At the time of our beloved Shoghi Effendi’s death it was
evident, from the circumstances and from the explicit requirements of the Holy
Texts, that it had been impossible for him to appoint a successor in accordance
with the provisions of the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá. This situation, in which the Guardian died without being
able to appoint a successor, presented an obscure question not covered by the
explicit Holy Text, and had to be referred to the Universal House of Justice.
The friends should clearly understand that before the election of the Universal
House of Justice there was no knowledge that there would be no Guardian. There
could not have been any such foreknowledge, whatever opinions individual
believers may have held. Neither the Hands of the Cause of God, nor the
International Bahá’í Council, nor any other existing body could make a decision
upon this all-important matter. Only the House of Justice had authority to
pronounce upon it. This was one urgent reason for calling the election of the
Universal House of Justice as soon as possible.
- The Universal House of
Justice (From a message dated March 9, 1965 to the National Spiritual Assembly
of the Bahá’ís of the Netherlands; Messages from the Universal House of Justice
1963-1986)
