Among the greatest of all great services is the education of
children, and promotion of the various sciences, crafts and arts. Praised be
God, ye are now exerting strenuous efforts toward this end. The more ye
persevere in this most important task, the more will ye witness the
confirmations of God, to such a degree that ye yourselves will be astonished. 
I am according to the explicit texts of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas
and the Kitáb-i-‘Ahd the manifest Interpreter of the Word of God... Whoso
deviates from my interpretation is a victim of his own fancy.
Obsessed by the bitter tragedy of the martyrdom of his
beloved Master [The Báb], driven by a frenzy of despair to avenge that odious
deed, and believing the author and instigator of that crime to be none other
than the Sháh himself, a certain Sádiq-i-Tabrízí, an assistant in a
confectioner’s shop in Tihrán, proceeded on an August day (August 15, 1852),
together with his accomplice, an equally obscure youth named Fathu’lláh-i-Qumí,
to Níyávarán where the imperial army had encamped and the sovereign was in
residence, and there, waiting by the roadside, in the guise of an innocent
bystander, fired a round of shot from his pistol at the Sháh, shortly after the
latter had emerged on horseback from the palace grounds for his morning
promenade. The weapon the assailant employed demonstrated beyond the shadow of
a doubt the folly of that half-demented youth, and clearly indicated that no
man of sound judgment could have possibly instigated so senseless an act.
There are certain teachings arid exhortations the observance
of which is solely between the individual and God; the non-observance of other
laws and ordinances incurs some form of sanction. Some of these violations
incur punishment for a single offence, while others are punished only after
repeated warnings have failed to remedy the violation. It is not possible to
establish a single rule applicable automatically and invariably. Every case is
different, and there is more than one variable consideration to take into
account, for example, the circumstances of the individual, the degree to which
the good name of the Faith is involved, whether the offence is blatant and
flagrant. Over and over again the beloved Guardian urged Assemblies to be
extremely patient and forbearing in dealing with the friends.
Such in their broad outline are the guiding principles which
those who have been placed in charge of the administration of the affairs of
the Cause should at present endeavour to promote, explain and securely
establish. Nothing short of the spirit of unwavering faith, of continuous
vigilance and patient endeavour can hope to secure eventually the realization
of this our cherished desire.
…the entire Canadian Community will have to rise to a new
level of activity, consciousness, and sacrifice, just as did the British Bahá’í
Community during their Six Year Plan. Their success is perhaps one of the most
remarkable ever achieved in the Bahá’í world because they were few in number,
run down in health from the long years of suffering during the war, and poor in
financial resources. Their determination, dedication and moral stamina,
however, carried them through, and Bahá’u’lláh gave them the victory. He will
give the same victory to everyone who shows the same characteristics. Success
breeds success, and this same Community, now rightfully proud and conscious of
its importance, is carrying on its African work in a brilliant manner. The
Canadian Bahá’ís, more prosperous, less restricted, and equally capable, can
accomplish just as much if they unitedly determine to do so.
The House of Justice has not prescribed any set forms to be
adopted in a Holy Shrine, whether it be in prayer, meditation or reading of the
Holy Scriptures, as long as the practices followed do not disturb the devotions
of others who are in the Shrine. It does not favour the adoption of the
practice of songs being sung with musical accompaniment in close proximity to
the Shrines. As you can well understand, such singing could well disturb those
who, within the Shrines, are engaged in their devotions.
He was very sorry to hear that you and your husband are
still so unhappy together. It is always a source of sorrow in life when married
people cannot get on well together, but the Guardian feels that you and your
husband, in contemplating divorce, should think of the future of your children
and how this major step on your part will influence their lives and happiness.
The Universal House of Justice has received your email
letter of 29 December 2008, asking why such terms as “Alláh-u-Abhá” and “Yá
Bahá’u’l-Abhá” are used by Bahá’ís rather than being translated into their
native tongues, and has asked us to respond as follows.
One hundred years ago, [1873] in a room overlooking a dusty
square in the ancient seaport of 'Akká, was penned a Book that will come to be
recognized as the charter of world civilization. Its Author, Bahá'u'lláh, had
for more than a quarter of a century endured tribulation upon tribulation. His
Forerunner had been martyred; His young Son, the Purest Branch, and some
twenty-thousand believers, men, women and children, had given their lives that
the new Revelation might live. He Himself had been tortured, imprisoned,
despoiled of His worldly goods, betrayed by His half-brother, and had been
subjected, with His family and a small band of followers, to successive exiles
and finally to incarceration in the pestilential Turkish prison-city of 'Akká.
His enemies, determined to obliterate His Cause, had all unwittingly served to
fulfil the ancient purpose of God by bringing to the Holy Land the One Who was
destined to establish the Kingdom of God on earth. With His arrival the time
for the revelation of the Law of that Kingdom had come.
The House of Justice feels that, when Bahá'ís are teaching
in an online "chat room" and Covenant-breakers intrude upon the
discussion, the friends should not feel obliged to sign off simply because
Covenant-breakers are present in this virtual space. They should, however,
refrain from knowingly engaging the Covenant-breakers in discussions and, in
any case, should avoid being drawn into contentious or disputatious situations.
...the flourishing of the community, especially at the local
level, demands a significant enhancement in patterns of behaviour: those
patterns by which the collective expression of the virtues of the individual
members and the functioning of the Spiritual Assembly are manifest in the unity
and fellowship of the community and the dynamism of its activity and growth.
This calls for the integration of the component elements — adults, youth and
children — in spiritual, social, educational and administrative activities; and
their engagement in local plans of teaching and development. It implies a
collective will and sense of purpose to perpetuate the Spiritual Assembly
through annual elections. It involves the practice of collective worship of
God. Hence, it is essential to the spiritual life of the community that the
friends hold regular devotional meetings in local Bahá'í centres, where
available, or elsewhere, including the homes of believers.
It must be… clearly understood by every believer that the
institution of Guardianship does not under any circumstances abrogate, or even
in the slightest degree detract from, the powers granted to the Universal House
of Justice by Bahá’u’lláh in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, and repeatedly and solemnly
confirmed by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in His Will. It does not constitute in any manner a
contradiction to the Will and Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, nor does it nullify any
of His revealed instructions. It enhances the prestige of that exalted
assembly, stabilizes its supreme position, safeguards its unity, assures the
continuity of its labors, without presuming in the slightest to infringe upon
the inviolability of its clearly-defined sphere of jurisdiction.
Not only will the present-day Spiritual Assemblies be styled
differently in future, but they will be enabled also to add to their present
functions those powers, duties, and prerogatives necessitated by the
recognition of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh, not merely as one of the recognized
religious systems of the world, but as the State Religion of an independent and
Sovereign Power.
Few will fail to recognize that the Spirit breathed by
Bahá’u’lláh upon the world, and which is manifesting itself with varying
degrees of intensity through the efforts consciously displayed by His avowed
supporters and indirectly through certain humanitarian organizations, can never
permeate and exercise an abiding influence upon mankind unless and until it
incarnates itself in a visible Order, which would bear His name, wholly identify
itself with His principles, and function in conformity with His laws.
He feels that the opening for a Canadian believer to visit
the Governor of Greenland and his wife is extremely important.
The Guardian was delighted to hear the friends are at last
responding to the urgent needs of the Plan and going forth as pioneers. Plans
are concrete things, and not mere honours, and victories—like all other
achievements in life—must be purchased at the cost of persistent effort! He
feels sure the Canadian Bahá’ís, perhaps slow to get under way, will display
the counterpart of this British characteristic, and cling like bull dogs to
their tasks, once they do get under way.
Regarding the question of Mr. and Mrs. ...: the
Administrative Order is not a governmental or civic body, it is to regulate and
guide the internal affairs of the Bahá’í community; consequently it works
according to its own procedure, best suited to its needs. A Bahá’í who does
more than visit temporarily a Community is considered for our administrative
purposes as a resident and can vote and serve accordingly. Students in foreign
lands, most obviously not residents, are registered as local Bahá’ís, and
therefore entitled to do their share of work and play their part in the local
Community life. This should be pointed out to ... who seem to be confusing our
internal administration with external practices which have no relation to it.
Do ye not look upon the beginning of the affairs; attach
your hearts to the ends and results. The present period is like unto the sowing
time. Undoubtedly it is impregnated with perils and difficulties, but in the
future many a harvest shall be gathered and benefits and results will become
apparent. When one considers the issue and the end, inexhaustible joy and
happiness will dawn.