Hands of the Cause of God

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Contents

Todos:

The remaining Hands should have their letter of appointments added, and the paragraphs should be converted into bolded quotations or at least include references for each point made.

Description

The Hands of the Cause of God ("Hands of the Cause" or simply "Hands") are individuals specially appointed by Bahá'u'lláh, 'Abdu'l-Bahá, or Shoghi Effendi for the purpose of protection and propagation of the Bahá'í Faith. In his Will and Testament (par. 21), 'Abdu'l-Bahá specifies that only the Guardian has the authority to appoint Hands of the Cause. Because the Guardianship stands without a living Guardian following the passing of Shoghi Effendi, and The Universal House of Justice has no textual authority to appoint Hands of the Cause, it is no longer possible for individuals to be designated as Hands.

Synopsis of appointment history (see listing below)

During His lifetime, Bahá'u'lláh appointed four individuals to the rank of Hand of the Cause. 'Abdu'l-Bahá did not appoint any living Hands of the Cause, but instead posthumously elevated four more individuals to the same rank, on account of their exemplary service to the Faith. Shoghi Effendi continued this tradition and also posthumously named 10 believers as Hands of the Cause. It was not until 24 December 1951 that 12 individuals were named to be the first contingent of living Hands of the Cause since the time of Bahá'u'lláh. A few short months later, on 29 February 1952, the number of Hands was raised to 19. For the next 5 and a half years, the Guardian kept the number of Hands of the Cause constant at 19, making several individual appointments to fill vacancies whenever one of the Hands passed away. Finally, in the last month of his life, during October 1957, the Guardian appointed a third contingent of Hands of the Cause, raising the total number to 27.

Appointed Hands

Bahá'u'lláh gave Baha'i some individuals special titles. For such individuals, the title is given first followed by the individual's given name in parenthesis.

Bahá'u'lláh

'Abdu'l-Bahá

All of Abdul-Baha's appointments were made posthumously.

Shoghi Effendi

Posthumous appointments

Living apointments

Contingent appointments - 24 December 1951

(Letter of appointment):

Contingent appointments - 29 February 1952

(Letter of appointment):

Individual appointments (1952-1957)
Contingent appointments - October 1957

(Letter of appointment):

A total of 50 individuals have been appointed or posthumously designated as Hands of the Cause of God. As of this writing on April 30, 2004, only 'Alí-Muhammad Varqá is still living.

Stewardship of the Custodians (1957-1963)

When Shoghi Effendi passed away in 1957, he named no direct successor, and Baha'is were unsure of to whom they should turn for leadership. In his writings, Shoghi Effendi called the Hands the "Chief Stewards of Baha'u'llah's embryonic World Commonwealth." (citation) By that statement, the Hands elected nine of their own membership (referred to as the "Custodians") to take responsibility for the completion of the Guardian's Ten Year Crusade (begun in 1953) and facilitated the election of the Universal House of Justice at the Crusade's end in 1963. This period from 1957 to 1963 became known as the Interregnum.

Writings as a Group

Writings as Individuals

Martha Root

Táhirih (book)

Rúhíyyih Khánum

Priceless Pearl


From Lights of Guidance (to categorize)

The Institution of "The Learned"

"...the beloved Guardian wrote on 4 November 1931: 'In this holy cycle the "learned" are, on the one hand, the Hands of the Cause of God, and, on the other, the teachers and diffusers of His teachings who do not rank as Hands, but who have attained an eminent position in the teaching work. As to the "rulers" they refer to the members of the Local, National and International Houses of Justice. The duties of each of these souls will be determined in the future.' (Translated from the Persian).

"The Hands of the Cause of God, the Counsellors and the members of the Auxiliary Boards fall within the definition of the 'learned' given by the beloved Guardian. Thus they are all intimately interrelated and it is not incorrect to refer to the three ranks collectively as one institution.

"However, each is also a separate institution in itself...."

(From a letter of the Universal House of Justice to the Continental Boards of Counsellors and National Spiritual Assemblies, April 24, 1972: Messages from The Universal House of Justice, 1968-1973, p. 92, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1078)

The Hands of the Cause Not Heirs of Any Name or Title

"...The Hands of the Cause in this dispensation are not heirs of any name or title. Nay, they are holy personages, the rays of whose holiness and spirituality throw light on the minds of people. Hearts are attracted by the beauty of their morals, the sincerity of their intentions and the sense of equity and justice. Souls are involuntarily enamoured of their praiseworthy morals and laudable qualities; faces turn spontaneously to their manifest signs and traces. It is not a title that may be awarded to whomsoever it pleases, nor is it a chair of honour in which whosoever pleases sits. The Hands of the Cause are the Hands of God. Hence whosoever is the servant and the promoter of the Word of God, he is the Hand of God. The object is the spirit and not the letters or words. The more self-effacing one is, the more he is assisted in the Cause of God; and the more meek and humble, the nearer is he to God."

('Abdu'l-Bahá: Mahmoud's Diary, pp. 29-30, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1079)

Tablet Revealed for the Hands of the Cause

"May My praise, salutations, and greetings rest upon the stars of the heaven of Thy knowledge--the Hands of Thy Cause--they who circled round Thy Will, spoke not save after Thy leave, and clung not save unto Thy hem. They are servants whose mention and praise are recorded in the Holy Writ, Thy Books and Tablets wherein are extolled their services, victories, and high resolve. Through them the standards of Thy oneness were raised in Thy cities and realms, and the banners of Thy sanctity were uplifted in Thy Kingdom. They utter not a word on any subject ere Thou hast spoken, for their ears are attuned to hear Thy Command, and their eyes are expectant to witness the effulgence of Thy Countenance. They are servants who have been well-favoured, have attained Thy good-pleasure, and have arisen in Thy Cause. The people of the world, the denizens of the Kingdom, and the dwellers of Paradise and the Realm on High, and beyond them, the Tongue of Grandeur send salutation upon them. Praise be to Thee, O my God, that Thou hast aided me to make mention of them and to praise them and their stations in Thy Cause and in Thy days.

"No God is there save Thee, the Reckoner, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise."

(Tablet of Bahá'u'lláh, translated in the Holy Land: Bahá'í News, No. 420, p. 2, March 1966, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1080)

Auxiliary Institution of Guardianship

"...The institution of the Hands of the Cause of God was brought into existence in the time of Bahá'u'lláh and when the Administrative Order was proclaimed and formally established by Abdu'l-Bahá in His Will, it became an auxiliary institution of the Guardianship. The Auxiliary Boards, in their turn, were brought

into being by Shoghi Effendi as an auxiliary institution of the Hands of the Cause."

(From a letter of the Universal House of Justice to the Continental Boards of Counsellors and National Spiritual Assemblies, April 24, 1972: Messages from The Universal House of Justice, 1968-1973, p. 92, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1081)

Functions of the Hands of the Cause

"...The institution of the Hands of the Cause of God, charged in the Sacred Texts with the specific duties of protecting and propagating the Faith, has a particularly vital responsibility to discharge. In their capacity as protectors of the Faith, the Hands will continue to take action to expel Covenant-breakers and to reinstate those who sincerely repent, subject in each instance to the approval of the Universal House of Justice."

(From a letter of the Universal House of Justice to the Followers of Bahá'u'lláh throughout the World, October 1963: Wellspring of Guidance, pp. 13-14, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1082)

The Authority of Expulsion and Reinstatement Exercised by the Hands of the Cause

"The authority of expulsion and reinstatement will be exercised by the Hands of the Cause of God, subject in each instance to the approval of the Universal House of Justice. When a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors learns of any incipient Covenant-breaking, the matter should be reported without delay to a Hand of the Cause available in the area, who will deal with the matter. A copy of the report should be sent to the Hands in the Holy Land and to the other members of the Board. Should no Hand of the Cause be available in the area, the report should be sent to the Hands of the Cause in the Holy Land, with copy to the other members of the Board, in which case the Hands of the Cause in the Holy Land will deal with the matter. Such reports should contain full details of actions already taken.

"Reinstatement of Covenant-breakers will follow similar procedures."

(From a letter of the Universal House of Justice to the Continental Boards of Counsellors, June 24, 1968, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1083)

Prerogative and Obligation of the Hands of the Cause to Consult with Boards of Counsellors and National Assemblies

"The Hands of the Cause of God have the prerogative and obligation to consult with the Continental Boards of Counsellors and National Spiritual Assemblies on any subject which, in their view, affects the interests of the Cause....

"...The House of Justice will call upon them to undertake special missions on its behalf, to represent it on both Bahá'í and other occasions and to keep it informed of the welfare of the Cause ... they will operate increasingly on an intercontinental level, a factor which will lend tremendous impetus to the diffusion throughout the Bahá'í world of the spiritual inspiration channelled through them--the Chief Stewards of Bahá'u'lláh's embryonic World Commonwealth."

(From a letter of the Universal House of Justice to the Bahá'ís of the World, June 24, 1968: Messages from the Universal House of Justice, 1968-1973, pp. 7-8, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1084)

Inappropriate for Them to Serve on Administrative Institutions

"The exalted rank and specific functions of the Hands of the Cause of God make

it inappropriate for them to be elected or appointed to administrative institutions, or to be elected as delegates to national conventions. Furthermore, it is their desire and the desire of the House of Justice that they be free to devote their entire energies to the vitally important duties conferred upon them in the Holy Writings...."

(From a letter of the Universal House of Justice to the Bahá'ís of the World, November 1964: Wellspring of Guidance, p. 42, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1085)

The Rank and Position of the Hands of the Cause of God

"The rank and position of the Hands of the Cause are superior to the position of the National Assemblies. In writing concerning the Hands, therefore, when there is reference to the Institutions of the Faith, after the Guardian[+F1 (and the Universal House of Justice)], should be mentioned the Hands, and then the National bodies. Because the Guardian has restrained the Hands at this time, and given as one of their functions, aiding the National bodies in winning the goals of the Ten Year Crusade, the National bodies should not misunderstand the true position of the Hands. They should report to the Hands, where teaching assistance is needed, etc., so the Hands, and their Auxiliary Boards, may be of the greatest assistance."

(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States, April 30, 1957, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1086)
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