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The Universal House of Justice, ordained by Bahá'u'lláh as
the legislative authority in the Bahá'í Faith, came into existence in 1963. It
is a nine-member body elected at five-year intervals by the entire membership
of the national governing institutions of the Bahá'í world.
The House of Justice directs the spiritual and
administrative affairs of the Bahá'í International Community. It serves as well
as custodian and trustee of the Bahá'í holy places and other properties in the
Holy Land. Endowed by Bahá'u'lláh with the authority to legislate on all
matters not specifically laid down in the Bahá'í scriptures, the House of
Justice is the institution that keeps the Bahá'í community abreast of an ever-changing
world.
The Universal House of Justice was inaugurated when, in
1963, members of National Spiritual Assemblies from around the globe, in an
atmosphere of deep reflection and profound devotion, elected nine individuals
from among the Bahá'ís of the world as members of this institution. Conducted
by secret ballot, the Bahá'í electoral process prohibits the nomination of
candidates, thereby giving maximum freedom of choice to each elector and
avoiding the partisanship and power-seeking behaviour so characteristic of
conventional political elections. The election of the Universal House of
Justice takes place every five years in this same atmosphere of spirituality
and dedication. At the international convention in April 2003, delegates from
more than 180 national communities participated in the election.
Nineteen tellers assembled at the Bahá'í World Centre on
Mount Carmel on 29 April 2003 to tally the votes in the election for the
Universal House of Justice.
Beyond the body's institutional importance, the
establishment of the Universal House of Justice symbolized the distinguishing
characteristic which Bahá'ís regard as the essence of their Faith: unity. No
matter how wholehearted and sincere, faith alone cannot ensure that the unity
of a religious community will endure. The emergence of the Universal House of
Justice as the guiding authority in all the affairs of the community meant that
the Bahá'í Faith had remained united through the most critical period of a
religion's history, the vulnerable first century during which schism almost
invariably takes root.
Founded on a set of unique electoral and consultative
principles that are democratic in spirit and method, the Bahá'í administrative
order is organized around freely elected governing councils which operate at
the local, national, and international levels. This hierarchy devolves
decision-making to the lowest practicable level — thereby instituting a unique
vehicle for grass-roots participation in governance — while at the same time
providing a level of coordination and authority that makes possible cooperation
on a global scale. Bahá'u'lláh called these governing councils "Houses of
Justice."
The Universal House of Justice today guides the activities
of the Bahá'í world community. It was instituted by Bahá'u'lláh Himself as the
supreme legislative organ of the Bahá'í administrative order. Its members,
Bahá'u'lláh wrote, are "the Trustees of God among His servants." The
Universal House of Justice itself states that:
The provenance, the authority,
the duties, the sphere of action of the Universal House of Justice all derive
from the revealed Word of Bahá'u'lláh which, together with the interpretations
and expositions of the Centre of the Covenant and of the Guardian of the Cause
— who, after 'Abdu'l-Bahá, is the sole authority in the interpretation of
Bahá'í scripture — constitute the binding terms of reference of the Universal
House of Justice and are its bedrock foundation.
"The essence of all that We have revealed for
thee," Bahá'u'lláh declares, "is Justice." The chief instrument
for the transformation of society and the achievement of lasting peace, He
asserts, is the establishment of justice in every aspect of life. Bahá'u'lláh
explains that the "purpose of justice is the appearance of unity among men."
A conviction of the practicality of world unity, coupled with a dedication and
willingness to work toward this goal, is the single most distinguishing
characteristic of the Bahá'í community. The efforts of Bahá'ís around the world
to build communities founded on cooperation and justice are guided by a unique
system of administration established by Bahá'u'lláh Himself.
The practical expression of the religious impulse in the
modern age, Bahá'u'lláh says, is collective decision-making and collective action
based on spiritual principles. To ensure that power is used as an instrument of
justice and that governance serves humanity's true needs, decision-making
authority, He insists, must rest with corporate bodies and not be left in the
hands of individuals. "In all things it is necessary to consult," is
His advice. "The maturity of the gift of understanding is made manifest
through consultation." Thus, although Bahá'u'lláh, like all Manifestations
of God before Him, enunciated and reiterated certain fundamental spiritual
truths and, through His appearance, imbued humankind with a "new and
regenerating Spirit," He also established laws and institutional
mechanisms to ensure the realization of justice in human affairs.
With the birth of the Universal House of Justice, a new era
opened in the history of the Bahá'í Faith. Authoritative direction flowed to
the Bahá'í community first through the Manifestation of God (Bahá'u'lláh), then
through the appointed Centre of the Faith (`Abdu'l-Bahá) and the Guardian of the
Faith (Shoghi Effendi). But with the passing of Shoghi Effendi and the
establishment of the Universal House of Justice, guidance for the Bahá'í
community no longer came from a personal channel, with family links to the
Manifestation of God, but from an elected body chosen by the Bahá'í membership
itself.
Source
This article, adapted from "The
Bahá'í World", official site of the Bahá'í International Community, is
reproduced from the Canadian Bahá'í website.
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