Participation in political affairs and activities aimed at eradication of injustice - 7 July 1976

Dear Baha'i friend,

The Universal House of Justice received your letter of 15 May conveying your thoughts on the need for Baha'is to become involved as may be necessary in political affairs and to participate in activities aimed at the eradication of injustice.  The sincerity which prompted you to write such a letter and to candidly express your sentiments deeply touched the Universal House of Justice.  We have been asked to convey its comments to you.

You ask if silence on the part of Baha'is will not allow chaos and human humiliation to be a permanent feature on earth, and state that shunning of politics by the Baha'is can but weaken the freedom fighters of the world. When viewing the conditions of our society we see a world beset by ills and groaning under the burden of suffering. This suffering, Baha'u'llah has Himself testified, is because the "body" of the world, "though created whole and perfect, has been afflicted, through divers causes, with grave ills and maladies," and "its sickness waxed more severe, as it fell under the treatment of unskilled physicians who have spurred on the steed of their worldly desires and have erred grievously." Baha'u'llah's statement in this passage concludes with the assertion that the "sovereign remedy" lies in turning and submitting to the "skilled," the "all- powerful," and "inspired Physician. This, verily, is the truth, and all else naught but error.

Baha’u’llah’s “mention of the ‘Men of Justice’ in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas” - 29 June 1976

To the general premise that women and men have equality in the Faith, this, as often explained by 'Abdu'l-Bahá, is a fundamental principle deriving from Bahá'u'lláh and therefore His mention of the "Men of Justice" in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas should be considered in light of that principle .... 

- The Universal House of Justice  (From a letter dated 29 June 1976 written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. II, Women)

“individual psychology” - 21 June 1976

As for the system called individual psychology, there is nothing in the Writings which supports any particular theory of that science . . . Doubtless, in time, Bahá'ís of talent and scholarly bent who will have access to the full Texts of the Holy Writings will effect great progress in the development of psychology, as in other sciences, for the benefit of all mankind. 

- The Universal House of Justice  (From a letter dated 21 June 1976 written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer)

“a tie for the ninth member of a National Spiritual Assembly” and “resignation of one of the members of the newly elected National Assembly”: - at National Convention - 13 June 1976

In the case of a tie for the ninth member of a National Spiritual Assembly, a vote can be held immediately at the Convention among the delegates present, to break the tie. However, if a vacancy is declared at the Convention because a resignation of one of the members of the newly elected National Assembly is accepted, a By-election must be called, i.e. all delegates must be given an opportunity to vote for someone to fill the vacancy. 

- The Universal House of Justice  (From a letter dated June 13, 1976, written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to a National Spiritual Assembly; compilations, ‘Lights of Guidance’)

“all members of the Spiritual Assembly are equal and should have access to the files and minutes of the Assembly” - 8 June 1976

In reply to your letter of May 13th, 1976, the Universal House of Justice instructs us to say that all members of the Spiritual Assembly are equal and should have access to the files and minutes of the Assembly of which they are members. It is, however, within the discretion of any Spiritual Assembly to so organize its files and records that certain items could be listed as "confidential" and access to those so classified could only be had by a specific decision of the Assembly itself. 

- The Universal House of Justice  (From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice, dated June 8, 1976; compilation: ‘Developing Distinctive Baha’i Communities’, prepared by NSA of USA, 1998 edition; and compilation: ‘Lights of Guidance’)

“an unforseen calamity”: “it would be fruitless to attempt to foresee the time or the nature of a calamity which Bahá'u'lláh Himself said was 'unforseen'” - 2 June 1976

The House of Justice points out that Bahá'u'lláh in no uncertain terms has said 'O ye peoples of the world! Know, verily, that an unforseen calamity followeth you, and grievous retribution awaiteth you. Think not that which ye have committed hath been effaced in My sight.' Therefore it considers that it would be fruitless to attempt to foresee the time or the nature of a calamity which Bahá'u'lláh Himself said was 'unforseen'. No doubt the remarkable progress being made in scientific endeavour holds true in the study by experts of geological upheavals. But we cannot be certain that predictions of earthquakes, volcanic eruptions or tidal waves caused by such phenomena can be identified as the cataclysmic events to which Bahá'u'lláh refers.

In letters to other believers who have asked questions similar to yours, the House of Justice has emphasized that the friends should not waste their time and energies in fruitless speculations on this question. Rather, they should concentrate every ounce of energy on the winning of the goals of the Five Year Plan, which they have clearly before them, confident in the knowledge that whatever may happen in the world, however calamitous it may outwardly appear, will promote God's unalterable purpose for the unification of mankind. 

- The Universal House of Justice  (From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer, June 2, 1976; compilation: ‘Lights of Guidance’)

Prohibition against the use of marijuana - 3 May 1976

In reply to your letter of March 23, 1976, the Universal House of Justice instructs us to say that the word "marijuana" does not appear as such in our Sacred Scriptures. However, marijuana contains the same narcotic as hashish (hemp) and the same prohibition applies to its use as applies to the use of hashish. 

- The Universal House of Justice  (From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice, dated May 3, 1976, to an individual believer; compilation: ‘Developing Distinctive Baha’i Communities’, prepared by NSA of USA, 1998 edition)

“calamities have been and are occurring and will continue to happen until mankind has been chastened sufficiently to accept the Manifestation for this day” - 15 April 1976

You make reference to calamities and request specific answers if there are any as to when they may occur and with what magnitude. The House of Justice noted your comments that you have read what Bahá'u'lláh had to say about the collapse of the old world order and the coming of the new, and that in recent times friends returning from their pilgrimages spoke of meeting with Hands of the Cause and members of the House of Justice in which the coming of great world upheavals was related to a time 'around the end of the Five Year Plan and afterwards'. The House of Justice points out that calamities have been and are occurring and will continue to happen until mankind has been chastened sufficiently to accept the Manifestation for this day. 'Abdu'l-Bahá anticipated that the Lesser Peace could be established before the end of the twentieth century. However, Bahá'ís should not be diverted from the work of the Cause by the fear of catastrophes but should try to understand why they occur. The beloved Guardian, in innumerable places, has explained the reasons for these occurrences, and since they happen from time to time as explained above we should not be concerned as to when they occur. 

- The Universal House of Justice  (From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer, April 15, 1976; compilation: ‘Lights of Guidance’)

“The friends should not be unduly exercised” when books written against the Faith” appear; “no issue should be made of them” - 30 March 1976

...the Universal House of Justice instructs us to say that it is to be expected that books will be written against the Faith attempting to distort is teachings, to denigrate is accomplishments, to vilify is Founders and leaders and to destroy is very foundations. The friends should not be unduly exercised when these books appear and certainly no issue should be made of them. 

- The Universal House of Justice  (From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice, 30 March 1976 to the National Spiritual Assembly of Hong Kong; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. 1, Crisis and Victory)

Formal education of children “must begin at the age of five”; “mothers should read or sing to them verses of Bahá'u'lláh” at bed time - 24 March 1976

 

The Tablet of 'Abdu'l-Bahá concerning the education of children refers particularly to their formal education which He says must begin at the age of five. The Master makes it clear that during the daytime children of that age and older should be looked after in a place where there are teachers. They should learn good conduct and be taught how to spell and to read and He indicates that spelling and reading can be learned by the use of simple games. Children of all ages can benefit from the guidance given to mothers by 'Abdu'l-Bahá in which He advises that when the children are ready for bed their mothers should read or sing to them verses of Bahá'u'lláh so that from their earliest years the children will be educated by these words of the Blessed Beauty. The House of Justice adds that you should feel free to hold classes for children under the age of five provided you keep in mind that their attention span is relatively short and so the duration of their class periods should be measured accordingly. 

- The Universal House of Justice  (From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to the Spiritual Assembly of Newton, Kansas, March 24, 1976; compilation: ‘Lights of Guidance’)

“The believer will be subject to sanctions if he should marry a third party within the year of patience” -14 March 1976

The believer will be subject to sanctions if he should marry a third party within the year of patience, not only because it is a violation of the year of patience itself, but also because even though a civil divorce has been granted, the Bahá'í divorce cannot be granted until the end of the year of patience. For this reason no marriage is possible during the running of the year of patience unless the parties to the divorce remarry each other in a civil ceremony. 

- The Universal House of Justice  (From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice, dated July 18, 1973, quoted in the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Canada's Assembly Resource Compilation)

In cases in which your Assembly has decided that the believer was ignorant of the law requiring him to have a Bahá'í divorce before marrying another, and a civil divorce has already been obtained, your Assembly may in its discretion excuse him and he would be regarded as in the same status as one who obtained a divorce before becoming a Bahá'í. 

- The Universal House of Justice  (From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice, dated March 14, 1976; compilation: ‘Developing Distinctive Baha’i Communities’, prepared by NSA of USA, 1998 edition)

“a Bahá'í in good standing cannot marry a Bahá'í who has lost his voting rights” - 25 February 1976

A Bahá'í deprived of his voting rights cannot be married in a Bahá'í marriage ceremony; a Bahá'í in good standing cannot marry a Bahá'í who has lost his voting rights; the marriage of a Bahá'í who has lost his voting rights does not fall within the jurisdiction of a Bahá'í administrative institution.

In other words, Bahá'ís who have lost their voting rights cannot be constrained to Bahá'í administrative requirements although their consciences should lead them to act as closely to the standards and ordinances of Bahá'í life as possible. 

- The Universal House of Justice (Letter dated February 25, 1976 to a National Spiritual Assembly; cited by the International Teaching Center; compilations: ‘Lights of Guidance’)

Baha’i wedding: any other ceremony should take place “within one twenty-four hour period” - 17 February 1976

As to cases involving another ceremony in addition to the Bahá'í one, the friends should bear in mind that according to Bahá'í Law the consummation of the marriage must take place within twenty-four hours of the Bahá'í marriage ceremony. If other marriage ceremonies are to be held in addition to the Bahá'í one, all the ceremonies must precede consummation of the marriage and, together with the consummation fall within one twenty-four hour period. Naturally any requirements of civil law as to the order in which the ceremonies should be held must be observed. 

The Universal House of Justice (From a letter to the International Teaching Center, February 17, 1976; compilation: ‘Lights of Guidance’)

“a National Spiritual Assembly must operate from its National Haziratu'l-Quds”; “National Secretary to reside close to, if not in the National Haziratu'l-Quds itself” - 9 February 1976

The first principle which has been established is that a National Spiritual Assembly must operate from its National Haziratu'l-Quds, which is the official Seat of the National Spiritual Assembly. During the early formative years of the Faith and the building up of the Administrative Order it has been permitted in certain instances for the National Secretary to reside away from the city in which the National Haziratu'l-Quds is located, but in these cases the principle has always been enforced that the National Spiritual Assembly itself operated from its proper address at the National Haziratu'l-Quds ... The aim should be to overcome this anomaly and for your National Secretary to reside close to, if not in the National Haziratu'l-Quds itself. Inevitably the day will come when it will be necessary for your National Secretary to devote his entire time to the service of the National Spiritual Assembly and it will then be imperative for the Secretary to operate from the Haziratu'l-Quds. 

- The Universal House of Justice (From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Dominican Republic, February 9, 1976; compilation: ‘Lights of Guidance’)

“Auxiliary Board members' visiting Assemblies and groups in the respective areas served by them” - 4 February 1976

As you know, the beloved Guardian repeatedly emphasized the importance of Auxiliary Board members' visiting Assemblies and groups in the respective areas served by them. While details concerning the appointment and functioning of the members of Auxiliary Boards are left to the Counsellors, in light of the Guardian's instructions cited above, they should take into consideration, in making a new appointment, the advisability of that appointee residing in the area which he serves. 

- The Universal House of Justice  (From a letter dated February 4, 1976 to the International Teaching Centre; compilations: ‘Lights of Guidance’)

“the sale of alcoholic beverages by a business in which a Bahá'í is a partner with non-Bahá'ís” - 15 January 1976

We have found no explicit text or instruction of the beloved Guardian on such a situation (the sale of alcoholic beverages by a business in which a Bahá'í is a partner with non-Bahá'ís) and feel that it is one in which no hard and fast rules should be drawn at the present time. . . . We feel that this is a matter which needs to be decided in each case in the light of the spirit of the teachings and the circumstances of the case, and unless the situation is one which is endangering the good name of the Faith or is obviously a ruse on the part of the believer to evade the Bahá'í law, it should be left to the conscience of the believer concerned who should, of course, be informed of the Bahá'í teachings concerning alcohol and should make every effort to dissociate himself from such an activity.

The above (paragraph) concerns Bahá'ís who are already in partnerships dealing in such matters. It is, however, obvious that a Bahá'í who is not in such a situation should not enter into it. 

- The Universal House of Justice (From a letter dated January 15, 1976 to the International Teaching Center; compilation: ‘Developing Distinctive Baha’i Communities’, prepared by NSA of USA, 1998 edition)

“no conflict between true religion and true science” - 26 December 1975

Just as there is a fundamental difference between divine Revelation itself and the understanding that believers have of it, so also there is a basic distinction between scientific fact and reasoning on the one hand and the conclusions or theories of scientists on the other. There is, and can be, no conflict between true religion and true science: true religion is revealed by God, while it is through true science that the mind of man "discovers the realities of things and becomes cognizant of their peculiarities and effects, and of the qualities and properties of beings" and "comprehendeth the abstract by the aid of the concrete". However, whenever a statement is made through the lens of human understanding it is thereby limited, for human understanding is limited; and where there is limitation there is the possibility of error; and where there is error, conflicts can arise. For example, at the present time many people are convinced that it is unscientific to believe in God, but, as human enlightenment progresses, the scientists and philosophers of the future will not be, in the words of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, "deniers of the Prophets, ignorant of spiritual susceptibilities, deprived of the heavenly bounties and without belief in the supernatural". 

- The Universal House of Justice  (From a letter dated 26 December 1975 written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. III, Scholarship)

Local Spiritual Assemblies need to adopt goals - 24 December 1975

Many Local Spiritual Assemblies do not meet, because they do not know or see what they should meet about. A compilation on the functions of a Local Spiritual Assembly, or the By-Laws of a Local Assembly will not usually provide the impetus to the members to meet. one of the stipulations of the Five Year Plan is the desirability for each Local Assembly to have local goals. Just as there are international and national goals, there should be local goals for each Local Assembly and throughout the Bahá'í world. These goals, as indicated in our Naw-Ruz 1974 Message, can either be adopted spontaneously by the Local Assemblies, or assigned to them by the National Spiritual Assembly. The adoption of a local plan by the Local Assembly can exert a far-reaching influence on its work and on the life of the community. 

- The Universal House of Justice  (From dated December 24, 1975 to a National Spiritual Assembly in Africa,; compilation: ‘Lights of Guidance’)

Adoption of local goals, creation of assignment of committees, and announcement to the friends - 24 December 1975

When the goals are finally decided upon, it is important that they should be announced to the friends. It should be borne in mind that Shoghi Effendi longed to see every believer involved in Bahá'í service, so that universal participation may be achieved. It would be most effective if the Local Assembly, prior to such an announcement, would appoint local committees, to each of which a branch of activity or one or more of the local goals could be assigned. Such committees need not consist of many members. When the committee appointments are made, the Local Assembly will be fully prepared to announce its goals and its committee appointments to the community at a Nineteen Day Feast or a specially called meeting of the community. 

- The Universal House of Justice  (Letter dated December 24, 1975 to a National Spiritual Assembly; Developing Distinctive Baha’i Communities, NSA of USA, 1998 edition)