January 7

Shoghi Effendi, in letters written on his behalf, has explained the significance of the “letters B and E.” They constitute the word “Be,” which, he states, “means the creative Power of God Who through His command causes all things to come into being” and “the power of the Manifestation of God, His great spiritual creative force.”

The imperative “Be” in the original Arabic is the word “kun,” consisting of the two letters “káf” and “nún.” They have been translated by Shoghi Effendi in the above manner. This word has been used in the Qur’án as God’s bidding calling creation into being. 

- The Universal House of Justice  (The ‘Notes’ section of the Kitab-i-Aqdas)

January 5

…the primary reason why the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh chose to appear in Persia, and to make it the first repository of their Revelation, was because, of all the peoples and nations of the civilized world, that race and nation had, as so often depicted by ‘Abdu’l Bahá, sunk to such ignominious depths, and manifested so great a perversity, as to find no parallel among its contemporaries. For no more convincing proof could be adduced demonstrating the regenerating spirit animating the Revelations proclaimed by the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh than their power to transform what can be truly regarded as one of the most backward, the most cowardly, and perverse of peoples into a race of heroes, fit to effect in turn a similar revolution in the life of mankind. To have appeared among a race or nation which by its intrinsic worth and high attainments seemed to warrant the inestimable privilege of being made the receptacle of such a Revelation would in the eyes of an unbelieving world greatly reduce the efficacy of that Message, and detract from the self-sufficiency of its omnipotent power. The contrast so strikingly presented in the pages of Nabíl’s Narrative between the heroism that immortalized the life and deeds of the Dawn-Breakers and the degeneracy and cowardice of their defamers and persecutors is in itself a most impressive testimony to the truth of the Message of Him Who had instilled such a spirit into the breasts of His disciples. For any believer of that race to maintain that the excellence of his country and the innate nobility of its people were the fundamental reasons for its being singled out as the primary receptacle of the Revelations of the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh would be untenable in the face of the overwhelming evidence afforded so convincingly by that Narrative. 

- Shoghi Effendi  (‘The Advent of Divine Justice’)

January 3

Mírzá Yahyá, known as subh-i-Azal (Morning of Eternity), [was] a younger half-brother of Bahá’u’lláh, [by thirteen years] …arose against Him and opposed His Cause. Mírzá Yahyá was nominated by the Báb to serve as a figurehead for the Bábí community pending the imminent manifestation of the Promised One. At the instigation of Siyyid Muhammad-i-Isfahání, Mírzá Yahyá betrayed the trust of the Báb, claimed to be His successor, and intrigued against Bahá’u’lláh, even attempting to have Him murdered. When Bahá’u’lláh formally declared His Mission to him in Adrianople, Mírzá Yahyá responded by going to the length of putting forward his own claim to be the recipient of an independent Revelation. His pretensions were eventually rejected by all but a few, who became known as Azalís. He is described by Shoghi Effendi as the “Arch-Breaker of the Covenant of the Báb” 

- The Universal House of Justice  (The 'Notes' section of the Kitab-i-Aqdas)

January 1

'Abdu'l-Bahá does often state that the medical science will much improve. With the appearance of every Revelation a new insight is created in man and this in turn expresses itself in the growth of science. This has happened in past dispensations and we find its earliest fruits in our present day. What we see however is only the beginning. With the spiritual awakening of man this force will develop and marvelous results will become manifest. 

- Shoghi Effendi  (From a letter dated 14 January 1932, written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to two believers; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. I, Some Aspects of Heath, Healing, Nutrition and Related Matters)

December 30

The House of Justice hopes that it will be possible for you to locate a suitable burial place, in which the remains of your dear wife are to be interred, which can be reached within one hour from the civil limits of the city in which she passes away, by whatever form of conveyance you choose to use. Should you continue to experience difficulty in locating a cemetery, you are encouraged to turn to your National Spiritual Assembly for advice and assistance. Since the time limit is determined by transportation from the city limits to the cemetery, it is not affected by the holding of a funeral service at the Bahá’í Centre in the city. 

- The Universal House of Justice  (From a letter dated 6 July 1988 written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer; compilation: ‘Baha’i Burial and Related Laws’, prepared by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice, 2020)

December 28

The House of Justice supports the view that in every country the cultural traditions of the people should be observed within the Bahá'í community as long as they are not contrary to the Teachings...

Of course, many cultural elements everywhere inevitably will disappear or be merged with related ones from their societies, yet the totality will achieve that promised diversity within world unity. We can expect much cultural diversity in the long period before the emergence of a world commonwealth of nations in the Golden Age of Bahá'u'lláh's new world order. Much wisdom and tolerance will be required, and much time must elapse until the advent of that great day. 

- The Universal House of Justice  (From a letter dated 25 July 1988, written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to a National Spiritual Assembly; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. III, Cultural Diversity in the Age of Maturity)

December 26

While recognizing the divine origin and force of the sex impulse in man, religion teaches that it must be controlled, and Bahá'u'lláh's law confines its expression to the marriage relationship. The unmarried homosexual is therefore in the same position as anyone else who does not marry. The Law of God requires them to practise chastity.

...Every believer needs to remember that an essential characteristic of this physical world is that we are constantly faced with trials, tribulations, hardships and sufferings and that by overcoming them we achieve our moral and spiritual development; that we must seek to accomplish in the future what we may have failed to do in the past; that this is the way God tests His servants and we should look upon every failure or shortcoming as an opportunity to try again and to acquire a fuller consciousness of the Divine Will and purpose.

Certainly the problem confronting you is a difficult one. However, its solution lies within your power, for Bahá'u'lláh has assured us that God "will never deal unjustly with anyone, neither will He task a soul beyond its power." And again, "Whensoever he hath fulfilled the conditions implied in the verse: whoso maketh efforts for Us, he shall enjoy the blessings conferred by the words: 'In Our Way shall We assuredly guide him"'. You can be confident that with the help of doctors, by prayer and meditation, by self-abnegation and by giving as much time as possible to serving the Cause in your community you can eventually succeed in overcoming your problem. 

- The Universal House of Justice  (From a letter dated 9 January 1977 written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer’; compilation: ‘Homosexuality’ prepared by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice, 1993; Baha’i Library Online)

December 24

... The burial of Bahá’ís in a Baha’i burial ground, although most appropriate, is not a law of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas. However, burial of the dead within a distance of one hour's travel is one of the laws. Therefore, should the Bahá'í cemetery be located more than one hour's journey away, the believers should make use of a nearby non-Bahá'í burial ground, providing there is no objection on the part of the local people and the authorities.

... Should the Bahá'ís be prevented from burying their dead in the public cemetery, and there is no other alternative, obviously they can do nothing but take the body to the nearest cemetery for burial. 

- The Universal House of Justice (From a letter dated 6 November 1984 written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to a National Spiritual Assembly; compilation: ‘Baha’i Burial and Related Laws’, prepared by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice, 2020)

December 22

…Siyyid Muhammad-i-Isfahání, who is described by Shoghi Effendi as the “Antichrist of the Bahá’í Revelation.” He was a man of corrupt character and great personal ambition who induced Mírzá Yaḥyá to oppose Bahá’u’lláh and to claim prophethood for himself. Although he was an adherent of Mírzá Yahyá, Siyyid Muhammad was exiled with Bahá’u’lláh to ‘Akká. He continued to agitate and plot against Bahá’u’lláh. In describing the circumstances of his death, Shoghi Effendi has written in God Passes By:

“A fresh danger now clearly threatened the life of Bahá’u’lláh. Though He Himself had stringently forbidden His followers, on several occasions, both verbally and in writing, any retaliatory acts against their tormentors, and had even sent back to Beirut an irresponsible Arab convert, who had meditated avenging the wrongs suffered by his beloved Leader, seven of the companions clandestinely sought out and slew three of their persecutors, among whom were Siyyid Muhammad and Áqá Ján.

“The consternation that seized an already oppressed community was indescribable. Bahá’u’lláh’s indignation knew no bounds. “Were We,” He thus voices His emotions, in a Tablet revealed shortly after this act had been committed, “to make mention of what befell Us, the heavens would be rent asunder and the mountains would crumble.” “My captivity,” He wrote on another occasion, “cannot harm Me. That which can harm Me is the conduct of those who love Me, who claim to be related to Me, and yet perpetrate what causeth My heart and My pen to groan.”” 

- The Universal House of Justice  (The Notes section of the Kitab-i-Aqdas)

December 20

He [Bahá’u’lláh] Who in such dramatic circumstances was made to sustain the overpowering weight of so glorious a Mission was none other than the One Whom posterity will acclaim, and Whom innumerable followers already recognize, as 

• the Judge, 
• the Lawgiver and Redeemer of all mankind, as 
• the Organizer of the entire planet, as 
• the Unifier of the children of men, as 
• the Inaugurator of the long-awaited millennium, as 
• the Originator of a new “Universal Cycle,” as 
• the Establisher of the Most Great Peace, as 
• the Fountain of the Most Great Justice, as 
• the Proclaimer of the coming of age of the entire human race, 
• as the Creator of a new World Order, and as 
• the Inspirer and Founder of a world civilization.

- Shoghi Effendi  (‘God Passes By’)

December 18

The House of Justice is confident that you can trust that your fellow believers, who faithfully embrace Bahá’u’lláh’s principle of the oneness of humanity, share your longing for the complete elimination of racial prejudice. Yet, Bahá’ís are not immune from the negative forces operating in society at large, which may result in misunderstandings and a delay in responding to challenges. At this time, the people of the United States do not have unity of thought and vision about how the problem of racial prejudice can be resolved; they are, instead, divided socially and politically on this issue. As you witness, even among Black intellectuals, as well as within the African American community more generally, there are disparate views. Therefore, rather than becoming enmeshed in patterns of behavior pervasive in the wider society that seek to assign blame or deal with issues at the level of broad generalities, Bahá’ís have the opportunity to address the challenge of racial prejudice through the instrumentality of the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh and His Administrative Order. They do so by concentrating on practical challenges in specific settings through consultation in an atmosphere of love and common purpose.

Every believer can address the improvement of his or her own character. Each can strive to work alongside others to ensure that the social spaces in which they participate—especially in families, local communities, places of work and education, Bahá’í activities, Spiritual Assemblies, and committees—manifest freedom from prejudice in all its forms. Furthermore, the framework for action of the current Plan enables the believers to expand the reach of these efforts by engaging others in neighborhoods and clusters in the process of community building, initiatives for social action, and the prevalent discourses of society. In these contexts, when a specific concern is identified, the believers and their friends can explore the problem together and then participate in a process of learning how to resolve it, while eschewing any inclination toward withdrawal or conflict. Thus, day by day, in practical ways, they learn to solve particular problems that arise and at the same time build capacity to address more complex issues. 

- The Universal House of Justice  (From a message dated 15 December 2020, written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer; US Baha’i National Administrative website)

December 16

Bahá’u’lláh enjoins the adoption of a universal language and script. His Writings envisage two stages in this process. The first stage is to consist of the selection of an existing language or an invented one which would then be taught in all the schools of the world as an auxiliary to the mother tongues. The governments of the world through their parliaments are called upon to effect this momentous enactment. The second stage, in the distant future, would be the eventual adoption of one single language and common script for all on earth. 

- The Universal House of Justice  (The 'Notes' section of the Kitab-i-Aqdas)

December 14

The first sign of the coming of age of humanity referred to in the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh is the emergence of a science which is described as that “divine philosophy” which will include the discovery of a radical approach to the transmutation of elements. This is an indication of the splendors of the future stupendous expansion of knowledge.

Concerning the “second” sign which Bahá’u’lláh indicates to have been revealed in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, Shoghi Effendi states that Bahá’u’lláh, “…in His Most Holy Book, has enjoined the selection of a single language and the adoption of a common script for all on earth to use, an injunction which, when carried out, would, as He Himself affirms in that Book, be one of the signs of the ‘coming of age of the human race.’” 

Further insight into this process of mankind’s coming of age and proceeding to maturity is provided by the following statement of Bahá’u’lláh:

“One of the signs of the maturity of the world is that no one will accept to bear the weight of kingship. Kingship will remain with none willing to bear alone its weight. That day will be the day whereon wisdom will be manifested among mankind.”

The coming of age of the human race has been associated by Shoghi Effendi with the unification of the whole of mankind, the establishment of a world commonwealth, and an unprecedented stimulus to “the intellectual, the moral, and spiritual life of the entire human race.” 

- The Universal House of Justice  (The 'Notes' section of the Kitab-i-Aqdas)

December 12

The Master uses this term "the Divine Reality is sanctified from singleness" in order to forcibly impress us with the fact that the Godhead is unknowable and that to define It is impossible: we cannot contain It in such concepts as singleness and plurality which we apply to things we know and can experience. He uses the method of exaggerated emphasis in order to drive home His thought that we know the sun indirectly through its rays, the Godhead indirectly through the Manifestations of God. 

- Shoghi Effendi  (From a letter dated 20 February 1950 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer; included in a Memorandum from the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice dated 1992; Baha’i Library Online)

December 10

The Bahá’í Commonwealth of the future, of which this vast Administrative Order is the sole framework, is, both in theory and practice, not only unique in the entire history of political institutions, but can find no parallel in the annals of any of the world’s recognized religious systems. No form of democratic government; no system of autocracy or of dictatorship, whether monarchical or republican; no intermediary scheme of a purely aristocratic order; nor even any of the recognized types of theocracy, whether it be the Hebrew Commonwealth, or the various Christian ecclesiastical organizations, or the Imamate or the Caliphate in Islám—none of these can be identified or be said to conform with the Administrative Order which the master-hand of its perfect Architect has fashioned. 

- Shoghi Effendi  (‘The Dispensation of Baha’u’llah; included in ‘The World Order of Baha’u’llah’)

December 8

Declarations of faith from non-Baha'i youth between the ages of 15 and 21, whose parents are not Baha'is, may be accepted without the consent of their parents unless this is contrary to the civil law. However, the importance of respect for one's parents must not be forgotten, and such youth may need to be counselled to give heed to their parents' wishes as far as the degree of their activity on behalf of the Faith is concerned, and even, if the parents are very antagonistic, to be completely inactive for a time. 

- The Universal House of Justice  (From a letter dated 19 July 1982, written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to the NSA of the United Kingdom; ‘Messages from the Universal House of Justice, 1963-1986’)

December 6

We find God only through the Intermediary of His Prophet. We see the Perfection of God in His Prophets. Time and space are physical things; God, the Creator, is not in a "place" as we conceive of place in physical terms. God is the Infinite Essence, the Creator. We cannot picture Him or His state; if we did, we would be His equals, not His creatures. God is never flesh, but mirrored in the attributes of His Prophets, we see His Divine characteristics and perfections. 

- Shoghi Effendi  (From a letter dated 9 October 1947 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer; included in a Memorandum from the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice dated 1992; Baha’i Library Online)

December 4

Fifteen is the age at which a child attains spiritual maturity, and thus it is at the age of fifteen that a Baha'i child assumes the responsibility for obeying such laws as those of fasting and prayer, and for affirming of his own volition his faith in Baha'u'llah.

At the present time the Universal House of Justice prefers to leave it to each National Spiritual Assembly to decide what method is to be followed in ascertaining the attitude of Baha'i children when they reach fifteen, provided that it is clear that a Baha'i child is not becoming a Baha'i at that age, but is simply affirming his faith on his own behalf. One Spiritual Assembly, for example, sends a very kind letter to each Baha'i child in its community on the occasion of his fifteenth birthday (unless, of course, it has reason to doubt that the child in question is a Baha'i), explaining the meaning of attaining the age of maturity, and extending the good wishes of the Assembly for his future services to the Cause. This does not require an active response from every child but does provide each with an opportunity to make his position clear if desired. In whatever procedure it adopts a National Spiritual Assembly must wisely steer a course between seeming to doubt the faith of a child who has been brought up as a devout Baha'i on the one hand, and seeming to compel a child to be a member of the Baha'i community against his will, on the other.

December 2

…the House of Justice points out that parents are responsible for their children and should make them behave when they attend Baha'i meetings. If children persist in creating a disturbance they should be taken out of the meeting. This is not merely necessary to ensure the properly dignified conduct of Baha'i meetings but is an aspect of the training of children in courtesy, consideration for others, reverence, and obedience to their parents. 

- The Universal House of Justice  (From a letter dated 14 October 1982, written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Canada; ‘Messages from the Universal House of Justice, 1963-1986’)