About the dependencies of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkar, there are a number of references to these "important accessories" in the Tablets and Addresses of `Abdu'l-Bahá. For example, He lists a school for orphan children, hospital and dispensary for the poor, home for the incapable, college for higher scientific education and hospice. In another place after listing the foregoing institutions He states that other philanthropic buildings are to be built.... The Universal House of Justice has also said that it has not seen any text requiring that the number of dependencies should be nine. (From a letter dated 18 March 1974 written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer; compilation ‘Functions and Importance of the Haziratu'l-Quds,’ prepared by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice)
