The law of consultation, as revealed by Bahá’u’lláh, is a
fundamental teaching of the Faith. He tells us that through consultation the
“maturity of the gift of understanding” is made manifest. “It is and will
always be”, He states, “a cause of awareness and of awakening and a source of
good and well-being.” “Consultation bestoweth greater awareness and transmuteth
conjecture into certitude”, He further asserts. “It is a shining light which,
in a dark world, leadeth the way and guideth.” Consultation paves the path of
individual and collective endeavour. The growth, progress, and enduring unity
of the community are ensured by its practice. It is indispensable for the
ordering of human affairs. ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá refers
to consultation as “the cause of great victories”, assuring us that “it attracteth
the aid and bestowal of God.”
As you know, Bahá’í consultation is to be undertaken with
the utmost love, sincerity, and unity. Its participants must come together in a
prayerful attitude, seeking assistance from the Realm of Glory, expressing
their thoughts freely, surrendering all attachment to their individual
opinions, and giving fair-minded and careful consideration to the views of
others, in an effort to reach consensus. ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá advises
us that should it be found, in the course of coming to a decision, that
discussion has become prolonged or given rise to disputation, consultation
should be deferred and taken up at a more propitious time…. Of course, it must
be remembered that the purpose of consultation need not always be to arrive at
a particular or final decision. Often the aim may simply be to engage in an
exchange of views so as to help clarify a certain matter and bring about unity
of vision.
- The Universal House of Justice (From a message dated 19 May 2009
addressed to the Believers in the Cradle of the Faith; online Baha’i Reference
Library of the Baha’i World Center)