
The Universal House of Justice (Persian: بیتالعدل اعظم, "Baytu’l-’Adl-i-A’ẓam" / "Bait al-Adl al-Azam")[1], is the supreme governing institution of the Bahá’í Faith. Its messages and statements are authoritative guidance to the Bahá’í community and its legislative decisions are infallible although they may be amended by the Universal House of Justice itself.[2]
It is an elected body consisting of nine members who are elected for five year terms with members of every National Spiritual Assembly casting votes at an International Convention. Its function within the Bahá’í Faith is legislative and it has the authority and responsibility to supplement and apply the Bahá’í laws revealed by Bahá’u’lláh and also serves as a judicial body as the Head of the Bahá’í Administrative Order. It is also responsible for guiding, organizing, and coordinating the activities of the international Bahá’í community, answering questions from the community, and resolving points of disagreement on Bahá’í matters causing disunity within the community.
The sphere of jurisdiction of the Universal House of Justice consists of anything not explicitly covered in the Bahá’í Writings, which were revealed by Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and it does not have the authority to overrule or alter anything which is addressed in the Writings. The way in which it conducts legislation is also defined by the writings of Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith, who was the infallible interpreter of the Writings.[3]
Functions
The Universal House of Justice has noted its major general responsibilities to the Bahá’í community are:[3]
- Enactment of legislation
- Protecting and administrating the community
- Answering obscure questions, and deciding upon matters which have caused disunity
The Universal House of Justice notably does not have the function of authoritatively interpreting the scripture of the Faith. The Universal House of Justice has written the following regarding this distinction in a 1965 message:
There is a profound difference between the interpretations of the Guardian and the elucidations of the House of Justice in exercise of its function to “deliberate upon all problems which have caused difference, questions that are obscure and matters that are not expressly recorded in the Book.” The Guardian reveals what the Scripture means; his interpretation is a statement of truth which cannot be varied. Upon the Universal House of Justice, in the words of the Guardian, “has been conferred the exclusive right of legislating on matters not expressly revealed in the Bahá’í writings.” Its pronouncements, which are susceptible of amendment or abrogation by the House of Justice itself, serve to supplement and apply the Law of God.
Although not invested with the function of interpretation, the House of Justice is in a position to do everything necessary to establish the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh on this earth. Unity of doctrine is maintained by the existence of the authentic texts of Scripture and the voluminous interpretations of ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá and Shoghi Effendi, together with the absolute prohibition against anyone propounding “authoritative” or “inspired” interpretations or usurping the function of Guardian. Unity of administration is assured by the authority of the Universal House of Justice.[4]
In its Constitution the Universal House of Justice defined and listed many specific responsibilities. The Constitution lists the responsibilities without distinction and while they have been organized under headings below there is no official categorization. The exact wording is not identical to the Constitution and the original text should be referred to for clarification.[5]
Societal development
- Working towards the attainment of universal peace
- Promoting the enlightenment of individuals for the advancement and betterment of the world
- Preserving human honour
- Assisting in the development and stability of countries
- Promoting and guarding Divine Justice
Community development
- Defending, protecting, and emancipating the Bahá’í Faith from persecution
- Advancing the interests of the Bahá’í Faith
- Proclaiming, propagating, and teaching the Bahá’í Faith
- Promoting the attainment of Bahá’í qualities individually and collectively
- Guiding, organizing, coordinating, and unifying Bahá’í activities
Administrative development
- Expanding and consolidating the Institutions of the Administrative Order
- Establishing the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh
- Founding Bahá’í institutions
Judicial
- Enacting laws and ordinances not expressly recorded in the Sacred Texts
- Abrogating its own laws according to the requirements of the time
- Deliberating and deciding on causes of disunity
- Promulgating and applying the laws and principles of the Bahá’í Faith
- Enforcing the rectitude of conduct required by the Bahá’í Faith
- Safeguarding the personal rights, freedom and initiative of the individual
- Ensuring that no Bahá’í Faith body or institution abuses its position or fails to meet its prerogatives
- Adjudicating disputes under its purview
- Giving judgement and pronouncing sanctions in cases where Bahá’í law has been violated
- Arbitrating and settling disputes between individuals
General responsibilities at the World Center
- Preservation of the Writings
- Analyzing, classifying, and coordinating the Writings
- Elucidating questions which are obscure
- Preserving and developing the World Center
- Administering the affairs of the international Bahá’í community
- Managing the Bahá’í funds and properties under its care
Procedures
Infallibility
The Universal House of Justice is an infallible body and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá has described its infallibility as conferred and acquired, as opposed to the essential infallibility of a Manifestation of God. While the body is infallible its individual members are not.[6]
While the Universal House of Justice is infallible it is not omniscient and relies on the information provided to it in order to make decisions and may change a decision upon being provided with additional information in a specific case.[6] Regarding this the Universal House of Justice has written:
. . . the Universal House of Justice is not omniscient, and the friends should understand that there is a difference between infallibility and omniscience. Like the Guardian, the House of Justice wants to be provided with facts when called upon to render a decision, and like him it may well change its decision when new facts emerge, or in light of changed conditions at some point in the future. We have found nothing in the writings of Shoghi Effendi which suggests that the House of Justice would on any occasion reach a “wrong decision.”[7]
Regarding the mechanics of its infallibility a letter written by the Secretariat of the Universal House of Justice contains the following guidance:
In general, the House of Justice wishes to preserve the widest possible latitude for the friends to explore the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh and to share their individual understanding of the Teachings. . .
The Universal House of Justice does not intend at this time to elaborate further on previous explanations given of its duties and powers. That the House of Justice itself does not find it necessary to do so should alert the friends as to the unwisdom of their attempting to define so precisely its sphere of action. Nevertheless, it should be mentioned that, while there are explicit passages in the authoritative texts that make reference to the infallibility of the House of Justice in the enactment of legislation, the argument that it is free from error only in this respect is untenable.[8]
The letter also notes that any perceived ambiguity regarding its infallibility in a specific case is irrelevant to the clarity of its authority:
Apart from the question of infallibility, there is the matter of authority. A letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi states: “It is not for individual believers to limit the sphere of the Guardian’s authority, or to judge when they have to obey the Guardian and when they are free to reject his judgement. Such an attitude would evidently lead to confusion and to schism.” In regard to the Universal House of Justice, the same understanding applies. . .
. . . The House of Justice appeals to the friends not to become embroiled in the kind of fruitless theological discussions that caused conflict and contention in past dispensations, lest they lose sight of their responsibility to promulgate the oneness of humanity and of the role of the Covenant established by Bahá’u’lláh in uniting minds, hearts, and souls[8]
Election and membership

The election of the Universal House of Justice takes places at an International Bahá’í Convention which is to be held every five years although the House is permitted to postpone the Convention and election. Every member of a National Spiritual Assembly is eligible to cast a vote in the election which takes place by secret ballot. Assembly members may submit absentee votes if they are unable to attend the Convention in person. If there is a tied vote for the ninth member of the House a tie-breaker ballot must take place.[5]
A by-election can be held if a member of the Universal House of Justice is unable to complete a term, for example if they pass away while in office. A member may also be relieved from office if the body as a whole deems them unable to fulfil their duties and a member may also retire but they must request permission and receive the approval of the Universal House of Justice before doing so. If a member of the Universal House of Justice undertakes actions deemed detrimental to the Bahá’í community the other members of the body are permitted to dismiss them from office which would also result in a by-election.[5]
Any male Bahá’í over the age of twenty-one with voting rights is eligible to be elected to the Universal House of Justice.[5] The Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá state that a provision of the Bahá’í Faith is that women are not eligible to be elected to the Universal House of Justice and that the wisdom of this provision would become clear at an unspecified time in the future. A message written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice states the following on the matter:
With regard to the status of women, the important point for Bahá'ís to remember is that in the face of the categorical pronouncements in Bahá'í Scripture establishing the equality of men and women, the ineligibility of women for membership on the Universal House of Justice does not constitute evidence of the superiority of men over women. It must also be borne in mind that women are not excluded from any other international institution of the Faith. They are found among the ranks of the Hands of the Cause. They serve as members of the International Teaching Center and as Continental Counsellors. And, there is nothing in the text to preclude the participation of women in such future international bodies as the Supreme Tribunal.[9]
The number of members of the Universal House of Justice is not explicitly fixed at nine,[10] and in a Tablet ‘Abdu’l-Bahá stated that the Universal House of Justice may function with up to nineteen members at its discretion.[11]
Procedures for general functioning
Unlike Spiritual Assemblies the Universal House of Justice does not elect officers such as a Secretary or Chairman. Instead the member with the highest amount of votes in the election of the body is responsible for calling the first meeting after the election after which the members internally manage how meetings and business are to be conducted as a group for the term.[5]
The Universal House of Justice handles matters put before it through consultation and then casting a vote and some specified types of decisions are handled by a quorum rather than the full membership. The House of Justice itself is responsible for recording and verifying its decisions.[5]
When the Universal House of Justice issues a message it is signed. The signature of the Universal House of Justice is the words The Universal House of Justice in English or Baytu’l-’Adl-i-A’ẓam in Persian written by hand by any member of the body so long as they have the authorization of the Universal House of Justice to do so. The signature is then affixed with the Seal of the Universal House of Justice to render it official.[5]
Some letters issued by the Universal House of Justice are sent under the signature of the Department of the Secretariat rather than under the signature of the Universal House of Justice and regarding this the Universal House of Justice has written the following:
As to whether there is a distinction between correspondence from the World Centre that has been signed 'The Universal House of Justice' and that signed on behalf of the Secretariat: In brief, the manner in which each of these letters is prepared depends upon the contents of the letter. Drafts of letters which contain newly formulated policies are consulted upon and approved during a meeting of the House of Justice; correspondence dealing with previously enunciated policies, or with matters of a routine nature, are prepared, as delegated by the House of Justice, by its Secretariat and initialed by at least the majority of the members of the House of Justice before being dispatched.[12]
Functioning in relation to the community
Relationship with elected institutions
In its relations with National and Local Spiritual Assemblies the Universal House of Justice has the authority to review and overrule any decision made. It also has the authority to intervene and make a decision on behalf of a Local or National Assembly if the body is unable to make a decision, to issue a directive for an Assembly to take a specific action, or to take action itself.[5]
An individual Bahá’í has the right to file an appeal in order to request the Universal House of Justice review an Assembly decision however if their disagreement is with a Local Spiritual Assembly they must first appeal to their National Spiritual Assembly and if they are unable to resolve the matter with the National Assembly they can then submit an appeal with the Universal House of Justice. If two or more Local Spiritual Assemblies clash on a decision and any of them disagree with a decision made by their National Spiritual Assembly the Local Assembly as a body may file an appeal with the Universal House of Justice.[5]
When filing an appeal to the Universal House of Justice after disagreeing with a National Assembly decision an individual or Local Assembly is required to request the appeal through the National Assembly so that the institution may reconsider the case. If the individual or Local Assembly insists upon an appeal being filed the National Assembly is obligated to file the appeal on their behalf and if they fail to do so the individual or institution may personally submit the appeal directly to the Universal House of Justice.[5]
Relationship with appointed institutions
The Universal House of Justice appoints all members of every Continental Board of Counsellors and they also set the borders each Board is responsible for.[5] The Universal House of Justice is not directly involved with the functioning of the Continental Boards with the International Teaching Center, whose membership is also appointed by the House of Justice, serving as a liaison between the Counsellors and itself.[13] The Universal House of Justice sets the total number of Auxiliary Board members to be appointed across the Bahá’í world but the Continental Boards of Counsellors are responsible for directly overseeing their functioning and making appointments.[5]
Covenant-breaking is determined by the Universal House of Justice with the assistance of the appointed institutions with the Auxiliary Board for Protection and Counsellors being responsible for investigating incidents. They are then to report the matter to the International Teaching Center who will make a decision on the issue and the International Teaching Center will then submit the decision to the Universal House of Justice which must consider the case before someone is declared a Covenant-breaker.[14]
History
Origins
The Institution of the House of Justice was ordained by Bahá’u’lláh in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas revealed in 1873 which contained some basic details such as that it would have at least nine members and undertake some responsibilities. It is also mentioned in Tablets revealed after the Aqdas including the following quote:
O people of God! That which traineth the world is Justice, for it is upheld by two pillars, reward and punishment. These two pillars are the sources of life to the world. Inasmuch as for each day there is a new problem and for every problem an expedient solution, such affairs should be referred to the House of Justice that the members thereof may act according to the needs and requirements of the time. They that, for the sake of God, arise to serve His Cause, are the recipients of divine inspiration from the unseen Kingdom. It is incumbent upon all to be obedient unto them. All matters of State should be referred to the House of Justice, but acts of worship must be observed according to that which God hath revealed in His Book.[15]
‘Abdu’l-Bahá spoke about the Universal House of Justice in Some Answered Questions which was revealed between 1904 and 1906 and contained the following quote:
. . . the Universal House of Justice, if it be established under the necessary conditions—that is, if it be elected by the entire community—that House of Justice will be under the protection and unerring guidance of God. Should that House of Justice decide, either unanimously or by a majority, upon a matter that is not explicitly recorded in the Book, that decision and command will be guarded from error. Now, the members of the House of Justice are not essentially infallible as individuals, but the body of the House of Justice is under the protection and unerring guidance of God: This is called conferred infallibility.[16]
In the early 1900's He revealed a Tablet for Vakílu'd-Dawlih which contained instructions for him to arrange for the establishment of the Universal House of Justice in the event that He was assassinated.[17]
In the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, which was released to the Bahá’í community after His passing in 1921, further details of the Universal House of Justice, its responsibilities, and its role in the Administrative Order of the Faith were revealed. An excerpt:
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. Its members must be manifestations of the fear of God and daysprings of knowledge and understanding, must be steadfast in God’s faith and the well-wishers of all mankind. By this House is meant the Universal House of Justice, that is, in all countries a secondary House of Justice must be instituted, and these secondary Houses of Justice must elect the members of the Universal one. Unto this body all things must be referred. It enacteth all ordinances and regulations that are not to be found in the explicit Holy Text.[18]
Establishment
In March 1922 Shoghi Effendi, who had been appointed the Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith upon the passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, summoned a group of senior Bahá’ís from across the world to the Holy Land for consultation on the future of the Faith and in the hopes of establishing the Universal House of Justice,[19] however as a result of the consultations Shoghi Effendi concluded that the Administrative Order needed to be more firmly established and he instructed the Bahá’ís he had summoned to return to their national communities to formalize the establishment of Local and National Spiritual Assemblies.[20]
In 1929 Shoghi Effendi considered holding an International Bahá’í Conference at which consultations could be held on Bahá’í administration and how to formalize the administrative bodies of the Eastern communities in order to lay the foundations for the formation of the Universal House of Justice, however he cancelled plans for the Conference when he learnt some prominent Bahá’ís intended to co-opt the Conference to attempt to form the body immediately. After this he did not undertake any explicit efforts towards the formation of the Universal House of Justice for twenty years and Rúḥíyyih Khánum has speculated that this was due to his concern that some prominent Bahá’ís desired to serve on the body in order to exert their own personal influence over the community.[21]
In January 1951 Shoghi Effendi appointed an International Bahá’í Council describing it as the forerunner of the Universal House of Justice.[22] In November 1957 Shoghi Effendi passed away without a successor and the Hands of the Cause of God elected nine Custodians from their membership to temporarily assume the responsibility of administrating the international Bahá’í community until the Universal House of Justice could be established,[23] and on November 25, 1957, they issued a message in which they stated that they would see to the evolution of the Council and call the election of the Universal House of Justice at some point.[24]
In November 1959 the Custodians announced that the Universal House of Justice would be established at Ridvan 1963,[25] and in Ridvan 1960 the Custodians held an election for the International Bahá’í Council, with the elected membership to assume office in 1961, in which all members of National Spiritual Assemblies voted in order to prepare for holding the election of the Universal House of Justice.[26] In 1963 the Universal House of Justice was successfully established at the First International Convention.[27]
Early Institutional Development
In April 1963 the Universal House of Justice made its first official decision when it sent a delegation to represent the Bahá’í Faith at the funeral of Izhak Ben Zvi, the former President of Israel, in Jerusalem.[28] In May 1963 the House of Justice decided at a meeting that it would not elect permanent officers in part to ensure no individual member would become seen as a figurehead of the Faith. Hand of the Cause Zikrullah Khadem stated that this decision was the first practical proof to him that the Institution was guided by Bahá’u’lláh.[29] Also in May 1963 the House announced that Auxiliary Board members and Hands of the Cause would not be eligible to serve on Spiritual Assemblies from Ridvan 1964 and Board members would need to choose which position to continue to serve in.[30]
In 1964 the Universal House of Justice announced a Nine Year Plan to begin at Ridvan 1964 to organize and coordinate the activities of the international Bahá’í community incorporating many suggestions submitted to them by the Hands of the Cause of God.[31] One of the goals of the Nine Year Plan to be achieved by the House itself was the formulation of its own Constitution,[32] and in 1972 it was completed and published.[33]
A challenge faced by the House upon its establishment was how the duties undertaken by the Hands of the Cause could continue to be undertaken as only the Guardian was authorized to appoint Hands and Shoghi Effendi had no successor. In November 1964 the House reached the conclusion that it was impossible for new Hands of the Cause to be appointed,[34][35] and it resolved the issue through consultation with the Hands by founding the new Institution of the Continental Boards of Counsellors in 1968. Counsellors were to be appointed for terms of service rather than for life and would undertake the Hands duties to oversee the protection and propagation of the Faith.[36]
Other institutional developments during the Nine Year Plan were the Universal House of Justice assuming the responsibility of directly supervising the non-governmental organization the Bahá’í International Community from the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States in 1967,[37][38] and in 1968 it established a Research Department tasked with preparing compilations from the Writings on subjects at its request.[39]
In June 1973 the appointed institutions of the Faith were expanded when the Universal House of Justice established the International Teaching Center to oversee the work of the Continental Boards of Counsellors,[40] and authorized Auxiliary Board members to appoint assistants who could work with Local Spiritual Assemblies on their behalf.[41]
In 1974 the Universal House of Justice launched a Five Year Plan and one of the goals set was the construction of a building to serve as the permanent Seat of the Universal House of Justice. Borrah Kavelin visited Iran in 1975 to consult with the Persian community on the costs of construction,[42] and as of 1978 the construction site had been secured and it was dedicated during the Fourth International Convention.[43] The building was completed and the Universal House of Justice occupied it in January 1983.[44]
Expansion of Activities
In 1979 the Universal House of Justice launched the Seven Year Plan with one of the goals of the Plan being the development of the of the Bahá’í World Centre and strengthening Bahá’í Institutions. In 1980 the Universal House of Justice established five year renewable terms for the Continental Boards of Counselors.[45] In 1983 it established the Office of Social and Economic Development at the World Centre in order to encourage the Bahá’í community to give systematic attention to social and economic development efforts in the wake of the largescale growth of the community throughout the 1970's.[46]
In 1985 the Universal House of Justice established an Office of Public Information to coordinate the external affairs activities of the Faith globally,[47] and the same year it issued the statement The Promise of World Peace and tasked the Bahá’í community with presenting it to Heads of State during the United Nations International Peace Year in 1986. The dissemination of the statement resulted in the Faith being proclaimed to the wider public on a larger scale than ever before.[48]
In 1986 the Universal House of Justice launched the Six Year Plan and announced the opening of a new Epoch of the Bahá’í Faith. For the first time it gave National Spiritual Assemblies the responsibility of developing their own specific goals rather than them receiving goals developed at the World Centre and it encouraged the Counsellors to assist the Assemblies in formulating plans.[49] The Universal House of Justice also developed the appointed institutions of the Faith further by introducing five year renewable terms for the Auxiliary Boards that year.[50]
In 1992 the Universal House of Justice made Ḥuqúqu’lláh a universally applicable law of the Faith.[51]
The Training Institute & Advancing the Process of Entry by Troops
In the 1996 Ridvan message the Universal House of Justice noted that the International Teaching Center had overseen the establishment of training institutes across the Bahá’í world reporting that this had achieved positive results,[52] and in 1996 in inaugurated a series of Plans which were focused on advancing the process of entry by troops.[53]
In 1999 the Universal House of Justice announced that it had reviewed the Laws of the Kitab-i-Aqdas and decided that all laws regarding obligatory prayer and fasting and the requirement to recite the Greatest Name ninety-five times each day were to be considered applicable to all Bahá’ís.[54]
The activities of the Bahá’í Faith became more systematic under the series of Plans launched in 1996 with the Universal House of Justice introducing the concept of the cluster in 2001 to organize the means by which teaching plans were made and progress monitored.[55] In 2002 it announced the concept of core activities as a means for teaching the Faith which were study circles, devotional meetings, and children's classes,[56] and in 2005 it noted the addition of junior youth groups as a fourth core activity.[57] The core activities became the standard means by which progress in Bahá’í communities is monitored and stimulated.
In 2005 the Universal House of Justice decided that the curriculum developed by the Ruhi Institute was to be used by all training institutes worldwide with the core activity of the study circle becoming study of the Ruhi materials.[58] In 2021 the Universal House of Justice announced a new series of Plans was to begin in 2022.[59]
In 2023 there was a tied vote for the ninth member of the Universal House of Justice at the election during the Thirteenth International Convention. As such a tie-breaker vote was held for the first time.[60]
Location
The Seat of the Universal House of Justice is on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel. The location for the Universal House of Justice was indicated by Bahá’u’lláh in the Tablet of Carmel.
Publications
For a more extensive list including compilations see Works and Messages of the Universal House of Justice.
Standalone Works
- 1972 - The Constitution of the Universal House of Justice
- 1985 - The Promise of World Peace
- 2001 - Century of Light
- 2001 - The Institution of the Counsellors
- 2002 - Letter to the World's Religious Leaders
- 2005 - One Common Faith
Compilations
- 1969 - Wellspring of Guidance: Messages from the Universal House of Justice, 1963-1968
- 1976 - Messages from the Universal House of Justice, 1968-1973
- 1992 - A Wider Horizon: Selected Messages of the Universal House of Justice, 1983-1992[61]
- 1996 - Messages from the Universal House of Justice, 1963-1986
- 2006 - Turning Point: Selected Messages of the Universal House of Justice and Supplementary Material, 1996-2006
- 2009 - Messages from the Universal House of Justice, 1986-2001
- 2017 - Framework for Action: Selected Messages of the Universal House of Justice and Supplementary Material 2006-2016
- 2024 - Messages from the Universal House of Justice, 2001-2022[62]
Current members

Name | Elected |
---|---|
Paul Lample | 2005 |
Payman Mohajer | 2005 |
Shahriar Razavi | 2008 |
Chuungu Malitonga | 2013 |
Ayman Rouhani | 2013 |
Juan Francisco Mora | 2018 |
Praveen Mallik | 2018 |
Andrej Donoval | 2023 |
Albert Nshisu Nsunga | 2023 |
Past members




Name | Served |
---|---|
Hugh Chance | 1963 - 1993 |
Hushmand Fatheazam | 1963 - 2003 |
Amoz Gibson | 1963 - 1982 |
Luṭfu’lláh Ḥakím | 1963 - 1968 |
David Hofman | 1963 - 1988 |
Borrah Kavelin | 1963 - 1988 |
Alí Nakhjavání | 1963 - 2003 |
Ian Semple | 1963 - 2005 |
Charles Wolcott | 1963 - 1987 |
David Ruhe | 1968 - 1993 |
Glenford Mitchell | 1982 - 2008 |
Peter Khan | 1987 - 2010 |
Hooper Dunbar | 1988 - 2010 |
Adib Taherzadeh | 1988 - 2000 |
Farzam Arbab | 1993 - 2013 |
Douglas Martin | 1993 - 2005 |
Kiser Barnes | 2000 - 2013 |
Hartmut Grossmann | 2003 - 2008 |
Firaydoun Javaheri | 2003 - 2018 |
Gustavo Correa | 2008 - 2018 |
Stephen Birkland | 2010 - 2023 |
Stephen Hall | 2010 - 2023 |
Amoz Gibson, Charles Wolcott, and Adib Taherzadeh died while serving. The other seventeen former members were allowed by the House to resign, presumably for personal reasons of health or age. Twelve members (Ḥakím, Kavelin, Hofman, Chance, Ruhe, Khan, Semple, Fatheazam, Grossmann, Nakhjavání, Arbab and Martin) have died after their retirement, while the other five former members are still living, as of September 2020.
Agencies
The Universal House of Justice appoints and directs several agencies with specific duties. Some are:
- Baha'i International Community [1] BIC also directs several agencies:
- Bahá’í Internet Agency
- Baha'i World Center Library
- Research Department
- Bahá’í International Development Organization
Notes
- ↑ BAYT-AL-ʿADL. Encyclopaedia Iranica.
- ↑ https://bahai-library.com/schaefer_infallible_institutions
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 7 December 1969 letter from the Universal House of Justice to an individual
- ↑ 9 March 1965 message from the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Netherlands
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 The Constitution of the Universal House of Justice, 1972
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Shahin Vafai, The Infallibility of the Universal House of Justice, bahai-library.com, 2005
- ↑ 14 June 1996 message from the Universal House of Justice to an individual
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 7 April 2008 message from the Department of the Secretariat of the Universal House of Justice to the Friends in Iran
- ↑ 1998 letter by / on behalf of Universal House of Justice
- ↑ 1998 letter by / on behalf of Universal House of Justice
- ↑ 'Ali Nakhjavani, Shoghi Effendi: The Range and Power of his Pen, Casa Editrice Baha'i, 2006, p 251
- ↑ 22 October 1996 Letter from the Universal House of Justice to an individual
- ↑ 8 June 1973 letter from the Universal House of Justice to the Baha'is of the World
- ↑ 10 June 1998 message from the Universal House of Justice to the International Teaching Centre
- ↑ From a Tablet of Bahá’u’lláh revealed after the Kitáb-i-Aqdas
- ↑ 'Abdu'l-Baha, Some Answered Questions
- ↑ Adib Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Baha'u'llah: Volume 1, George Ronald: Oxford, 1974, p 201
- ↑ 'Abdu'l-Baha, Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Baha
- ↑ Ruhiyyih Khanum, Priceless Pearl, Baha'i Publishing Trust: London, 1969, p 55
- ↑ Ruhiyyih Khanum, Priceless Pearl, Baha'i Publishing Trust: London, 1969, p 56
- ↑ Ruhiyyih Khanum, Priceless Pearl, Baha'i Publishing Trust: London, 1969, p 250
- ↑ Shoghi Effendi, Messages to the Bahá’í World: 1950–1957, 1971 edition, p 7
- ↑ Ruhiyyih Khanum (Ed.), The Ministry of the Custodians 1957-1963, Bahá’í World Centre, 1992, p 30
- ↑ Ruhiyyih Khanum (Ed.), The Ministry of the Custodians 1957-1963, Bahá’í World Centre, 1992, p 38
- ↑ Ruhiyyih Khanum (Ed.), The Ministry of the Custodians 1957-1963, Bahá’í World Centre, 1992, p 166
- ↑ Ruhiyyih Khanum (Ed.), The Ministry of the Custodians 1957-1963, Bahá’í World Centre, 1992, p 168
- ↑ Baha'i News (1963). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 387, Pg(s) 5. View as PDF.
- ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1974). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 14 (1963-1968), Pg(s) 93. View as PDF.
- ↑ Shahbaz Fatheazam, The Last Refuge: Fifty Years of the Universal House of Justice, Irfan Colloquium, 2015, p 42
- ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1974). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 14 (1963-1968), Pg(s) 84-85. View as PDF.
- ↑ Ruhiyyih Khanum (Ed.), The Ministry of the Custodians 1957-1963, Bahá’í World Centre, 1992, p 20
- ↑ https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/the-universal-house-of-justice/messages/19640421_001/1#090465770
- ↑ https://www.bahai.org/documents/the-universal-house-of-justice/constitution-universal-house-justice
- ↑ https://bahai-library.com/uhj_institution_counsellors#3a
- ↑ Baha'i News (1979). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 577, Pg(s) 6-14 May 2020. View as PDF.
- ↑ Baha'i News (August 1968). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 449, Pg(s) 1-. View as PDF.
- ↑ https://www.onecountry.org/story/mildred-mottahedeh-first-bahai-international-community-representative-united-nations-passed
- ↑ Baha'i News (1979). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 576, Pg(s) 7-11 May 2020. View as PDF.
- ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (2002). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 29 (2000-2001), Pg(s) 270. View as PDF.
- ↑ Baha'i News (1973). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 510, Pg(s) 1. View as PDF.
- ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1981). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 17 (1976-1979), Pg(s) 322. View as PDF.
- ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1998). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 20 (1986-1992), Pg(s) 824. View as PDF.
- ↑ Baha'i News (1987). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 676, Pg(s) 2. View as PDF.
- ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1994). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 19 (1983-1986), Pg(s) 23. View as PDF.
- ↑ Baha'i News (February 1981). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 599, Pg(s) 3. View as PDF.
- ↑ 26 November 2012 message from the Universal House of Justice to all National Spiritual Assemblies
- ↑ Baha'i News (1987). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 676, Pg(s) 3. View as PDF.
- ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1994). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 19 (1983-1986), Pg(s) 155. View as PDF.
- ↑ 25 February 1986 Message from the Universal House of Justice to All National Spiritual Assemblies
- ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1994). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 19 (1983-1986), Pg(s) 503. View as PDF.
- ↑ Ḥuqúqu’lláh—The Right of God: A Compilation of Extracts from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and from Letters Written by and on Behalf of Shoghi Effendi and the Universal House of Justice, 2009 edition
- ↑ Riḍván 153 Message from the Universal House of Justice
- ↑ Ridvan 2021 message from the Universal House of Justice
- ↑ 28 December 1999 letter from the Universal House of Justice to the Bahá'ís of the World
- ↑ 9 January 2001 message from the Universal House of Justice to the Conference of the Continental Boards of Counselors
- ↑ Ridvan 2002 message from the Universal House of Justice to the Bahá’ís of the World
- ↑ 27 December 2005 message from the Universal House of Justice to the Conference of the Continental Boards of Counsellors
- ↑ 28 December 2005 message from the Universal House of Justice to all National Spiritual Assemblies
- ↑ Ridvan 2021 message from the Universal House of Justice
- ↑ https://news.bahai.org/story/1659/
- ↑ https://bahai-library.com/uhj_wider_horizon
- ↑ https://books.google.com.au/books/about/Messages_from_the_Universal_House_of_Jus.html?id=ZvTh0AEACAAJ&redir_esc=y
References
- Bahá’u’lláh (1992) [1873]. The Kitáb-i-Aqdas: The Most Holy Book. Wilmette, Illinois, USA: Bahá’í Publishing Trust. ISBN 0-85398-999-0.
- Bahá’u’lláh (1994) [1873-92]. Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh Revealed After the Kitáb-i-Aqdas. Wilmette, Illinois, USA: Bahá’í Publishing Trust. ISBN 0-87743-174-4.
- Effendi, Shoghi (1974). Bahá’í Administration. Wilmette, Illinois, USA: Bahá’í Publishing Trust. ISBN 0-87743-166-3.
- Effendi, Shoghi (1976). Principles of Bahá’í Administration (4th ed.). London, UK: Bahá’í Publishing Trust. ISBN 0-900125-13-6.
External links


- The Universal House of Justice - info.bahai.org
- Constitution of the Universal House of Justice - info.bahai.org
- Administration - US National Baha'i website
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