…the Laws revealed by Bahá’u’lláh in the Aqdas are, whenever
practical and not in direct conflict with the Civil laws of the land,
absolutely binding on every believer or Bahá’í institution whether in the East
or in the West. Certain laws, such as fasting, obligatory prayers, the consent
of the parents before marriage, avoidance of alcoholic drinks, monogamy, should
be regarded by all believers as universally and vitally applicable at the
present time. Others have been formulated in anticipation of a state of society
destined to emerge from the chaotic conditions that prevail today.
When the Aqdas is published, this matter will be further
explained and elucidated. What has not been formulated in the Aqdas, in
addition to matters of detail and of secondary importance arising out of the
application of the laws already formulated by Bahá’u’lláh, will have to be enacted
by the Universal House of Justice. This body can supplement but never
invalidate or modify in the least degree what has already been formulated by
Bahá’u’lláh. Nor has the Guardian any right whatsoever to lessen the binding
effect much less to abrogate the provisions of so fundamental and sacred a
Book...
- Shoghi Effendi (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, ‘Directives from
the Guardian')
