Does Anyone Else have the Right to Expel Believers?

The Guardian, like the Master before him, has not considered it advisable to as yet permit any person or Assembly to put another person out of the Cause of God. There is a sharp distinction between depriving a believer of his voting rights, which is a severe disciplinary measure and not a spiritual sanction, and pronouncing a former believer to be a truly spiritually diseased soul, a soul in the condition the Master referred to when, in His last cable to America before His ascension, He said: 'he who sitteth with a leper catcheth leprosy'. The Guardian has, within the last few years, considered the National Assemblies strong enough to wield the instrument of sanction in the sense of depriving a Bahá’í of his voting rights. But no one but himself can pronounce a person to be in that diseased condition we call "Covenant-breaking", and no one but he can reinstate a Covenant-breaker. No National Assembly has been given this right and cannot, therefore, review the question or reinstate any one. All any National Assembly can do is to report to the Guardian if they are approached by a Covenant-breaker, and then the Guardian will take action. Read Full Article

5 Reasons to Accept the Continuity of Guardianship

Ross Campbell, on why he accepted Joel Bray Marangella as the 3rd Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith, appointed by the 2nd Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith, Charles Mason Remey.

Dear friends, It was mutually agreed between myself and a group of Heterodox Bahá'í believers which met together for discussion this afternoon and evening, that I should send out the attached statement openly declaring my submission to the 3rd Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith, Joel Bray Marangella. It is correct that I here briefly include my reasons for that submission to the Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith and they are these:

1. I have come to understand and believe that the Bahá'í Faith MUST have a Guardian living on Earth amongst us, because the Will and Testament of Abdu'l-Bahá, which was identified by the first Guardian of the Faith, Shoghi Effendi, as "the Charter of the New World Order", provides for a Guardian.

2. I have believed and understand what Shoghi Effendi wrote on page 4 of The World Order of Bahá'u'lláh, that the Will and Testament of Abdu'l-Bahá and Bahá'u'lláh's Most Holy Book, the Kitab-i-Aqdas, "are inseparable parts of one complete unit", and thus the Will and Testament is Bahá'í Holy Text, which only the Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith is Divinely Authorized to interpret, no other person or group.

3. Concerning the Universal House of Justice, the Will and Testament says: "the guardian of the Cause of God is its sacred head and the distinguished member for life of that body." The Will and Testament contains no thought or expression authorizing a headless Universal House of Justice.

4. The first Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith, Shoghi Effendi, on page 56 of The Dispensation of Bahá'u'lláh wrote about "...instruments...which must for all time preserve the unity of the organized followers of the Faith of Bahá'u'lláh". I believe that the Guardianship of the Bahá'í Faith, as defined and provided for in the Will and Testament of Abdu'l-Bahá, is one of those "instruments", even an essential one.

5. I fully believe that the provision in the Will and Testament of `Abdu'l-Bahá for not only a living Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith, but also for the institution the Hands of the Cause, appointed exclusively by the Guardian, as defined in the Will and Testament, is a provision, the neglect or rejection of which, seriously violates the Sacred Plan of Bahá'u'lláh for the Administration of the New World Order, as outlined and defined by that "Charter of the New World Order", the immortal "Child of the Covenant", the Will and Testament of `Abdu'l-Bahá.

(For more detail <<Click>> )

Where is the missing Bahá'í House of Worship at Mount Carmel

"Regarding the Bahai Temple to be built on Mount Carmel Abdu'l Baha wrote to Mr. Charles Mason Remey of Washington D.C., in a tablet dated October 7, 1921: 'Some time ago I wrote thee a letter the content of which was that, praise be to God, thou hast become confirmed in drawing a plan for the pilgrim house in Haifa. It is my hope that this pilgrim house may be built under your supervision. Also in the future a Mashreq'ul Azkar [current transliteration is "Mashriqu'l-Adhkár"] will be established on Mount Carmel. THOU WILT BE ITS ARCHITECT AND FOUNDER. I give thee this glad tidings.'" (Caps added) Click for full article.

Day of the Covenant

My dear friends, brothers and sisters in the faith, I want to wish you a Happy Day of the Covenant. I want you to know that it is our good thoughts, pure actions, love and hope and faithfulness that help to keep the Covenant alive and well. It is easy if our hearts are soft and trusting and regardless of what others might think or say or do we just keep on doing and thinking and saying the things that are in accordance with our faith. Love your enemies and be a Bahai. When we are tested that is our opportunity to shine.
In that same letter from Abdu'l-Baha, he mentions that "the friends are stars in the high heavens of guidance, celestial bodies in the skies of divine grace, who with all their powers put the dark to flight.
They break down the foundations of malevolence and hate. They cherish but one desire for the world and all its peoples: well-being and peace."

Peace to you all.
Janice

The True Faith has the Guardian at its head

The reality is that there is not a single sect of the Bahá'í Faith. There are a number of denominations. But there is only one true Faith. As Bahá'ís, our spiritual mission is to "inhale the fragrance" of the truth and choose the true Faith.
The vast majority of Bahá'ís have lost faith in the Guardianship. Then there are the Orthodox Bahá'ís, a small band of believers, whose faith in the Guardianship has never been stronger. The entire difference between the two groups can be attributed to the interpretation of this passage of `Abdu'l-Bahá's Will and Testament:
"O ye beloved of the Lord! It is incumbent upon the Guardian of the Cause of God to appoint in his own life-time him that shall become his successor, that differences may not arise after his passing. He that is appointed must manifest in himself detachment from all worldly things, must be the essence of purity, must show in himself the fear of God, knowledge, wisdom and learning. Thus, should the first-born of the Guardian of the Cause of God not manifest in himself the truth of the words: -- 'The child is the secret essence of its sire,' that is, should he not inherit of the spiritual within him (the Guardian of the Cause of God) and his glorious lineage not be matched with a goodly character, then must he, (the Guardian of the Cause of God) choose another branch to succeed him."
There is an apparent ambiguity: does "branch" refer only to the Sons of Bahá'u'lláh, or to any of the members of His family, or does is it refer spiritually to any faithful believer whom the Guardian is divinely guided to appoint as his successor (the one in which is found "the fear of God, knowledge, wisdom and learning")?
The Orthodox Bahá'ís assert that the passage is not ambiguous or open to interpretation but the Will clearly allows the Guardian to appoint a successor of his choosing in any manner of his choosing as long as it occurs during his lifetime.
Bahá'u'lláh says: "Know thou that the passages that We have called "ambiguous" appear as such only in the eyes of them that have failed to soar above the horizon of guidance and to reach the heights of knowledge in the retreats of grace. For otherwise, unto them that have recognized the Repositories of divine Revelation and beheld through His inspiration the mysteries of divine authority, all the verses of God are perspicuous and all His allusions are clear. Such men discern the inner mysteries that have been clothed in the garment of words as clearly as ye perceive the heat of the sun or the wetness of water, nay even more distinctly. Immeasurably exalted is God above our praise of His loved ones, and beyond their praise of Him!" Gems of Divine Mysteries, p. 25
The true Faith has the Guardian at its head.
The third Guardian's web site:http://www.bahai-guardian.com/
By Hand of Cause Jeffrey Goldberg

GREETINGS TO THE BAHA'IS OF THE WORLD

Celebrating the Birth Anniversary of Baha'u'llah let us think upon collectively on the continuty o f the guardianship, walking on the path of the Covenant.

As our living guardian says:

"The distinguishing characterstic of the Revelation of Baha'u'llah is a Covenant which Baha'u'llah made with His followers to preserve and safe-guard the Faith, following His Ascension, from the divisive and baleful effect of varying interpretations which, have plagued the religions of the past and destroyed the unity of their followers. This Covenant embodied in a specific written Testament designated by Him as the Book of His Covenant (Kitab-i-'Ahd) has no parallel in the Scriptures of any previous Dispensation. In this unique Document, Baha'u'llah conferred the mantle of authority upon His Ascension on the shoulders of His son, 'Abdu'l-Baha, Whome He designated as the Center of His Covenant and "The Most Great Branch" Further in the Most Holy Book of His Revelation (Kitab-i-Aqdas) He proclaimed:
"When the ocean of My presence hath ebbed and the Book of My Revelation is ended, turn your Faces towards Him Whom God hath purposed, Who hath branched from this Ancient Root."
Lest there be any misunderstanding as to the intent of the above quoted passage, Baha'u'llah clarified it in the Book of His Covenant (Kitab-i-'Ahd) in these Words:
"The object of this sacred verse is none other except the most Mighty Branch ('Abdu'l-Baha)."

All Baha'is are Brothers and Sisters in the Faith

Series of Questions continued from the posting of September 23, 2008
Q.6. Do you believe then that these Baha’is who have been led astray and are now under the leadership of the Haifa organization will forever consider the provisions of the Will and Testament of Abdu’l Baha pertaining to the institution of the Guardianship no longer applicable?
Ans. No. If those Baha’is who were formerly ardent and faithful believers during the Guardianship of Shoghi Effendi and have now been led to believe that the Guardianship ended with his passing as well as those Baha’is who have accepted the Faith following his passing would investigation fairly, sincerely and without bias the overwhelming evidence attesting to the continuation of the Guardianship found on our several web sites, they would inevitably perceive that the provisions of the divinely-conceived and sacred provisions of the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l- Baha pertaining to the Guardianship have remained valid and unalterable and that the first Guardian faithfully fulfilled his obligation to appoint his successor according to its sacred Mandate. Accordingly, I invite and implore all the Baha’i friends to investigate independently and sincerely the truth and accept the “Will and Testament of Abdul Baha” as immutable documentary evidence that has undeniably insured the continuity of the Guardianship.
Q.7. Do I understand that the Baha’is under the Guardianship (i.e. Orthodox Baha’is) consider Baha’is who have rejected the continuation of the Guardianship as violators of the Covenant of Baha’u’llah?
Ans: No, the Guardian of the Faith has asked Orthodox Baha’is, in sharp contrast to the leaders of the sans-Guardian or Heterodox Baha’is who have labeled those of us who support the continuing Guardianship as Covenant-breakers, to consider all Baha’is as brothers and sisters in the Faith who unfortunately have been sadly and ironically lead far astray themselves from the Covenant but who hopefully will eventually, if not at this time, ultimately investigate the truth, embrace completely the provisions of the Will and Testament of Abdu’l-Baha as sacrosanct and turn their faces towards and fully support the living Guardian of the Faith, as enjoined by Him in that sacred and immortal Document.
Q. 8. Do I understand correctly that there is no clergy in the Baha’i Faith?
Ans: Yes. We have only the Administrative Order. All Baha’is study the Teachings of Baha’u’llah for themselves and endeavor to teach the Faith to others to the best of their ability.

Birthday of the Bab

On 20th October, the Baha'is observe a holy day as it is the Birth anniversary of the Bab, the Promised One foretold in the great religions. This date marks the anniversary of His birth, He was known as Siyyid 'Ali-Muhammad and was born in 1819 in Shiraz, Iran.

On this grand moment we offer our heartiest greetings to our beloved living guardian and to all the Baha'is of the world.

The First Guardian Shoghi Effendi wrote in the Dispensation of Baha'u'llah:

"Dearly beloved friends! That the Bab, the inaugurator of the Babi Dispensation, is fully entitled to rank as one of the self-sufficient Manifestations of God, that He has been invested with sovereign power and authority, and exercises all the rights all the rights and prerogatives of independent Prophethood, is yet another fundamental verity which the Message of Baha u llah insistently proclaims and which its flowers must uncompromisingly uphold. That He is not to be regarded merely as an inspired Precursor of the Baha’i Revelation………
There can be no doubt that the claim to the twofold station ordained for the Bab by the Almighty, a claim which He Himself has so boldly advanced, which Baha u llah has repeatedly affirmed, and to which the Will and Testament of Abdu’l Baha has finally given the sanction of its testimony, constitute the most distinctive feature of the Baha’i Dispensation."

The Dispensation of Baha’u’llah, page No.31.

SHOGHI EFFENDI on the Institution of the GUARDIANSHIP

Baha’i Faith would be imperiled without the Guardian

The First Guardian of the Baha’i Faith, Shoghi Effendi warned to the Baha’is in his Spiritual Testament “The Administrative Order of The Dispensation of Baha’u’llah” that the Faith would be imperiled, and the stability of entire fabric would be gravely endangered without the guardian. Therefore Baha’is should obey his commandments and search the Living Guardian of Baha’i Faith.
He wrote:
“An attempt, I feel, should at the present juncture be made to explain the character and functions of the twin pillars that support this mighty Administrative Structure—the institutions of the Guardianship and of the Universal House of Justice. To describe in their entirety the diverse elements that function in conjunction with these institutions is beyond the scope and purpose of this general exposition of the fundamental verities of the Faith. To define with accuracy and minuteness the features, and to analyze exhaustively the nature of the relationships which, on the one hand, bind together these two fundamental organs of the Will of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and connect, on the other, each of them to the Author of the Faith and the Center of His Covenant is a task which future generations will no doubt adequately fulfill. My present intention is to elaborate certain salient features of this scheme which, however close we may stand to its colossal structure, are already so clearly defined that we find it inexcusable to either misconceive or ignore”.

Twin Pillars of Bahai Faith “The Guardianship and UHJ” should be regarded as divine.
He wrote:
“It should be stated, at the very outset, in clear and unambiguous language, that these twin institutions of the Administrative Order of Bahá’u’lláh should be regarded as divine in origin, essential in their functions and complementary in their aim and purpose. Their common, their fundamental object is to insure the continuity of that divinely appointed authority, which flows from the Source of our Faith, to safeguard the unity of its followers and to maintain the integrity and flexibility of its teachings. Acting in conjunction with each other these two inseparable institutions administer its affairs, coordinate its activities, promote its interests, execute its laws and defend its subsidiary institutions. Severally, each operates within a clearly defined sphere of jurisdiction; each is equipped with its own attendant institutions—instruments designed for the effective discharge of its particular responsibilities and duties. Each exercises, within the limitations imposed upon it, its powers, its authority, iits rights and prerogatives. These are neither contradictory, nor detract in the slightest degree from the position which each of these institutions occupies. Far from being incompatible or mutually destructive, they supplement each other’s authority and functions, and are permanently and fundamentally united in their aims”.
Divorced from the institution of the Guardianship the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh would be mutilated
He wrote:
“Divorced from the institution of the Guardianship the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh would be mutilated and permanently deprived of that hereditary principle which, as ‘Abdu’l-Bahá has written, has been invariably upheld by the Law of God. “In all the Divine Dispensations,” He states, in a Tablet addressed to a follower of the Faith in Persia, “the eldest son hath been given extraordinary distinctions. Even the station of prophethood hath been his birthright.” Without such an institution the integrity of the Faith would be imperiled, and the stability of the entire fabric would be gravely endangered. Its prestige would suffer, the means required to enable it to take a long, an uninterrupted view over a series of generations would be completely lacking, and the necessary guidance to define the sphere of the legislative action of its elected representatives would be totally withdrawn”.

The Will and Testament of Abdu’l Baha is according to the Author of Kitab-i-Aqdas
He wrote:
“Severed from the no less essential institution of the Universal House of Justice this same System of the Will of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá would be paralyzed in its action and would be powerless to fill in those gaps which the Author of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas has deliberately left in the body of His legislative and administrative ordinances”.
The Administrative Order of the Dispensation of Baha’u’llah. Page No.4 & 5 (Printed by Mother Bahai Council of the United States, 1993.

Compiled by the Secretary of the National Baha’i Council of India.

Why do they Deny the Continuance of the Guardianship?

Series of Questions continued from the posting of September 7, 2008

Q.5. What is the reason then why the present group of Baha’is under the leadership of the Haifa organization do not recognize the continuance of the Guardianship?
Ans. Upon the passing of Shoghi Effendi in November 1957, a majority of the Baha’is were tragically led astray from their former faithful adherence to the provisions of the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Baha by the highly revered Hands of the Cause (distinguished and highly esteemed assistants appointed by the Guardian who serve under his direction) who, upon the passing of Shoghi Effendi, failed to recognize the import and significance of Shoghi Effendi’s appointment of Mason Remey as President of the first International Baha’i Council (the embryonic Universal House of Justice) over which according to the provisions of the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Baha only the Guardian of the Faith presides as its “sacred head” and for this reason had been carefully retained by Shoghi Effendi as an inactive body, pending his passing. These Hands, losing sight of the fact that the Guardian must appoint his successor “in his own life-time” and therefore not by a conventional will and testament, upon not finding such a will, erroneously concluded that the Guardianship had come to a premature end. They then appointed a body of nine Hands from their own number, a body outside the provisions of the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, which assumed the role and functions of the Guardianship and took control of the world administrative seat of the Faith in Haifa. Some six years later, in 1963,this body transferred the authority and functions it had illegitimately assumed to the UHJ in Haifa, a now headless and incomplete body in the absence of a presiding Guardian, whose successor elected bodies have been similarly named Universal Houses of Justice. It should be clearly understood that the Universal House of Justice established by ‘Abdu’l-Baha in His Will and Testament was designed as the supreme legislative body of the Faith, in contrast to the Guardianship who is endowed with supreme executive authority in the Faith, and for this reason these two institutions of the Baha’i Administrative Order are complementary and inseparable and have been referred to by Shoghi Effendi as the “twin institutions” of the Faith. As the so-called UHJ in Haifa is currently inappropriately exercising both executive and legislative functions, this body is therefore rightfully considered by Orthodox Baha’is to be a patently illegitimate body. Furthermore, under the terms of the Will and Testament of Abdu’l-Baha the Guardian of the Faith, is not only designated the “Center of the Cause” and the sole interpreter of Baha’i Holy Writ but he is endowed, as well, with the essential function of presiding, for life, as “the sacred head” of the Universal House of Justice, and as the sole interpreter of the Words of Baha’u’llah, thereby insures that the UHJ does not consider, much less pass, any legislation that would be contrary to the spirit or meaning of the laws revealed by Baha’u’llah or would run counter to His utterances.

No Excuse in the Next World

WHAT WILL BE YOUR EXCUSE WHEN YOU MEET SHOGHI EFFENDI IN THE NEXT WORLD? (A POSSIBLE CREDIBLE SCENARIO)
SHOGHI EFFENDI’S UNDOUBTED INITIAL COMMENTS:
He would certainly say to you how greatly shocked, dismayed and saddened he had been, upon his passing, to note that so many of the believers, like yourself, who during his ministry had ostensibly evinced such faithful and steadfast faith in the Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh and firm belief in the sacredness and immutability of the divinely-conceived Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, in which the Guardian of the Cause of God is named as “The Center of the Cause,” and “the sacred head and distinguished member for life” of the Universal House of Justice had then readily accepted, without question, the incredulous conclusion that had been hastily reached and proclaimed to the Bahá’í World by the Hands of the Cause, gathered in conclave at Akká but a few weeks following his passing, that the Guardianship had come to a premature end based on the transparently fallacious argument that because all of the Aghsán had either died or had been declared violators of the Covenant he had left no will and testament appointing a successor.
YOUR PROBABLE EXCUSE:
As you considered the Hands who had been appointed by Shoghi Effendi to this exalted rank were more conversant on the Teachings and the provisions of the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá than you were, they must have been right in their conclusion that the Guardianship had come to an end......... >>>DETAIL<<<

An article by the Third Living Guardian of the Baha'i Faith Joel Bray Marangella.

“The Center of the Cause”

Series of Questions continued from the posting of August 5, 2008
Q.3. How, or on what basis, did he become Guardian of the Faith?

Ans: A very pertinent question to which there is a clear and unambiguous answer. His accession to the Guardianship was on the basis of his appointment in 1951 by his predecessor in Office, the second Guardian of the Faith, who had been appointed himself by the first Guardian of the Faith, Shoghi Effendi, the Grandson of Abdu’l-Baha, the Son of the Founder of the Baha’i Faith, Baha’u’llah, Who had been named by Him the Center of His Covenant with the believers. Abdu’l-Baha delineated the Institutions of the Baha’i Administrative Order in His Will and Testament in which the Guardianship is designated as “The Center of the Cause” and an Institution that is occupied without interruption by a succession of Guardians, each appointed by his predecessor in that Office throughout the duration of the Dispensation of Baha’u’llah, promised by Him to endure at least a full thousand years.

Q.4. You maintain therefore that Joel Marangella became the third Guardian of the Faith strictly on the basis of the provisions of the “Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Baha?

Ans: Yes. But, although none of the Baha’is deny the authenticity of the Will and Testament of Abdu’l Baha and recognize it as Baha’i Holy Writ and a Document, in accordance with whose terms, Shoghi Effendi became the first Guardian of the Baha’i Faith, those Baha’is, under the leadership of the Haifa organization, have not recognized the fact that Shoghi Effendi, faithfully provided for the continuation of the Guardianship, in accordance with these same terms, in appointing as his successor, Mason Remey, a highly distinguished Hand of the Cause, who then, in turn, dutifully appointed as his successor, the present third Guardian of the Faith, Joel Marangella, also in accordance with these terms.

Is the bogus UHJ a legitimate Bahá'í entity?

By Hand of the Cause of God Nosrat'u'llah Bahremand

“THE PRINCIPAL FACTORS THAT MUST BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION BEFORE DECIDING WHETHER A PERSON MAY BE REGARDED A TRUE BELIEVER OR NOT: FULL RECOGNITION OF THE STATION OF THE FORERUNNER, THE AUTHOR, AND THE TRUE EXEMPLAR OF THE BAHÁ'Í CAUSE, AS SET FORTH IN`ABDU'L-BAHÁ'S TESTAMENT; UNRESERVED ACCEPTANCE OF, AND SUBMISSION TO, WHATSOEVER HAS BEEN REVEALED BY THEIR PEN; LOYAL AND STEADFAST ADHERENCE TO EVERY CLAUSE OF OUR BELOVED'S SACRED WILL; AND CLOSE ASSOCIATION WITH THE SPIRIT AS WELL AS THE FORM OF THE PRESENT DAY BAHÁ'Í ADMINISTRATION THROUGHOUT THE WORLD “
(Shoghi Effendi, Bahá'í Administration, p. 90)

Is the bogus UHJ a legitimate Bahá'í entity?

This is a question that Heterodox Bahá'ís should ask themselves. The only way to find the right answer is to check and test the establishment and structure of that body and its claims, practices and writings in the light of the sacred writings of the Bahá'í Faith. Shoghi Effendi, the first Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith, stated that:

“the Will and Testament of `Abdu'l-Bahá-- "The Charter of the New World Order”-- "together with the Kitab-i-Aqdas,“ . . . "are inseparable parts of one complete unit”

The Will and Testament of `Abdu'l-Bahá explains how the Universal House of Justice must be elected and how its structure should be, clarifies the nature of its function and duties and stipulates that the Guardian “is the sacred head and the distinguished member for life of that body,” thus emphasizing the necessity of the participation of the Guardian of the Cause of God or his representative in its meetings and He further sheds light on the preservation of its integrity by conferring upon the Guardian of the Cause of God the sole right to expel any member of that body who may “commit a sin, injurious to the common weal”

Following is the passage in which Master discusses the Universal House of Justice:

“And now, concerning the House of Justice which God hath ordained as the source of all good and freed from all error, it must be elected by universal suffrage, that is, by the believers… By this body all the difficult problems are to be resolved and the Guardian of the Cause of God is its sacred head and the distinguished member for life of that body. Should he not attend in person its deliberations, he must appoint one to represent him. Should any of the members commit a sin, injurious to the common weal, the Guardian of the Cause of God hath at his own discretion the right to expel him, whereupon the people must elect another one in his stead…

(`Abdu'l-Bahá, The Will and Testament, p. 14)

To read the full article<<>>

SOME ANSWERED QUESTIONS

Our Travel Teachers faced a series of questions from the Baha’is (Sans Guardian believers) during the discussions and debate regarding the Continuity of Guardianship in Baha’i Faith. Following are the answers of two questions and the remaining will be published in series.
You are welcome to write to us any doubt you have regarding to the "continuity of guardianship" in Baha’i Faith.
In the services of third guardian of Baha’i Faith.
Rajendra Upadhyaye.

Question: Why do you call yourself an Orthodox Baha’i?
Answer: When you come to know the history of the Baha'i Faith, you will learn that the Baha'is are now divided into two major groups, one group organized since 1963 under the leadership of a body calling itself the Universal House of Justice (UHJ) based in Haifa, Israel, and the other group under the guidance of the third Guardian of the Faith.

Question: As you have said, the UHJ is based in Haifa, then where is the Headquarters of the Baha’i group under the Guardian?
Answer : The Third Living Guardian of Baha’i Faith is Mr. Joel Bray Marangella who has been exiled from his rightful place in Haifa and resides at this time in Australia. He guides the Orthodox Baha’is of the world. He has appointed Hands of Cause of God, an International Baha’i Council with its seat in the United States, and on a provisional basis both National Baha’i Councils and Local Baha’i Councils in different cities which in due course will become elected bodies.

Guardian in the eyes of Bahiyyih Khanum

Bahiyyih Khanum wrote:
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.....>>>Click for full article<<<

There is no one with authority to judge a Guardian:

It is questionable who has the authority to judge a Guardian in regards to matters related to the Cause; to say in this case or that case he made a mistake? We have seen in T.R.B. some comments that Shoghi Effendi made a mistake because he did not announce his successor more clearly than he did or that Mason Remey made a mistake because he delayed making his proclamation or similarly why did Joel B. Marangella wait so long to issue his proclamation? My answer is: those things or similar things had to happen. They were guided to do it the way they did. If Shoghi Effendi trusted Rúhíyyih Khánum, he did not make a mistake as she was a Hand of the Cause and also his secretary. Moreover, she was his wife, and all of the records of her writings prior to the passing of the first Guardian reveal to the reader her profound knowledge of the Faith and the Covenant and emphasize her clear testimony to the necessity of the continuation of the Guardianship until the end of the Bahá'í Dispensation. If Rúhíyyih Khánum after the passing of Shoghi Effendi followed the satanic promptings of her human soul, that was her great error which made her the "Arch Covenant-breaker." The Guardians are not prophets. Some people claim that the Manifestations of God have made a lot of mistakes (which is not true), the fact is that we cannot judge those things that have been done or have happened in the past according to today's knowledge and understandings and conditions. We cannot blame Jesus for what He did with the businesses in front of the Temple, which by today's laws would be considered a crime. He did what He had to do then according to the Will of God. Some people have raised questions as to why Shoghi Effendi put so many of his relatives out of the Faith. The fact is that the condition of the Faith in its infancy required a non-tolerant discipline and on the other hand those relatives' exploitation and misuse of the privileges that they possessed was not acceptable and they left no other choice for the Guardian. He did what he had to do according to the Will of ............. Click for detail

By Hand of the Cuase of God Nosrat’u’llah Bahremand

MARTYRDOM OF THE BAB

MARTYRDOM OF BAB (9th JULY)

Bab the Forerunner of Baha u llah one of the two Promised Ones of all the past religions, left the world handing over His mission to Baha u llah to provide peace and salvation to the humanity. Baha u llah handed over this mission to His son Abdu’l Baha and He appointed to His grandson Shoghi Effendi the First Guardian of Baha’i Faith with an emphatic instruction in His Will and Testament that:

“O ye beloved of the Lord! It is incumbent upon the Guardian of the Cause of God to appoint in his own life-time him (Guardian) that shall become his successor, that differences may not arise after his passing.”

Thus for the Continuity of Guardianship, Shoghi Effendi appointed his successor to Mason Remey as the Second Guardian of Baha’i Faith.

Mason Remey appointed his successor to Joel Bray Marngella as the Third Guardian, the Head of the Universal House of Justice delineated by Abdu’l Baha in His Will and Testament.

A Memorial meeting with the Devotional and Deepening program on the Continuity of Guardianship in Baha’i Faith will be held at Vasai(Thane), New Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Surat and Lucknow between 4.00 to 7.00 pm.

Only Orthodox Bahais are requested to attend the function.

Secretary,
Provisional National Baha'i Council of India

PROCLAMATION CHART

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RAMIFICATIONS OF SHOGHI EFFENDI’S MOMENTOUS PROCLAMATION OF 9 JANUARY, 1951

Blind & Irrational Opposition

Above is the answer to the comment made by an anonymous reader in Persian language on our posting dated April 16, 2008 and titled Festival of Ridvan.

Why They Shunned the Independent Investigation of Truth?

Sans-Guardian Baha’is Say about us;

> They are Covenant Breakers.
> Do not read their literature.
> Do not visit their internet sites.
> Do not entertain them when they come to meet you.
> Do not discuss the contents of the Will and Testament of Abdu’l Baha.
> Do not accept their view about the Continuity of Guardianship in Baha’i Faith.

WHILE ............

In the words of Baha'u'llah,

"Purge your sight, that ye may perceive its glory with your own eyes, and depend not on the sight of any one except your self, for God hath never burdened any soul beyond its power. Thus hath it been sent down unto the Prophets and Messengers of old, and been recorded in all the Scriptures."

ORTHODOX BAHA’I INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

For further detail contact obfcouncilsecty@hotmail.com

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Guardian, the Sacred Head of UHJ

“GOD’S IMMUTABLE PURPOSE” — Shoghi Effendi
To what immutable purpose of God was Shoghi Effendi referring?
In Shoghi Effendi’s seminal work, first published in 1934, titled: “The Dispensation of Bahá’u’lláh” and considered by him to be his spiritual testament, he states that “The bedrock on which this Administrative Order is founded is God’s immutable Purpose for mankind in this day.”
Yet, notwithstanding the above clear statement, those so-called Bahá’ís who have abandoned the Guardianship of the Cause of God, still count themselves faithful to the Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh, while blatantly ignoring God’s Purpose and accepting as the supreme authority in the Faith, a headless and an undeniably illegitimate body, calling itself the Universal House of Justice, although patently nothing more than a humanly created caricature of the divinely-conceived body called for under the sacred and immortal provisions of the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, over which the Guardian of the Cause of God — the “Center of the Cause” — also presides, not as a figure head, but as its essential “sacred head and the distinguished member for life.”
For further irrefutable evidence that Shoghi Effendi faithfully provided for the continuation of the Guardianship, as mandated by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, refer to the following web page: http://www.Bahai-Guardian.com
Joel Bray Marangella
Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith

The anniversary of the declaration of the Bab

May 23, 1844 the anniversary of the declaration of the Bab marks the beginnings of the Baha’i Faith in Shiraz, Persia (Iran). The Bab, which means the “Gate”, proclaimed on that date that he was not only the founder of an independent religion, but the Herald of a New and Greater Prophet or Messenger of God, Who would usher in an age of peace for all mankind.
Bahá'í history is traced through a sequence of leaders, beginning with the Báb's May 23, 1844 Declaration in Shiraz, and ultimately resting on an Administrative Order under the guidance of a LIVING GUARDIAN established by the Central Figures of the religion.
The First Guardian of Baha’i Faith was Shoghi Effendi,
The Second Guardian was Mason Remey and the
THIRD Guardian JOEL BRAY MARANGELLA is now the Living Guardian.
All the Orthodox Baha'is of India extend their heartiest Greetings on this auspicious occasion to the Beloved Guardian Joel Bray Marangella and the Vice President of Third International Baha'i Council Mr. Nosratullah Bahremand and to all the Hands of Cause of God appointed by the Third Guardian.
Further we extend our Greetings to all the Baha’is of the world irrespective of the sects.
PNBC of India.

IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE

Tel.: 505-753-4136
Email: obfcouncilsecty@hotmail.com
May 5, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Judgment in favor of the Orthodox Baha’i Faith

In a decision handed down by the United States District Court, the Orthodox Baha’i Faith was found not guilty of contempt charges levied against it by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United States (Wilmette NSA). The injunction that the Orthodox Baha’i Faith was accused of violating, would have prohibited it from using the name Baha’i, meaning a follower of Baha’u’llah (as the name Christian refers to one who follows Christ.)

The NSA, a national branch of the world organization with over 6 million members, brought the legal action against the Orthodox Baha’i Faith, whose membership, in contrast, numbers less than 50 in the United States, many of whom are life-long believers.

As a result of the judge's finding, the Orthodox Baha'i Faith may continue to use the name Baha'i in identifying itself and may continue to teach its belief in the continuing Guardianship of the Faith of Baha'u'llah, a teaching in direct opposition to that taught by the NSA group. The Orthodox Baha’i Faith recognizes Joel B. Marangella as the rightful Living Guardian of the Baha’i Faith.

The original injunction was issued over forty years ago to a now extinct rival body to the NSA. In her judgment, the Honorable Amy J. St Eve wrote: “[T]he chain of successorship lacks a link” ruling on April 23, 2008 after holding an evidentiary hearing last January 7, 2008 in Chicago, Illinois on the contempt motion brought by the NSA.

Also cited in the case was the Baha’i Publishers Under the Provision of the Covenant, a completely separate organization from either of the other parties. They too were found not guilty.

The complete opinion of the Court can be found on the internet:
http://trueseeker.typepad.com/true_seeker/court_case.html

Contact:
David Maxwell, PNBC Chairman
8924 Crest Ridge Drive
Fort Worth, TX 76179
817-279-3700

Ridvan Message 2008

Ridvan Message 2008
To the faithful and steadfast champions of the Covenant of Bahá’ulláh and the valiant defenders of its sacred and immortal “Child” throughout the Bahá’í World,

Dearly beloved friends,
You will recall that with the appointment of the third International Bahá’í Council I had asked Hand of the Cause, Frank Schlatter, Secretary-General of the Council, to henceforth, on the occasion of Ridván, to assume responsibility for recounting our accomplishments during the past Bahá’í year. Without, in any way, detracting from his report, I do however wish to send loving greetings to all of the faithful and devoted friends on the occasion of this “Most Great Festival” and express, yet again, my undying appreciation of and thankfulness for their steadfast fidelity to the indestructible Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh and its sacred and immortal “Child” which they have continued to manifest in many ways.
Also, I must again particularly express my gratitude for, and admiration of, the outstanding labors of those dear and faithful friends who have participated in the defense of the interests of the true Faith in the highly reprehensible lawsuit initiated by the violating NSA of the United States in their diabolical effort to proscribe our rights as Bahá’ís, a despicable effort, which is certainly ultimately doomed to ignominious failure, and for which the faithful friends, as this juncture and, as this is written, are eagerly awaiting the present verdict of the court.
I wish to take this opportunity, as well, to pay tribute to those dear friends, Hands of the Cause Marilyn Meyer and Frank Schlatter together with James Meyer who were obliged to journey to Chicago to testify in the trial before Judge Amy J. St.Eve on 7-8 January 2008, and who, in preparing for the submission of their testimony, had been expertly tutored by Hand of the Cause, Jeffrey Goldberg, our legal counsel, who also testified, all of whom acquitted themselves magnificently during this trial and who shall certainly be forever remembered and praised in the future annals of the Faith for their efforts. I have previously highly commended Jeffrey and wish to pay homage to him, once again, and express my heartfelt and profound gratitude for his tireless and outstanding labors in preparing and presenting a brilliant legal defense against the spurious claims made by the violating National Spiritual Assembly of the United States in their reprehensible lawsuit against us.
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 Bab 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.
Bahiyyih Khanum-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.
With loving Ridván greetings,

Faithfully your brother in El Abha,

Post Script: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá has obviously been misquoted or misunderstood at the time to have stated, as alleged in a Persian text, that Vakilu’d-Dawlih, a highly distinguished Persian believer, was one of the elders. This believer has actually been named one of the Apostles of Bahá’u’llåh.
JBM

Judgment in favor of the Orthodox Baha'i Faith

"[T]he chain of successorship lacks a link," wrote the Honorable Amy J. St Eve, United States District Court Judge, in her Judgment in favor of the Orthodox Baha'i Faith and the Baha'i Publishers Under the Provisions of the Covenant. The Court ruled on April 23, 2008 after holding an evidentiary hearing last January 7, 2008 in Chicago, Illinois on the contempt motion brought by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States (Wilmette NSA).
>>>>click for detail

HAPPY RIDVAN

On the occasion of EID of RIDVAN, I extend my Greetingsto all the Baha’is of the world on behalf of all the members of National Teaching Committee of Orthodox Baha’is of India, New Delhi and the Local Council of Orthodox Baha’is of New Delhi and also invite everyone to be united under the guardianship of the Third Guardian of Baha'i Faith, Joel Bray Marangella.

Vinod Kumar,
Secretary,
National Teaching Committe of India.

Persian Article

The following article is written in Persian language by the Hands of Cause, the Vice President of the Third International Bahai Council, Nosratullah Bahremand.

ای اهل بها
این بیان مبارک حضرت بهاءالله خطاب به شما است:
"ای اهل بها کمرهمّت را محکم نمائيد که شايد جدال و نزاع مذهبی از بين اهل عالم مرتفع شود و محو گردد حبّاً للّه و لعباده بر اين امر عظيم خطيرقيام نمائيد ضغينه و بغضای مذهبی ناريست عالم سوز و اطفاء آن بسيار صعب مگر يد قدرت الهی ناس را از اين بلاء عقيم نجات بخشد ...مشکاة بيان را اين کلمه بمثابه مصباح است ای اهل عالم همه باريک داريد و برگ يک شاخسار بکمال محبّت و اتّحاد و مودّت و اتّفاق سلوک نمائيد قسم بآفتاب حقيقت نور اتّفاق آفاق را روشن و منوّرسازد حقِّ آگاه گواه اين گفتار بوده و هست جهد نمائيد تا باين مقام بلند اعلی که مقام صيانت و حفظ عالم انسانيست فائز شويد..." (منتخباتی ازآثارحضرت بهاءالله صفحه 184)

ای اهل بها چه شده است که بین شما ضغینه و بغضای مذهبی رواج گرفته در حالیکه خود مامور به اطفاء این آتش خانمانسوز هستید؟
آیا غیر از اینست که این بلا نتیجه پیروی از موسسه ای است که بناحق نام بیت العدل اعظم الهی بر خود گذاشته است در صورتیکه غیر از نام شباهتی با بیت عدل حقیقی مذکور در الواح مبارک وصایا ندارد وزاده نامشروع عهد شکنی ایادی سابق امرومخالفت آنان با ولی امرالله است؟
موسسه مورد بحث دم از وحدت ویگانگی میزند وهمزمان با تغیر وتعبیر معنی عهدومیثاق ،عهد شکنی خود را محق نمایش داده واز سوی دیگر بهائیان حقیقی را که ثابت برعهد ومیثاق حضرت بهاء الله هستند به نقض عهد متهم مینماید وبرای آنکه بهائیان به حقایق واقف نشوند آنها را از خواندن مقالات و نوشته های بهائیان حقیقی که مستند ومستدل ومشحون از نصوص والواح است محروم میسازد در حالیکه حضرت بهاءالله اکیدأ ومن دون استثناء به همه امر میفرمایند که:

" الیوم برهرنفسی من عندالله فرض شده که بچشم وگوش وفواد خود در امر او ملاحظه نماید وتفکرکند تا ازبدایع مرحمت رحمن وفیوضات سبحان باشراقات شمس معانی مستنیروفائز شود وعلتی که جمیع ناس را از لقاءالله محروم نموده وبماسواه مشغول داشته اینست که بوهم صرف کفایت نموده اند وبآنچه از امثال خود شنیده قناعت کرده اند براههای مهلک تقلید مشی نموده اند واز مناهج تجرید محروم شده اند امر الهی چون صبح نورانی ظاهر ولائح بوده اینکه بعضی از ادراک او محتجب مانده اند نظر بآن است که گوش وقلب را بآلایش کلمات ناس آلوده اند والا اگر ناظر باصل میزان معرفت الهی باشند هرگزازسبیل هدایت محروم نگردند"

بیت عدل بدلی برای حفظ قدرت وسلطه خود با شستشوی مغزی بعضی جوانان و واداشتن آنان به جاسوسی و گزارش دادن درباره دوستان وبستگان خود به ایجاد ترس وعدم اعتماد درجامعه بهائی مبادرت نموده و به مشاهده کوچکترین اثر هشیاری وآگاهی در افراد آنان را تحت نظر گرفته و احیانأ تهدید به طرد مینماید.
در حالیکه حضرت عبدالبهاء میفرمایند :

تقاليد ورسوماتي كه منافي علم و ترقي است بايد زائل نمود... دين بايد سبب اتحاد باشد قلوب را بيكديگر ارتباط دهد... اگردين سبب اختلاف شود نبودن ان مرجج است. " ( خطابات - جلد ٢: صفحه ۵۶ )

بیت عدل بدلی احبا را به اطاعت کور کورانه از خود وادار وبه آنها القاء مینماید که اطاعت از ولی امرالله نقض عهد وسبب انشعاب و انشقاق است و حفظ وصیانت امرالله بمعنی مخالفت با ولی امرالله وپیروی از بیت العدل بدلی است. در حالیکه حضرت عبدالبهاء در الواح وصایای خود میفرمایند:

"حصن متين امرالله به اطاعت من هو ولي امرالله محفوظ و مصون ماند و اعضاي بيت العدل و جميع اغصان وافنان و ايادي امرالله بايد كمال اطاعت وتمكين و انقياد و توجه وخضوع و خشوع را به ولي امرالله داشته باشند. اگر چنانچه نفسي مخالفت نمود مخالفت به حق كرده و سبب تشتيت امرالله شود و علت تفريق كلمه الله گردد و مظهري از مظاهر مركز نقض شود ."

حضرت عبدالبهاء میفرمایند:

"اگر حصن حصین امرالله به قوه میثاق محفوظ نماند در یک روز در بهائیان هزارمذهب پيدا شود چنانچه در دورهاي سابق حاصل شد ولي در اين دور مبارك محض صيانت امر الله كه تفريق در بين حزب الله نشود جمال مبارك روحي له الفدا به اثر قلم اعلي عهد و پيمان گرفت و مركزي معين فرمود كه مبين كتاب است و رافع اختلاف انچه او بنگارد و بگويد مطابق واقع و در صون حمايت جمال مبارك از خطا محفوظ مقصد از اين عهد و ميثاق رفع اختلاف از افاق است ..."
(منتخباتي از مكاتيب جلد ٤ صفحه ۱۶۵)

در حالیکه بیت عدل بدلی بیان مبارک فوق از حضرت عبدابها را مورد تعدی وتحریف قرار داده وآنرا به صورت زیر در وب سایت خود بنام (عالم بهائی) منتشر نموده است:

"اگر حصن حصين امرالله را قوّه حارسه محافظه نمينمود در جمع اهل بهاء در هر يک روز هزار فرقه به مثل ادوار سابقه ايجاد ميشود"
http://info.bahai.org/persian/covenant-of-bahaullah.html

ملا حظه میفرمائید که چگونه کلمه "قوه میثاق" را در جهت رسیدن به نیت پلید خویش به لغت ابداعی خود "قوه حارسه" تغیرداده اند (چنین کلمه ای در فرهنگ های لغت فارسی وعربی دیده نمیشود) ضمن اینکه اصولأ کل جمله بندی را نیزعوض نموده اند، در هر صورت نزدیکترین لغت در فرهنگ لغات "حارس" است که بمعنی محافظ و نگهبان و پاسدارمیباشد که مورد نظرگردانندگان موسسه نامشروع نیز همین است که بدین وسیله وجود عوامل خود مانند مشاورین معاونین ومساعدین وامثالهم را که به تفتیش عقاید وافکار بهائیان مشغولند توجیه نماید بعلاوه ملاحظه میفرمائید که چگونه ادامه واصل موضوع بیان مبارک را نا دیده انگاشته اند که میفرمایند:
"محض صيانت امر الله كه تفريق در بين حزب الله نشود جمال مبارك روحي له الفدا به اثر قلم اعلي عهد و پيمان گرفت و مركزي معين فرمود كه مبين كتاب است و رافع اختلاف انچه او بنگارد و بگويد مطابق واقع و در صون حمايت جمال مبارك از خطا محفوظ مقصد از اين عهد و ميثاق رفع اختلاف از افاق است"

ای احبای الهی وحدت، اتفاق ویگا نگی را نمیتوان با جبر وزورگوئی ، تهدید وارعاب بوجود آورد اگر چنین امری میسر بود دیکتاتورها چه دینی وچه سیاسی تا کنون موفق به ایجاد آن شده بودند. الواح ونصوص حضرت بهاءالله وحضرت عبدالبهاء بیانگر این موضوع مهم است که اتفاق و وحدت تنها با اطاعت نمودن از مبین آیات الله یعنی اولیاء امرالله میسر است و طریق دیگری وجود ندارد.

حضرت عبدالبهاء میفرمایند:
" باید الیوم سد ابواب نزاع کرد ومنع اسباب جدال واین ممکن نیست جز آنکه کل متابعت مبین کنند واطاعت مرکز میثاق معین ، یعنی تمسک بصریح بیان او جویند وتشبث به وضوح تبیان او خواهند."
(مكاتيب حضرت عبدالبها – جلد2: صفحه247)

ونیز میفرمایند:
"باری ای احبای الهی صریح کتاب الهی اینست که اگر دو نفس در مسئله از مسائل الهیه جدال و بحث نمایند واختلاف ومنازعه نمایند هردو باطلند ، حکمت این امر قطعی الهی اینست که در میان دو نفس از احبای الهی جدال ونزاع نشود ، بنهایت الفت ومحبت با یکدیگر گفتگو کنند ، اگر اندک معارضه ئی بمیان آید سکوت کنند دیگر طرفین تکلم ننمایند وحقیقت حال را ازمبین سئوال کنند این است حکم فاصل" (مکاتیب حضرت عبد البها – جلد ۳ : صفحه ۳ ۳ )

شوقی افندی اولین ولی امرالله نیزدر این باره جای شک وشبهه ای باقی نگذاشته است:

"وضع اصول اداری و انشاء تاسیسات بدیعه منیعه و تفویض حق تبین آیات به ولی امرالله آئین الهی را در این ظهور اعظم بنحوی که در ظهورات گذشته سابقه نداشته از تحزب انشعاب وانشقاق حفظ خواهد نمود."
(قرن بدیع صفحه 662)
همچنین:
" بدون اين مؤسّسه وحدت امر اللّه در خطر افتد و بنيانش متزلزل گردد و از منزلتش بکاهد و از واسطه فيضی که بر عواقب امور در طيّ دهور احاطه دارد بالمرّه بی نصيب ماند و هدايتی که جهت تعيين حدود و وظائف تقنينيّهء منتخبين ضروری است سلب شود. (دوربهائی صفحه 79)

احبای عزیز آیا هنگام آن نشده که بدون توجه به تهدیدات و بدون ترس وواهمه با توکل به جمال مبارک شخصأ ومستقلأ و با مطالعه الواح ونصوص ویافتن حقیقت بپردازید؟
آیا هنگام آن فرا نرسیده است که متوجه گردید که هر جا در الواح ونصوص ذکر بیت عدل گشته منظور بیت عدل حقیقی و واقعی است بصورتی است که در الواح مبارک وصایا (متمم ومکمل کتاب اقدس) مذکوراست نه یک موسسه بدلی که فاقد شرط اساسی ولازم میباشد.
بیت عدل حقیقی طبق الواح مبارک وصایا بفرموده حضرت عبدالبهاء بشرح زیر است:
" مقصد بيت عدل عموميست يعنی در جميع بلاد بيت عدل خصوصی تشكيل شود و آن بيوت عدل بيت عدل عمومی انتخاب نمايد. اين مجمع مرجع كلّ امور است و مؤسّس قوانين و احكامی كه در نصوص الهی موجود نه و جميع مسائل مشكله در
اين مجلس حلّ گردد و وليّ امر اللّه رئيس مقدّس اين مجلس و عضو اعظم ممتاز لا
ينعزل . و اگر در اجتماعات بالذّات حاضر نشود نائب و وكيلی تعيين فرمايد . و اگر
چنانچه عضوی از اعضاء گناهی ارتكاب نمايد كه در حقّ عموم ضرری حاصل شود وليّ امراللّه صلاحيّت اخراج او دارد بعد ملّت شخص ديگر انتخاب نمايد."

نصرت

Festival of Ridvan

The first day of Ridvan (Eid e Ridvan) falling on 21st April, is a very special historic day for the Baha’is. “The Day of Supreme Felicity” as described by Baha’u’llah for the first day of Ridvan, marks the beginning of the 12-day festival of Ridvan. Ridvan is celebrated to commemorate the days of Baha’u’llah in the Garden of Ridvan after his exile from Baghdad. This is where He declared to some of the people gathered there that He was the Messenger of God. History of Ridvan
On 22nd April, 1863 Baha’u’llah left His house and moved to the Garden of Ridvan after He was exiled from Baghdad to Istanbul. On the afternoon on which He entered the Garden He declared the Festival of Ridvan, which continued for 12 days including the days of His arrival (the first day), the arrival of His family (the ninth day) and His departure (the twelfth day). It was during His stay in the Garden of Ridvan He declared His mission to humanity and that He is the Promised one. After nearly 10 years later, The Kitab-I-Aqdas declared Ridvan as one of the “Most Great Festivals”. Since then this festival is celebrated every year by all the followers of Baha'i Faith all around the World.
According to the Baha'is Calendar, the Festival is to begin on the 32nd day of the Baha'i year, which usually falls on April 21. The festival starts two hours before the sunset, when Baha'u'llah entered the Garden of Ridvan.
All the three days, the first, the ninth and the twelfth day Baha’is do not work. People observe prayers; meetings and the celebrations include feasting, dining, giving gifts to friends and alms to the needy.
The Ridvan Garden
Ridvan means Paradise. Baha'u'llah renamed the Garden Najibiyyih, situated across the Tigris River as the Garden of Ridvan on His arrival there after His exile.
Baha’u’llah’s Three Announcements
After his arrival in the Garden, Baha’u’llah claimed His Prophet Hood to His son ‘Abdu’l-Baha and four others. Apart from this, He made three announcements. The first announcement was abrogating religious war by the followers of Baha’i Faith, which was permitted in Islam and under certain conditions by the Báb. The second was that there would not be another Manifestation of God for another 1000 years and the third was that all the names of God were fully manifest in all things.
The First day of Ridvan is thus not only the “King of Festivals” as referred by the Baha’is, it could also be said to have marked the beginning of the Baha’i Faith.
The Guardian of the Baha’i Faith and the Ridvan
The third Living Guardian of Baha’i Faith Joel Bray Marangella sends the messages every year to the Baha’i world in general and particularly to the Orthodox Baha’is of the world. The following is the excerpt of his message of Ridvan 2007.
"I know that the friends will find upon reading the report made by the International Baha’i Council that the highest commendation and praise is due the members of Provisional National Baha’i Council of India for their manifold activities in support of the Guardianship and their outstanding achievements during the course of that past Baha’i year. The faithful friends who have continued to post such consistently excellent articles on the Baha’i newsgroups and other chat forums also be highly commended for their untiring and deeply appreciated efforts to expose the infamy of the leaders of the Heterodox Baha’i Faith.”
I am also certain that all will agree that the past Baha’i year has been unprecedented and all that the victories won in support of the Covenant and its sacred and immortal “Child” bode well for the future with the sure promise of even greater victories in the years that lie immediately ahead.
With my undying gratitude to all of the faithful friends for their continued and deeply treasured support and with loving Ridvan greetings to all..."

(compiled by PNBC of India)

Rulers of the Darkness

"The battle between the forces of good and evil, the Army of Light and the minions of the dark, rages on in the world and in the hearts and minds of men and women around the globe. It is essential for Baha'is to understand this, and to choose correctly on which side they will fight."

This is an extract of an article by Hands of Cause, Mr. Jeffrey A. Goldberg. <<Go for full article>>

Few Facts about BAHÁ'Í COVENANT

Below is the extract of an article "SOME BASIC FACTS RELATED TO THE BAHÁ'Í COVENANT" by Hand of the Cause, Frank Schlatter, Secretary-General, International Baha'i Council.

BEFORE Shoghi Effendi's passing:
"These Covenant-breakers profess to accept the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh but they turn away from the Centre of the Cause--in the day of the Centre of the Covenant, 'Abdu'l-Bahá, and in our day, the Guardian--and thereby they deny what they profess to accept." (Page 251 of 1957 edition -- Emphasis added.)
AFTER Shoghi Effendi's passing:
"These Covenant-breakers profess to accept the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh but they turn away from the central authority in the Cause [i.e., an authority outside the Guardianship] to which all must turn and thereby they deny what they profess to accept." (Page 252 of 1975 edition --Emphasis added.)

For detail >>>>>click

Naw-Rúz Greetings

We extend our heartiest greetings to the beloved Guardian Joel Bray Marangella on the occasion of Naw-Rúz.

We all are under his shadow and obey his command.

The Master 'Abdu’l Bahá states in His Will and Testament:

“It is incumbent upon the members of the House of Justice, upon all the Aghsan, the Afnan, the Hands of 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.”

We also extend our heartiest greetings to all the Bahá’í friends irrespective of any differences.

PNBC OF INDIA.

Naw-Ruz Greetings from living Guardian

Mr. A. Parikh, Secretary, PNBC of the Baha'is of India,

Please extend my warmest Naw-Ruz greetings to all of the faithful friends in India and my heartfelt gratitude for their continuing devoted, dedicated and exemplary labors on behalf of the indestructible Covenant of Baha'u'llah and its sacred and immortal "Child."
Joel

Physical Fast is a Symbol of the Spiritual Fast

1) Thou hast written about the Fast. This is a most weighty matter and thou shouldst exert thine utmost in its observance. It is a fundamental of the Divine law, and one of the pillars of the religion of God.

2) Well is it with you, as you have followed the Law of God and arisen to observe the Fast during these blessed days, for this physical fast is a symbol of the spiritual fast. This Fast leadeth to the cleansing of the soul from all selfish desires, the acquisition of spiritual attributes, attraction to the breezes of the All-Merciful, and enkindlement with the fire of divine love.

3) Fasting is the cause of the elevation of one's spiritual station.

----from the writings of the Master 'ABDU'L-BAHÁ

A SATANIC TRINITY

A SATANIC TRINITY— FAITHLESSNESS, DISOBEDIENCE AND PERVERSION — OF WHICH TWENTY-SIX OF THE THEN TWENTY-SEVEN HANDS OF THE CAUSE SHALL STAND FOREVER CONDEMNED BECAUSE OF THEIR INIQUITOUS ACTIONS FOLLOWING THE PASSING OF SHOGHI EFFENDI.....>>>>>Detail

-A thought provoking article by the Third Guardian.

HUQUQU'LLAH: Whose Right?

Huququ'llah is to be offered through the Guardian of the Cause of God.
Abdu’l Baha in one of His tablets has stated:
"Disposition of Huququ'llah, wholly or partly is permissible, but, this should be done by permission and the Authority in the Cause to Whom all must turn”.
Those misled Baha'is who pay Huququ'llah to some other entities other than Guardian, are they doing the right thing? >>>>For detail refer

The Deaf and The Dumb

Hands of the Cause Nosratullah Bahremand in his article “ARE THE PAWNS OF THE BOGUS UHJ BLIND AND DEAF OR DO THEY PRETEND TO BE?” writes:

The International Baha'i Council was the embryonic Universal House of Justice. This is an undeniable fact that was not denied by the arch covenant-breaker in her book titled: "The Ministry of the Custodians," and clearly admitted by the bogus UHJ's writer Adib Taherzadeh:

"Shoghi Effendi reared strong national Baha'i bodies. He brought into being the International Baha'i Council - the embryonic Universal House of Justice."

(The Child of the Covenant, p. 318)

In Shoghi Effendi's Proclamation of 9 January 1951 says:

"Nascent Institution now created is invested with threefold function: first, to forge link with the authorities of the newly emerged State; second, to assist me to discharge responsibilities involved in erection of mighty superstructure of the Bab's Holy Shrine; third, to conduct negotiations related to matters of personal status with civil authorities. TO THESE WILL BE ADDED FURTHER FUNCTIONS IN COURSE OF EVOLUTION OF THIS FIRST EMBRYONIC INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTION, MARKING ITS DEVELOPMENT INTO OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED BAHA'I COURT."

(Shoghi Effendi, Messages to the Baha'i World - 1950-1957, p. 7)

And Shoghi Effendi's message of November 23,1951 explains how and when these further functions will be added and how the authority will be exercised:

"For unlike the first and second Seven Year Plan, [2nd '46-53] inaugurated by the American Baha'i Community, the scope of the third Seven Year Plan [later superseded by the Ten Year Global Crusade, [1953-1963], the termination of which will mark the conclusion of the first Epoch in the evolution of the Master Plan designed by 'Abdu'l Baha will embrace all the continents of the earth and, WILL BRING THE CENTRAL BODY [the IBC] DIRECTING THESE WIDELY RAMIFIED OPERATIONS INTO DIRECT CONTACT WITH ALL THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLIES OF THE BAHA'I WORLD which, in varying degrees, will have to contribute their share to the world establishment of the Cause of Baha'u'llah, as prophesied by 'Abdu'l-Baha and envisioned by Daniel,--a consummation that, God willing, will be befittingly celebrated on the occasion of the Most Great Jubilee commemorating the hundredth anniversary of the formal assumption by Baha'u'llah of His Prophetic Office."

The typical pawns of the bogus UHJ ignore the fact that the World Order of Baha'u'llah itself is still in its embryonic form and all its administrative institutions were in their embryonic form, during the ministry of the first Guardian. Local and National Houses of Justice which, in their embryonic form, have been currently named Spiritual Assemblies were exercising only a portion of their duties and still are, so they were then and are still active. But the Universal House of Justice that came into existence in 1951 in its embryonic form, as the International Baha'i Council, did not become an active body and never was convened as a functioning body. It is a fact that the pawns of bogus UHJ have made themselves deaf, not to hear, and blind not to read and understand, that although Mason Remey and some of the members of the IBC respectfully were honoured to have lunch or dinner at the table with the first Guardian, when most of the time there were some pilgrims present too, that could in no way be considered as a meeting of the International Baha'i Council.

These pawns do not know or pretend to not know that the presidency of the Universal House of Justice exclusively is the function of the Guardian and no one other than Guardian can occupy this position. Also they show ignorance about the fact that although the members of the International House of Justice will be elected when the time is ripe, the head of this Body is preappointed and this capacity comes as an integral part of the authorities and responsibilities of the Guardian delineated by 'Abdu'l-Baha in His Testament. The Head of this body is the Guardian who is appointed by the predecessor Guardian. No one on earth has the authority to remove the "sacred head" of this Body and elect someone instead to replace him.

Mason Remey was appointed by the first Guardian as the president and Head of the real Universal House of Justice, in embryonic form, and after the passing of Shoghi Effendi nobody had the authority to remove him from this Office to which he was appointed by the first Guardian. Moreover, nobody had the authority to dissolve the International Baha'i Council, all of whose members were appointed by the first Guardian and this same body, as originally appointed, had to evolve "INTO OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED BAHA'I COURT" as the "ESSENTIAL PRELUDE TO THE INSTITUTION OF THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE" as clearly stated in Shoghi Effendi's Proclamation of 9 January 1951. But in the third stage of its evolution when the Court would be transformed "INTO A DULY ELECTED BODY," the Head and President had to continue in his Office while the members would be elected.

In 1957 when the first Guardian passed to the Abha Kingdom, despite the situation which was portrayed by Ruhiyih Kanum and the former Hands who followed her, in her false assertion that because after Shoghi Effendi there was no longer any authority, the Hands justified their usurpation of the authority of the Guardian. In doing this they ignored the fact that Shoghi Effendi had already established the highest administrative Body of the Faith, and why would the Baha'is "cling to the Hands" as RK told the Baha'i world to do in a telegram, instead of clinging to the supreme international institution of the Faith established by the late Guardian himself. If it was necessary for a group of nine persons to administer the affairs of the Faith why should it not be the Universal House of Justice, in its embryonic form, similar to the status of the National and Local Bodies, especially when all the members of that International Body had been selected and appointed by the Guardian himself.

Who gave the authority of the former hands to say:

"We nominate and appoint from our own number to act on our behalf as the Custodians of the Baha'i World Faith to exercise -- subject to such directions and decisions as may be given from time to time by us as the Chief Stewards of the Baha'i World Faith -- all such functions, rights and powers in succession to the Guardian of the Baha'i Faith,"

(The Ministry of the Custodians, p. 29)

The International Baha'i Council was the legitimate, rightful and highest institution of the Baha'i Faith while in contrast the Hands of the Cause do not have administrative authority in the Faith. I think by now everybody knows the famous admission of RK in this regard: "How to assume the reins of authority, with no document to support us,"

It is of particular importance that they stripped themselves from their station as Hands of the Cause when they denied the fact that the first Guardian had appointed his successor by appointing him as the Head of the embryonic Universal House of Justice, an Office, which can only be occupied by the Guardian.

The reason that from the moment of the passing of the first Guardian, RK tried to direct the Baha'is to the Hands instead of to the embryonic Universal House of Justice was that the embryonic Universal House of Justice had a president who was appointed by the first Guardian and if that Body became active Baha'is would discover the station of the President as the second Guardian of the Baha'i Faith. This is quite clear from her statement:

"We had decided, from the time of our first Conclave that, in order to protect the Cause of God, we would have no officers, such as President, Chairman, Secretary, etc. lest one of the male Hands, holding such a position, should begin to assume in the eyes of the Baha'is the function of the leader, and, God forbid, begin to be seen as a sort of second Guardian in importance."

(The Ministry of the Custodians, p. 11)

Interesting, protecting the Cause of God from the Guardian of the Cause of God, this was her intention.