The system of Bahá'í Administration is "indissolubly
bound with the essential verities of the Faith" as set forth in the
writings of Bahá'u'lláh and Abdul' Baha. A unique feature of this system is the
appointment of authorized interpreters, in the persons of Abdu'l Baha and the
Guardian, to provide authoritative statements on the intent of Bahá'u'lláh's
revelation. Writing in The Dispensation of Bahá'u'lláh, Shogi Effendi stated
that "Abdul' Baha and the Guardian " share . . . the right and
obligation to interpret the Bahá'í Teachings". In relation to his own
function as interpreter, he further stated that "the Guardian has been
specifically endowed with such power as he may need to reveal the purport and
disclose the implications of the utterances of Bahá'u'lláh and of Abdu'l
Baha". The significance of this important provision is that the religion
of God is safeguarded and protected against schism and its essential unity is
preserved.
(The Universal House of Justice, from a letter dated 31 May 1988)
