“…We must avoid giving the impression of being all tied up with peculiar religious theories; on the other hand, the nine sides of the Temple, and the nine-pointed star require an explanation, and he feels the best one is this:
"Nine is the highest digit, hence symbolizes comprehensiveness, culmination; also, the reason it is used in the Temple's form is because nine has the exact numerical value of 'Bahá’ (in the numerology connected with the Arabic alphabet) and 'Bahá' is the name of the Revealer of our Faith, Bahá'u'lláh. The nine-pointed star is not a part of the teachings of our Faith, but only used as an emblem representing 'nine.' In telling people of the nine religions of the world, that is existing religions, we should not give this as the reason the Temple has nine sides. This may have been an idea of the architect, and a very pleasing idea which can be mentioned in passing, but the Temple has nine sides because of the association of nine with perfection, unity and 'Baha.'
"The Guardian feels that with intellectuals and students of religion the question of exactly which are the nine existing religions is controversial, and it would be better to avoid it. He does not want the friends to be rigid in these matters, but use their judgment and tact; sometimes one statement is exactly the right thing for one type of mind and the wrong thing for another.
"Strictly speaking the five-pointed star is the symbol of our Faith, as used by the Báb and explained by Him. But the Guardian does not feel it is wise or necessary to complicate our explanations of the Temple by adding this…"
- Shoghi Effendi (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, to an American believer; Baha’i News Supplement, no. 50, April 1962)
