The “heart and nerve center” of each community

Each Local Spiritual Assembly should become the heart and nerve center of its community. The Assemblies should be so educated and equipped with guidance from you that they become pillars of strength for the believers, and sources of knowledge and guidance. The Local Assemblies should neither be like private agents prying into the lives of the believers and seeking out their personal problems, nor should they condone glaring disregard of the Holy Laws. Whenever it becomes known that one of the believers is flagrantly disobeying the Teachings of the Faith, whether spiritual, ethical, moral or administrative, the Assemblies should not allow such a situation to become a source of backbiting among the friends or deteriorate into either the loss of the dignity of the Teachings in the eyes of the Bahá’ís and non-Bahá’ís, or the eventual inactivity of the believers, as you have observed. The Assemblies, with the encouragement and under the continuous guidance of your National Assembly, should, in the name of protecting the interests of the Faith, themselves initiate action for the solution of the problem, and handle it with love, wisdom and firmness.

(Letter from the Universal House of Justice, dated November 12, 1965, to a National Spiritual Assembly; Guidelines for Local Spiritual Assemblies by US NSA, 2014)

House of the Báb - views of the courtyard

Entrance from an adjoining dwelling which gives access to the courtyard of the House of the Báb in Shiraz. 

Courtyard of the House of the Báb in Shiraz, showing the orange tree and reflecting pool and, on the left, a well.

View of the garden in the courtyard of the House of the Báb in Shiraz. On the right, towards the center, is seen the entrance from an adjoining dwelling.(The Baha'i World 1976-1979)

Two necessary things for our growing understanding of the World Order of Bahá'u'lláh

Do not forget that Shoghi Effendi said two things were necessary for a growing understanding of the World Order of Bahá'u'lláh: the passage of time and the guidance of the Universal House of Justice. 

(The Universal House of Justice, from a message dated 27 May 1966 to an individual believer; Messages from the Universal House of Justice, 1963 to 1986)

To see things through the eyes of Baha’u’llah

Verily I say! No one hath apprehended the root of this Cause. It is incumbent upon everyone, in this day, to perceive with the eye of God, and to hearken with His ear. Whoso beholdeth Me with an eye besides Mine own will never be able to know Me. 

(Baha’u’llah, quoted by Shoghi Effendi in ‘The Advent of Divine Justice’)

"spiritual baptism"

When it is wished to celebrate the naming of a child, a special gathering may be held at which prayers and verses from the Holy Writings should be read out, and all should fervently entreat, in lowliness and devotion before the Divine Threshold, that the new-born infant may attain to righteousness, and beseech that it may be granted heavenly confirmation, steadfastness and constancy. The chosen name should then be conferred on the child, and afterwards sweetmeats and refreshments may be served--this is spiritual baptism. 

(‘Abdu’l-Baha, from a Tablet translated from the Persian, included in a compilation prepared by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice on ‘The Naming of Babies’)

Adelaide Sharp – the first woman to be elected to the National Spiritual Assembly of Iran

Born in Texas in 1896, Adelaide Sharp spent her childhood in Mexico, moved in company of her mother to California to pursue her studies, and after graduation from college took up teaching work in the Italian quarter of San Francisco. Her father, Horace M. Sharp who died during Adelaide's infancy, was a Christian but Adelaide, when still young, received the Message of Baha'u'llah from her mother, Clara Sharp - a devoted Baha'i - and accepted it.

In 1929, when the distinguished Baha'i, Dr. Susan I. Moody, who was then seventy-seven years of age, undertook to emigrate to Persia a second time at the Guardian's request, she received his permission and hearty approval to take Adelaide along with her to serve at the Tarbiyat School in the capital. The two pioneers covered the first stretch of their journey by ship to the Holy Land where the glory of pilgrimage to the Holy Shrines for twelve precious days was heightened by the guidance and spiritual strength received from the beloved Guardian, a bounty that would be their mainstay during the long and difficult years ahead.

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Tehran 1870

The Teachings we proclaim should become part of our consciousness -- the importance of

It is not sufficient to number the souls that embrace the Cause to know the progress that it is making. The more important consequences of your activities are the spirit that is diffused into the life of the community, and the extent to which the teachings we proclaim become part of the consciousness and belief of the people that hear them. For it is only when the spirit has thoroughly permeated the world that the people will begin to enter the Faith in large numbers. 

(From a letter dated 18 February 1932, written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer; The Compilation of Compilations, Vol. III, Promoting Entry by Troops)

Topics that spiritual assembly members should consult on – ‘Abdu’l-Baha identifies

Discussions must all be confined to spiritual matters that pertain to the training of souls, the instruction of children, the relief of the poor, the help of the feeble throughout all classes in the world, kindness to all peoples, the diffusion of the fragrances of God and the exaltation of His Holy Word. 

(‘Abdu’l-Baha, quoted by Shoghi Effendi, from a letter dated March 5, 1922; ‘Baha’i Administration’)

The Citadel of 'Akka

Erected during the Turkish region at the end of the 18th century on Crusader foundation, this citadel acted as the central prison of Palestine during the British mandate after World War I.

Man is unable to comprehend the essence of God – ‘Abdu’l-Baha explains

All the people have formed a god in the world of thought and they worship that form of their own imagination, while the act is that the imagined concept is comprehended by the mind Which is comprehensive. Surely that which comprehends is greater than the comprehended, for imagination is accidental (non-essential) while the mind is essential. Surely the essential is greater than the accidental. 

Therefore consider: all the sects and peoples worship their own thought. They create a god in their own minds and acknowledge him to be the creator of all things, while that form is a superstition. Thus people adore and worship imagination (or illusion). 

That Essence of the Divine Reality and Unseen of the Unseen is holy above the imagination, and is beyond thought. Consciousness does not reach it. In the capacity of every produced (created) reality that Ancient Reality can not be contained. That is a different world; from it there is no information; arrival thereat is impossible; attainment thereto is prohibited and inaccessible.  This much is known--that it exists, and its existence is certain and proved, but the condition is unknown. 

All the philosophers and doctors knew that It is, but they were perplexed as to the comprehension of Its existence, and at last despaired, and in great despair they left this world. For the comprehension of the condition and mysteries of that Reality of realities and Mystery of mysteries there is need for another power and another sense. That power and sense are not possessed by men; therefore they have not found any information. For example--if a man possess the power of hearing, the power of tasting, the power of smelling, and the power of feeling, but not the power of seeing he cannot see. Hence, through the powers and senses present in man, the realization of that Unseen Reality, which is pure and holy above the reach of doubts, is impossible. Other powers are needed, and other senses are required. If these powers and senses be obtained, then information can be had, otherwise not. 

(‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Baha’i World Faith’)

‘The Dispensation of Baha'u'llah’: a letter by Shoghi Effendi, dated February 8, 1934 -- comments by David Hofman

…‘The Dispensation of Baha'u'llah’, a letter which the Guardian himself described as a statement of “certain fundamental verities”, “certain truths which lie at the basis of our Faith”. It has been referred to as Shoghi Effendi's own confession of faith. It is the appointed Expounder's presentation of the stations of Baha'u'llah, the Bab and 'Abdu'l‑Baha, of the transition from 'the Heroic and Apostolic Age' of the Faith to its Formative Age through the 'indissoluble link' of the Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l‑Baha, a summation of the spirit and chief provisions of that historic document and a marvellous presentation of the unique and distinguishing features of this Supreme Revelation, which make it 'unlike the dispensations of the past'. He emphasizes the twin institutions of the Guardianship and the Universal House of Justice 'permanently and fundamentally united in their aims'. Without deep study of this basic document, no Baha'i can claim to be truly knowledgeable of his Faith. 

(David Hofman, the late member of the Universal House of Justice, from an essay: ‘Shoghi Effendi, Expounder of the Word of God’; published in ‘Studying the Writings of Shoghi Effendi’, by George Ronald)

How one can change oneself

He wishes again to assure you he will pray for your spiritual advancement in the Holy Shrines. The power of God can entirely transmute our characters and make of us beings entirely unlike our previous selves. Through prayer and supplication, obedience to the divine laws Bahá'u'lláh has revealed, and ever-increasing service to His Faith, we can change ourselves.  

(From a letter dated 22 November 1941 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer; The Compilation of Compilations, Vol. II, The Importance of Prayer, Meditation and the Devotional Attitude)

Assignment to Spiritual Assemblies – by Baha’u’llah

Spiritual Assembly members are called upon by Baha’u’llah to:

• “regard themselves as the guardians appointed of God for all that dwell on earth”,
• “take counsel together”,
• “have regard for the interests of the servants of God, for His sake, even as they regard their own interests”, and
• “choose that which is meet and seemly.”

"The Lord hath ordained that in every city a House of Justice be established wherein shall gather counsellors to the number of Bahá, and should it exceed this number it does not matter. It behooveth them to be the trusted ones of the Merciful among men and to regard themselves as the guardians appointed of God for all that dwell on earth. It is incumbent upon them to take counsel together and to have regard for the interests of the servants of God, for His sake, even as they regard their own interests, and to choose that which is meet and seemly. Thus hath the Lord your God commanded you. Beware lest ye put away that which is clearly revealed in His Tablet. Fear God, O ye that perceive.” 

(Baha’u’llah, ‘The Kitab-i-Aqdas’)

Baha'u'llah's room in the house of Abbud

The room Baha’u’llah occupied in the House of Abbud

Meaning of invocation: “Yá Iláha’l-Mustagháth” or “Yá Alláhu’l- Mustagháth” – explanation by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice

The Research Department has studied the questions about the invocation “Yá Alláhu’l- Mustagháth” presented by Mr. …in his email message dated 2 October 2001 to Mr. ‘Alí Nakhjavání. Mr. … states that a Bahá’í friend of his has asked him to “transcribe” the phrase in question, and Mr. … would like to know its original source, the correct transliteration, and whether there is an English translation of it. The following is our response.

As Mr. … is no doubt well aware, the phrase in question was revealed by the Báb and has been associated with a variety of instructions for its recitation. It seems to us that his questions are answered in a letter dated 25 November 1999 written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice, as follows:

Concerning the phrase “Yá Alláhu’l-Mustagháth”, this is an invocation revealed by the Báb. He prescribed it for recitation by His followers in times of trouble and difficulty. Shoghi Effendi has translated the word “Mustagháth” as “He Who is invoked for help”. This phrase can be correctly transliterated in two ways, as set out below:

“Yá Iláha’l-Mustagháth”, which has been translated as “O Lord of the time of ‘Mustagháth’”

“Yá Alláhu’l-Mustagháth”, which has been translated as “O Thou God Who art invoked”

Need for a “deepening of comprehension” to take place among Baha’is when discussing the Teachings

It is not surprising that individual Bahá'ís hold and express different and sometimes defective understandings of the Teachings; this is but an evidence of the magnitude of the change that this Revelation is to effect in human consciousness. As believers with various insights into the Teachings converse -- with patience, tolerance and open and unbiased minds -- a deepening of comprehension should take place. The strident insistence on individual views, however, can lead to contention, which is detrimental not only to the spirit of Bahá'í association and collaboration but to the search for truth itself. 

(From a letter dated 8 February 1998 written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer)

The “basic and distinguishing principles” of the Baha’i Faith – the Guardian summarizes

• “The independent search after truth, unfettered by superstition or tradition;
•  the oneness of the entire human race, the pivotal principle and fundamental doctrine of the Faith;
• the basic unity of all religions;
• the condemnation of all forms of prejudice, whether religious, racial, class or national;
• the harmony which must exist between religion and science;
• the equality of men and women, the two wings on which the bird of human kind is able to soar;
• the introduction of compulsory education;
• the adoption of a universal auxiliary language;
• the abolition of the extremes of wealth and poverty;
• the institution of a world tribunal for the adjudication of disputes between nations;
• the exaltation of work, performed in the spirit of service, to the rank of worship;
• the glorification of justice as the ruling principle in human society, and of religion as a bulwark for the protection of all peoples and nations; and
• the establishment of a permanent and universal peace as the supreme goal of all mankind.”

Among the factors that contribute to the “peace and tranquility” of each individual is: -- not to take “…undue pleasure in one’s own words and deeds…” – advice from Baha’u’llah

Say: O children of dust! He Who is the Spirit of Purity saith: In this glorious Day whatsoever can purge you from defilement and ensure your peace and tranquillity, that indeed is the straight Path, the Path that leadeth unto Me. To be purged from defilement is to be cleansed of that which is injurious to man and detracteth from his high station—among which is to take undue pleasure in one’s own words and deeds, notwithstanding their unworthiness. True peace and tranquillity will only be realized when every soul will have become the well-wisher of all mankind. He Who is the All-Knowing beareth Me witness: were the peoples of the world to grasp the true significance of the words of God, they would never be deprived of their portion of the ocean of His bounty. In the firmament of truth there hath never been, nor will there ever be, a brighter star than this. 

(Baha’u’llah, ‘The Tabernacle of Unity, Bahá’u’lláh’s Responses to Mánikchí Sáhib and Other Writings’)