From the Writings

I t is incumbent upon everyone to aid those daysprings of authority and sources of command
who are adorned with the ornament of equity and justice. Blessed are the rulers and the learned
among the people of Bahá. They are My trustees among My servants and the manifestations of
My commandments amidst My people. Upon them rest My glory, My blessings and My grace which
have pervaded the world of being. In this connection the utterances revealed in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas
are such that from the horizon of their words the light of divine grace shineth luminous and
resplendent.
O ye My Branches! A mighty force, a consummate power lieth concealed in the world of being. Fix
your gaze upon it and upon its unifying influence, and not upon the differences which appear from it.
The Will of the divine Testator is this: It is incumbent upon the Aghsán, the Afnán and My Kindred to
turn, one and all, their faces towards the Most Mighty Branch. Consider that which We have revealed
in Our Most Holy Book: ‘When the ocean of My presence hath ebbed and the Book of My Revelation
is ended, turn your faces toward Him Whom God hath purposed, Who hath branched from this
Ancient Root.’ The object of this sacred verse is none other except the Most Mighty Branch [‘Abdu’l-
Bahá]. Thus have We graciously revealed unto you Our potent Will, and I am verily the Gracious, the
All-Powerful. Verily God hath ordained the station of the Greater Branch [Muhammad ‘Alí] to be
beneath that of the Most Great Branch [‘Abdu’l-Bahá]. He is in truth the Ordainer, the All-Wise. We
have chosen ‘the Greater’ after ‘the Most Great’, as decreed by Him Who is the All-Knowing, the
All-Informed.
It is enjoined upon everyone to manifest love towards the Aghsán, but God hath not granted
them any right to the property of others.
O ye My Aghsán, My Afnán and My Kindred! We exhort you to fear God, to perform
praiseworthy deeds and to do that which is meet and seemly and serveth to exalt your
station. Verily I say, fear of God is the greatest commander that can render the Cause of God
victorious, and the hosts which best befit this commander have ever been and are an
upright character and pure and goodly deeds.
Say: O servants! Let not the means of order be made the cause of confusion and the
instrument of union an occasion for discord. We fain would hope that the people of
Bahá may be guided by the blessed words: ‘Say: all things are of God.’ This exalted
utterance is like unto water for quenching the fire of hate and enmity which
smouldereth within the hearts and breasts of men. By this single utterance
contending peoples and kindreds will attain the light of true unity. Verily He
speaketh the truth and leadeth the way. He is the All-Powerful, the Exalted, the
Gracious.
It is incumbent upon everyone to show courtesy to, and have regard for the
Aghsán, that thereby the Cause of God may be glorified and His Word exalted.
This injunction hath time and again been mentioned and recorded in the
Holy Writ. Well is it with him who is enabled to achieve that which the
Ordainer, the Ancient of Days hath prescribed for him. Ye are bidden
moreover to respect the members of the Holy Household, the Afnán and the
kindred. We further admonish you to serve all nations and to strive for the
betterment of the world.
That which is conducive to the regeneration of the world and the salvation
of the peoples and kindreds of the earth hath been sent down from the
heaven of the utterance of Him Who is the Desire of the world. Give ye
a hearing ear to the counsels of the Pen of Glory. Better is this for you
than all that is on the earth. Unto this beareth witness My glorious and
wondrous Book. (Bahá’u’lláh, Kitab-i-Ahd)
December 2010
Questions 167 B.E.
Vol. 23, No. 4
Published for the Bahá’ís of Canada
INSIDE
ON THE COVER

FROM THE INSTITUTIONS

UNIVERSAL HOUS OF JUSTICE
COUNSELLORS APPOINTED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
GARDEN REOPENS TO PILGRIMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
THE COVENANT AND CHILDREN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
HEARTBEAT
A GENEROUS SPIRIT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
THE RIGHT OF GOD
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

SPOTLIGHT
A south facing view from the water well towards the
bridge at the entrance to the Ridván Garden. ONTARIO LEARNS FROM
(Photo: Bahá’í International Community) SUMMER TEACHING CAMPAIGN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
PIONEERING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ’S JOURNEYS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
THE AUTHORITY OF THE
UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

DEPARTMENTS
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 U N IV E R SA L H OUSE OF JUS T I CE

Counsellors appointed
From the Universal House of Justice to the Bahá’ís of the World, 1 November 2010:
Dear Bahá’í Friends, Daradur, Antonella Demonte, Andrej Donoval, Aiste
Elijio, Shirin Fozdar-Foroudi, Zoraida Garcia Garro,
he Day of the Covenant, 26 November 2010,

T marks the opening of a new five-year term of

service for the members of the Continental
Saba Khabirpour, Bernard Lo Cascio, Firouzeh
Moghbel-Naderi, Paul Verheij
Boards of Counsellors for the Protection and The following believers, who have earned our
Propagation of the Faith. It is with great joy that we abiding gratitude for their self-sacrificing
announce the names of the Counsellors appointed contributions to the progress of the Cause, are being
for the coming term, whose number remains at relieved of the duties of membership on the Boards
eighty-one. of Counsellors:
AFRICA (19 Counsellors): Selam Ahderom Farzin Aghdasi, Eugene S. Andrews, Fadel Ardakani,
(Trustee of the Continental Fund), Ramchand Fevziye Baki, Nidavanur Baskaran, Beatrice
Coonjul, Mariama Ousmane Djaouga, Maziar Benson, Desmond Godfrey Browne, David
Djoneidi, Clement Thyrell Feizoure, Agatha Gaisie- Chittleborough, Irene Chung, Vivien Craig, Olga
Nketsiah, Kini Musalo Geoghegan, Amina Jaouane, Daynovskaya, Ehsanollah Hemmat, David Huang,
Townshend Lihanda, Sehla Masunda, Katalayi Nadia Jaberi-Koppold, Eric Kingston, Deborah
Mbombo, Maina Mkandawire, Aggrey Zeyazi Munubi, Kirton, Eddy Lutchmaya, Enos Makhele, Antonio
Zowe Tiba Nganyade, Albert Nshisu Nsunga, Helen Gabriel Marques Filho,Tsatsi Othaniel Mfete, Ruth
Otia, Ahmad Parsa, Christopher Kiprotich Songok, Amos Mnyampi, Hannu Tapani Olkkonen, Jaya
Tiati a Zock Gopan Ramasamy, Lateef Rasheed, Manijeh
Reyhani, Ilhan Sezgin, Crystal Baker Shoaie,
THE AMERICAS (19 Counsellors): Jose Luis
Marilyn Smith, Rodrigo Tomas, Gerardo Vargas,
Almeida, Ann Boyles, Ronny Brenes, Beatriz Carmona,
Robin White, Fereidoun Yazdani, Sohrab
Daniel Duhart, Jorge Henrique Guerreiro (Trustee of
Youssefian
the Continental Fund), Ana Hilda de Lemus, Alison
Milston, Borna Noureddin, Garth Pollock, Ganesh We are confident that these dear friends will remain
Ramsahai, Carmen Elisa de Sadeghian, Pejman a source of inspiration and strength to the believers
Samoori, Bernardino Sanchez, Daniel Scott, Navid as they continue their dedicated efforts for the
Serrano, Leticia de Solano, Anita Vandella Williams, advancement of the Faith in the coming years. We
Holly Woodard shall offer supplications at the Sacred Threshold on
their behalf, that divine blessings may surround their
ASIA (20 Counsellors): Jamil Aliyev, Enkhdelger
every endeavour in the path of service to
Banzragch, Jabbar Eidelkhani, Bijan Farid, Nadera
Bahá’u’lláh.
Fikri, Gloria Javid, Lee Lee Loh Ludher, Tarrant
Matthew Mahony, Khumukcham Satish Meetei, In our recent Ridván message, we announced to the
Delafruz Nassimova, Lori McLaughlin Noguchi, Bahá’í world the achievement of the goal of the
Khursheda Porsayeva, Foad Reyhani (Trustee of the current Five Year Plan – to establish no less than
Continental Fund), Rajan Sawant, Omid 1,500 intensive programmes of growth worldwide –
Seioshanseian, Zebiniso Solieva, George Soraya, and outlined in significant detail the developments
Ircham Hadi Sujadmiko, Mehranguiz Farid Tehrani, that have taken place in the Bahá’í community at the
Myint Zaw Oo level of culture over the last decade and a half. We
expressed the hope that, during this final year of the
AUSTRALASIA (11 Counsellors): Sohayla Asari,
Plan, the friends would bend their energies towards
Ritia Kamauti Bakineti, Soheyla Bolouri, Kirk
strengthening the pattern of expansion and
Johnson, Dinesh Kumar-Mills, Jalal Rodney Mills,
consolidation that has now been everywhere
U’ileiuluwehi Pimental, Kessia Aisoli Ruh, Tessa
established, in preparation for the Five Year Plan to
Scrine, Henry Tamashiro, Alan Wilcox (Trustee of the
be launched at Ridván 2011. We are calling the
Continental Fund)
Counsellors from all continents to the Bahá’í World
EUROPE (12 Counsellors): Naisan Azimi, Uta von Centre for a conference from 28 December 2010 to
Both (Trustee of the Continental Fund), Olga 1 January 2011, during which deliberations will be

4 I November/December 2010 • Questions 167 B.E. Bahá’í Canada

 U N IV E R SA L H OUSE OF JUS T I CE
held on the features of the next Five Year Plan and on It is our ardent prayer that the Blessed Beauty may
the decisive role the Counsellors are to play, together vouchsafe unto these eighty-one souls His unfailing
with their auxiliaries, in the critical period leading protection and unceasing confirmations as they arise
up to its launch and in the years that follow. to take up the high duties to which they have been
called.

Garden reopens to pilgrims

From the Universal House of Justice to all National Spiritual Assemblies, 29 October 2010:

Dear Bahá’í Friends,

ith joyful and grateful hearts we announce That site of such exquisite beauty, designated by Him

W that the restoration and conservation work

on the Ridván Garden in the Holy Land,
which includes a circulating water system that
recreates the island and an Ottoman flour mill that
was in use during the time of Bahá’u’lláh, has now
been successfully completed.
as “Our Verdant Isle”, is once again open to pilgrims,
who will have the opportunity to experience the
tranquillity of the surroundings that greeted the
Blessed Beauty when He visited it at the termination
of His nine-year confinement within the walls of the
prison-city of ‘Akká.

Some two kilometers southeast of the historic city of Acre, the Ridván Garden – created for Bahá’u’lláh – has been restored to its
original island setting. The centrepiece is a fountain from which water is conveyed into a canal that runs past the garden.
(Photo: Bahá’í International Community)
Bahá’í Canada November/December 2010 • Questions 167 B.E. I 5
 NATIONAL SPIRITUA L ASSEMBLY

The Covenant and children

he National Spiritual Assembly recently had the members are the “Trustees of God among His

T joy of consulting with a group of children’s

class teachers and coordinators of this core
activity, to explore ways to support and accelerate
servants and the daysprings of authority in His
countries.”2
It is this symphony that has brought the children of
their work. One of the teachers told the story of the the world, in growing numbers, to their own
first time her class – composed of neighbourhood encounter with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. In the lines ‘Abdu’l-
children who had not been raised in Bahá’í families Bahá penned to introduce the prayer now read at His
– saw a picture of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. The 6- and 7-year-olds Shrine, He promised that whoever “reciteth this
had attended many classes and knew the stories well. prayer with lowliness and fervor will bring gladness
One day, one of the children asked, “Is ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and joy to the heart of this Servant; it will be even as
real?” The teacher was stunned. For some reason, she meeting Him face to face.” In another passage, He
had not explicitly told the participants in the class says “A trusted messenger hath arrived and hath, in
that the Person figuring in the stories they the world of the spirit, delivered a message from
were hearing every week was a real person, who had God’s loved ones. This auspicious courier bringeth
actually walked on the earth. This question made her fragrances of great ardour and wafteth the life-giving
realize that they were thinking of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as breezes of the love of God. He maketh the heart to
comparable to Santa Claus, and she hastened to fetch dance for joy and filleth up the soul with an ecstasy
a photograph of the Master to show them that He of love and rapture.”3
actually existed, had lived on the planet, and that the
stories were not fables, but true. With these passages in mind, let us re-visit the
children’s class and the passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s
“This is ‘Abdu’l-Bahá,” she explained simply, for they photograph. Let us imagine the joy of that meeting
already knew much about Him. They already and its effect on the tender hearts and minds of the
loved Him. The photograph was passed from child to children, made possible by the devotion of a
child, but not in the ordinary way children pass children’s class teacher who has built such strong
things – each child paused as they held the picture bonds of love between the Master and the
and looked intently at His smiling face. One child participants in her class. Who can doubt the
touched His face and smiled. All were silent. In that foundations of firmness in the Covenant are being
silence, it was clear they were experiencing the thus built, young heart by young heart?
presence of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá – the atmosphere was so
full the teacher herself could not speak. With deepest gratitude to all parents, community
members and children’s class teachers who labour
November 26 is the day that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá has given to serve Canada’s children,
us to celebrate His appointment as the Centre of the
Covenant – this matchless gift whose power is “the National Spiritual Assembly
pivot of the oneness of mankind.”1 It is the Covenant of the Bahá’ís of Canada
that provides a direct line from the footsteps of a
weary Traveller approaching the gates of the city of
Shíráz in search of His Beloved, to the Five Year Plan
References
– a worldwide symphony conducted by the 1 Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, p. 238
institution ordained by Bahá’u’lláh Himself to be 2 Bahá’u’lláh, Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 26
“charged with the affairs of the people,” whose 3 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 19

6 I November/December 2010 • Questions 167 B.E. Bahá’í Canada

 A generous spirit
O CHILDREN OF DUST!
Tell the rich of the midnight sighing
of the poor, lest heedlessness lead them into the path of
destruction, and deprive them of the Tree of Wealth. To give
and to be generous are attributes of Mine; well is it with
him that adorneth himself with My virtues.
(Bahá’u’lláh, The Persian Hidden Words)

Whosoever comes with one good act, God will give him
tenfold. There is no doubt that the living Lord shall assist
and confirm the generous soul.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Star of the West, Vol. 6, No. 17, p. 139)
Be ye daysprings of generosity, dawning-points of the
mysteries of existence, sites where inspiration alighteth,
rising-places of splendours, souls that are sustained by the
Holy Spirit, enamoured of the Lord, detached from all save
Him, holy above the characteristics of humankind, clothed
in the attributes of the angels of heaven, that ye may win for
yourselves the highest bestowal of all, in this new time, this
wondrous age.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 242)

In this wondrous age, however, praised be God, the

commandments of God are not delimited, not restricted to
any one group of people, rather have all the friends been
commanded to show forth fellowship and love,
consideration and generosity and loving-kindness to every
community on earth.
To give and to be (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 20)

Strive, therefore, to create love in the hearts in order that

they may become glowing and radiant. When that love is
generous are shining, it will permeate other hearts even as this electric
light illumines its surroundings. When the love of God is
established, everything else will be realized. This is the true
attributes of Mine; foundation of all economics. Reflect upon it. Endeavor to
become the cause of the attraction of souls rather than to
enforce minds. Manifest true economics to the people. Show
well is it with him what love is, what kindness is, what true severance is and
generosity. This is the important thing for you to do.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 238)

that adorneth himself There is no time to lose. The masses, greatly tried by the
calamities of the age, restless, disappointed, and eager to
obtain real and complete relief in their hour of trial, hunger
with My virtues. for the Message of the new Day, and will, if properly
approached and appealed to, embrace the great verities it
enshrines. Firm and unassailable unity among those who
(Bahá’u’lláh, The Persian Hidden Words) profess to be its bearers, unshakeable fidelity to the
principles on which it is founded, generous and unfailing
support of the institutions designed to propagate it, are the
vital prerequisites of their urgent and sacred task.
(Shoghi Effendi, Letters from the Guardian to Australia and New Zealand 1923-19 7, p. 62)

Bahá’í Canada November/December 2010 • Questions 167 B.E. I 7

 H E A RT B E AT

The story of Ardishír’s generosity

O ne of the most poignant stories we
have about the Funds tells of how the
land for the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár of India
was bought.
The Guardian had given his approval for the
purchase of a piece of land on the outskirts of
Delhi which was composed of one large plot
and four much smaller ones, amounting to a
total of about twenty-two and a half acres.
This was in 1953 when there were not many
Bahá’ís in that part of the world and the sum of
Rs. 140,289, which was needed for the
purchase of the five plots, was a considerable
amount of money (about US$20,000).
The National Spiritual Assembly allotted a Bahá’í House of Worship in New Delhi, India. © Bahá’í International
portion of this sum to each area under its Community
jurisdiction, and the members set out to visit
the friends in different places, explain to them to an urgent matter. When he came back he
the importance of the Temple, and encourage placed before them his entire capital – in cash.
them to contribute towards the purchase of He had drawn from his bank all the money he
the land. had saved in his life, plus whatever cash he had
in his till which he had not yet counted. The
Two of the members of the Assembly arrived total amount was Rs. 100,190.
one day at the modest restaurant of Ardishír
Rustampúr in Hyderabad. Ardishír had left his The two visitors were astounded by this
native village in Írán when he was only ten extraordinary response to their appeal. Their
years old, to seek his fortune in India. Besides discreet inquiries revealed that Ardishír had
the clothes he wore at the time, he had the not kept a single rupee for himself. “How will
equivalent of $1.00 in his pocket and a few you manage your business?” they asked? “This
pieces of dry bread. He arrived in Bombay after money is not mine”, Ardishír replied. “It was
a difficult journey and, as he was a Zoroastrian given to me by Bahá’u’lláh and I have been
himself, he found a job in the restaurant of a keeping it in trust. I am happy I can give it back
Zoroastrian from Írán. He worked hard and to Him now. If it pleases Him, He will again give
saved every paise (a hundred paise make one me what I need.” It was useless to argue with
rupee) he earned, dreaming of the day when him, but his two friends begged him to keep at
he could have a restaurant of his own. Many least Rs. 190 for his immediate needs.
years later, he finally managed to open a The magnanimous gift of Rs. 100,000 paid for
modest restaurant in Hyderabad, where he the total cost of the first, and by far the largest,
learned about the Bahá’í Faith. of the five plots of land for the Mashriqu’l-
Ardishír lost his heart to Bahá’u’lláh and longed Adhkár. Only a little over Rs. 40,000 was now
to serve Him with an ardour as fervent as he needed for the other four plots.
had felt when he yearned for a business of his Ardishír had seen the opportunity of a lifetime
own. and had seized it without the least hesitation. It
So this was the man at whose place the two seemed as though he had struggled and saved
members of the National Assembly found all these years to be able to lay a worthy
themselves in Hyderabad. From them, Ardishír offering at the feet of his Lord. And this is why
came to know about the land that was to be the name of Ardishír Rustampúr will continue
bought for the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár and the to inspire all who hear of how the land for the
amount of money needed. Then he asked his Temple in India was bought. I
guests to wait for him while he went to attend (Gloria Faizi, Stories About Bahá’í Funds, pp. 22-24)
8 I November/December 2010 • Questions 167 B.E. Bahá’í Canada
 H E A RT B E AT

Living a generous life

Bahá’u’lláh, embracing their part in meeting the

I t is all too easy to understand the concept of

generosity merely in financial terms. The Bahá’í
Writings teach us of the spiritual obligation and
profound privilege bestowed upon us of
contributing generously to the funds of the Faith.
challenges facing the Bahá’í world and in redeeming
“the ransom imposed upon the beloved friends in
the Cradle of the Faith.”6 The history of this generous
outpouring of substance is gloriously exemplified by
When we reflect on the question of generosity, the level of contribution on the part of the Canadian
however, it quickly becomes clear that this quality community to the Arc buildings on Mount Carmel.
manifests itself in many ways and has a clear and Individual believers contributed almost $8,000,000
profound influence on the evolution of human which, combined with contributions from Canadian
society. institutions, resulted in more than $26,000,000
being donated toward the Arc Project.
The Writings show us clearly that generosity is an
attribute of God and of His Manifestations. As This illustrious history of generosity in giving is
followers of Bahá’u’lláh, we are called upon to matched by an equally glorious record of service on
emulate this attribute, to offer up, with purity of both the home front and in the international field.
heart and with a passion to be of service to the The Canadian community, in striving to fulfill the
Blessed Beauty and to the world of humanity, our goals of the Five Year Plan, has joyfully risen to
time, our money, our energies; joyfully expending exemplify the words of the Universal House of
the bounties bestowed upon us through the grace of Justice, that “teaching is a basic requirement of a
the All-Merciful. This generosity of spirit is but one life of generous giving”7 and will surely call forth
manifestation of the nobility for which humanity “the reward which the exalted Pen of God has
was created and to which we are called upon to inscribed upon the tablet of this world for those
arise. who have arisen to promote the Cause through the
generous outpouring of their substance and the
The world at large, knowingly or not, seems to be sacrifice of their lives.”8
visibly responding to this Divine call. Trendsetters
have identified a growing movement toward As we move through the swiftly vanishing months
generosity on the part of a society sickened by greed yet remaining in this Plan and gird up our loins in
and selfishness, in which, despite tough economic preparation for the Plans yet to come, let us strive
times, generosity runs at a new high. Witness, for together to reach new heights of generosity in our
example, the emergence of an online-fuelled culture efforts to please Him. How great a privilege to face
of sharing, giving and engaging for the benefit of the challenges yet to be met in the pathway of His
others. love, how glorious the opportunities to sacrifice
ourselves and all that He, in His infinite Mercy, has
The beloved Guardian exemplified the inherent bestowed upon us. Let us ever strive to be as those
nobility of giving for the joy of giving and of putting “at whose bounty treasures were afraid, at whose
the needs of others before himself. His generosity of open handedness and generosity the ocean was
spirit shone through in “his spiritual guidance, his dismayed?”9 I
encouragement and praise, his unbounded gratitude
for services rendered.”1 Shoghi Effendi seemed to
understand implicitly what recent studies have
demonstrated: that generosity is contagious.2 Plans
initiated by the Guardian were invariably supported
by a substantial contribution at their outset, in part References
1 Ugo Giachery, Shoghi Effendi – Recollections, p. 25.
to encourage the Bahá’ís to follow his example. 3 2 James H. Fowler and Nicholas A. Christakis, Cooperative Behaviour
Cascades in Human Social Networks, on Proceeding of the National
He noted “the spirit of enthusiasm and Academy of Sciences, published online March 8, 2010.
consecration”4 animating the Canadian Bahá’í 3 Ugo Giachery, Shoghi Effendi – Recollections, p. 25.
community and was very much touched by the 4 Shoghi Effendi, Messages to Canada, p. 53.
response of these friends to his appeals for support 5 Shoghi Effendi, Messages to Canada, p. 24.
6 The Universal House of Justice, Messages 1963 to 1986, p. 425.
of the Shrine work at the World Centre.5 Time and 7 The Universal House of Justice, Ridván Message 2010.
again, the Bahá’ís of Canada have arisen to befittingly 8 Adib Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh v. 4, p. 260.
express their commitment to the Cause of 9 ‘Abdu'l-Bahá, A Traveller's Narrative, p. 78.

Bahá’í Canada November/December 2010 • Questions 167 B.E. I 9

 H E A RT B E AT

Fund Update
6000
5500
5099 1 May 2010 – 30 October 2010
5000
T H O U S A N D S

4500
4000
3500
3000
2500
1869
2000
1600
1500
1000
1000
500 562
273 325
(701) 135 63 (5) (231) (231) 100 103 52 50 27 2 85 (79)
0

-1000 National Fund Continental Fund International Fund World Centre International House of Worship House of Worship
Endowment Fund Deputization Fund Wilmette Santiago

Budget Actual Surplus (shortfall)

At a glance
National Fund All goals of Canada
T H O U S A N D S

Goal $5099 $8309

Where we are $1869 $2982
Where we should be $2571 $4189
Shortfall $701 $1207

How to contribute to the Funds of the Faith:

Through the National Spiritual Assembly: Kindly make your Treasury Department by:
cheque payable to “Canadian Bahá’í Fund” and mail to: • Mail: At the above address
The Treasury Department • Fax: (905) 889-8184
Bahá’í National Centre • E-mail: treasury@cdnbnc.org
7200 Leslie Street
Thornhill, ON L3T 6L8 Earmarking:
Through a Local Spiritual Assembly: For further Should you wish to earmark part or all of your
information, please contact the Treasurer of your Local contribution for a specific Fund, kindly indicate this
Assembly. accordingly. Examples of the various Funds of the Faith
are:
Online at www.bahaifunds.ca, directly from your bank
chequing account or through your credit “Local Fund” (only through a Local Spiritual
card. Contributions may be made on a one-time basis, or Assembly or Online method – see above)
set up in an ongoing manner, such as every Bahá’í “Regional Branch of the National Fund”
month, on a specific day of the Gregorian month, twice “National Fund”
each month, or bi-weekly. “Homefront Deputization Fund”
“International Fund”
Through a Pre-Authorized Payment Plan offered by “World Centre Endowment Fund”
chartered banks. If you wish to use this method, please “Continental Fund”
contact the Treasury Department of the National “International Pioneer Deputization Fund”
Spiritual Assembly and request a “Pre-Authorized “Wilmette House of Worship Fund”
Payment Authorization Form”. You can reach the “Santiago House of Worship Fund”
10 I November/December 2010 • Questions 167 B.E. Bahá’í Canada
 THE RIGHT OF GOD

The Right of God

Is income from a wholly Bahá’í-owned
Q: company subject to Huqúqu’lláh?
“As you state, the obligation to pay
A: Huqúqu’lláh rests on individual believers, not
on corporate bodies, even if these are wholly
owned by Bahá’ís.
“On the other hand, if the owners of a
company which is entirely Bahá’í-owned
wish their company to make a donation
to Huqúqu’lláh, such a contribution is
acceptable. It does not, of course, reduce
the obligation of the individual believers
concerned to pay their own Huqúqu’lláh.”
(From a letter dated 30 March 1989 written on behalf of the Universal House of
Justice to a National Spiritual Assembly)

Questions and Answers

ˮΩΩή̴ϴϣௌϕϮϘΣϞϣΎηΖγ΍̶΋ΎϬΑϥΎΒΣΎλϪΑϖϠόΘϣ˱ΎϣΎϤΗϪ̶̯Θ̯ήηΪϣ΁έΩΎϳ΁ϝ΍Ϯγ
Թ

̶ΘΣˬΎϬΘ̯ήηϪϧϭΖγ΍̶΋ΎϬΑΩ΍ήϓ΍ϩΪϬόΑௌϕϮϘΣΖΧ΍Ωή̡ϪϔϴυϭˬΪϳ΍ ϩΩή̯ή̯ΫϪ̰ϳέϮτϧΎϤϫ
 Ώ΍ϮΟ
˱
ΪϨηΎΑ̶΋ΎϬΑϥΎΒΣΎλϪΑϖϠόΘϣΎϣΎϤΗΎϬΘ̯ήηϦϳ΍ή̳΍

ΎϬϧ΁Ζ̯ήηϪ̯ΪϨηΎΑϞϳΎϣΪηΎΑ̶ϣ̶΋ΎϬΑΩ΍ήϓ΍ϪΑϖϠόΘϣ˱ΎϣΎϤΗϪ̶̯Θ̯ήηϥΎΒΣΎλή̳΍ˬή̴ϳΩϑήρί΍
ϪϔϴυϭζϫΎ̯ΚϋΎΑˬϪΘΒϟ΍ˬϞϤϋϦϳ΍Ζγ΍ϝϮΒϗϞΑΎϗ̶ϤϳΪϘΗϦϳ΍ˬΪϳΎϤϧϢϳΪϘΗௌϕϮϘΣϪΑ̶ϬΟϭ
ΩΩή̴ϴϤϧΩϮΧௌϕϮϘΣΖΧ΍Ωή̡ΩέϮϣέΩ̶΋ΎϬΑΩ΍ήϓ΍Ϧϳ΍̶μΨη


̶Ϡϣ̶ϧΎΣϭέϞϓΎΤϣί΍
 ̶̰ϳϪΑΏΎτΧ̶Ϭϟ΍Ϣψϋ΍ϝΪόϟ΍ΖϴΑϑήρί΍
 ˺̂́̂αέΎϣ˼˹ΥέϮϣϪϣΎϧί΍ϪΟήΨΘδϣ

Bahá’í Canada November/December 2010 • Questions 167 B.E. I 11

Ontario learns from
summer teaching campaign
meaningful conversations with Bahá’ís, many

T
he Bahá’í Council of Ontario, reflecting on
the “Arise With Resolve” summer teaching recognizing the truth of this Message, but few could
campaign, says it was “deeply moved” when escape their present circumstances and commence
thinking of the many courageous friends who ‘a path of service to humanity’ as easily as we may
ventured forth, during their intensive expansion have anticipated. While our conversations and the
phases, to learn the ways of community building in resulting friendships provide the catalyst, the
neighbourhoods and villages. transformative force will come from the institute
process.
As this issue went to press, the Council was still
gathering news and reports from around the region, “This then, is the learning, for if we had not ventured
but it notes there is every indication much has been into the arena of community building on such a
learned. broad scale, as was done so courageously this
summer, the path forward might still remain unclear.
“Carefully thought out plans, which reflected the We might not, without having had this experience,
varying capacities of the friends, sincerely been able to understand the real implications of the
implemented with an attitude of learning and institute process, the engine that drives our work,
carried out with a close collaboration between the the means by which a population is empowered to
cluster agencies, have laid a foundation for the work arise and be of service to humanity.”
ahead and shed light on our understanding of the
ways and means of community building. The Council points to a passage from the Ridván
2010 message of the Universal House of Justice as a
“While a significant number of friends enrolled reminder of the significance of this learning:
under the banner of the Most Great Name during the “. . . understanding the implications of the Revelation,
teaching projects, the experiences of those who both in terms of individual growth and social
participated in the various campaigns cannot solely progress, increases manifold when study and service
be evaluated in these terms. Perhaps more are joined and carried out concurrently.”
significant is the learning that was generated. In fact,
through the efforts made this summer we are In conclusion, the Council advises the work ahead is
gaining a more profound understanding of two challenging. “It could be no other way, for we are
fundamental concepts. builders of a new civilization, but the Council is
confident that, if we persist in our efforts during the
“First,‘that teaching is a basic requirement of a life of remaining months of the Plan, we will learn much
generous giving.’1 Clearly, it is not an event, but more about community building and the enduring
rather part of an ongoing ‘process that seeks to raise process of spiritual transformation.” I
capacity within a population to take charge of its Reference:
own spiritual, social and intellectual development’2. 1 Universal House of Justice, Ridván 2010
Second, that our direct teaching efforts are not 2 Ibid
evaluated on the basis of whether or not these new 3 Ibid
friends enroll, but rather, are viewed as a ‘catalyst for
an enduring process of spiritual transformation’3.
“The efforts made to teach in neighbourhoods and
villages have given us first hand knowledge of the
challenges associated with assisting a population to
‘shed the lethargy imposed on them by society.’ In
cluster after cluster . . . people entered into
12 I November/December 2010 • Questions 167 B.E. Bahá’í Canada
 Board.” Here there are some that say “God Inside.”
Tobago This is a genuinely spiritual culture and we are
constantly amazed and warmed by the reliance and

A
lthough we were in Mississauga, Ontario, for dedication so many people have for the Creator.
only a year, we were very fortunate to make
many special friends there and in the Toronto The Bahá’í community here is very small (fewer than
area.We think about you often.We pioneered back to 200 people) with approximately 20 friends who are
the island of Tobago two-and-a-half months ago and really active. The active friends are very loving,
every day here is still new and exciting. There are so supportive and dedicated and we feel privileged to
many people to meet and things to learn, being in a be a part of this community.
new place and culture. Tobago is very different from
its sister island of Trinidad, where we lived more We have enjoyed giving a couple of musical firesides
than 20 years ago. and were involved last week in organizing and
performing at a Soul Café (musical/spiritual coffee
Tobago is a small Caribbean island (120 square house) sponsored by the Bahá’ís at a local restaurant.
miles) of approximately 55,000 people, primarily of The response was amazing. Music is such an
African descent. Often described as “Robinson important force in this culture and we are finding it
Crusoe’s Island,” Tobago is hilly with lush tropical is a wonderful way to connect with people. We are
forests, many beautiful beaches along its coastline, working towards our first Intensive Period of
and coral reefs around its perimeter. Most Growth and are looking forward to offering more
Tobagonians are devout Christians. musical firesides which contacts, met when direct
“God willing” and “God bless you” are said in teaching, can be invited to. (Those who participate
sincerity in almost every conversation one has. Some will then be encouraged to become involved in the
bumper stickers on cars in Canada say “Baby on core activities.)

The interior of the Tobago Bahá’í Centre.

Bahá’í Canada November/December 2010 • Questions 167 B.E. I 13
 PIONEERING
From a work/job perspective, Anne-Marie directed
two very successful performing arts camps here
over the summer resulting in two performances on
Trinidad
I
remember a couple days before I left Canada and
the local television station. We are in the process of
went off for a period of service my mom told me:
launching “Arts Alive Tobago,” a performing arts “Shabnam, I can’t wait for you to come back, so
organization and school, and the initial response is that I can see the new Shabnam, see the changes that
very promising. We also hope to start performing as have occurred in you.” What is she talking about?
a family in hotels in the next few months although How much is nine months away going to change me?
only Anne-Marie and Daniel can get paid for this. A new Shabnam was not imaginable.
Dan is loving it here. Being an animal lover and It didn’t take me very long to start seeing the
nature boy, he is out snorkelling on the reefs two or changes.As days went by there was so much to learn.
three times a week. He has done a night patrol on a And this was helping me to form a new Shabnam.
turtle nesting beach and he volunteers three times a I had the bounty of serving in Trinidad & Tobago, a
week assisting vets with their surgery at the beautiful country that is filled with wonderful
struggling SPCA here. He has also started to play his people and wonderful souls, a country whose
steel drums with a group of other outstanding young people have learned how to be happy. No matter
steel drum (pan) players. what happens in their lives, these people are always
happy. As a country its size might be small, but the
I’ve applied for residency status but can’t work for heart of its people is big and full of love.
income until that is approved (which is likely to be
at least a year from now). I’ve been very busy helping A day after arriving in Trinidad I was asked to assist
with the coordination of a junior youth animator
Anne-Marie and Dan develop their respective
training camp. The youth attending were all locals
activities and handling many of our family’s logistical who I thought were born into Bahá’í families. I made
details. One has been house hunting. We’ve been in a this assumption based on their spirituality and their
two bedroom suite but will be moving into a desire to serve, and also the love each one of them
furnished house in October, large enough for Anne- had for Bahá’u’lláh. Little did I know, most of them
Marie to teach private and group music lessons. (It had only been Bahá’ís for two years or less. I became
also has a spare bedroom for visitors.) interested in knowing more about each one of them,
so I started asking them about their lives, their pasts
Costs of essentials tend to be expensive here (most and their goals. They all had similar lives, and a
are imported) and selection is, of course, limited. common goal for their future.Their pasts were full of
Having no heating bill is a great help and the heartbreaking stories, their presents filled with
prospect of continuous warm weather is wonderful. service and trying to teach the Faith to the rest of
We have no entertainment costs as spare time is their families, and the goal for their future was to
spent visiting friends and swimming (sometimes help bring justice and peace not only to their
simultaneously). We are living a real outdoor lifestyle country, but also the world.
with much more physical activity. Dan has really As I spent more time with each one of them, and as
trimmed down as a result. (I would too if it wasn’t days and months passed by, not only could I see the
for the wonderful homemade coconut sweet bread transformation in each one of these youth, but also I
and peanut sugar cake that are so plentiful here.) could feel it with my heart. Every single one of these
youths is an inspiration to me. Their desire to serve
Thanks to Anne-Marie and Daniel's dual citizenship
is my motivation.
we feel very fortunate to have been able to return to
Tobago. We do miss our special friends in Canada, My three co-pioneers - Borna Farahmandpour,
however. Please remember us and Tobago in your Melody Rowhani, Mona Fathieh - and I had the
prayers. I bounty of serving in different clusters of Trinidad &
Tobago. This country is divided into five different
Peter (Anne-Marie and Daniel) Brimacombe clusters, one of which had launched an Intensive
Program of Growth before we got there. We were
each asked by the National Spiritual Assembly of
Trinidad & Tobago to work in different clusters, and
do our best to help them with their goal, launching
14 I November/December 2010 • Questions 167 B.E. Bahá’í Canada
 PIONEERING

Somewhere in this picture is Canadian Youth Service volunteer Shabnam Mehrabkhani, at a junior youth camp in Trinidad.
Intensive Programs of Gowth.
Borna and I were asked to work in a village called La
Pastora. Almost everyone in this small village knew
about the Faith, and this was due to the hard work
done by pioneers years ago. There were many youth
who once were Bahá’ís, but had slowly drawn away
because of difficulties they’d each had in life. Our
goal was to help them realize that the Faith – and
more importantly humanity – needs their help now
more than ever. It is up to them to change their
society. We had to help them realize they can make a
difference in their society; they have enough power
to make a difference.
half. She would call us any chance she got and we
would get together at any place we could find, and
we would study together. Krissy finished Book 7 and
was already accompanying others in different
activities, such as junior youth, study circles, and
much more.The day after Ridván, Krissy called to tell
us she had been elected to the Local Spiritual
Assembly of her community. Borna and I were both
so happy we were nearly in tears.
Krissy was just one of the many youth that Trinidad
& Tobago has in her heart. These are the youth who
are slowly introducing their country to a new life by
spreading the message of Bahá’u’lláh to each corner.

We started with inviting them all to musical Witnessing the growth and transformation of all
devotionals, and making bonds of friendship. It these people made me realize the true meaning of
didn’t take long before we found ourselves busy “Youth can move the world.”
with many different study circles and activities. The During my period of service there were many tests
interesting part was that these youth were so eager and difficulties I had to face, but each one of these
to be a part of these activities they would want to tests was somehow teaching me something new,
meet hours every day to finish the Institute courses helping me become stronger. All these different
as soon as possible, so they could each start their experiences caused me to look at our world with a
own core activities. different vision. Each person crossing my path
helped me have a better understanding of myself.
Krissy, a 22-year-old Borna and I spent a lot of time
with, as a child had been part of children’s classes Going through many different crisis and victories,
with her siblings. Krissy finished the first three moments that were filled with tears, and laughter,
books of the sequence within the first month and having to overcome different challenges, and facing
Bahá’í Canada November/December 2010 • Questions 167 B.E. I 15
 PIONEERING
different difficulties, there were only two things that
kept me going. One was knowing ‘Abdu’l-Bahá will
always be beside me, and that he will guide my way
step by step. The other was the Tablet of Ahmad.
Truly this tablet calms my heart every single time I help teachers and volunteer teachers improve their
recite it, and it helps me with all I need.
Now that I am back in Canada, I hope I will have the
bounty of being able to apply all this learning in my
own community. I
Shabnam Mehrabkhani,
Sturgeon County, Alberta
Haiti
F
or our service in Haiti, we spent the month of
June supporting local core activities in
Petionville, Lilavois (where the Anis Zunuzi
Bahá’í School is located), Jacmel, Lavallée, Cabaret
and Musak. Our role was generally to develop games
and spiritual and moral development activities that
could be used for children’s classes and junior youth
in ways that complement Ruhi Book 3, 3A and Book
5. We worked with groups of animators and
children’s class teachers and we helped organize
devotional gatherings and children’s classes in
collaboration with local children’s class teachers.
The friends were happy to have an increased
repertoire and to learn some new teaching
strategies, which we made sure were culturally
appropriate since we had opportunities to pilot
them with Haitian children and see what worked
best.
Because my daughter-in-law Karène is Haitian and
speaks fluent Creole, our service was greatly
facilitated by her translation and animation skills, not
to mention her knowledge of the culture and growth
of the Faith in Haiti.
My son Roshan and I conducted our part of the work
in French with the addition of some beginning
Creole. We also visited an adult English language
school in Petionville and spoke to five classes there
about the Faith. A number of students were
interested and the Haitian Bahá’í computer
technician who organized this event is making
arrangements to offer a Book 1 in English at the
school where students can both practice their
English and learn about the Faith.
While there we learned many things from the
Haitian friends including about 50 wonderful songs
in Creole and French that we will be able to use with
the Canadian friends.
16 I November/December 2010 • Questions 167 B.E.
In addition to our Bahá’í work, the three of us
supported the work of Linda Gershuny’s Bahá’í-
inspired NGO (CAFT) by providing teacher training
workshops using the CAFT models and materials to
teaching strategies, use of the arts, and increase their
capacity to use participatory learning methods. I also
helped both CAFT and another fledgling Haitian
organization in Jacmel to write project reports and
proposals using standard project management
design and logic models. This was useful to them
because they need to use those formats to obtain
and account for funding from both Bahá’í and non-
Bahá’í funders.
Our non-Bahá’í friend, Roy Flowers, who is a farmer
and a handyman from Southern Alberta, spent his
entire time in Haiti at the Anis Zunuzi School
repairing and rebuilding after the earthquake. He
installed solar panels and got the electricity and
internet working for the school, created an irrigation
system for the school farm, helped rebuild the roofs
and other parts of homes for Bahá’í staff whose
homes were destroyed in the earthquake, fixed the
school water reservoir so that the 600 students and
staff could have water all day, rewired the electrical
system and got all the lights working, taught several
children how to repair bicycles and small appliances,
and was generally a huge help to the school.
The school administrator said they had never had
anyone so useful come to the school and offered a
“posh two room house” for Roy if he would consider
either staying longer or coming back again!
We will continue to pray for the success of the
wonderful Haitian friends who are so steadfast in the
face of so many obstacles. I
Marie, Karène, Roshan Gervais,
Edmonton, Alberta
Things to love about Haiti
T
he people: The best part of Haiti is the
wonderful people. Always welcoming, warm
smiling and ready to help. The most charming
and lovely of all are the children. They fall in love
with everyone, are sweet to their younger siblings,
are respectful and obedient, full of energy and
enthusiasm but always ready to settle without
complaint if asked. They sing, drum and dance with
joy and skill from a young age. I can teach a song in
Haiti in two minutes that would take Canadians two
weeks to learn. They will sit patiently for a long time
Bahá’í Canada
 PIONEERING
and put effort into mastering any skills because they
are so ready and willing to learn. Nobody has better
dance moves than Haitians! Everything moves and
everything is synchronized.
The debrouillardise: People never complain here.
They put up with all inconveniences and adjust to all
difficulties without even a shadow of resentment.
Sometimes you see the deep pain and long suffering
in their faces, but they always make light of it and
don’t go into details. Even when they tell you about
something sad it is not done in a big way. Haitians are
discrete. They speak about things and show you
things indirectly. You have to pay attention to
people’s body language and facial expression here if
you want to understand the whole story. Haitians are
a wonderful blend of “living out loud” and “tactful
discretion.”
Group work: They desire to work in groups, play in
groups, visit in groups and live generally in groups.
Putting effort into group projects is everywhere
here. Everyone is volunteering for a bunch of things
ranging from cleaning the streets to teaching street
children to do folk dances, to working on solar
energy systems, to creating local problem solving
associations addressing local needs. Maybe that is
why there are so many outside NGOs here too – the
Haitians already have the attitude that they need to
create groups to get things done, so it wouldn’t be
too hard for an NGO to recruit people.
Willingness to wait through a process: People will
visit for hours without saying much until
conversations naturally occur. They don’t leave if
nothing seems to be going on like people do in
grow in the yards. And the very best thing of all is
Grandma Lili’s coffee. If I already won’t survive
without the mangos, I surely will faint without her
coffee. Haitian coffee is really good but Grandma
Lili’s coffee is like dying and going to coffee heaven.
Things to learn from Haiti: You don’t need much to
live. Be satisfied with what you have and grateful
when something extra comes along. Don’t complain
when things are difficult and never make people feel
bad about poverty. Act as if every place you enter is
the palace of a king or queen, because that is who
lives there and the surroundings don’t matter at all.
Greet everyone and take the time to visit. Know your
neighbours and make new friends all the time. Share
your food, belongings and anything you have.
It is possible to get completely clean with about 4-5
litres of water, including washing your hair.Then you
can wash out your underwear, clean the sink and use
the waste water to flush the toilet. People in Canada
use so much water for nothing. Haitians know how
to conserve water and how to use less when it is
scarce.
Twelve people can use the same bathroom if they
take turns and only take a minimum of time doing
what they need to do. In fact more than 12 can use
the bathroom once everyone is up and washed. I
– Marie Gervais
Namibia

I
n early 2010 we attended a pioneering workshop
Canada. They come early, wait, stay later and leave and heard about many short-term pioneering
when a good visit, event, meeting or amount of opportunities. Almost instantly we decided to
progress has occurred. People take the necessary commit three months to serve internationally. The
time to complete processes. only question remaining was: “Where in the world
The early start: Since it is so hot here, people are up do we go?”
at the rooster crow. And there are roosters To answer this question, the Canadian international
everywhere, even in cities. At first light things startPioneer Department was extremely helpful in
stirring and by 5:00 a.m. they are in full swing. You providing information about possible avenues of
have to take advantage of the cool hours of the service around the globe. All we knew about
morning because by 10:30 the heat is intolerable. Namibia was that our friends, Amelia and Iain, had
Mangos: The best mangos in the world are here. I served there the previous summer, Jonathan had met
don’t know how I will live without them. a couple of Namibians while serving at the World
Centre, and it was home to some massive sand
Grandma Lili’s cooking: Beans and rice tastes like the dunes.
most expensive meal under Grandma Lili’s deft hand.
Haitian cooked and raw salads are amazing.There are “Why not?”
fabulous cornmeal dishes and things like fried After hearing glowing reports from our friends and
breadfruit, freshly roasted peanuts sold in the street learning more, it seemed like a perfect service
and corozone juice made from the fruit in trees that opportunity. We arrived at the beginning of July and

Bahá’í Canada November/December 2010 • Questions 167 B.E. I 17

 PIONEERING
will stay until the end of September. Within a few meet with newly-enrolled Bahá’ís and reflect with
days of landing in Namibia, we met with members of the cluster coordinators. We were both struck by the
the National Spiritual Assembly, the Auxiliary Board many challenges these young teachers face and by
and the Institute Board to consult about our term of the firmness of their resolve, their belief in
service. A few months previously Nima Mazloumi Bahá’u’lláh's healing message and their faith in its
and Tjireya Tjitendero had visited various clusters to potential to transform their community.
train children’s class teachers . . .. Following up on
During our visit to Oshakati, we once again
their visit, our primary focus is to build on the efforts
witnessed how strikingly receptive young people
already made by some incredibly capable teachers
are to the Faith and how ready they are to
around the country and help them strengthen and
participate in this process of spiritual
systematize their classes.
transformation. Along with Ndiitah Nghipondoka-
So far, we have travelled more in Namibia and seen Robiati we visited the UNAM northern campus and
more of this beautiful country than we have of our were able to engage in direct teaching with 15 or so
own! We have visited Otjiwarongo, Swakopmund, youth. This resulted in an on-campus Ruhi Book 1
Windhoek, Oshakati and Rundu. study circle that started the very same day! We met
with the group twice that week and we were happy
Along the way, we have had some overwhelmingly
to hear the study circle continues with a local tutor.
generous hosts and have met some truly inspiring
individuals. Another notable experience occurred when we
were invited to assist with a fireside at a local centre.
Our time here has not been without crises and
We arrived at the prearranged time and hunkered
victories! We’ve both had to adjust to the culture.
down for some patient waiting. About an hour later,
These adjustments have forced us to strengthen our
when we had lost all hope, we were surprised to see
certitude in the oneness of mankind and fix our gaze
a large group of potential participants heading
on the constant and universal nature of Bahá’u’lláh’s
toward us. We counted around 50 in total – the
Revelation.
fireside of a lifetime! Unfortunately, they were all
As we reach the midway point of our stay, we’d like livestock, grazing near the local centre! I
to share a few of our experiences. In our first
— Tara Nakhjavani and Jonathan Lebensold,
expedition to Otjiwarongo, we were able to conduct
Montréal, Québec (Published in The Namibian
a children’s class teacher reflection and refresher
Bahá’í, August 2010)
gathering and visit three of the four classes taking
place in the cluster. We visited the location as often
as possible, to work with children’s class teachers,

Canadian pioneers 658

are on the move Pioneers Settled
658 + 92 = 750
By the end of August, 658 pioneers had been sent,
92
or had committed to go. Pioneers
We need to send 92 more pioneers to achieve needed
the goal of 750.

INTERNATIONAL PIONEER DEPARTMENT

7200 Leslie St., Thornhill, ON L3T 6L8
Telephone: (905) 889-8168 • Fax: (905) 889-8184 • Email: pioneer@cdnbnc.org or youthservices@cdnbnc.org
18 I November/December 2010 • Questions 167 B.E. Bahá’í Canada
 ‘ A B D U ’ L -B A H Á

‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s journeys
O ne hundred years ago, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the
eldest son of Bahá’u’lláh and His appointed
successor as head of the Bahá’í Faith,
embarked on a series of journeys which, over the
course of three years, took Him from the Holy Land
“The gift of God to this
enlightened age is the knowledge
to the Nile delta, from the Pacific coast of North of the oneness of mankind and
America to the banks of the River Danube. of the fundamental oneness
Despite His advanced age, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá set out in
August 1910 to present Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings about of religion.”
the dawning of a new age of peace and unity, to high
and low alike. These historic journeys launched a “With the inauguration of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s travels to
fledgling faith on its way to becoming a world the West, the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh, hemmed in for
religion. more than half a century by the hosts of enmity and
oppression, burst its restraints.”
“He was sixty-six years old,” the Universal House of
Justice wrote in a message, dated 29 August, to mark Following the Young Turk Revolution of 1908, when
the centenary – a message published in the last issue all political and religious prisoners of the Ottoman
– “an exile since childhood, with no formal Empire – including ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and His family –
schooling, a prisoner for forty years, in failing health, were set free, He began to plan sharing, in person,
and unfamiliar with Western customs and languages. the Bahá’í teachings with the world beyond the
Yet He arose, without thought of comfort, Middle East. Two years later He left the confines of
undeterred by the risks involved . . . the Holy Land, heading first to Egypt where he

‘Abdu’l-Bahá on board the S.S. Celtic as He sailed from New York City to Liverpool, England, 5 December 1912. © Bahá’í International Community
Bahá’í Canada November/December 2010 • Questions 167 B.E. I 19
 ‘ A B D U ’ L -B A H Á
At ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s first ever public talk – given at the
“He challenged people to rise City Temple church in London on 10 September
1911 – ‘Abdu’l-Bahá told the congregation, “The gift
above their own understanding of God to this enlightened age is the knowledge of
the oneness of mankind and of the fundamental
of reality, to a higher level of oneness of religion.”
realization – a spiritual level “Over and over again, He stressed the need for
understanding between people, for bringing
as well as the social.” religions together, for world peace,” explains Paris-
based writer Jan Jasion, who is researching ‘Abdu’l-
stayed for one year. Bahá’s travels in Europe.“He wanted to bring people
closer to God and for them to understand the reality
Then, in August 1911,‘Abdu’l-Bahá set sail for Europe, of religion and rid themselves of superstitions.”
spending a month in London and two months in
Paris. After returning to Egypt for the winter, He set ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was also able to participate comfortably
off again in March 1912 for an eight-month long tour in discourses about themes that lay outside of the
of North America, followed by second visits to Middle Eastern experience. “For example, the great
London and Paris, as well as journeys to Austria, dangers of racism;” notes Firuz Kazemzadeh,
Germany, Hungary and Scotland. emeritus professor of history at Yale University, “the
relationship between capital and labour, and the
“From the time of Bahá’u’lláh's passing, the Bahá’í conflict between worker and employer; the
Faith's spread to North America and Europe had impending Great War; and federalism as a solution to
been a very significant development,” says Moojan the problems among the States.”
Momen, an historian based in the United Kingdom,
“but these communities were rather few in number. For three years, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá tirelessly addressed
thousands of people – including clergymen,
“So ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visits not only saw Him generally journalists, academics, diplomats, philosophers,
proclaiming the Bahá’í teachings further afield, but suffragettes, and social reformers. He also – perhaps
also consolidating the religion’s breakthrough into most importantly for Him – met with, and attended
new cultures.”

‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s second visit to mainland Europe in 1913 included a stay in Germany. He is shown here at a large gathering in
Esslingen. © Bahá’í International Community
20 I November/December 2010 • Questions 167 B.E. Bahá’í Canada
 ‘ A B D U ’ L -B A H Á
to the needs of, the poor.
Among those deeply
impressed by Him was Dr.
David Starr Jordan, the
American scientist and
university administrator,
who famously said,“‘Abdu’l-
Bahá will surely unite the
East and the West, for He
walks the mystical path
with practical feet.”
Dr. T. K. Cheyne of Oxford,
the celebrated theologian,
spoke of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as the
“Ambassador to Humanity.”
“What is striking is that,
while ‘Abdu’l-Bahá had a
great deal of praise for
progressive thinkers, He
was also very clear-eyed
and uncompromising in ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and His entourage beneath the Eiffel Tower in Paris, 1912. © Bahá’í International Community
His assessment of the ways in which they fell short “His travels were certainly a major religious event of
of their own ideals,” says Kenneth E. Bowers, the the 20th century,” says Dr. Momen. “They had much
current Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly the same sort of effect as St. Paul’s journeys which
of the Bahá’ís of the United States. “He challenged had a sizable impact on the spread of Christianity.”
people to rise above their own understanding of
Mr. Bowers believes it is impossible to conceive of
reality, to a higher level of realization – a spiritual
today’s American Bahá’í community, for example,
level as well as the social.”
without taking ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit into account.
There were other aspects of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá's “Through His life and words, He was the
personality that further delighted those He met, says personification of Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings. He
Mr. Bowers. inspired the first handful of Bahá’ís not only to
spread their Faith but, just as importantly, withstand
“He carried Himself remarkably well in cultures that
all sorts of tests. In a very tactful, loving and wise
were entirely alien to Him. I think one of the things
way, He set the example to be followed.”
we should remember about Him – and which we
sometimes forget as a characteristic of a ‘spiritual’ As a result of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá's journeys, the Bahá’í
figure – is that He was someone who was extremely community began to propagate His ideas further and
witty and charming.” these became reinforced in the general population.
“This is where the real impact of His visits lies – in
By the time ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s travels came to an end,
the capacity of the community He raised to continue
members of the nascent Bahá’í community had
what He taught them after all these years,” says Firuz
received a wider vision of their Faith, and citizens of
Kazemzadeh.
nine countries, on three continents, had been
informed of the Bahá’í teachings for the first time. In its letter, the Universal House of Justice invites
today’s worldwide Bahá’í community to reflect not
“At the beginning of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s ministry, the
only upon what ‘Abdu’l-Bahá achieved and set in
Bahá’í Faith was a fairly obscure religious movement.
motion, but on the work still left to do.
There was very little accurate information about it
anywhere,” says Moojan Momen. “By the end of His His words and actions during His travels, the
life, not just in Europe and North America but all Universal House of Justice writes, offer “an
over the world – in Asia, the Pacific, Australia, South abundance of inspiration and manifold insights” for
Africa, South America – large numbers of people meeting the challenges of the present day. — BWNS
knew about the Faith and had a positive impression (Bahá’u’lláh, Prayers and Meditations by Bahá’u’lláh, p. 310)
of it.
Bahá’í Canada November/December 2010 • Questions 167 B.E. I 21
 THE AU T H O R IT Y O F TH E UNI VE RSA L H OUSE OF JUS T I CE
T
he Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh
is unbroken, its all-
encompassing power inviolate. The
two unique features which distinguish
it from all religious covenants of the
past are unchanged and operative. The
revealed Word, in its original purity,
amplified by the divinely guided
interpretations of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and
Shoghi Effendi, remains immutable,
unadulterated by any man-made
creeds or dogmas, unwarrantable
inferences or unauthorized
interpretations. The channel of divine
guidance, providing flexibility in all
the affairs of mankind, remains open
through that Institution which was
founded by Bahá’u’lláh and endowed
by Him with supreme authority and
unfailing guidance, and of which the
Master wrote: “Unto this body all
things must be referred.” How clearly
we can see the truth of Bahá’u’lláh’s
assertion: “The Hand of Omnipotence
hath established His Revelation upon
an unassailable, an enduring
foundation. Storms of human strife
are powerless to undermine its basis,
nor will men's fanciful theories
succeed in damaging its structure.”1
22 I November/December 2010 • Questions 167 B.E.
The authority of the
Universal House of
Justice
A
mong the signs of the process of
disintegration throughout the world is
the deepening moral crisis which has
drawn our society increasingly into attitudes of
relativism with regard to truth and values. Normative
thinking seems to lean heavily on the rejection of
any moral “foundations” or universal truths and
values. Human identity is largely being left to local
and cultural categories. Religion, especially in its
organized form, is increasingly under suspicion.
Against this backdrop, Bahá’ís are convinced that the
moral and foundational principles of religion have
not lost their validity. As the commentary One
Common Faith reminds us, the Psalms, the
Upanishads and the Qur’án do not disappoint
anyone who “sincerely poses questions to Heaven.”1
Indeed,“the most painful aspect of the current crisis
of civilization is that the search for truth has not
turned with confidence into religion’s familiar
avenues.”2
But individuals do not live in a vacuum. We all
participate in a social order. Since the time of
Krishna, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad, the world
has evolved immensely. In the last few decades
alone, democracy “has fundamentally altered the
relationship of the individual to authority.”3
Moreover, “[s]tem cell research, nuclear energy,
sexual identity, ecological stress and the use of
wealth raise, at the very least, social questions that
have no precedent.”4
The religious systems of the past are not capable to
guide mankind through such questions of
contemporary life. They are not able to “refashion
its system of belief in a manner to derive legitimacy
for the authoritative words of its Founder.”5 To
meet this challenge, Bahá’u’lláh has established a
clear Covenant with His followers where “the
concepts of the past are brought to a new level of
understanding, and the social laws, changed to suit
the age now dawning.”6
But what implications does Bahá’u’lláh’s Covenant
have on our work for the Cause today?
Bahá’í Canada
 THE AU T H O R IT Y O F TH E UNI VE RSA L H OUSE OF JUS T I CE
Shoghi Effendi was the Guardian of the Cause and
The flow of divine authority the infallible Interpreter of its teachings. During a
Bahá’u’lláh – the Supreme Manifestation of God – 36-year ministry he raised the structure of elected
made clear the stations, legitimacy, roles and Spiritual Assemblies “and with their collaboration
authority of the individuals and institutions that were initiated the systematic implementation of the
to continue the flow of divine authority after His Divine Plan.”14 Indeed, through Shoghi Effendi’s
passing. He made provisions of unique proportions in interpretative authority, “the structure of the
the entire field of religious history – provisions Administrative Order, as well as the course that its
entirely missing in both Christianity and Islám, “two future development will pursue, have been
of the most widely diffused and outstanding among permanently fixed.”15
the world’s recognized religions.”7 It is against this backdrop, that an appreciation of the
When Bahá’u’lláh passed away in 1892, divine authority of the Universal House of Justice needs to
authority continued to flow through a unique be considered.
function fulfilled by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. He was “the
Exemplar of the pattern of life taught by His Father,
the divinely inspired authoritative Interpreter of His
The divine authority of the
Teachings and the Centre and Pivot of the Covenant
which the Author of the Bahá’í Revelation made with
Universal House of Justice
all who recognize Him.”8 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was not a On 21 April 1963, at the one hundredth anniversary
Manifestation of God, but received “His inspiration of the Declaration of Bahá’u’lláh, the Universal
and sustenance direct from the Fountain-head of the House of Justice was elected for the first time. Since
Bahá’í Revelation.”9 Importantly, “His words are not then, it has been elected through the same process
equal in rank, though they possess an equal validity of secret ballot and plurality vote in a three-stage
with the utterances of Bahá’u’lláh.”10 His passing in election by adult Bahá’ís throughout the world every
1921 marked the end of the Apostolic Age of the five years.
Cause, and the beginning of the Formative Age. Its origin and authority, its duties and function, are all
The promulgation of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Will and derived from the writings of Bahá’u’lláh, and the
Testament inaugurated the Formative Age of the authoritative interpretations of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and
Cause. This document is the Charter of Bahá’u’lláh’s Shoghi Effendi. A synopsis of those duties are to be
Administrative Order. It is a seminal document found in its Constitution, which is referred to by the
requiring intense study. Indeed, its contents “are far Shoghi Effendi as the “Most Great Law of the Cause
too much for the present generation to of Bahá’u’lláh.”16
comprehend” and it “needs at least a century of While it is beyond a the scope of this article to
actual working before the treasures of wisdom discuss the numerous powers and duties of the
hidden in it can be revealed.”11 House of Justice, and the numerous passages
In His Will and Testament, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá elaborated referring to its authority, the following sections will
on two supreme institutions of the Administrative touch on some of the central concepts related to its
Order that were founded and anticipated in function.
Bahá’u’lláh’s Kitáb-i-Aqdas: the Guardianship and
the Universal House of Justice. Their authority is Legislation
unequivocal: “Whatsoever they decide is of God. As far as the legislative function of the Universal
Whoso obeyeth him not, neither obeyeth them, hath House of Justice is concerned,“it cannot abrogate or
not obeyed God; whoso rebelleth against him and change any of the laws which are explicitly laid
against them hath rebelled against God . . .”12 down in the sacred Text.”17 Instead, Bahá’u’lláh has
The Guardianship and the Universal House of Justice left the House of Justice with all matters “which have
are thus the “Twin Successors” of Bahá’u’lláh and not outwardly been revealed in the Book” and He
‘Abdu’l-Bahá: “Their common, their fundamental assures us that “God will verily inspire them with
object is to insure the continuity of that divinely- whatsoever He willeth.”18 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá elaborates on
appointed authority which flows from the Source of this matter when He writes:
our Faith, to safeguard the unity of its followers and Those matters of major importance which
to maintain the integrity and flexibility of its constitute the foundation of the Law of God are
teachings.”13
Bahá’í Canada November/December 2010 • Questions 167 B.E. I 23
 THE AU T H O R IT Y O F TH E UNI VE RSA L H OUSE OF JUS T I CE
explicitly recorded in the Text, but subsidiary laws
are left to the House of Justice.The wisdom of this
is that the times never remain the same, for
change is a necessary quality and an essential
attribute of this world, and of time and place.
Therefore the House of Justice will take action
accordingly . . .19
An important element of the House of Justice’s
function of legislation is that some of the laws of
Bahá’u’lláh are intended for a future society and are
to be applied progressively. The House of Justice
advises the Bahá’í community accordingly when it
deems it timely for a law to be universally binding.
Elucidation
Soon after the Universal House of Justice was formed
some questions arose among the believers regarding
the relationship between the Guardianship and the
Universal House of Justice. Among issues raised was
a reference in ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Will and Testament that
stated the House of Justice is to “deliberate upon all
problems which have caused difference, questions
that are obscure and matters that are not expressly
recorded in the Book.” The friends asked: What is
the difference between such elucidations by the
House of Justice and the interpretations of the
Guardian?
In response to this question, the House of Justice
explained the Guardian “reveals what the Scripture
means; his interpretation is a statement of truth
which cannot be varied.”20 The elucidations of the
House of Justice, however, “are susceptible of
amendment or abrogation by the House of Justice
itself” and “serve to supplement and apply the law of
God.”21 Importantly, however, the House of Justice
underlined that the friends should understand that it
was “in a position to do everything necessary to
establish the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh on this
earth.”22
Infallibility
Given the statements above, it should be clear that
there is no limit to the infallibility of the House of
Justice. The Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
makes it clear the infallibility of the House of Justice
extends to decisions which “bear upon daily
transactions” and in Some Answered Questions we
read its decisions and commands are “guarded from
mistake.”
Moreover, the Will and Testament explains that any The discussion above puts the significance of such
decision of the Universal House of Justice is “verily communications as the Ridván 2010 message – or
the truth and the purpose of God Himself.” The any other communication from the Supreme Body –
24 I November/December 2010 • Questions 167 B.E.
House of Justice is “the source of all good and freed
from all error.” Together with the Guardianship, it is
“under the care and protection of the Abhá Beauty,
under the shelter and unerring guidance of the
Exalted One . . . Whatsoever they decide is of God.”
‘Abdu’l-Bahá also writes the following about the
authority of the House of Justice:
Let it not be imagined that the House of Justice
will take any decision according to its own
concepts and opinions. God forbid! The Supreme
House of Justice will take decisions and establish
laws through the inspiration and confirmation of
the Holy Spirit, because it is in the safekeeping
and under the shelter and protection of the
Ancient Beauty, and obedience to its decisions is a
bounden and essential duty and an absolute
obligation, and there is no escape for anyone.
Say, O people: Verily the Supreme House of Justice
is under the wings of your Lord, the
Compassionate, the All-Merciful, that is, under
His protection, His care, and His shelter; for He
has commanded the firm believers to obey that
blessed, sanctified and all-subduing body, whose
sovereignty is divinely ordained and of the
Kingdom of Heaven and whose laws are inspired
and spiritual.23
Divine authority and
mass communications
In our contemporary, globalized world of mass
communications, we are bombarded from every side
with all kinds of messages, news, propaganda,
advertisements, information and analyses. In such a
complex environment, it may be easy to take the
letters and guidance of the Universal House of
Justice for granted.
But would that be an adequate response if we
consider that the House of Justice is “the last refuge
of a tottering civilization,”24 “the sole infallibly guided
institution in the world to which all must turn,”25 the
recipient of “divine guidance which is at once the
lifeblood and ultimate safeguard of this Revelation,”26
the pivot of the “world-shaking, world-embracing,
world-directing administrative institutions, ordained
by Bahá’u’lláh,”27 and the institution that the world
can find the “guidance required to live with
modernity, successfully and with assurance”28?
Bahá’í Canada
 THE AU T H O R IT Y O F TH E UNI VE RSA L H OUSE OF JUS T I CE
into sharp focus. Indeed, can those who have
recognized Bahá’u’lláh fail to acknowledge that
within it we have infallible and God-inspired
guidance pertaining to the needs of our world and
the priorities of our lives that deserve our
wholehearted and serious consideration? I
Recommended reading
• The Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
• The Dispensation of Bahá’u’lláh by Shoghi
Effendi.
• Letters dated 9 March 1965, 27 May 1966, and
7 December 1969, on the Guardianship and
the Universal House of Justice.
• The Child of the Covenant: A Study Guide to
the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, by
Adib Taherzadeh.
• A Study Guide to the Constitution of the
Universal House of Justice, by Guy Sinclair.

References:
1 Universal House of Justice, Messages from the Universal House of
Justice 1963-1986 1996:15.
2 One Common Faith 2005:14.
3 One Common Faith 2005:15.
4 One Common Faith 2005:15.
5 One Common Faith 2005:15-16.
6 One Common Faith 2005:17.
7 Universal House of Justice, Introduction to the Kitáb-i-Aqdas 1992:1-2.
8 Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh 1974:145.
9 Universal House of Justice, Introduction to the Kitáb-i-Aqdas 1992:3.
10 Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh 1974:139.
11 Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh 1974:139.
12 Shoghi Effendi, letter written on his behalf, 25 March 1930.
13 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá 1991:11.
14 Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh 1974:149.
15 Universal House of Justice, Introduction to the Kitáb-i-Aqdas 1992:3.
16 Century of Light 2001:86.
17 Universal House of Justice, Messages from the Universal House of
Justice 1963-1986 1996:229.
18 Universal House of Justice, Introduction to the Kitáb-i-Aqdas 1992:5.
19 Bahá’u’lláh, Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh 1978:68.
20 Quoted in Universal House of Justice, Introduction to the Kitáb-i-Aqdas
1992:4-5.
21 Universal House of Justice, Messages from the Universal House of
Justice 1963-1986 1996:56.
22 Universal House of Justice, Messages from the Universal House of
Justice 1963-1986 1996:56.
23 Universal House of Justice, Messages from the Universal House of
Justice 1963-1986 1996:56.
24 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, quoted in Messages from the Universal House of Justice
1963-1986 1996:85.
25 Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh 1974:89.
26 Universal House of Justice, Messages from the Universal House of
Justice 1963-1986 1996:89.
27 Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh 1974:153.
28 Shoghi Effendi, Messages to America, 1947:32.
29 One Common Faith 2005:16.

Bahá’í Canada November/December 2010 • Questions 167 B.E. I 25

 THE AU T H O R IT Y O F TH E UNI VE RSA L H OUSE OF JUS T I CE

From the Constitution of the Universal House of Justice

mong the powers and duties with which the preservation of human honour, to the

A the Universal House of Justice has been development of countries and the stability of
invested are: states;
To ensure the preservation of the Sacred Texts and To promulgate and apply the laws and principles
to safeguard their inviolability; to analyse, classify, of the Faith; to safeguard and enforce that
and coordinate the Writings; and to defend and rectitude of conduct which the Law of God
protect the Cause of God and emancipate it from enjoins; to preserve and develop the Spiritual and
the fetters of repression and persecution; Administrative Centre of the Bahá’í Faith,
permanently fixed in the twin cities of ‘Akká and
To advance the interests of the Faith of God; to Haifa; to administer the affairs of the Bahá’í
proclaim, propagate and teach its Message; to community throughout the world; to guide,
expand and consolidate the institutions of its organize, coordinate and unify its activities; to
Administrative Order; to usher in the World Order found institutions; to be responsible for ensuring
of Bahá’u’lláh; to promote the attainment of those that no body or institution within the Cause abuse
spiritual qualities which should characterize its privileges or decline in the exercise of its rights
Bahá'í life individually and collectively; to do its and prerogatives; and to provide for the receipt,
utmost for the realization of greater cordiality and disposition, administration and safeguarding of
comity amongst the nations and for the the funds, endowments and other properties that
attainment of universal peace; and to foster that are entrusted to its care;
which is conducive to the enlightenment and
illumination of the souls of men and the To adjudicate disputes falling within its purview;
advancement and betterment of the world; to give judgement in cases of violation of the laws
of the Faith and to pronounce sanctions for such
To enact laws and ordinances not expressly violations; to provide for the enforcement of its
recorded in the Sacred Texts; to abrogate, decisions; to provide for the arbitration and
according to the changes and requirements of the settlement of disputes arising between peoples;
time, its own enactments; to deliberate and decide and to be the exponent and guardian of that
upon all problems which have caused difference; Divine Justice which can alone ensure the
to elucidate questions that are obscure; to security of, and establish the reign of law and
safeguard the personal rights, freedom and order in, the world. I
initiative of individuals; and to give attention to

The Seat of the Universal House of Justice at sunrise.

© Bahá’í International Community

26 I November/December 2010 • Questions 167 B.E. Bahá’í Canada

 CANADA NEWS

Children’s class teachers from across Canada who were invited to meet with the Counsellors and National Spiritual Assembly at
the National Centre, mid-September. The National Assembly arranged the meeting to give impetus to children’s classes, a theme
from the Ridván 2010 message.

A handful of friends in St. Albert, Alberta, spurred on by individual initiative, held a dinner and auction for the Fund in July, raising
$11,000. Friends from surrounding communities joined in.
Bahá’í Canada November/December 2010 • Questions 167 B.E. I 27
 WO R LD NEWS
Bahá’í World News Service: <www.bahaiworldnews.org>

UK heads of religion call for release of Iran’s

seven Bahá’í leaders
(London) authorities to follow “humanitarian and legal norms,”
the seven were sentenced “for reasons which in the

B ritain’s most prominent heads of religion have

called for the release of the seven Bahá’í
leaders serving prison sentences in Iran.
A statement by the United Kingdom’s religious
view of all independent observers are solely based
on their faith.”
“These sentences form part of a wider picture over
many years of severe harassment of the Bahá’í
leaders – describing the sentencing of the seven as a
community,” says the statement.
“gross violation of the fundamental human right to
freedom of religion” was signed by, among others, The seven Bahá’í leaders – Fariba Kamalabadi,
the Archbishop of Canterbury – who is the head of Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie,
the worldwide Anglican communion; the Roman Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm
Catholic Archbishop of Westminster; the Chief Rabbi – were all members of a national-level group that,
of the United Hebrew Congregations of the with the Iranian government’s knowledge, helped
Commonwealth; and the Assistant Secretary General see to the minimum spiritual needs of Iran’s 300,000
of the Muslim Council of Great Britain. Bahá’ís.
The statement notes that despite calls from the After being incarcerated without charge for 20
international community calling upon the Iranian months, and six brief court appearances, the seven

Some 400 people, including numerous human rights advocates, attended an event mid-September at Berlin’s historic Brandenburg Gate calling for the
release of Iran’s seven Bahá’í leaders, each initially sentenced to 20 years in prison, a sentence apparently reduced later to 10 years.
28 I November/December 2010 • Questions 167 B.E. Bahá’í Canada
 WO R LD NEWS
were each reportedly sentenced to 20 years
imprisonment for propaganda activities against the
Islamic order and the establishment of an illegal
administration, among other allegations. All the
charges were completely and categorically denied. It For the past two years, Bahá’í Canada has
was reported in September that the sentences have produced an annual “In memoriam” article
been reduced to 10-year jail terms. containing extended notices of the passing of
“We view this act as a gross violation of the some individuals during the course of the
fundamental human right to freedom of religion and previous 12 months. These notices usually were
call on the Iranian government to fulfill their anchored by messages from the Universal House
obligations under article 18 of the United Nations of Justice. The Bahá’í Canada Committee has
Declaration of Human Rights to review the case and decided to return to the practice of including
to ensure that the treatment of these ‘prisoners’ extended notices in each issue, rather than
accumulating them.
accords with justice and due process as defined in
the Iranian constitution and law,” wrote the United Nazenneen Ardekany, Vancouver, British
Kingdom’s religious leaders. Columbia
Rick Belcourt, Calgary, Alberta
“We call upon all governments and people of good
will to call upon the Iranian authorities to review Mary Dustyhorn, Regina, Saskatchewan
this decision and to cease harassment of the Baha'i Leanne Gambler, Opportunity MD 17, Alberta
community. Sanat Heyvandar, Vancouver, British Columbia
“We extend our sympathies to the Bahá’í community Zia Hodaie, Toronto, Ontario
at this difficult time and hope that the widespread Eliza Medicine, Fort Frances, Ontario
and growing international concern over this matter
Ata’u’llah Ghalili Najafabadi, Toronto, Ontario
will cause the Iranian authorities to correct this
flagrant injustice,” the statement said. Mir Rezvan Partovi Sissan, Toronto, Ontario
Clare Poskitt, Vancouver, British Columbia
The statement is signed by The Most Reverend
Rowan Williams,Archbishop of Canterbury;The Most Aghdas Rahnemay Rabbani, Guelph, Ontario
Reverend Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Ataollah Samandari, Vancouver, British
Westminster; Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks; Shaykh Ibrahim Columbia
Mogra, Assistant Secretary General of the Muslim Tom Volquardsen, Salt Spring Island, British
Council of Britain and chair of Religions for Peace Columbia
UK; Mr. Jay Lakhani, Hindu Academy; Mr.Arjan Vekaria A pioneer to the island in 1965, he served on
JP, President, Hindu Forum of Britain; Dr Indarjit the Local Assembly for all but one year of his
Singh CBE, Network of Sikh Organisations; and Dr life there.
Natubhai Shah MBBS PhD, Network of Jain
Organisations, Council of Dharmic Faiths.
Reports of the sentencing of the seven Bahá’í leaders
has provoked a global chorus of condemnation from
governments, human rights organizations, other
groups and countless individuals. In August, Cardinal
Keith O'Brien – the Archbishop of St Andrews and
Edinburgh and head of the Catholic Bishops’
Conference of Scotland – also condemned the
imprisonment of the seven describing it as a “most
appalling transgression of justice and at heart a gross
violation of the human right of freedom of belief.”
“We are deeply moved by the sympathy and
solidarity expressed by the UK’s significant religious
leaders for our beleaguered brethren in Iran,” said Dr
Kishan Manocha, the United Kingdom Bahá’í
community’s director of external affairs. I
Bahá’í Canada November/December 2010 • Questions 167 B.E. I 29
30 I November/December 2010 • Questions 167 B.E. Bahá’í Canada
 ANNOUNCEMENT S
Gatherings planned and engage with them,” said Alex Frame, the project’s
producer.
If you are a scholar and a Bahá’í and are planning to
The series concludes with a reflection on the Five
attend the 2011 Congress for the Humanities and the
Year Plan and the challenge placed before us by the
Social Sciences (aka “The Learneds”), in Fredericton Universal House of Justice to become part of that
at the University of New Brunswick and St. Thomas evolutionary process through our participation in
University, you’ll want to know about a series of get- the current Plan and the Plans to come.
togethers being organized. Contact either Will C. van
den Hoonmaard <will@unb.ca> or Deborah K. van The series, called “Historical Consciousness and
den Hoonaard <dkvdhh@stu.ca> for information. the Divine Plan,” can be accessed at
<www.divineplantalks.org>. DVDs will also be
available for purchase from the Bahá’í Distribution
Historical Consciousness Service.
and the Divine Plan
A new project brings together a series of talks by Share Your Story!
Douglas Martin, a former member of the Universal What insights are you gaining from the institute
House of Justice, in an engaging format using a courses? How have home visits influenced you and
website and DVDs.The original talks were presented your community? What are you learning about
in Canada, the United States, Europe, Asia, and Latin inviting and taking seekers through the institute
America, during the course of four years. “Historical courses? How are the core activities moving your
Consciousness and the Divine Plan” is intended to cluster forward? We want to share your stories so
help us develop a deeper understanding of the others may learn from your efforts. Send your
Divine Plan and our roles – individually and story to the National Spiritual Assembly:
collectively – in achieving its goals. <secretariat@cdnbnc.org> or 7200 Leslie St.,
Mr. Martin has taken the content of each talk and Thornhill, ON, L3T 6L8.
reduced it to a presentation of between 10 and 20
minutes, retaining the original focus of each stage of Retired? Semi-retired?
the series. Why not travel internationally and serve as a short
He draws on his skills as a speaker and storyteller term pioneer in another country? You can use your
and his training as an historian to take us on a skills and assist with projects in other countries
journey that begins with the implications of while developing new skills and experiencing
humanity’s failure to grasp the evolutionary nature another culture. For further information, please
of religion and the dramatic example provided by contact the International Pioneer Department of
Christian Europe’s rejection of the Qur’an. Canada at <pioneer@cdnbnc.org>
Subsequent discussions trace the evolution of the
Bahá’í Cause and the challenges, both spiritual and Translation volunteers needed
intellectual, that have had to be faced at every stage The Bahá’í National Centre has seen a substantial
of humanity’s collective coming of age. Each talk is increase in the volume of documents needing to be
supported by several discussion questions and translated into French or English and is seeking
suggestions for further reading. One talk might ask, volunteer translators. The volunteers would receive
for example, “What does it mean to say that religion work by email and can therefore work from home.
is progressive?” or “Why do you think that religion
has not been seen as an evolutionary phenomenon?” Requirements and qualifications: Excellent written
French or English (or both); reliability; attention to
The collaborators on the project decided to details; access to the Internet; a good understanding
redevelop the original talks in this interactive format of the principles of the Faith, the organization of the
to work more effectively with the media being used. community and the Five Year Plan.
“People won’t just watch the talk and move on; they
can consider the ideas that Mr. Martin is presenting Contact: <secretariat@cdnbnc.org>.

Bahá’í Canada November/December 2010 • Questions 167 B.E. I 31

 ANNOUNCEMENT S

Institute Boards
British Columbia
406-2226 12th Ave. W.
Vancouver, BC, V6K 2N5
iboardbcy@gmail.com
604 418 7171
Alberta
14 - 3029 Rundleson Rd. NE
Calgary, AB, T1Y 3Z5
ibalberta@gmail.com
403 980 5427
Saskatchewan, Manitoba & Quebec
Northwestern Ontario 265 rue Perron
722 4th Ave. N La Prairie, QC, J5R 6B8
Saskatoon, SK, S7K 2N1 ibq.secretariat@gmail.com
snomanrib@gmail.com 514 409 1271
306 717 7474 Atlantic Provinces
Ontario 47 Tremont St.
1006-80 Mooregate Cr. Dartmouth, NS, B2Y 1X3
Kitchener, ON, N2M 5G1 atlanticbahaiib@gmail.com
instituteboard@ontariobahai.org 902 463 4801
519 603 3569

Bahá’í Councils
British Columbia
806-737 Leon Ave.
Kelowna, BC, V1Y 8L6
bcbcyk@telus.net;
bahaicouncilbc-yukon@shaw.ca
250 869 4990
Alberta
38 Point McKay Crt. NW
Calgary, AB, T3B 5B7
ab_council@shaw.ca;
secretariatbca@gmail.com
403 455 1230
Saskatchewan, Manitoba &
Northwestern Ontario
1319 20th St. W.
Saskatoon, SK, S7M 0Z1
snomanrbc@gmail.com
306 244 5799
Ontario
288 Bloor Street W.
Toronto, ON, M5S 1V8
council@ontariobahai.org
905 517 5187
Quebec
75 rue d’Auteuil
Quebec, QC, G1R 4C3
conseilbahaiqc@videotron.ca
418 692 3955
Atlantic Provinces
PO Box 48135 RPO Mill Cove
Bedford, NS, B4A 3Z2
bahaicouncil@eastlink.ca
902 857 2067

Bahá’í Review:
Guidelines for Writers and Musicians
Bahá’í authors of books, commentaries, texts, histories,
book reviews, and audio-visual materials having any
Bahá’í content are reminded to send four copies,
in final form (edited for grammar) to the National
Spiritual Assembly for review, before publication by either
Bahá’í or non-Bahá’í publishers, or self-publishing. Kindly
include all illustrations, recordings, liner notes, and cover
design. The criteria for Bahá’í review–still required but which
the Universal House of Justice calls a “temporary measure”– are
dignity, accuracy, and conformity with the Teachings. Because
this time-consuming work is done on a voluntary basis, the review
process can take up to twelve weeks or more, depending on the complexity
of the work. The full memorandum containing this guidance, along with a
compilation “Extracts from the Bahá’í Writings on the Subject of Writers and
Writing” is available electronically from the Secretariat Department at:
secretariat@cdnbnc.org

32 I November/December 2010 • Questions 167 B.E. Bahá’í Canada

 ANNOUNCEMENT S

How to:
Purchase Bahá’í books
For Bahá’í books in English and Persian,
contact:
Bahá’í Distribution Service
9-945 Middlefield Road
Toronto, ON, M1V 5E1
Order desk: (800) 465-3287
<www.bds-canada.com>
For Bahá’í books in French, contact the
Service de distribution bahá’í - Québec
(SDB-Q)
75 d’auteuil Street
Québec QC G1R 4C3
418-692-2402
<sdbq@videotron.ca>
<www.ca.bahai.org/files/catalogue.ENGLISH.pdf>
Pioneer internationally / become
an International Youth Service
volunteer
Contact the International Pioneer
Department at 7200 Leslie Street, Thornhill,
ON, L3T 6L8, phone 905-889-8168,
fax 905-889-8184, email:
<pioneer@cdnbnc.org> or
<youthservices@cdnbnc.org>.
Contact by email
Email addresses for various departments at
the Bahá’í National Centre in Thornhill,
Ontario:
National Spiritual Assembly:
secretariat@cdnbnc.org
Treasury: treasury@cdnbnc.org
Bahá’í Canada Committee:
bcanada@cdnbnc.org
International Pioneer Department:
pioneer@cdnbnc.org
youthservices@cdnbnc.org
National & Unit Conventions Task
Force: conventions@cdnbnc.org
National External Affairs Department:
externalaffairs@cdnbnc.org or
nsaxtn@interlog.com
Records Department:
records@cdnbnc.org
Homefront Youth Services:
secretariat@cdnbnc.org
If you are not sure to which department you
should be directing your email, please use
<secretariat@cdnbnc.org> and your email
will be forwarded to the correct Submit items to Bahá’í Canada
department. Send news, photos, etc. to Bahá’í Canada,
7200 Leslie Street, Thornhill, ON, L3T 6L8;
Get international travel credentials email: <bcanada@cdnbnc.org>. Material
Request international credentials from received after the copy deadline for one
the Bahá’í National Centre when planning issue automatically will be considered for
to visit countries other than the United the next issue. Editorial deadline:
States. Contact the Records Department March/April 2011 - February 1, 2011.
at <records@cdnbnc.org>. International
travelling teachers are asked to contact the Find “Bahá’í” on the Internet
International Pioneer Department at The Bahá’í World: <www.bahai.org/>
<pioneer@cdnbnc.org>, or at 7200 Leslie
Bahá’í Reference Library:
Street, Thornhill, ON, L3T 6L8.
<http://reference.bahai.org/>
Bahá’í Topics: An Information Resource:
Change your address <http://info.bahai.org>
Moving? Please notify your Spiritual Bahá’í International Community’s United
Assembly or Group so it can notify the Nations Statement Library:
Records Department of the National <www.bic-un.bahai.org/>
Spiritual Assembly, or notify the Records Bahá’í World News Service:
Department directly, by sending a note <www.bahaiworldnews.org/>
containing your name, old address, new
Bahá’í Community of Canada:
address and your Bahá’í ID number to:
<www.ca.bahai.org>
Records Department, Bahá’í National
Centre, 7200 Leslie Street, Thornhill, ON, Canadian Bahá’í News: <bahainews.ca>
L3T 6L8; fax: 905-889-8184; email: [<nouvellesbahaies.ca>]
<records@cdnbnc.org>. Transforming Neighbourhoods
<www.transformingneighbourhoods.org>
Bahá’í Distribution Service:
Apply for pilgrimage <www.bds-canada.com>
All pilgrimage requests (nine-day pilgrimage
Le Service de distribution bahá’í - Québec
or three-day visit) are to be made directly
(For an English language catalogue on
between the individual pilgrims and the
French books) <www.ca.bahai.org/files/
Bahá’í World Centre. Applications are in
catalogue.ENGLISH.pdf>
writing only; telephoned requests cannot be
accepted. The Bahá’í Pilgrimage Web site One Country: <http://onecountry.org>
<http://pilgrimage.bahai.org> offers Bahá’í Media Bank:
information and an online pilgrimage <http://media.bahai.org/>
application form. Those without access to Life of Bahá’u’lláh: <www.bahaullah.org>
the Internet may send their applications for
pilgrimage by post or fax: Office of Travel-teach and pioneer within
Pilgrimage, PO Box 155, 31-001, Haifa, Israel; Canada
fax: 011-972-4-835-8507. “The institutions, in turn, will have to
exercise sound judgement to ensure that
Have a Bahá’í wedding such friends are strategically placed. Priority
When you are planning to get married should be given to settling short-term and
please contact the Local Spiritual Assembly long-term pioneers in those clusters that
in whose jurisdiction the wedding will be are the focus of systematic attention . . .”
held without delay. A Bahá’í wedding Contact the National Spiritual Assembly
cannot take place without the authorization <secretariat@cdnbnc.org> or 905-889-8168
of the Local Assembly. Bahá’ís who for where to direct your service offer within
intentionally disregard the marriage law are Canada.
subject to the possible loss of their
administrative rights.

Bahá’í Canada November/December 2010 • Questions 167 B.E. I 33

 The Right
The primary purpose, the basic objective, in laying down
powerful laws and setting up great principles and institutions
dealing with every aspect of civilization, is human happiness;

of God -
and human happiness consists only in drawing closer to the
Threshold of Almighty God, and in securing the peace and well-
being of every individual member, high and low alike, of the
human race; and the supreme agencies for accomplishing these
Huqúqu’lláh two objectives are the excellent qualities with which humanity
has been endowed.
(`Abdu'l-Bahá, The Secret of Divine Civilization, p. 60)

IMPORTANT HUQÚQU’LLÁH PAYMENT INFORMATION

In response to guidance from the International Board of Trustees, the Board of Trustees of Huqúqu’lláh in Canada has set up
a centralized system of receipting and recording of payments at the Treasury Department of the Bahá’í National Centre.
Payments of the Right of God (Huqúqu’lláh) are not processed through individual Deputies or Representatives.
Payments should be sent directly to the Huqúqu’lláh Treasury at the Bahá’í National Centre, 7200 Leslie Street, Thornhill,
ON, L3T 6L8. The Huqúqu’lláh Treasury will issue one receipt, which will serve both as an acknowledgment receipt and as
an official tax receipt. It is up to the individual to determine whether or not she/he wishes to use the receipt when filing her/his
income tax return. Cheques, bank drafts, bank and/or postal money orders should be made payable to “Canadian Bahá’í
Fund” earmarked “Huqúqu’lláh” or “Right of God”. Payments to the Right of God can also be made utilizing the
‘www.bahaifunds.ca’ Online Contribution System. The individual’s Bahá’í identification number must be provided on all
payments.
Payments should not be made through a local Spiritual Assembly.
Inquiries regarding the law of the Right of God (Huqúqu’lláh), including information about its spiritual significance as well
as assistance with calculation, may be referred to your nearest Representative or Deputy Trustee.

 
Members of the Board of Trustees: 

 
  

Dr. Denis Allard (506) 857-9624 denislinux@rogers.com


 

Mr. Brian Eiriksson, Treasurer (905) 847-9680 beiriksson@cogeco.ca $% & #  ! " 

Ms. Terri Flanagan (250) 547-6654 terri.flanagan@gmail.com *

!,-. +'()

Dr. Anne Furlong (902) 388- 0810 anne.furlong@gmail.com / .!()()

Dr. Abdu’l-Missagh Ghadirian, Secretary (514) 737-9879 amghadirian@gmail.com 56 #!  %4012 %3
 

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34 I November/December 2010 • Questions 167 B.E. Bahá’í Canada

 CALENDAR
January 14-16 National Spiritual Assembly meeting
February 17-21 National Spiritual Assembly meeting Notice to Iranian Bahá’ís
February 18-20 Institutional meeting living in Canada
March 25-27 National Spiritual Assembly meeting
April 28-May 1 National Convention, Toronto
April 29-May 1 National Spiritual Assembly meeting
May 13-16 National Spiritual Assembly meeting
June 24-26 National Spiritual Assembly meeting

ʑ ̨̘͸̴̺̘ ̵͖ͣ А̙ͮͲ̹̜

̨̘͸̴̺̘ ̵͖ͣ ͺ̘̹̪̘ ̱;̸̢̙ ̺̘ ̝ͩ͢ ͻ̙͞ˬ ̡̹͆͞ ̸̴ ˷͟͏ͪ

ͱ;̢̹ ˫;̴̻Ͳ ͵̜ ̺ͬΆ ̵̠͖̙̿ͮ ͸ ͻ̖̙ͯͳͶ̸̘ ̛̿ˬ ͺ̘̹̜
.̵Ϳ̖̙̹ͮ͞ ͵̪̘̹͗ͮ ͻ̯ͫͮ
Ο ͻͲ̙̮͸̸ ̯ͩͮ͟

Bahá’í Canada online

Bahá’í Canada is available in electronic
form online at <www.bahaicanada.ca>to
all registered Canadian Bahá’ís. To log in,
you will need your Canadian ID card
information.

Bahá’í Canada deadlines

The following are the editorial deadlines for
upcoming issues of Bahá’í Canada. Material such as
news, photos, announcement, etc., received after the
copy deadline for one issue automatically will be
considered for the next issue.
Issue Editorial Copy
Deadline
March/April 2011 February 1
May/June 2011 April 1
Please note that all material submitted to Bahá’í Canada
for publication is reviewed by the Bahá’í Canada
Committee of the National Spiritual Assembly.

Bahá’í Canada November/December 2010 • Questions 167 B.E. I 35

36 I November/December 2010 • Questions 167 B.E. Bahá’í Canada
Bahá’í Canada November/December 2010 • Questions 167 B.E. I 37
 Ê
SDB-Q www.ca.bahai.org/files/catalogue.ENGLISH.pdf


15 - Month Wall Calendar
Service de Year 168 B. E.
~January 2011 to March 2012~
distribution
IN FRENCH ONLY
bahá’í 19-day Feasts

- Holy Days
United Nations Special Days
etc.
Québec Colour photograph
28 cm x 42,5 cm
Bahá’í Limited quantity
Books $4.39 each
in French 2 for $7.90 —–> ($3.95 each)
5 for $17.55 —–> ($3.51 each)
+ Taxes, shipping and handling

SDB-Q La maison d’éditions bahá’íes

The history of the Faith
Books by Hasan M. Balyuzi

See our
catalogue:
www.ca.bahai.org/files/
catalogue.ENGLISH.pdf
75, rue d’Auteuil
Québec QC
G1R 4C3

Telephone: 418-692-2402 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Le Báb Dans la gloire du Père

Fax: 418-692-5761 2007 2008 17 cm X 24 cm
To order: 15 cm X 21 cm 15 cm X 21 cm 566 pages
481 pages 219 pages Coloured cover
sdbq@videotron.ca
Soft cover Soft cover Soft cover : $35.00
$36.00 each $25.00 each Hard cover : $50.00

38 I November/December 2010 • Questions 167 B.E. Bahá’í Canada