Is the current form of UHJ a Divine Institution?

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The s-elected Baha’i leaders in Haifa call themselves “the Universal House of Justice.” But do they actually meet the definition of this Divine Institution?

Abdu’l Baha has said, “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.” Abdu’l Baha (Will and Testament, p. 14.)

Presently, there is no secondary or national House of Justice anywhere in the world. Only provisional institutions called “Spiritual Assemblies” can exist, according to the decree of the global Baha’i leadership. These assemblies cannot be considered secondary Houses of Justice operating under a different name, because they are currently denied the authority to exercise many of the rights and powers ordained for the true Baha’i legislative bodies.

How then can there be a UHJ elected according to scriptural requirements?

Even if the secondary Houses of Justice were allowed to exist in each country of the world, there still could not be a properly constituted Universal House of Justice, because the Guardian is supposed to be part of this institution.

  • “The Guardian of the Cause of God is its sacred head and the distinguished member for life of that body [the Universal House of Justice]. Should he not attend in person its deliberations, he must appoint one to represent him.” (Abd’ul-Baha. Will and Testament, p. 14.)
  • “Though the Guardian of the faith has been made the permanent head of so august a body [the Universal House of Justice] he can never, even temporarily, assume the right of exclusive legislation. He cannot override the decision of the majority of his fellow-members, but is bound to insist upon a reconsideration by them of any enactment he conscientiously believes to conflict with the meaning and to depart from the spirit of Baha’ullah’s revealed utterances. He interprets what has been specifically revealed, and cannot legislate except in his capacity as member of the Universal House of Justice.” (Rabbani, Shoghi Effendi. The World Order of Baha’u’llah, p. 150.)

 

Furthermore, the so-called Guardian Shoghi Effendi has also specifically stated that the Universal House of Justice is inseparable from the Guardianship. In the absence of the Guardianship, the Baha’i leaders could create any kind of provisional administrative institution, as long as they do not call it the “Universal House of Justice” and claim the infallible authority of this sacred body.

 

Considering these verses from Shoghi Effendi, do the Baha’i leaders have a right to demand that the Baha’is regard them as the true Universal House of Justice, with all the weighty implications of such a status?

  • “the inseparable institutions of the Guardianship and of the Universal House of Justice” (Rabbani, Shoghi Effendi. Citadel of Faith, p. 76.)
  • “Acting in conjunction with each other these two inseparable institutions [the Guardianship and the Universal House of Justice] administer its [the Faith’s] affairs, coordinate its activities, promote its interests, execute its laws and defend its subsidiary institutions.” (Rabbani, Shoghi Effendi. The World Order of Baha’u’llah, p. 148.)

 

Also, can the so-called Baha’i Leaders explain the following terms from the Holy Scriptures of Baha’u’llah and Abdu’l Baha?

  • Universal House of Justice (without Guardian)
  • International Teaching Centre
  • Continental Board of Counsellors
  • Auxiliary Board Members (ABM)
  • Assistant ABM
  • National Spiritual Assemblies
  • Local Spiritual Assemblies
  • Rohi Institute

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