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.

Young Bahá’ís in Europe face a particular challenge in this respect. Buttressed by its material and intellectual achievements and emboldened by a narrative of accomplishment and superiority that pervades its culture, the West puts itself forward in various ways as a model and measure for others. Yet, reflect upon ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s trenchant analysis of the limitations of European civilization in His treatise The Secret of Divine Civilization. Weigh carefully, next, His many exhortations to the individual in that same volume to “become a source of social good” and to “lay hold of all those instrumentalities that promote the peace and well-being and happiness, the knowledge, culture and industry, the dignity, value and station, of the entire human race.” Far from allowing themselves to be acculturated to the standards of society, then, Bahá’ís are called upon to be the vanguard and champions of a new civilization. The important issues you raise, therefore, need to be considered not only in the context of the current condition of society but also in light of the nature of Bahá’u’lláh’s laws and teachings and the responsibilities shouldered by every one of His followers, as well as by the community and the institutions of the Faith—this, if the potential to achieve His purpose for humanity is to be realized.

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:

Our hopes, our goals, our possibilities of moving forward can all be realized through concentrating our endeavors on the major aim of the Divine Plan at its current stage—that is, to effect a significant advance in the process of entry by troops. This challenge can be met through persistent effort patiently pursued…. But also of vital importance to bringing about entry by troops is a realistic approach, systematic action. There are no shortcuts. Systematization ensures consistency of lines of action based on well-conceived plans. In a general sense, it implies an orderliness of approach in all that pertains to Bahá’í service, whether in teaching or administration, in individual or collective endeavor. While allowing for individual initiative and spontaneity, it suggests the need to be clear-headed, methodical, efficient, constant, balanced and harmonious. Systematization is a necessary mode of functioning animated by the urgency to act.

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)

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)

Guidance on teaching the Faith

April 26, 2009

Dear Bahá’í Friend,

Your email letter of 14 February 2009, in which you describe some concerns felt by members of your community regarding different ways of teaching the Faith, has been received by the Universal House of Justice. We have been asked to convey the following.

In your letter, you raise various questions relating to teaching, with reference to different opinions held by members of the Bahá’í community. As mentioned in the 2008 Ridván message, the friends everywhere are learning how best to apply a range of approaches and methods in sharing Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation, in keeping with the receptivity of their listeners. In this context, the House of Justice has been pleased to see that two developments are occurring in all parts of the globe, irrespective of the nature of the society in question.

First, the practice of discussing the principles and precepts of the Faith in a general way, which has resulted in a great many admirers of the Cause but few enrolments, is being complemented by an increasingly direct approach to sharing Bahá’u’lláh’s Message. More often than not, the friends have found the presentation of the Faith outlined in Book 6 of the Ruhi Institute most useful in this respect. It is clear, however, that those making such a presentation need to avoid the trap of reducing it merely to a series of points of information that are enumerated for the listener. Results worldwide leave little doubt that the heart of the listener is touched when the teacher understands the logic underlying the presentation and is prepared to offer it in its fullness. That so many believers who have been taught the Faith in this way have, through study of the courses of the institute, become active supporters of the Cause in their communities stands as ample testimony to the validity of the method. This development represents an important milestone, indeed, in the progress of the Faith.

Political Activity, Social Change and Public Policy

23 December 2008

To an individual Bahá’í

Dear Bahá’í Friend,

Your email letter dated 26 June 2008, in which you inquire about the extent to which a Bahá’í, particularly one who is a social scientist or academic, may speak publicly on sociopolitical issues, has been received by the Universal House of Justice. We have been asked to convey the following reply.

You are, of course, well aware of the principle of noninvolvement in politics enunciated by Shoghi Effendi. Bahá’ís are to “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.” They “assign no blame, take no side, further no design, and identify themselves with no system prejudicial to the best interests” of the Faith and eschew “the entanglements and bickerings inseparable from the pursuits of the politician”. They are to “rise above all particularism and partisanship, above the vain disputes, the petty calculations, the transient passions that agitate the face, and engage the attention, of a changing world”. This principle, which demands strict avoidance of any type of partisan political activity, must be scrupulously upheld. However, as society and its political processes evolve and as the Faith grows, the interaction between the two becomes increasingly complex. The House of Justice will provide the necessary guidance over time to apply this principle to existing circumstances.

The term “politics” can have a broad meaning, and therefore it is important to distinguish between partisan political activity and the discourse and action intended to bring about constructive social change. While the former is proscribed, the latter is enjoined; indeed, a central purpose of the Bahá’í community is social transformation. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s treatise The Secret of Divine Civilization amply demonstrates the Faith’s commitment to promoting social change without entering into the arena of partisan politics. So too, innumerable passages in the Bahá’í Writings encourage the believers to contribute to the betterment of the world. “Be anxiously concerned with the needs of the age ye live in,” Bahá’u’lláh states, “and center your deliberations on its exigencies and requirements.” ‘Abdu’l-Bahá urges the friends to “become distinguished in all the virtues of the human world—for faithfulness and sincerity, for justice and fidelity, for firmness and steadfastness, for philanthropic deeds and service to the human world, for love toward every human being, for unity and accord with all people, for removing prejudices and promoting international peace.” Further, in a letter written on his behalf, Shoghi Effendi explains that “much as the friends must guard against in any way ever seeming to identify themselves or the Cause with any political party, they must also guard against the other extreme of never taking part, with other progressive groups, in conferences or committees designed to promote some activity in entire accord with our teachings”. In another letter written on his behalf in 1948, when racial inequality was enshrined in the laws of many states in the United States, he indicates that there is “no objection at all to the students taking part in something so obviously akin to the spirit of our teachings as a campus demonstration against race prejudice.” Bahá’ís must, therefore, be tireless in addressing, through word and deed, a range of social issues.

Nudity in Art

30 July 2008

Dear Bahà’i Friend,

Your email letter of 13 July 2008, enclosing a copy of an email of 15 January 2007 requesting guidance on the subject of nudity in art, has been received by the Universal House of Justice and referred to our Department for response.

In response to a similar question the House of Justice has stated that there is no objection to artists’ or students’ learning to depict the human body from nude models nor to Bahà’is acting as models; the overriding consideration in both cases is the bona fide intention of the artist or student. No passages in the Teachings have been found that prohibit the delineation of the human body in works of art. It is the practice of nudism that the Guardian condemns in The Advent of Divine Justice, not nudity. However, there are many variables in the question of the portrayal of the nude form in art, including those of local mores and attitudes. The intention of the artist is a very important factor; usually that is a matter left to the conscience and good taste of the individual artist.

With loving Bahà’i greetings,

Department of the Secretariat

(Baha’i Library Online)

Development of Bahá’í Scholarly Activities

24 April 2008

Dear Bahá’í Friends,

Your email letter dated ... has been received by the Universal House of Justice, which has asked us to respond as follows.

The House of Justice is fully committed to fostering the development of Bahá’í scholarly activity in all parts of the Bahá’í world. Through their scholarly endeavours believers are able to enrich the intellectual life of the Bahá’í community, to explore new insights into the Bahá’í teachings and their relevance to the needs of society, and to attract the investigation of the Faith by thoughtful people from all backgrounds. Far from being a diversion from the worldwide effort to advance the process of entry by troops, Baha’i scholarship can be a powerful reinforcement to that endeavour and a valuable source of new enquirers.

The hope of the House of Justice is that, as the Baha’i community develops in each country, the concerned National Spiritual Assembly will encourage those so inclined to embark on Bahá'í scholarly activities. When the number of believers involved reaches a sufficient size, an Association for Bahá'í Studies may well come into being and act as a focus for support and encouragement; in due course, such an association may be moved to launch, under the aegis of its National Spiritual Assembly, a journal by which the findings of those engaged in this pursuit can be shared with others. Such associations are generally formed at a national level, although the situation in Europe is such that transnational associations have, at this time, been permitted within that continent. In time the House of Justice will give consideration to whether or not the objectives of the Faith would best be served by the formation of some international organization to coordinate the work of the associations and to stimulate the creation of new ones in other countries and whether an international journal should be brought into being.

When there are relatively few believers engaged in Bahá’í scholarly activity in a country, the formation of an association there is not viable. However, believers from any part of the world are free to submit papers to Bahá’í journals being published in other countries or to seek to make presentations at meetings arranged by the existing associations elsewhere.

...The individuals having an interest in Bahá’í scholarship are, of course, free to pursue their own scholarly endeavours and to submit their conclusions to existing journals in Europe, North America or elsewhere. They should also be advised to consider means by which they can participate in the work of existing associations.

With loving Bahá’í greetings,

Department of the Secretariat

(Baha’i Library Online)

The Guardianship and the Universal House of Justice

18 February 2008

The Friends in Iran

Dear Bahá’í Friends,

We have received a letter from a believer in Iran with questions about the Guardianship and the Universal House of Justice. We appreciate that firmness in the Covenant is among the distinctive characteristics of the believers in that land, who are informed of the principles and essential facts pertaining to the succession of authority in the Cause. Nevertheless, none among them should hesitate to seek clarification of matters about which they have questions, for the enemies of the Faith are tireless in their attempts to sow seeds of confusion and doubt. Moreover, it is beneficial, in view of the beloved Master’s exhortations to us all to be ever-vigilant concerning matters of protection, for the friends to review the relevant essentials from time to time. We have therefore decided to provide you with the following comments….

Questions concerning the Guardianship and the Universal House of Justice can be resolved through careful study of the writings of Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi and the elucidations of the House of Justice, which, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá states, will “deliberate upon all problems which have caused difference, questions that are obscure and matters that are not expressly recorded in the Book. Whatsoever they decide,” He assures the friends, “has the same effect as the Text itself.”

Prior to the passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in 1921, the provisions He had put in place in His Will and Testament to safeguard the Faith and ensure its steady advancement into the future were generally unknown. The believers anticipated a day when the Universal House of Justice would be established since it had been specifically mentioned in the Sacred Texts. There was, however, no definite understanding that there would be a Guardian. Indeed, Shoghi Effendi later indicated that he had no foreknowledge of the position to which he would be called. At most, he had reportedly thought the Will and Testament might charge him, as the eldest grandson of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, with responsibility for arranging for the election of the House of Justice. Only after the reading of the Will did the institution of the Guardianship become widely known, and the Bahá’í community worldwide acknowledged Shoghi Effendi as the Head of the Faith to whom all must turn.

Various questions: Psychic powers, Persepolis, portrait of Mulla Husayn, etc.

6 August 2007

Dear Bahá’í Friend,

Your email letters of 13, 18 and 23 May 2007 have been received by the Universal House of Justice, which has asked us to respond as follows.

The pressure of work at the Bahá’í World Centre does not permit it to continue to provide a detailed response to your questions. You are advised to turn to your Spiritual Assembly or a knowledgeable believer in your area for assistance in this regard.

Responses to several of your questions are set out in the enclosed memorandum prepared by the Research Department. Concerning questions 1,3,5 and 7 in your 13 May 2007 letter, we have been asked to provide the following information. The passage on childhood was mistakenly attributed to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá; it was authored by the Hand of the Cause of God George Townshend and published in his book ‘The Mission of Bahá‘u‘lláh and other literary pieces’ (Oxford: George Ronald, 1952, 1976 printing). The World Centre does not have an authentic photograph or drawing of Mullá Husayn. No complete list of sites for future Bahá’í Houses of Worship has been published. No additional information is available about the passages quoted from the "Mathnavi" of Rúmí.

With loving Bahá’í greetings,

Department of the Secretariat

(Baha’i Library Online)

Letters Written on Behalf of the Guardian

12 January 2006

Dear ---              

We have received an email letter of 23 July 2005 from Mr. _ ...[Personal information omitted]... It would be appreciated if you would convey the following information and the enclosed item to Mr. [Personal information omitted ]... Enclosed you will find a memorandum prepared by the Research Department that should be of assistance to him in resolving his questions. In addition to this information, the Universal House of Justice has asked that we provide the following comments to be conveyed to him.

With regard to your questions about the authority of letters written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, particularly those sent from the Holy Land during the latter part of his ministry, there is no justification for summarily dismissing the authoritative guidance contained in this body of correspondence. If concerns arise in relation to specific messages or topics addressed, clarification can be sought from the Universal House of Justice.

As to your question concerning when a matter is referred to the Research Department, this is determined by the Universal House of Justice depending on the nature of the inquiry. For example, in reply to questions regarding interpretation of the Text or the findings of general scholarship, the Research Department would provide references from the authoritative texts and offer comments that assist inquirers to draw their own personal conclusions. Other questions that require a decision on a specific case, consideration of general policies, or elucidation of obscure matters would, after consultation by the House of Justice, be referred to the Department of the Secretariat for reply.

Finally, you ask whether Bahá’ís should accept all statements in the Writings as based in fact, unless there is an explicit reference to a particular statement being conditioned on other information. It should be clear from the examples provided in the memorandum of the Research Department that there are some cases where passages from the Writings affirm specific facts and other cases where passages conform to the beliefs of particular peoples. It is, therefore, necessary for the reader to determine the meaning of statements that are not explicit by applying sound hermeneutical principles found in the Teachings. While there is often room for a range of personal interpretation on such matters, and a degree of ambiguity will invariably exist in some cases, usually a common understanding is formed, which will change over time should additional evidence come to light. Differences of personal opinion about the meaning of the Text should not be allowed to create discord or wrangling among the friends.

With loving Bahá’í greetings,

Department of the Secretariat

(Baha’i Library Online)

20,000 Martyrs

4 September 2005

Dear Bahá’í Friend,

Your email letter of 21 June 2005 concerning the source of a statement about 20,000 martyrs in our letter dated 22 January 1984 to an individual believer has been received at the Bahá’í World Centre.

You may be aware that, in his work "Táríkh-i-Zuhúru’l-Ḥaq", Fáḍil-i-Mázandarání has made the following statement: "the author of the Násikhu’t-Taváríkh wrote that up to the present time 20,000 individuals have been killed". While Fáḍil-i-Mázandarání makes mention of the author of Násikhu’t-Taváríkh, he does not indicate in which of his many works the reference to 20,000 can be found. In our letter dated 22 January 1984, it was assumed that the number was recorded in the Násikhu’t-Taváríkh. The Research Department has now been asked to confirm in which of the author’s works the reference is located, and it was not able to provide any further information.

With loving Bahá’í greetings,

Department of the Secretariat

(Baha’i Library Online)

Concerning a passage attributed to ‘Abdu’l-Baha: - "Share your time with God"

19 September 2004

In an email message of 12 July 2004, Dr. --- enquired about the source of the following statement, attributed to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, which appears on the back cover of a book entitled “A Bahá’í Perspective on Economics of the Future”, compiled by Badi Shams and published by the Bahá’í Publishing Trust of India in 1998. The passages states:

“...Share your time with God. Spend half of the day in search of livelihood, guaranteeing your material life and dignified appearance, and dedicate the other half in the acquisition of moral virtues and service at the threshold of God...”

The Research Department has not, to date, been able to locate the passage cited above among the authenticated Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Based on available information, the statement appears to be a pilgrim’s note. We note, however, that the passage is included in a Persian-language compilation entitled, in English, “Service and Servitude”, published in England in 1990 by H. Goharriz. The source of the quotation is given as “Áhang-i-Badí‘”, volume 31, number 339, page 83. This latter publication refers to the statement as a pilgrim’s note and describes the context in which the Master made the statement—‘Abdu’l-Bahá was walking with a Western pilgrim and offered the guidance in response to the young man’s question—but does not name the pilgrim. The Research Department has also not been able to find an English translation of the passage, apart from the one provided by Dr. Diessner. It is suggested that he might wish to contact Mr. Shams, in care of the Publishing Trust of India, to determine whether he has any additional information.

Obligatory Prayer, Ablutions, and Repetition of the Greatest Name

6 June 2004

Dear Bahá’í Friend,

The Universal House of Justice has received your email letter of 5 April 2004, in which you enquire whether the recitation of the specific verses associated with the performance of ablutions for the medium Obligatory Prayer would also be required when carrying out ablutions for the short and long Obligatory Prayers or for the recitation of the Greatest Name.

Responses to similar queries in the past have indicated that the recitation of the words specified in the medium Obligatory Prayer pertains only to that prayer; that is, for the short and long Obligatory Prayers it would be sufficient to wash one’s hands and face in preparation for each of these two prayers. It follows then that the recitation of the specific verses need not be applied when performing ablutions prior to the recitation of the phrase “Alláh-u-Abhá” ninetyfive times. However, there would be no objection to saying the verses with the ablutions in such cases, should any of the friends so desire.

Concerning your second query in which you request additional statements from the Bahá’í Writings regarding repetition of the Greatest Name ninety-five times a day, we are enclosing a memorandum that was prepared by the Research Department at the Bahá’í World Centre in response to an earlier query on this topic.

We hope this will provide the clarification you seek.

With loving Bahá’í greetings,

Department of the Secretariat

(Baha’i Library Online)

Concerning tattooing

19 August 2003

Dear Bahá’í Friend,

Your email letter of 17 August 2003 regarding tattoos has been received at the Bahá’í World Centre and referred to our Department for response.

In reply to your enquiry, nothing at all has been found in the Holy Texts on the matter of tattooing. There is, of course, the following general counsel given by Bahá’u’lláh:

“Let there be naught in your demeanour of which sound and upright minds would disapprove, and make not yourselves the playthings of the ignorant. Well is it with him who hath adorned himself with the vesture of seemly conduct and a praiseworthy character.” (The Kitáb-i-Aqdas, paragraph 159)

Generally, what is appropriate in such matters will clearly vary from culture to culture.

With loving Bahá’í greetings,

Department of the Secretariat

(Baha’i Library Online)

Regarding Baha'is participating in demonstrations for peace

27 March 2003 

Dear Baha'i Friend.

Your email message of 4 March 2003 has been received at the Baha'i World Centre, and we can reply as follows. You state that there are large-scale demonstrations arising in your community and in communities around the world, and you inquire about the appropriateness of Baha'is participating in demonstrations for peace. It is important to keep in mind that while these activities are generally carried out in the name of peace, such occasions are motivated by highly political and controversial sentiments at a time of turmoil and confusion in the world. Not only would it be contrary to the Baha'i principle of non-involvement in politics for individual believers, or Baha'i institutions, to become associated with such activities, it could also be harmful to the interests of the Faith internationally. The point to bear in mind here is that current demonstrations are not intended to promote peace in principle but are focused on a specific dispute among governments. As you can no doubt understand, Baha'i participation in public demonstrations involving controversial issues would undermine the Faith's essential purpose of promoting unity in all aspects of human affairs, and your desire to remain focused on the essential work of the Faith is deeply appreciated.

With loving Baha'i greetings,

Department of the Secretariat

cc: National Assembly of the United States (by email)

(US Baha’i National Administrative website)

Not to “take positions on the political decisions of governments”

12 January 2003 

Dear Baha'i Friend,

Your email letter of 8 November 2002 has been received at the Baha’i World Center and passed to our Department for response. As you are aware, it is not the practice of Baha’i institutions or individuals to take positions on the political decisions of governments. One of the greatest obstacles to progress is the tendency of Baha’is to be drawn into the general attitudes and disputes that surround them. The central importance of the principle of avoidance of politics and controversial matters is that Baha'is should not allow themselves to be involved in the disputes of the many conflicting elements of the society around them.

The aim of the Baha'is is to reconcile viewpoints, to heal divisions, and to bring about tolerance and mutual respect among men. and this aim is undermined if we allow ourselves to be swept along by the ephemeral passions of others. This does not mean that Baha’is cannot collaborate with any non-Baha’i movement; it does mean that good judgment is required to distinguish those activities and associations which are beneficial and constructive from those which are divisive.

With loving Baha'i greetings,

Department of the Secretariat

(National Baha’i Website of the United States)