It was brought to my attention that
the illegitimate organization which is headquartered in Haifa and which
undeservedly calls itself “the Universal House of Justice”, recently has
organized a Web-page and claims that it is the “Official website of the
Bahá’í Faith”! 1
They should have honestly clarified that
they meant a version of the Baha’i Faith modified and manipulated by
Ruhiyyih Khanum and those former Hands of the Cause who followed her; a
faith which repudiates the “Center of the Cause” and does not adhere to
the sacred provisions of the Will and Testament of Abdu’l-Baha, a faith
that is based on imitation, herd instinct and mind control, and by scare
and hate-mongering rhetoric; a version of faith which is compatible
with the ill wishes of “The Center of Sedition, the Prime Mover of
mischief, Mirza Muhammad Alí,”, by “interpolating and falsifying the
words and verses of the Sacred Text,” and consequently they “inflicted a
grievous loss upon the true Faith of God,” by ignoring writings of the
first Guardian of the Cause of God, especially his Proclamation of 9
January 1951 the only Proclamation during his own life; and opposing the
descendant Guardians of the Cause of God.
The bogus organization
pretends to be real; to be the same Universal House of Justice revealed
in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas and the Will and Testament of Abdu’l Baha, and as
mentioned throughout the writings of Shoghi Effendi. They are trying to
say that their organization has originated from the Most Holy Book, the
Kitáb-i-Aqdas, when in reality this organization has been rooted in the
violation of the Covenant by Ruhiyyih Khanum and the former Hands of the
Cause who followed her.
They have written:
“In 1951,
Shoghi Effendi appointed a number of individuals to an International
Bahá’í Council, a forerunner to the Universal House of Justice. In 1961,
this appointed Council was reformed as a body elected by all the
National and Regional Assemblies then established in the world.
1 http://universalhouseofjustice.bahai.org/
After
Shoghi Effendi’s sudden passing in 1957, his work was faithfully
carried on by the group of distinguished Bahá’ís he had appointed as
Hands of the Cause of God. These individuals arranged for the first
election of the Universal House of Justice
The International
Baha’i Council, so contemptuously mentioned in their writing, was truly
an august body, the formation of which was announced by Shoghi Effendi,
the first Guardian of the Cause of God, in his proclamation of January
9, 1951, the only proclamation of his lifetime to the Baha’i World.
Rebellious Hands of the Cause did not have any authority to “reform” the
IBC, which by that term they meant the termination of the Embryo IBC.
The first Guardian explained the IBC’s significance and virtues:
“…,
combine to induce me to arrive at this historic decision marking most
significant milestone in evolution of Administrative Order of the Faith
of Bahá’u’lláh in course of last thirty years.”
“…in course of
evolution of this first embryonic International Institution, marking its
development into officially recognized Bahá’í Court, its transformation
into duly elected body, its efflorescence into Universal House of
Justice, and its final fruition through erection of manifold auxiliary
institutions constituting the World Administrative Center destined to
arise and function and remain permanently established in close
neighbourhood of Twin Holy Shrines. Hail with thankful, joyous heart at
long last the constitution of
International Council which history
will acclaim as the greatest event shedding luster upon second epoch of
Formative Age of Bahá’í Dispensation potentially unsurpassed by any
enterprise undertaken since inception of Administrative Order of Faith
on morrow of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Ascension, ranking second only to glorious
immortal events associated with Ministries of the Three Central Figures
of Faith in course of First Age of most glorious Dispensation of the
five thousand century Bahá’í Cycle.”
(Cablegram, January 9, 1951, Messages to the Baha’i World – 1950-1957, p. 7)
January 9, 1951 was a major turning point and a milestone in the history of the Baha’i Faith.
Earlier
local and national Houses of Justice were stabilised in their embryonic
forms i.e. the Spiritual Assemblies: “the local as well as national
Assemblies, which in the course of time will evolve, with the Master’s
power and guidance, into the local and national Houses of Justice.”
(Shoghi Effendi, The Unfolding Destiny of the British Baha’i Community, p. 5)
“But
now is not the time — it is utterly impossible to establish the House
of Justice which is mentioned in the Book of Aqdas, nay rather it is
impracticable and not to be thought of, that is for the time when the
Cause is proclaimed and the Commands have become effective. Therefore
now is not the time for the House of Justice, which must be established
by general election. Its mention is not permissible and its realization
impossible”.
(Baha’i World Faith – Abdu’l-Baha Section, p. 411)
“The
Universal House of Justice is elected by the members of the National
Houses of Justice. At this time when the National Assemblies in the
Cause are not yet functioning sufficiently or fully representative of
all the various important elements within it, and when some of the
Baha’is are not even free to practise their faith, despite their
numbers, it is quite impracticable to seek to establish the Universal
House of Justice. Whenever conditions permit, it will be established.”
(Shoghi Effendi, Dawn of a New Day, p. 95)
On
January 9, 1951, the conditions were favorable for the formation of the
Universal House of Justice in its embryonic form (The International
Baha’i Council). In the course of time and evolution, this embryonic
International Institution inevitably must be developed into an
officially recognized Bahá’í Court. This process was not only explained
in the Proclamation of January 9, 1951; but it has been repeatedly
emphasized in many messages of Shoghi Effendi; it having been designated
by him as one of the major goals of the Ten Years Crusade synchronous
with the establishment of six national Bahá’í Courts in the chief cities
of the Islamic countries.
At the World Center of the Faith,
where, at long last the machinery of its highest institutions has been
erected, and around whose most holy shrines the supreme organs of its
unfolding Order, are, in their embryonic form, unfolding;
(Shoghi Effendi, Messages to the Baha’i World – 1950-1957, p. 33)
“–
a process which the newly formed Council, now established at its very
heart, is designed to foster, which will gather momentum, with the
emergence in the course of time of a properly recognized and
independently functioning Bahá’í court, which will attain its
consummation in the institution of the Universal House of Justice and
the emergence of the auxiliary administrative agencies, revolving around
this highest legislative body, and which will reveal the plenitude of
its potentialities with the sailing of the Divine Ark as promised in the
Tablet of Carmel.”
(Shoghi Effendi, Citadel of Faith, p. 94)
Process
of the unfoldment of the ever-advancing Administrative Order
accelerated by the formation of the International Bahá’í Council
designed to assist in the erection of the superstructure of the Báb’s
Sepulcher, cement ties uniting the budding World Administrative Center
with the recently established state, and pave the way for the formation
of the Bahá’í Court, essential prelude to the institution of the
Universal House of Justice.
the illegitimate organization which is headquartered in Haifa and which
undeservedly calls itself “the Universal House of Justice”, recently has
organized a Web-page and claims that it is the “Official website of the
Bahá’í Faith”! 1
They should have honestly clarified that
they meant a version of the Baha’i Faith modified and manipulated by
Ruhiyyih Khanum and those former Hands of the Cause who followed her; a
faith which repudiates the “Center of the Cause” and does not adhere to
the sacred provisions of the Will and Testament of Abdu’l-Baha, a faith
that is based on imitation, herd instinct and mind control, and by scare
and hate-mongering rhetoric; a version of faith which is compatible
with the ill wishes of “The Center of Sedition, the Prime Mover of
mischief, Mirza Muhammad Alí,”, by “interpolating and falsifying the
words and verses of the Sacred Text,” and consequently they “inflicted a
grievous loss upon the true Faith of God,” by ignoring writings of the
first Guardian of the Cause of God, especially his Proclamation of 9
January 1951 the only Proclamation during his own life; and opposing the
descendant Guardians of the Cause of God.
The bogus organization
pretends to be real; to be the same Universal House of Justice revealed
in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas and the Will and Testament of Abdu’l Baha, and as
mentioned throughout the writings of Shoghi Effendi. They are trying to
say that their organization has originated from the Most Holy Book, the
Kitáb-i-Aqdas, when in reality this organization has been rooted in the
violation of the Covenant by Ruhiyyih Khanum and the former Hands of the
Cause who followed her.
They have written:
“In 1951,
Shoghi Effendi appointed a number of individuals to an International
Bahá’í Council, a forerunner to the Universal House of Justice. In 1961,
this appointed Council was reformed as a body elected by all the
National and Regional Assemblies then established in the world.
1 http://universalhouseofjustice.bahai.org/
After
Shoghi Effendi’s sudden passing in 1957, his work was faithfully
carried on by the group of distinguished Bahá’ís he had appointed as
Hands of the Cause of God. These individuals arranged for the first
election of the Universal House of Justice
The International
Baha’i Council, so contemptuously mentioned in their writing, was truly
an august body, the formation of which was announced by Shoghi Effendi,
the first Guardian of the Cause of God, in his proclamation of January
9, 1951, the only proclamation of his lifetime to the Baha’i World.
Rebellious Hands of the Cause did not have any authority to “reform” the
IBC, which by that term they meant the termination of the Embryo IBC.
The first Guardian explained the IBC’s significance and virtues:
“…,
combine to induce me to arrive at this historic decision marking most
significant milestone in evolution of Administrative Order of the Faith
of Bahá’u’lláh in course of last thirty years.”
“…in course of
evolution of this first embryonic International Institution, marking its
development into officially recognized Bahá’í Court, its transformation
into duly elected body, its efflorescence into Universal House of
Justice, and its final fruition through erection of manifold auxiliary
institutions constituting the World Administrative Center destined to
arise and function and remain permanently established in close
neighbourhood of Twin Holy Shrines. Hail with thankful, joyous heart at
long last the constitution of
International Council which history
will acclaim as the greatest event shedding luster upon second epoch of
Formative Age of Bahá’í Dispensation potentially unsurpassed by any
enterprise undertaken since inception of Administrative Order of Faith
on morrow of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Ascension, ranking second only to glorious
immortal events associated with Ministries of the Three Central Figures
of Faith in course of First Age of most glorious Dispensation of the
five thousand century Bahá’í Cycle.”
(Cablegram, January 9, 1951, Messages to the Baha’i World – 1950-1957, p. 7)
January 9, 1951 was a major turning point and a milestone in the history of the Baha’i Faith.
Earlier
local and national Houses of Justice were stabilised in their embryonic
forms i.e. the Spiritual Assemblies: “the local as well as national
Assemblies, which in the course of time will evolve, with the Master’s
power and guidance, into the local and national Houses of Justice.”
(Shoghi Effendi, The Unfolding Destiny of the British Baha’i Community, p. 5)
“But
now is not the time — it is utterly impossible to establish the House
of Justice which is mentioned in the Book of Aqdas, nay rather it is
impracticable and not to be thought of, that is for the time when the
Cause is proclaimed and the Commands have become effective. Therefore
now is not the time for the House of Justice, which must be established
by general election. Its mention is not permissible and its realization
impossible”.
(Baha’i World Faith – Abdu’l-Baha Section, p. 411)
“The
Universal House of Justice is elected by the members of the National
Houses of Justice. At this time when the National Assemblies in the
Cause are not yet functioning sufficiently or fully representative of
all the various important elements within it, and when some of the
Baha’is are not even free to practise their faith, despite their
numbers, it is quite impracticable to seek to establish the Universal
House of Justice. Whenever conditions permit, it will be established.”
(Shoghi Effendi, Dawn of a New Day, p. 95)
On
January 9, 1951, the conditions were favorable for the formation of the
Universal House of Justice in its embryonic form (The International
Baha’i Council). In the course of time and evolution, this embryonic
International Institution inevitably must be developed into an
officially recognized Bahá’í Court. This process was not only explained
in the Proclamation of January 9, 1951; but it has been repeatedly
emphasized in many messages of Shoghi Effendi; it having been designated
by him as one of the major goals of the Ten Years Crusade synchronous
with the establishment of six national Bahá’í Courts in the chief cities
of the Islamic countries.
At the World Center of the Faith,
where, at long last the machinery of its highest institutions has been
erected, and around whose most holy shrines the supreme organs of its
unfolding Order, are, in their embryonic form, unfolding;
(Shoghi Effendi, Messages to the Baha’i World – 1950-1957, p. 33)
“–
a process which the newly formed Council, now established at its very
heart, is designed to foster, which will gather momentum, with the
emergence in the course of time of a properly recognized and
independently functioning Bahá’í court, which will attain its
consummation in the institution of the Universal House of Justice and
the emergence of the auxiliary administrative agencies, revolving around
this highest legislative body, and which will reveal the plenitude of
its potentialities with the sailing of the Divine Ark as promised in the
Tablet of Carmel.”
(Shoghi Effendi, Citadel of Faith, p. 94)
Process
of the unfoldment of the ever-advancing Administrative Order
accelerated by the formation of the International Bahá’í Council
designed to assist in the erection of the superstructure of the Báb’s
Sepulcher, cement ties uniting the budding World Administrative Center
with the recently established state, and pave the way for the formation
of the Bahá’í Court, essential prelude to the institution of the
Universal House of Justice.
(Shoghi Effendi, Messages to the Baha’i World – 1950-1957, p. 12)
The
International Bahá’í Council, comprising eight members, charged with
assisting in the manifold activities attendant upon the rise of the
World Administrative Center of the Faith, which must pave the way for
the formation of a Bahá’í International Court and the eventual emergence
of the Universal House of Justice, the supreme legislative body of the
future Bahá’í Commonwealth, has been established, enlarged, and the
functions of its members defined.
(Shoghi Effendi, Messages to the Baha’i World – 1950-1957, p. 148)
The
development of the functions of the institution of the Hands of the
Cause. The establishment of a Bahá’í Court in the Holy Land, preliminary
to the emergence of the Universal House of Justice.
Codification
of the laws and ordinances of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, Mother Book of the
Bahá’í Revelation. Establishment of six national Bahá’í Courts in the
chief cities of the Islamic East — Tihran, Cairo, Baghdad, New Delhi,
Karachi, Kabul.
(Shoghi Effendi, Messages to the Baha’i World – 1950-1957, p. 42)
“the
transformation of the International Bahá’í Council into an
international Bahá’í court; the codification of the laws and ordinances
of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas; the establishment of six national Bahá’í Courts in
the chief cities of the Islamic East”
(Messages to the Baha’i World: 1950-1957, Page: 152)
Tenth,
the establishment of a national Bahá’í Court in the capital cities of
Persia, of Iraq, of Pakistan and of Afghanistan — the leading Muslim
centres in the Asiatic continent.(Shoghi Effendi, Dawn of a New Day, p.
170)
“Sixth, the establishment, circumstances permitting, of a
national Bahá’í Court in the capital city of Egypt, the recognized
center of both the Islamic and Arab worlds, officially empowered to
apply, in matters of personal status, the laws and ordinances revealed
in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, the Mother-Book of the Bahá’í
Revelation.”(Messages to the Baha’i World: 1950-1957, Page: 139)
The origin of the bogus UHJ
On
November 4, 1959, exactly two years after the passing of the first
Guardian Shoghi Effendi, the former Hands of the Cause assembled in a
conclave (secret meeting) in Haifa and sent a message to the Baha’is,
published on page 165 of a book titled Ministry of the Custodians
written by Ruhiyyih Khanum and other violators of the Covenant, they
wrote:
“after long and prayerful deliberations, made plans
embracing those final steps which they feel must be taken by all the
followers of Bahá’u’lláh in East and West in order to bring to a
successful conclusion the World Crusade of our beloved Guardian .
Alarmingly
little time is now left to us in which to accomplish his design. Well
aware of the fact that this great Faith of Bahá’u’lláh stands in sore
need of the erection of that infallible and supreme legislative Body
which in the words of the Centre of the Covenant Himself “God hath
ordained as the source of all good and freed from all error”, and which
the Guardian said “posterity will regard as the last refuge of a
tottering civilization”, we have fixed the date for the election of the
Universal House of Justice as Ridvan 1963”
As it is obvious the
inception of the bogus UHJ happened on November 4, 1959 by those who
were signatory to the above mentioned message, a group of people who did
not had any administrative authority in the Baha’i Faith and who
violated the Covenant of Abdu’l Baha.
They have quoted out of context from Will and Testament of Abdu’l Baha:
“God
hath ordained as the source of all good and freed from all error,” They
disregard the fact that this expression in that sacred document is a
reference to the real and true Universal House of Justice having the
Guardian of the Cause of God as “its sacred head and the distinguished
member for life of that body”, not to a fake and dummy body of their own
making.
Abdu’l Baha in His Will and Testaments ordains:
“And
now, concerning the House of Justice which God hath ordained as the
source of all good and freed from all error, it must be elected by
universal suffrage, that is, by the believers. Its members must be
manifestations of the fear of God and daysprings of knowledge and
understanding, must be steadfast in God’s faith and the well-wishers of
all mankind. By this House is meant the Universal House of Justice, that
is, in all countries a secondary House of Justice must be instituted,
and these secondary Houses of Justice must elect the members of the
Universal one. Unto this body all things must be referred. It enacteth
all ordinances and regulations that are not to be found in the explicit
Holy Text. By this body all the difficult problems are to be resolved
and the
Guardian of the Cause of God is its sacred head and the
distinguished member for life of that body. Should he not attend in
person its deliberations, he must appoint one to represent him. Should
any of the members commit a sin, injurious to the common weal, the
Guardian of the Cause of God hath at his own discretion the right to
expel him, whereupon the people must elect another one in his stead”
From
the above text it is apparent that only an institution can be called
Universal House of Justice which is elected under the conditions the
Master has ordained, having the Guardian of the Cause of God as “its
sacred head and the distinguished member for life of that body”.
According to the sacred Will and Testament of Abdu’l Baha:
First:
“in all countries a secondary House of Justice must be instituted,” So
in all countries a National Houses of Justice must be established, In
1959 there was not one, and to this day there is not one National House
of Justice nor a local House of Justice anywhere around the World.
Then:
“these secondary Houses of Justice must elect the members of the
Universal one.” In the absence of National Houses of Justice, this
condition could not be realized.
And: Its members must be
manifestations of the fear of God and daysprings of knowledge and
understanding, must be steadfast in God’s faith and the well-wishers of
all mankind. It is obvious that a Universal House of Justice could not
be, and has not been established.
Nevertheless most important of
all: “the Guardian of the Cause of God is its sacred head and the
distinguished member for life of that body. Should he not attend in
person its deliberations, he must appoint one to represent him.
Should
any of the members commit a sin, injurious to the common weal, the
Guardian of the Cause of God hath at his own discretion the right to
expel him, whereupon the people must elect another one in his stead”
How
do the errant former Hands of the Cause reconcile what they have done
in light of the fact that the establishment of an International House of
Justice was not part of the goals of the Ten Years Crusade.
Establishment of an elected International Baha’i Council was not part of
the Crusade either.
The actual objectives of the Crusade were:
“the
formation of the Bahá’í Court, essential prelude to the institution of
the Universal House of Justice.” And “the establishment of a national
Bahá’í
Court in the capital cities of Persia, of Iraq, of
Pakistan and of Afghanistan — the leading Muslim centres in the Asiatic
continent.”
(Shoghi Effendi, Messages to the Baha’i World – 1950-1957, p. 42)
Furtherance of their message proves that they knowingly violated the Covenant.
They wrote:
“We
are also happy to announce that another milestone in Bahá’í history
will be reached with the election of the International Bahá’í Council
during Ridvan 1961. The embryonic institution established and so highly
extolled by the beloved Guardian will thus enter its final stage
preceding the election of the Universal House of Justice.”
Their
statement admits how they acted in contradiction to Shoghi Effendi’s
writings and drastically altered and disrupted what he ordained and
planned for for the structure and advancement of the Administrative
Order, a plan which he had meticulously and painstakingly designed and
announced to the Baha’i World and sought them to follow. While putting
forth the pretence they wanted to fulfill the goals of the Crusade,
still the Violator Hands admitted to the importance of the International
Baha’i Council as being the embryo of the Universal House of Justice:
“The embryonic institution established and so highly extolled by the
beloved Guardian” even while they declared their plan to dissolve that
same institution which had established by the Proclamation of January 9,
1951 of the first Guardian. And the president of the IBC and all its
members were appointed by him, The Hands of the Cause did not have any
authority to dissolve or alter the International Baha’i Council or
change its members. In doing so, they interfered with the following
steps for the evolution of the Embryo to the Universal House of Justice:
“its development into an officially recognized Bahá’í Court.”
“its transformation into a duly elected body”
“its efflorescence into the Universal House of Justice.”
“its final fruition through the erection of the manifold auxiliary institutions constituting the World Administrative Center.”
From
these stages, only the first step was called for by Shoghi Effendi as
one of objectives of the Crusade. In many of his messages he emphasized
the essentiality and necessity of this development.
The first
Guardian in June 30, 1952, in one of his most important Messages titled:
“The Summons of the Lord of Hosts”, predicted the possibility of severe
tests and grievous “ordeal of temporary separation from the heart and
nerve-center of their Faith which future unforeseeable disturbances may
impose upon them,” He adjured the Baha’is: “never to hesitate, never to
relax, until each and every objective in the Plans to be proclaimed, at a
later date, has been fully consummated.”
He wrote:
“No
matter how long the period that separates them from ultimate victory;
however arduous the task; however formidable the exertions demanded of
them; however dark the days which mankind, perplexed and sorely-tried,
must, in its hour of travail, traverse; however severe the tests with
which they who are to redeem its fortunes will be confronted; however
afflictive the darts which their present enemies, as well as those whom
Providence, will, through His mysterious dispensations raise up from
within or from without, may rain upon them, however grievous the ordeal
of temporary separation from the heart and nerve-center of their Faith
which future unforeseeable disturbances may impose upon them, I adjure
them, by the precious blood that flowed in such great profusion, by the
lives of the unnumbered saints and heroes who were immolated, by the
supreme, the glorious sacrifice of the Prophet-Herald of our Faith, by
the tribulations which its Founder, Himself,willingly underwent, so that
His Cause might live, His Order might redeem a shattered world and its
glory might suffuse the entire planet — I adjure them, as this solemn
hour draws nigh, to resolve never to flinch, never to hesitate, never to
relax, until each and every objective in the Plans to be proclaimed, at
a later date, has been fully consummated.”
Your true brother
— Shoghi
[June 30, 1952](Shoghi Effendi, Messages to the Baha’i World – 1950-1957, p. 38)
Developments
in the Administrative Order must be made only in obedience to every
clause of the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, They must honor the
plans and arrangements that the first Guardian of the Faith made. This
requires recognition of the succeeding Guardians after Shoghi Effendi of
the fact that he faithfully fulfilled his obligation of appointing his
successor during his own lifetime since the obligatory provision of the
Will and Testament, quoted below, does not leave any other option for
the Guardians:
“It is incumbent upon the Guardian of the Cause of
God to appoint in his own life-time him that shall become his successor
that differences may not arise after
his passing.”
(The Will and Testament, p. 12)
Unfortunately,
Ruhiyyih Khanum and those former Hands of the Cause who followed her,
sought to extinguish the light of guidance and put an end to the
Guardianship of the Cause of God. They committed everything they could
do including the dissemination of the following obvious lies:
“We
wish to assure the believers that every effort will be made to
establish a Bahá’í Court in the Holy Land prior to the date set for this
election. We should however bear in mind that the Guardian himself
clearly indicated this goal, due to the strong trend towards the
secularization of Religious Courts in this part of the world, might not
be achieved.”
Shoghi Effendi, the first Guardian of the Cause of
God, as quoted previously in many of his messages emphasised the
necessity and essentiality of the “the
formation of the Bahá’í
Court, essential prelude to the institution of the Universal House of
Justice.” and he never wrote anything to show any slightest doubts about
that.
They wrote: “due to the strong trend towards the
secularization of Religious Courts in this part of the world, might not
be achieved.”
To make their lie less obvious they did not
mentioned the name of “this part of the world” Israel, where “a Bahá’í
Court in the Holy Land, preliminary to the emergence of the Universal
House of Justice” was to be established by the end of the Crusade. Even
now, after passage of more than half a century, religious Courts exist
in that country.
Courtesy of the Israel Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, everybody can now know that the Baha’i Faith is mentioned among
the religions which according to the law are allowed to have a
religious court:
“Religious Courts
While military
and Labor courts are not exclusive to the Israeli legal system, the
Religious Courts are. The Israeli legal system is unique among modern
legal systems in the utilization of various personal status laws in the
area of family law, applied by religious courts. This phenomenon has
historical and political roots: it existed under Ottoman rule and was
retained by the British after they conquered the country.
The
basic source for the application of the personal status law and the
jurisdiction of the various religious courts is found in the Palestine
Order in Council (1922). This order provides that “jurisdiction in
matters of personal status shall be exercised… by the courts of the
religious communities”.
The order also grants jurisdiction to the
District Courts in matters of personal status for foreigners who are
non-Muslims, stating that they “shall apply the personal law of the
parties concerned”. Regarding foreigners, this was defined as “the law
of his nationality”. Case law determined that regarding non-foreigners,
“the court … have… to apply the religious or communal law of the
parties”.
The Palestine Order in Council recognized eleven
religious communities: Jewish, Muslim, and nine Christian denominations.
The Israeli government added the Presbyterian Evangelical Church and
the Ba’hai to this list. The Knesset also enacted a law vesting
jurisdiction in the Druze religious courts.”2
The
International Bahá’í Council, comprising eight members, charged with
assisting in the manifold activities attendant upon the rise of the
World Administrative Center of the Faith, which must pave the way for
the formation of a Bahá’í International Court and the eventual emergence
of the Universal House of Justice, the supreme legislative body of the
future Bahá’í Commonwealth, has been established, enlarged, and the
functions of its members defined.
(Shoghi Effendi, Messages to the Baha’i World – 1950-1957, p. 148)
The
development of the functions of the institution of the Hands of the
Cause. The establishment of a Bahá’í Court in the Holy Land, preliminary
to the emergence of the Universal House of Justice.
Codification
of the laws and ordinances of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, Mother Book of the
Bahá’í Revelation. Establishment of six national Bahá’í Courts in the
chief cities of the Islamic East — Tihran, Cairo, Baghdad, New Delhi,
Karachi, Kabul.
(Shoghi Effendi, Messages to the Baha’i World – 1950-1957, p. 42)
“the
transformation of the International Bahá’í Council into an
international Bahá’í court; the codification of the laws and ordinances
of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas; the establishment of six national Bahá’í Courts in
the chief cities of the Islamic East”
(Messages to the Baha’i World: 1950-1957, Page: 152)
Tenth,
the establishment of a national Bahá’í Court in the capital cities of
Persia, of Iraq, of Pakistan and of Afghanistan — the leading Muslim
centres in the Asiatic continent.(Shoghi Effendi, Dawn of a New Day, p.
170)
“Sixth, the establishment, circumstances permitting, of a
national Bahá’í Court in the capital city of Egypt, the recognized
center of both the Islamic and Arab worlds, officially empowered to
apply, in matters of personal status, the laws and ordinances revealed
in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, the Mother-Book of the Bahá’í
Revelation.”(Messages to the Baha’i World: 1950-1957, Page: 139)
The origin of the bogus UHJ
On
November 4, 1959, exactly two years after the passing of the first
Guardian Shoghi Effendi, the former Hands of the Cause assembled in a
conclave (secret meeting) in Haifa and sent a message to the Baha’is,
published on page 165 of a book titled Ministry of the Custodians
written by Ruhiyyih Khanum and other violators of the Covenant, they
wrote:
“after long and prayerful deliberations, made plans
embracing those final steps which they feel must be taken by all the
followers of Bahá’u’lláh in East and West in order to bring to a
successful conclusion the World Crusade of our beloved Guardian .
Alarmingly
little time is now left to us in which to accomplish his design. Well
aware of the fact that this great Faith of Bahá’u’lláh stands in sore
need of the erection of that infallible and supreme legislative Body
which in the words of the Centre of the Covenant Himself “God hath
ordained as the source of all good and freed from all error”, and which
the Guardian said “posterity will regard as the last refuge of a
tottering civilization”, we have fixed the date for the election of the
Universal House of Justice as Ridvan 1963”
As it is obvious the
inception of the bogus UHJ happened on November 4, 1959 by those who
were signatory to the above mentioned message, a group of people who did
not had any administrative authority in the Baha’i Faith and who
violated the Covenant of Abdu’l Baha.
They have quoted out of context from Will and Testament of Abdu’l Baha:
“God
hath ordained as the source of all good and freed from all error,” They
disregard the fact that this expression in that sacred document is a
reference to the real and true Universal House of Justice having the
Guardian of the Cause of God as “its sacred head and the distinguished
member for life of that body”, not to a fake and dummy body of their own
making.
Abdu’l Baha in His Will and Testaments ordains:
“And
now, concerning the House of Justice which God hath ordained as the
source of all good and freed from all error, it must be elected by
universal suffrage, that is, by the believers. Its members must be
manifestations of the fear of God and daysprings of knowledge and
understanding, must be steadfast in God’s faith and the well-wishers of
all mankind. By this House is meant the Universal House of Justice, that
is, in all countries a secondary House of Justice must be instituted,
and these secondary Houses of Justice must elect the members of the
Universal one. Unto this body all things must be referred. It enacteth
all ordinances and regulations that are not to be found in the explicit
Holy Text. By this body all the difficult problems are to be resolved
and the
Guardian of the Cause of God is its sacred head and the
distinguished member for life of that body. Should he not attend in
person its deliberations, he must appoint one to represent him. Should
any of the members commit a sin, injurious to the common weal, the
Guardian of the Cause of God hath at his own discretion the right to
expel him, whereupon the people must elect another one in his stead”
From
the above text it is apparent that only an institution can be called
Universal House of Justice which is elected under the conditions the
Master has ordained, having the Guardian of the Cause of God as “its
sacred head and the distinguished member for life of that body”.
According to the sacred Will and Testament of Abdu’l Baha:
First:
“in all countries a secondary House of Justice must be instituted,” So
in all countries a National Houses of Justice must be established, In
1959 there was not one, and to this day there is not one National House
of Justice nor a local House of Justice anywhere around the World.
Then:
“these secondary Houses of Justice must elect the members of the
Universal one.” In the absence of National Houses of Justice, this
condition could not be realized.
And: Its members must be
manifestations of the fear of God and daysprings of knowledge and
understanding, must be steadfast in God’s faith and the well-wishers of
all mankind. It is obvious that a Universal House of Justice could not
be, and has not been established.
Nevertheless most important of
all: “the Guardian of the Cause of God is its sacred head and the
distinguished member for life of that body. Should he not attend in
person its deliberations, he must appoint one to represent him.
Should
any of the members commit a sin, injurious to the common weal, the
Guardian of the Cause of God hath at his own discretion the right to
expel him, whereupon the people must elect another one in his stead”
How
do the errant former Hands of the Cause reconcile what they have done
in light of the fact that the establishment of an International House of
Justice was not part of the goals of the Ten Years Crusade.
Establishment of an elected International Baha’i Council was not part of
the Crusade either.
The actual objectives of the Crusade were:
“the
formation of the Bahá’í Court, essential prelude to the institution of
the Universal House of Justice.” And “the establishment of a national
Bahá’í
Court in the capital cities of Persia, of Iraq, of
Pakistan and of Afghanistan — the leading Muslim centres in the Asiatic
continent.”
(Shoghi Effendi, Messages to the Baha’i World – 1950-1957, p. 42)
Furtherance of their message proves that they knowingly violated the Covenant.
They wrote:
“We
are also happy to announce that another milestone in Bahá’í history
will be reached with the election of the International Bahá’í Council
during Ridvan 1961. The embryonic institution established and so highly
extolled by the beloved Guardian will thus enter its final stage
preceding the election of the Universal House of Justice.”
Their
statement admits how they acted in contradiction to Shoghi Effendi’s
writings and drastically altered and disrupted what he ordained and
planned for for the structure and advancement of the Administrative
Order, a plan which he had meticulously and painstakingly designed and
announced to the Baha’i World and sought them to follow. While putting
forth the pretence they wanted to fulfill the goals of the Crusade,
still the Violator Hands admitted to the importance of the International
Baha’i Council as being the embryo of the Universal House of Justice:
“The embryonic institution established and so highly extolled by the
beloved Guardian” even while they declared their plan to dissolve that
same institution which had established by the Proclamation of January 9,
1951 of the first Guardian. And the president of the IBC and all its
members were appointed by him, The Hands of the Cause did not have any
authority to dissolve or alter the International Baha’i Council or
change its members. In doing so, they interfered with the following
steps for the evolution of the Embryo to the Universal House of Justice:
“its development into an officially recognized Bahá’í Court.”
“its transformation into a duly elected body”
“its efflorescence into the Universal House of Justice.”
“its final fruition through the erection of the manifold auxiliary institutions constituting the World Administrative Center.”
From
these stages, only the first step was called for by Shoghi Effendi as
one of objectives of the Crusade. In many of his messages he emphasized
the essentiality and necessity of this development.
The first
Guardian in June 30, 1952, in one of his most important Messages titled:
“The Summons of the Lord of Hosts”, predicted the possibility of severe
tests and grievous “ordeal of temporary separation from the heart and
nerve-center of their Faith which future unforeseeable disturbances may
impose upon them,” He adjured the Baha’is: “never to hesitate, never to
relax, until each and every objective in the Plans to be proclaimed, at a
later date, has been fully consummated.”
He wrote:
“No
matter how long the period that separates them from ultimate victory;
however arduous the task; however formidable the exertions demanded of
them; however dark the days which mankind, perplexed and sorely-tried,
must, in its hour of travail, traverse; however severe the tests with
which they who are to redeem its fortunes will be confronted; however
afflictive the darts which their present enemies, as well as those whom
Providence, will, through His mysterious dispensations raise up from
within or from without, may rain upon them, however grievous the ordeal
of temporary separation from the heart and nerve-center of their Faith
which future unforeseeable disturbances may impose upon them, I adjure
them, by the precious blood that flowed in such great profusion, by the
lives of the unnumbered saints and heroes who were immolated, by the
supreme, the glorious sacrifice of the Prophet-Herald of our Faith, by
the tribulations which its Founder, Himself,willingly underwent, so that
His Cause might live, His Order might redeem a shattered world and its
glory might suffuse the entire planet — I adjure them, as this solemn
hour draws nigh, to resolve never to flinch, never to hesitate, never to
relax, until each and every objective in the Plans to be proclaimed, at
a later date, has been fully consummated.”
Your true brother
— Shoghi
[June 30, 1952](Shoghi Effendi, Messages to the Baha’i World – 1950-1957, p. 38)
Developments
in the Administrative Order must be made only in obedience to every
clause of the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, They must honor the
plans and arrangements that the first Guardian of the Faith made. This
requires recognition of the succeeding Guardians after Shoghi Effendi of
the fact that he faithfully fulfilled his obligation of appointing his
successor during his own lifetime since the obligatory provision of the
Will and Testament, quoted below, does not leave any other option for
the Guardians:
“It is incumbent upon the Guardian of the Cause of
God to appoint in his own life-time him that shall become his successor
that differences may not arise after
his passing.”
(The Will and Testament, p. 12)
Unfortunately,
Ruhiyyih Khanum and those former Hands of the Cause who followed her,
sought to extinguish the light of guidance and put an end to the
Guardianship of the Cause of God. They committed everything they could
do including the dissemination of the following obvious lies:
“We
wish to assure the believers that every effort will be made to
establish a Bahá’í Court in the Holy Land prior to the date set for this
election. We should however bear in mind that the Guardian himself
clearly indicated this goal, due to the strong trend towards the
secularization of Religious Courts in this part of the world, might not
be achieved.”
Shoghi Effendi, the first Guardian of the Cause of
God, as quoted previously in many of his messages emphasised the
necessity and essentiality of the “the
formation of the Bahá’í
Court, essential prelude to the institution of the Universal House of
Justice.” and he never wrote anything to show any slightest doubts about
that.
They wrote: “due to the strong trend towards the
secularization of Religious Courts in this part of the world, might not
be achieved.”
To make their lie less obvious they did not
mentioned the name of “this part of the world” Israel, where “a Bahá’í
Court in the Holy Land, preliminary to the emergence of the Universal
House of Justice” was to be established by the end of the Crusade. Even
now, after passage of more than half a century, religious Courts exist
in that country.
Courtesy of the Israel Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, everybody can now know that the Baha’i Faith is mentioned among
the religions which according to the law are allowed to have a
religious court:
“Religious Courts
While military
and Labor courts are not exclusive to the Israeli legal system, the
Religious Courts are. The Israeli legal system is unique among modern
legal systems in the utilization of various personal status laws in the
area of family law, applied by religious courts. This phenomenon has
historical and political roots: it existed under Ottoman rule and was
retained by the British after they conquered the country.
The
basic source for the application of the personal status law and the
jurisdiction of the various religious courts is found in the Palestine
Order in Council (1922). This order provides that “jurisdiction in
matters of personal status shall be exercised… by the courts of the
religious communities”.
The order also grants jurisdiction to the
District Courts in matters of personal status for foreigners who are
non-Muslims, stating that they “shall apply the personal law of the
parties concerned”. Regarding foreigners, this was defined as “the law
of his nationality”. Case law determined that regarding non-foreigners,
“the court … have… to apply the religious or communal law of the
parties”.
The Palestine Order in Council recognized eleven
religious communities: Jewish, Muslim, and nine Christian denominations.
The Israeli government added the Presbyterian Evangelical Church and
the Ba’hai to this list. The Knesset also enacted a law vesting
jurisdiction in the Druze religious courts.”2
Those who are running the affairs of the bogus UHJ, which has nothing in
common, except it name, with the real Universal House of Justice
mentioned in the Will and Testament of Abdu’l Baha, must realized that
their existence is temporal. They must understand that they are
partially responsible for the calamities and adversities which humanity
is facing. It is necessary to remind them the sacred Words of
Baha’u’llah in The Hidden Words:
O OPPRESSORS ON EARTH!
Withdraw
your hands from tyranny, for I have pledged Myself not to forgive any
man’s injustice. This is My covenant which I have irrevocably decreed in
the preserved tablet and sealed with My seal.
“O REBELLIOUS ONES!
My
forbearance hath emboldened you and My long-suffering hath made you
negligent, in such wise that ye have spurred on the fiery charger of
passion into perilous ways that lead unto destruction. Have ye thought
Me heedless or that I was unaware?”
2http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/aboutisrael/state/democracy/pages/the%20judiciary-
%20the%20court%20system.aspx. Also the information is available in the
article written by David Nachmias; “Israel Studies An Anthology:
National Government Institutions”
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/isdf/text/nachmias.html
“O CHILDREN OF FANCY!
Know,
verily, that while the radiant dawn breaketh above the horizon of
eternal holiness, the satanic secrets and deeds done in the gloom of
night shall be laid bare and manifest before the peoples of the world.”
O YE PEOPLES OF THE WORLD!
Know,
verily, that an unforeseen calamity followeth you, and grievous
retribution awaiteth you. Think not that which ye have committed hath
been effaced in My sight. By My beauty! All your doings hath My pen
graven with open characters upon tablets of chrysolite.
common, except it name, with the real Universal House of Justice
mentioned in the Will and Testament of Abdu’l Baha, must realized that
their existence is temporal. They must understand that they are
partially responsible for the calamities and adversities which humanity
is facing. It is necessary to remind them the sacred Words of
Baha’u’llah in The Hidden Words:
O OPPRESSORS ON EARTH!
Withdraw
your hands from tyranny, for I have pledged Myself not to forgive any
man’s injustice. This is My covenant which I have irrevocably decreed in
the preserved tablet and sealed with My seal.
“O REBELLIOUS ONES!
My
forbearance hath emboldened you and My long-suffering hath made you
negligent, in such wise that ye have spurred on the fiery charger of
passion into perilous ways that lead unto destruction. Have ye thought
Me heedless or that I was unaware?”
2http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/aboutisrael/state/democracy/pages/the%20judiciary-
%20the%20court%20system.aspx. Also the information is available in the
article written by David Nachmias; “Israel Studies An Anthology:
National Government Institutions”
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/isdf/text/nachmias.html
“O CHILDREN OF FANCY!
Know,
verily, that while the radiant dawn breaketh above the horizon of
eternal holiness, the satanic secrets and deeds done in the gloom of
night shall be laid bare and manifest before the peoples of the world.”
O YE PEOPLES OF THE WORLD!
Know,
verily, that an unforeseen calamity followeth you, and grievous
retribution awaiteth you. Think not that which ye have committed hath
been effaced in My sight. By My beauty! All your doings hath My pen
graven with open characters upon tablets of chrysolite.
Baha’u’llah
The mighty stronghold shall remain
impregnable and safe through obedience to him who is the Guardian of the
Cause of God. It is incumbent upon the members of the House of Justice,
upon all the Aghsán, the Afnán, the Hands of the Cause of God to show
their obedience, submissiveness and subordination unto the Guardian of
the Cause of God, to turn unto him and be lowly before him. He that
opposeth him hath opposed the True One, will make a breach in the Cause
of God, will subvert His Word and will become a manifestation of the
Center of Sedition. Beware, beware, lest the days after the ascension
(of Bahá’u’lláh) be repeated when the Center of Sedition waxed haughty
and rebellious and with Divine Unity for his excuse deprived himself and
perturbed and poisoned others.
(The Will and Testament of Abdu’l-Baha)
In
conclusion, the bogus UHJ sets itself up as if it were the genuine one,
ignoring the fact that it was born of violation, none of the essential
conditions for its election have been met, and it operates without the
Guardian as its sacred head. Contrary to the call of Shoghi Effendi, in
his letter entitled Summons of the Lord of Hosts, dated June 30, 1952,
adjuring the Baha’is to remain focused on the goals of the Plans no
matter what might happen. The prerequisites established by Shoghi
Effendi for the embryonic UHJ to grow through successive stages to a
religious court, then to an elected body, and finally to effloresce to
the Universal House of Justice, have not been met. In 1957, the
embryonic International Baha’i Council with the Guardian as its sacred
head, existed and should have been activated, and then be recognized as a
Baha’i court. However, the errant Hands would not let this be.
At
this critical time I call up on all to turn towards God and join the
true Baha’is under the Guardianship and save their souls. Certainly the
Covenant of Baha’u’llah and whatever revealed by His pen; is fulfilled
and will be fulfilled.
“We have a fixed time for you, O peoples.
If ye fail, at the appointed hour, to turn towards God, He, verily, will
lay violent hold on you, and will cause grievous afflictions to assail
you from every direction. How severe, indeed, is the chastisement with
which your Lord will then chastise you!”
(Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh)
“We
exhort mankind in these days when the countenance of Justice is soiled
with dust, when the flames of unbelief are burning high and the robe of
wisdom rent asunder, when tranquillity and faithfulness have ebbed away
and trials and tribulations have waxed severe, when covenants are broken
and ties are severed, when no man knoweth how to discern light and
darkness or to distinguish guidance from error.”
(Tablet of Wisdom)
The
warning call set forth by the first Guardian went unheeded, Today, this
warning call is renewed! Obey the Summons of the Lord of Hosts!
Nosrat’u’llah Bahremand
The mighty stronghold shall remain
impregnable and safe through obedience to him who is the Guardian of the
Cause of God. It is incumbent upon the members of the House of Justice,
upon all the Aghsán, the Afnán, the Hands of the Cause of God to show
their obedience, submissiveness and subordination unto the Guardian of
the Cause of God, to turn unto him and be lowly before him. He that
opposeth him hath opposed the True One, will make a breach in the Cause
of God, will subvert His Word and will become a manifestation of the
Center of Sedition. Beware, beware, lest the days after the ascension
(of Bahá’u’lláh) be repeated when the Center of Sedition waxed haughty
and rebellious and with Divine Unity for his excuse deprived himself and
perturbed and poisoned others.
(The Will and Testament of Abdu’l-Baha)
In
conclusion, the bogus UHJ sets itself up as if it were the genuine one,
ignoring the fact that it was born of violation, none of the essential
conditions for its election have been met, and it operates without the
Guardian as its sacred head. Contrary to the call of Shoghi Effendi, in
his letter entitled Summons of the Lord of Hosts, dated June 30, 1952,
adjuring the Baha’is to remain focused on the goals of the Plans no
matter what might happen. The prerequisites established by Shoghi
Effendi for the embryonic UHJ to grow through successive stages to a
religious court, then to an elected body, and finally to effloresce to
the Universal House of Justice, have not been met. In 1957, the
embryonic International Baha’i Council with the Guardian as its sacred
head, existed and should have been activated, and then be recognized as a
Baha’i court. However, the errant Hands would not let this be.
At
this critical time I call up on all to turn towards God and join the
true Baha’is under the Guardianship and save their souls. Certainly the
Covenant of Baha’u’llah and whatever revealed by His pen; is fulfilled
and will be fulfilled.
“We have a fixed time for you, O peoples.
If ye fail, at the appointed hour, to turn towards God, He, verily, will
lay violent hold on you, and will cause grievous afflictions to assail
you from every direction. How severe, indeed, is the chastisement with
which your Lord will then chastise you!”
(Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh)
“We
exhort mankind in these days when the countenance of Justice is soiled
with dust, when the flames of unbelief are burning high and the robe of
wisdom rent asunder, when tranquillity and faithfulness have ebbed away
and trials and tribulations have waxed severe, when covenants are broken
and ties are severed, when no man knoweth how to discern light and
darkness or to distinguish guidance from error.”
(Tablet of Wisdom)
The
warning call set forth by the first Guardian went unheeded, Today, this
warning call is renewed! Obey the Summons of the Lord of Hosts!
Nosrat’u’llah Bahremand
Courtesy : http://bahai-guardian.com/
The Orthodox Bahá’í Faith 