bahá’í Friend,

Your email letter of 12 September 2010 regarding the permissibility of including talks of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in the devotional program of the Nineteen Day Feast has been received by the Universal House of Justice and we have been asked to reply as follows. We regret that the pressure of work at the Bahá’í World Centre has prevented us from responding sooner.

The beloved Guardian described that portion of the Feast in which prayers and other passages of the Sacred Scriptures of the Faith are read as being “devotional” in character and stated that its purpose is to inspire a prayerful attitude and stimulate a spirit of reverence in the hearts of the friends. Within this context, the choice of readings is, of course, free and the House of Justice does not wish to give specific directions on what may or may not be read during this portion of the Feast, beyond what the Guardian has already stated. The friends should not allow a difference of views on the subject to become a cause of disagreement and should questions arise, they may be referred to the Local Spiritual Assembly.

With loving Bahá’í greetings,

Department of the Secretariat

(Baha’i Library Online)

Portraits of Shaykh Ahmad-i-Ahsá’í and Siyyid Kázim-i-Rashtí

21 November 2010

Dear Bahá’í Friend,

Your email letter of 22 April 2010 concerning the portraits of Shaykh Ahmad-i-Ahsá’í and Siyyid Kázim-i-Rashtí published in Mullá Husayn: Disciple at Dawn by Ruhu’llah Mehrabkhani has been received at the Bahá’í World Centre and forwarded to the Research Department for study. That Department does not have any information about the creator or creators of the portraits in question, or where and when they were drawn. Furthermore, no conclusive evidence has yet been found to support the view that the portrait that is reported to be of Siyyid Kázim-i-Rashtí is indeed of him.

With loving Bahá’í greetings,

Department of the Secretariat

(Baha’i Library Online)

Homosexuality and Civil Rights

27 October 2010

Dear Bahá’í Friend,

Your email message of 10 July 2010, sent to the Office of Public Information at the Bahá’í World Centre, was forwarded to the Universal House of Justice, which was pleased to learn that you have recently become a Bahá’í and that you are studying the Teachings and their relationship to contemporary issues. With respect to your question concerning the position Bahá’ís are to take regarding homosexuality and civil rights, we have been asked to convey the following.

The purpose of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh is the realization of the organic unity of the entire human race, and Bahá’ís are enjoined to eliminate from their lives all forms of prejudice and to manifest respect towards all. Therefore, to regard those with a homosexual orientation with prejudice or disdain would be against the spirit of the Faith. Furthermore, a Bahá’í is exhorted to be “an upholder and defender of the victim of oppression”, and it would be entirely appropriate for a believer to come to the defense of those whose fundamental rights are being denied or violated.

At the same time, you are no doubt aware of the relevant teachings of the Faith that govern the personal conduct of Bahá’ís. The Bahá’í Writings state that marriage is a union between a man and a woman and that sexual relations are restricted to a couple who are married to each other. Other passages from the Writings state that the practice of homosexuality is not permitted. The teachings of Bahá’u’lláh on personal morality are binding on Bahá’ís, who strive, as best they can, to live up to the high standards He has established.

Principles regarding Participation in the Life of Society in Iran

22 January 2010

Dear Bahá’í Friend,

The Universal House of Justice has received your letter dated 11 January 2010 inquiring about the principles that, under present conditions, should guide the Iranian believers in their participation in the life of society. The House of Justice appreciates your desire to promote the best interests of the Faith, as well as the clarity and penetrating insight of your questions, and has requested us to respond on its behalf.

As you are well aware, in present-day Iran, fundamental questions of social justice and public welfare have become entangled with sectarian political concerns. This has made it difficult for Bahá’ís, who love their country and cherish great aspirations for its progress, to determine the best course of action to take. It is hoped that the following comments will be of assistance to the friends in choosing how to proceed.

Members of the Bahá’í community, wherever they reside, avoid engaging in partisan politics or meddling in political relations among governments, refraining at all times from becoming involved in the contest for worldly power. They have chosen this path in accordance with the teachings of their Faith, that they might focus their attention on working towards the greater goal of establishing a united and prosperous society. This choice is not intended as a criticism of any particular political party or of the approach taken by other groups. Needless to say, in following this path Bahá’ís categorically reject any form of sedition or recourse to violence.

While eschewing partisan political activity, Bahá’ís are to vigorously engage in constructive public discourse and in a wide range of social endeavours aimed at the betterment of the world and the progress of their respective nations. They undertake such activities with humility, discernment and respect for prevailing laws and social conditions, in a spirit of learning and in collaboration with like-minded groups and individuals, fully confident in the power inherent in the principle of unity in diversity and in the efficacy of mutual aid and cooperation.

Restrictions on Marrying Relatives

15 January 2010

Dear Bahá’í Friend,

Your email letter of 11 October 2009, concerning Bahá’í law as regards marrying one’s relatives, has been received by the Universal House of Justice. We have been asked to convey the following in response.

The House of Justice has clearly stated that it is not permissible for a Bahá’í to marry his or her mother or father and their siblings and forebears, brothers or sisters and their descendents, or sons or daughters and their descendents. It is also not permissible to marry some corresponding categories of relations formed by bonds of marriage—such as the step-mother, step-father, step-daughter, or step-son, or the daughter-in-law, son-in-law, mother-in-law, or father-in-law—or similar categories of relations formed by legal and social bonds that create a shared family life, for example through adoption. Beyond these prohibitions, Bahá’ís should ensure they do not contract a marriage that would violate the customs or laws of the country in which they reside. While the House of Justice has refrained, at this stage, from defining other categories of relations with whom marriage is prohibited, it is important for believers everywhere to be mindful of this clear statement by the Master:

“In marriage the more distant the blood-relationship the better, for such distance in family ties between husband and wife provideth the basis for the well-being of humanity and is conducive to fellowship among mankind.”

It is hoped that the foregoing provides the clarification you seek. You are assured of the prayers of the House of Justice in the Holy Shrines on your behalf.

With loving Bahá’í greetings,

Department of the Secretariat

(Messages from the Universal House of Justice 2001-2022)

Date of the Tablet of “Words of Wisdom” (Asl-i-Kullu’l-Khayr)

15 November 2009

Dear Bahá’í Friend,

Further to our letter dated 27 September 2009, we have been asked to inform you that the Research Department has become aware that one of the Tablets in the volume Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh Revealed after the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, Asl-i-Kullu’l-Khayr (Words of Wisdom), was actually revealed before the Kitáb-i-Aqdas and probably in Baghdad. A copy of the Tablet in ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s handwriting was found among the documents confiscated by the Ottoman authorities in 1868 during Bahá’u’lláh’s exile in Adrianople (Edirne).

With loving Bahá’í greetings,

Department of the Secretariat

(Baha’i Library Online)

Source of a passage from a talk by ‘Abdu’l-Baha concerning “’spiritual consultation’ that the disciples of Christ participated in after His ascension”

1 November 2009

Dear Bahá’í Friend,

Your email letter of 13 October 2009, seeking the source of a passage from a talk given by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá on 2 May 1912 describing a “spiritual consultation” that the disciples of Christ participated in after His ascension, has been received at the Bahá’í World Centre and forwarded to the Research Department for study.

The Research Department states that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá spoke extemporaneously and did not refer to notes. His talks in The Promulgation of Universal Peace were translated as He spoke and stenographically recorded into English and Persian, but He did not have the opportunity to read and authenticate all of the transcripts. Further, the passage in question appears in a talk for which, to date, no original Persian transcript has been identified. The talk remains unauthenticated, and the English text cannot be taken necessarily to be his exact words.

Regarding the story in the passage in question, the Research Department has not yet found a rendering of it in the Biblical and Christian sources available to them.

With loving Bahá’í greetings,

Department of the Secretariat

(Baha’i Library Online)

When the Blessed Beauty was first addressed by the title Bahá’u’lláh

9 August 2009

Dear Bahá’í Friend,

Your email letter of 29 May 2009, asking when the Blessed Beauty was first addressed by the title Bahá’u’lláh, has been received at the Bahá’í World Centre and forwarded to our Department for response.

In a letter written on his behalf dated 16 February 1929, the beloved Guardian provides the following explanation:

“...the Báb definitely uses the name Bahá’u’lláh for the promised One. This name was first given to Bahá’u’lláh in Badasht, but who first used it is not known. Some say it was Qurratu’l-‘Ayn. Some say that she gave Him this name because the Báb had written her to that effect. Anyhow what is sure is that when Mullá Báqir, one of the Letters of the Living, visited the Báb in Chihríq, just before the latter was martyred, the Báb gave him a box containing His writings and told him to take it to Mullá Abdu’l-Karim of Qazvín, through whom most of His correspondence was made. Then the Báb added that the box was to go to Bahá’u’lláh, the son of Mírzá Buzurg of Núr. This was the first time the Báb was heard to attribute that name to Bahá’u’lláh. When Mullá Báqir received the box many of the friends asked him to open it. When he did so he found on the top of its contents a blue sheet of paper on which the Báb had written in His own handwriting and in the form of a five-pointed star, which stands for the body of man, three hundred and sixty-one derivatives of the word Bahá’u’lláh. This box was given to Bahá’u’lláh in Tihrán. The Báb had also told Mullá Báqir that he would meet Him Whom God would manifest and this person was one of those who visited Bahá’u’lláh in 'Akká.”

It is hoped that the above passage provides you with the information you seek.

With loving Bahá'í greetings,

Department of the Secretariat

(Baha’i Library Online)