Hands of the Bahá'í Faith

How sacred is the Kingdom of God?

How sacred is the Kingdom of God for which His Holiness the Christ taught His followers to pray?

For nearly two thousand years before God's Kingdom arrived, Christians were praying for God's Kingdom to come to Earth:

"Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done, as in Heaven also upon Earth"

Now that His Kingdom has arrived, those women and men conscious of that arrival have been informed in the official writings of the first chosen minister of the Covenant established by the Holy Messenger of that Kingdom that the Institutions of that Administration are "Divine in origin".

"Divine in origin".

Surely that "Divine origin" makes those Institutions sacred doesn't it? Shoghi Effendi informs us that the "Charter" of that "New World Order" was delineated by the "Perfect Architect" of that Administration.  That Charter, "The Child of the Covenant", is the sacred and immutable Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Bahá.  Therefore each Institution of the Kingdom of God on Earth is sacred.

Does anyone on Earth have authority to walk in off the street and dissolve/ dismantle one of the sacred Institutions of that Administration?  The Master's Will and Testament authorizes a Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith to expel a sinning member of the Universal House of Justice, however He did not authorize Hands of the Cause to do so.

Even the heterodox Bahá'í leadership knows that Hands of the Cause have no authority. Listen to what the heterodox Bahá'í leadership wrote in 1992, on page 70, of a publication  "Approved by the Reviewing Committee of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States of America",  Bahá'í Teachings for the New World Order:

"Appointed institutions also exist in the Bahá'í world community. Among them are Hands of the Cause, Continental Board of Counsellors and Auxiliary Board Members and their assistants.  Members of these institutions have no authority but rather serve to educate, inspire and protect the unity of the Bahá'í community."

"...no authority"?

Why then, did Hand of the Cause Faizi walk in off the street and dissolve/ dismantle the sacred and duly elected National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of France? Did he and his fellow collaborators not know that he was touching a sacred Institution of the prophesied Holy Kingdom of God on Earth?  Where in our Holy Bahá'í Writings is there any authorization for such an act?

Surely the ones who usurped authority to perpetrate that nefarious act against that sacred Institution of the Lord of this Age are amongst those exposed and identified by the third Guardian's explanation of these prophetic Words in the Tablet of the Holy Mariner:

"They have desired to ascend unto that state which the Lord hath ordained to
be above their stations."

The third Guardian's explanation of the Tablet of the Holy Mariner also provides warning concerning the ultimate destiny of those same ones who "have desired to ascend unto that state which the Lord hath ordained to be above their stations."

The website of the living Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith:
http://www.Bahai-Guardian.com

By Hand of the Cause of God Ross Campbell

Bahíyyih Khánum: The Greatest Holy Leaf

The Greatest Holy Leaf was the eldest daughter of Bahá'u'lláh, the Founder of the Bahá'í Faith. Born in Persia in 1846 she, in her long life which ended in 1932, spanned, with the exception of two years, the entire Heroic Age of this new world.

Shoghi Effendi, the first Guardian, characterized his illustrious great-aunt: "The outstanding heroine of the Bahá'í Dispensation, the peerless daughter of Bahá'u'lláh, and the faithful and beloved sister of 'Abdu'l-Bahá."

The third Guardian, Joel B. Marangella, characterized her as one of the remaining  5 elders of the 24 elders of the Bahá’í Dispensation.

References to Bahíyyih Khánum in the Holy writings:

The writings of Bahá'u'lláh:

"O MY Leaf! Hearken thou unto My Voice: Verily there is none other God but Me, the Almighty, the All-Wise. I can well inhale from thee the fragrance of My love and the sweet-smelling savor wafting from the raiment of My Name, the Most Holy, the Most Luminous. Be astir upon God's Tree in conformity with thy pleasure and unloose thy tongue in praise of thy Lord amidst all mankind. Let not the things of the world grieve thee. Cling fast unto this divine Lote-Tree from which God hath graciously caused thee to spring forth. I swear by My life! It behoveth the lover to be closely joined to the loved one, and here indeed is the Best-Beloved of the world."

The writings of Abdul Bahá:

"I bring thee to mind both night and day. Just recently I had hoped to come to Haifa to visit thee, but various problems and the pressure of work have left me no time; for I want to see the travellers off, and every one of them presented a long list of names. God be thanked, I have written to them all.
     
"Kiss the fresh flower of the garden of sweetness, Shoghi Effendi."

"O thou Greatest and Most Merciful Holy Leaf!

"I arrived in New York in the best of health, and I have been at all times thinking of thee, and supplicating fervently at the threshold of the Blessed Beauty that He may guard thee in the stronghold of His protection. We are in the utmost fellowship and joy. I hope that thou wilt be sheltered under His bountiful care.

"Write to me at once about Rúhíyyih Khánum's and Shoghi Effendi's condition, informing me fully and hiding nothing; this is the best way.  Convey my utmost longing to all."

The Writings of Shoghi Effendi:

"THIS servant, after that grievous event and great calamity, the ascension of His Holiness 'Abdu'l-Bahá to the Abhá Kingdom, has been so stricken with grief and pain and so entangled in the troubles created by the enemies of the Cause of God, that I consider that my presence here, at such a time and in such an atmosphere, is not in accordance with the fulfillment of my important and sacred duties.

"For this reason, unable to do otherwise, I have left for a time the affairs of the Cause both at home and abroad, under the supervision of the Holy Family and the headship of the Greatest Holy Leaf until, by the Grace of God, having gained health, strength, self-confidence and spiritual energy, and having taken into my hands, in accordance with my aim and desire, entirely and regularly the work of service I shall attain to my utmost spiritual hope and aspiration."

Joel B. Marangella, the third Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith, names Bahíyyih Khánum as one of the 24 elders:

“I feel that the time has now come on this auspicious occasion to call attention to a significant letter that Shoghi Effendi wrote to Mrs. George R. True on July 22, 1943, that was published in the November 1944 issue of United States Bahá’í News, No. 171. She had apparently asked him about the twenty-four elders mentioned in the Book of Revelation, only nineteen of whom, as you know, have been identified to date, as the Báb and the eighteen Letters of the Living. The following is quoted from his letter to her:
“Regarding the four and twenty elders: The Master in a Tablet, stated that they were the Báb, the eighteen Letters of the Living, and five others who would be known in the future. So far, we do not know who these five others are.

"Who in the future would be qualified to identify the remaining five elders, other than a Guardian of the Faith? It will be obvious in my identification of them below, that neither Shoghi Effendi nor Mason Remey had been in a position to name these five remaining elders during their respective ministries and, for this reason, it has now become, at long last, my inestimable privilege to do so.

"We find the following wonderful prediction in the Book of Revelation: 'There in heaven stood a throne, and on the throne sat One [the Lord of the Covenant] whose appearance was like the gleam of jasper and cornelian; and round the throne was a rainbow, bright as an emerald. In a circle about this throne were twenty-four other thrones, and on them sat twenty-four elders, robed in white and wearing crowns of gold.' (The New English Bible)

"The remaining five elders are:

"‘Abdu’l-Bahá–Center of the Covenant.
"Bahíyyih Khánum–The Greatest Holy Leaf.
"Shoghi Effendi–First Guardian of the Cause of God.
"Charles Mason Remey–Second Guardian of the Cause of God.
"Martha Root–Preeminent teacher."

Letters of the Greatest Holy Leaf:

“O faithful servant of the Best-Beloved, the Most Glorious! O steadfast friend, flourishing in the garden of His luminous Beauty! The brief but informative letter you had written to Shoghi Effendi, the Chosen Branch, the Guardian of the Cause of God, has been received together with the scrolls of doubt you had enclosed. Indeed, men whose nostrils have been perfumed by the fragrance of the Abhá Paradise, whose ears have been exhilarated by the sweet melodies of the nightingale warbling in the rose-garden of immortality, and Whose souls have been refreshed and quickened by the reviving breaths of holiness, would surely be saddened to hear the screech of the raven and the croaking of the crow, and from them they would certainly endeavour to flee. For the disgusting odour of violation is like poisonous air, whose baneful effects upon the body and soul are injurious and harmful, nay rather it will eventually lead to terrible loss and perdition. Thus the way you have dealt with this matter is approved and acceptable.
     
"Since Shoghi Effendi has gone on a journey for a while, this lowly one was prompted to answer your letter. Convey wondrous Abhá greetings to all the lovers of the Blessed Beauty and the faithful friends of `Abdu'l-Bahá. And upon you be His glory. “

So this is a prime duty of every lover of Bahá’u’lláh to follow in the footsteps of Bahíyyih Khánum–The Greatest Holy Leaf–and support the living Guardian, Joel B. Marangella, and assist him in establishing The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh.

By Hand of the Cause of God Y.H. Taylor
July 2008

Discussion of Holy Family at recent Orthodox Bahá'í Conference

Hand of the Cause Marilyn Meyer speaks at the June conference of the Orthodox Bahá'ís:

24 Elders Identified by Guardian of the Faith

At the Orthodox Bahá'í Spring Conference, Hand of the Cause of God Marilyn Meyer reads from a communication of Joel B. Marangella, the Guardian of the Bahá'í Cause, in which the 5 unknown elders are finally revealed.

"...whoso opposeth him hath opposed God"

The Will and Testament of `Abdu'l-Bahá states as follow:

"The sacred and youthful branch, the Guardian of the Cause of God,as well as the Universal House of Justice to be universally elected and established, are both under the care and protection of the Abhá Beauty, under the shelter and unerring guidance of the Exalted One (may my life be offered up for them both). Whatsoever they decide is of God. Whoso obeyeth him not, neither obeyeth them."

You will note that the first sentance of `Abdu'l-Bahá's statement includes both the Guardian and the UHJ as receiving the care and protection and the unerring guidance. Then in the next sentance, He says, whatsoever they decide. 'Abdu'l-Baha here includes both, collectively. He states that when they both participate in the process, the result is of God. We know from reading elsewhere in the W&T, that the Guardian is vested with Infallibility, even when acting alone, in interpreting the Writings. Next, the two entities are addressed separately, but in the same sentence. 

"...hath not obeyed God; whoso rebelleth against him and against them hath rebelled against God;"

Collectively again.

"...whoso opposeth him hath opposed God;"

This is directed solely to the Guardian.

"...whoso contendeth with them hath contended with God;"

Collectively.

"...whoso disputeth with him hath disputed with God;"

Strictly the Guardian.

"...whoso denieth him hath denied God;"

Only the Guardian.

"...whoso disbelieveth in him hath disbelieved in God;"

Only the Guardian.

"...whoso deviateth, separateth himself and turneth aside from him hath in truth deviated, separated himself and turned aside from God. May the wrath, the fierce indignation, the vengeance of God rest upon him!"

Here we learn what awaits anyone who turns aside from the Guardian; the UHJ is not mentioned.

"...The mighty stronghold shall remain impregnable and safe through obedience to him who is the Guardian of the Cause of God."

Clear enough.

"...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."

Here, the named, including the UHJ are instructed to submit and to be subordinate to the Guardian. It is interesting that the male gender is used four times; "him" for the Guardian, and then the last time "His," refering to God. 

"...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."

You will notice here what happened after Baha'u'llah's passing. "Divine Unity" was used for an excuse, and resulted in the poisoning of others. Now, if I'm not mistaken, the present UHJ organization plays the UNITY CARD with frequent regularity. Let me paraphrase here; (Those who don't learn from the past should recognize it when it happens again.)

"...No doubt every vainglorious one that purposeth dissension and discord will not openly declare his evil purposes, nay rather, even as impure gold, will he seize upon divers measures and various pretexts that he may separate the gathering of the people of Bahá. My object is to show that the Hands of the Cause of God must be ever watchful and so soon as they find anyone beginning to oppose and protest against the guardian of the Cause of God, cast him out from the congregation of the people of Bahá and in no wise accept any excuse from him."

Now, before you jump on Mason Remey here, remember that he did not oppose the guardian; he merely insisted that the Institution of the Guardianship must not be abandoned. He wanted further consideration from the Hands in finding a solution that would retain that Institution of the Faith.   

Thus, the Hands did exactly the opposite of what they were enjoined by `Abdu'l-Bahá to do. They cast out the baby with the bath, so to speak! 

"...How often hath grievous error been disguised in the garb of truth, that it might sow the seeds of doubt in the hearts of men!"

The above paragraph, when taken in its entirety, shows that the Guardian has the predominant role in the AO. The UHJ is discussed as having an infallible mantle, but only when functioning in a complete entity, that is, having its head attached for all the members to see, and to be able to directly interrelate with.

And we know that other passages in the Will and Testament extol the Guardianship, notwithstanding the 36 years in which the first Guardian defined and established the structure for the entire Administrative Order to be enacted after his passing. We have well over a hundred years of Infallible Guidance, guidance which was followed by the believers, outwardly unquestioned, until those fateful days in late 1957, when a body of mortal persons stumbled down the wrong fork in the road, leading the trusting faithful merrily along with them.

By Hand of the Cause David Maxwell