February 28, 2025

Táhirih and woman's suffrage

 Memorandum

To: The Universal House of Justice

Date: 10 January 1988

From: The Research Department

The Research Department has studied the questions raised by Mr. … in his letter of 1 December 1987 to the Universal House of Justice. Mr. … refers to a letter of the Guardian which states that woman's suffrage was not part of the concept of Táhirih. He requests a copy of this letter and expresses the view that the association of woman's suffrage with Táhirih appears to originate with a book about her life by a Western woman, the idea later being picked up and given credence in "God Passes By". Mr. … also expresses concern that many Bahá’í women put Táhirih before the Greatest Holy Leaf. We provide the following comment.

1. Letter about Táhirih

While the Research Department has been unable to locate a letter in which Shoghi Effendi stated that "women's suffrage was not part of her [Táhirih's] concept", the following extract from a letter dated 5 November 1949 written on behalf of the Guardian to a group of believers involved in arranging radio broadcasts in Latin America, may well be the one that Mr. … had in mind. The relevant section of this letter states:

“He feels that the projected radio broadcasts are of the utmost importance as they afford you an opportunity of bringing to many listeners a sense of the greatness of the Cause. In this connection he has some advice to give you: You should stick carefully to facts and beware of putting any interpretations of facts into it. Your best sources are Nabil's Narrative and Martha Root's book on Tahirih, as far as she is concerned, and, of course the general literature of our Faith. The Guardian advises you not to introduce into a series for public consumption anything obscure or mystical. By all means avoid the scene in the presence of Bahá'u'lláh between Tahirih and Quddus. Her separation from her husband and children, her teaching in Baghdad, her imprisonment and death, and her poems, make a beautiful and moving tale. He would not call her the first suffragette, for this certainly was strictly speaking no part of her concept.”

February 19, 2025

The resurrection of Christ and the Bible

 Memorandum

To: The Universal House of Justice

September 14, 1987

From: The Research Department

With reference to the letter dated 9 July 1987, in which .... requests information on Bahá'í concepts related to the Resurrection of Christ, we can offer the following information following our study of the question.

Before addressing the specific issue of the Resurrection, it is necessary to consider the general Bahá'í standpoint with regard to Christianity and the Bible. In his letter dated 28 March 1941 addressed to the believers throughout the West, Shoghi Effendi emphasizes:

“As to the position of Christianity, let it be stated without any hesitation or equivocation that its divine origin is unconditionally acknowledged, that the Sonship and Divinity of Jesus Christ are fearlessly asserted, that the divine inspiration of the Gospel is fully recognized, that the reality of the mystery of the Immaculacy of the Virgin Mary is confessed, and the primacy of Peter, the Prince of the Apostles, is upheld and defended....” (‘The Promised Day is Come’, rev. ed. (Wilmette: Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1980); p. 109)

With particular regard to the Bible, a letter dated 28 May 1984 written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice in response to questions raised by an individual believer outlines two principles to be observed in studying this book:

February 15, 2025

Loss of Voting Rights, Mani, Magi, Five-Pointed Star, Joseph Smith

 Memorandum

To: The Universal House of Justice

Date: 30 March 1987

From: The Research Department

Questions from Mr. …

Mr. … has raised several questions in a letter dated 16 December 1986. These questions have been referred to the Research Department for Study. We offer the following information.

1. Maní

We have not been able to identify any reference to Man! in the letters written by or on behalf of the beloved Guardian.

2. The Magi

The Research Department has identified two references to the Magi in Tablets written by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. In one Tablet the Master expresses His hope that the recipient will be like that heavenly star which guided the Magi to Christ. He states in the other that the Magi looked with the eye of truth and were able to discover the star which was an evidence of the birth of Christ. They were thus led to the Son of Truth.

3. The Five-Pointed Star as a Symbol of the Faith

As Mr. … is no doubt aware, a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual and published in "Bahá’í News" 228 (February 1950) on page 4 states:

Strictly speaking the 5-pointed star is the symbol of our Faith, as used by the Báb and explained by Him.

A reference to the use by the Báb of the five-pointed star is made on page 69 of "God Passes By" (Wilmette: Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1974). However, the Research Department has not been able to identify the explanation to which Shoghi Effendi referred as the works of the Báb held at the World Centre are not as yet properly Indexed.

4. Joseph Smith and the Mormons

February 10, 2025

Interpretation of Biblical Verses

Memorandum

7 January 1986

To: The Universal House of Justice   

From: Research Department

Interpretation of Biblical Verses

The Research Department has studied the questions contained in the letter dated 27 November 1985 from Mr. -- to the Universal House of Justice concerning the interpretation of a number of verses from the Bible. We make the following comment.

In relation to the general question of the interpretation of biblical verses, the Guardian, in a letter dated 31 January 1955, written on his behalf to an individual believer, provided the following guidance:

"Except for what has been explained by Bahá'u'lláh and ‘Abdu'l-Bahá, we have no way of knowing what various symbolic allusions in the Bible mean."

It is clear from the Guardian's statement that we can be sure of the exact meaning of only such passages as have been authoritatively interpreted in our Writings. In time absence of any authoritative interpretation, the individual is free to draw his or her own conclusions about the meaning of the verses and prophecies. Some examples of individual interpretations include:

Ruth J. Moffett, "New Keys to the Book of Revelation". New Delhi: Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1977.

Robert F. Riggs, "Apocalypse Unsealed". New York: Philosophical Library, 1981.

With regard to the interpretation of the Book of Revelation, the Guardian, in a letter dated 13 August 1944, written on his behalf to a individual believer, stated:

"…although the Book of Revelation has not been interpreted in the teachings from beginning to end there are many passages of it which have been interpreted. It is a very important book and very important in teaching the Bahá'í interpretation of certain Biblical passages to devout Christians."