Portrayal of holy figures in art
Compilations[edit]
Forbidden portrayals[edit]
Portraying Manifestations of God forbidden[edit]
Portrayal of Any of the Manifestations of God Forbidden[edit]
"Your understanding that the portrayal of the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh in works of art is forbidden, is correct. The Guardian made it clear that this prohibition refers to all the Manifestations of God; photographs, or reproductions of portraits, of the Master may be used in books, but no attempt should be made to portray Him in dramatic or other works where He would be one of the 'dramatic personae'. However, there can be no objection to symbolic representation of such Holy Figures, provided it does not become a ritual and that the symbol used is not irreverent."
- (From a letter of the Universal House of Justice to an individual, December 3, 1972, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1831; also in Importance of the Arts in Promoting the Faith, no. 45 and Compilation on the Arts, no. 69)
A film on the history of the Faith (without portraying the Báb or Bahá'u'lláh) will require great skill[edit]
"As you are no doubt aware, it is not permissible to portray the Manifestations of God in dramatic works and it can be understood that great skill will be needed to produce an effective film about the history of the Faith in which neither the Báb nor Bahá'u'lláh could actually appear. Because of the overwhelming significance of the Bahá'í message and the Bahá'í Revelation, any such film produced under the aegis of the Bahá'í community would have to be of the very highest quality in all respects."
- (On behalf of the Universal House of Justice, 24 September 1978 to a National Spiritual Assembly, Compilation on the Arts, no. 74)
No Manifestation of God may be represented in any human form in paintings, drawings, sculpture, or drama (although these were great and wonderful works in past Dispensations)[edit]
"The prohibition on representing the Manifestation of God in paintings and drawings or in dramatic presentations applies to all the Manifestations of God. There are, of course, great and wonderful works of art of past Dispensations, many of which portrayed the Manifestations of God in a spirit of reverence and love. In this Dispensation however the greater maturity of mankind and the greater awareness of the relationship between the Supreme Manifestation and His servants enable us to realize the impossibility of representing, in any human form, whether pictorially, in sculpture or in dramatic representation, the Person of God's Manifestation. In stating the Bahá'í prohibition, the beloved Guardian pointed out this impossibility."
- (9 March 1977, letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer; in Importance of the Arts in Promoting the Faith, no. 49; also in Lights of Guidance, no. 344)
Not to portray ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, or the Guardian (as well as the Manifestations)[edit]
Not to dramatize the Bab, Bahá'u'lláh and Abdu'l-Bahá to appear on stage[edit]
"As to your question concerning the advisability of dramatizing Bahá'í historic episodes: The Guardian would certainly approve, and even encourage that the friends should engage in such literary pursuits which, no doubt, can be of an immense teaching value. What he wishes the believers to avoid is to dramatize the Personages of the Bab, Bahá'u'lláh and Abdu'l-Bahá, that is to say to treat Them as dramatic figures, as characters appearing on the stage. This, as already pointed out, he feels would be quite disrespectful. The mere fact that They appear on the scene constitutes an act of discourtesy which can in no way be reconciled with Their highly exalted station. Their message, or actual Words, should be preferably reported and conveyed by Their disciples appearing on the stage."
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, July 25, 1936, in Lights of Guidance, no. 342)
The Figures of the Bab and Bahá'u'lláh and even the Master ought not appear as characters in dramatic works[edit]
"With reference to your question whether the Figures of the Bab and Bahá'u'lláh should be made to appear as characters in dramatic works written by the believers, Shoghi Effendi's opinion is that such an attempt to dramatize the Manifestations would be highly disrespectful, and hence should be avoided by the friends, even in the case of the Master. Besides it would be practically impossible to carry out such a plan faithfully, and in a dignified and befitting manner."
- (From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada, January 27, 1935, in Lights of Guidance, no. 335)
Not permissible to portray a Manifestation of God, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, or the Guardian[edit]
"...an examination of the letters of the beloved Guardian makes it absolutely clear that it is not permissible to portray on the stage the figure of the Manifestation of God, nor even of the Master... The Universal House of Justice considers it inappropriate to represent the Guardian of the Faith as a character in a play. The use of light, either of great intensity or in different colours, needs your careful consideration. If the use of light in any way at all suggests a personification of the Manifestation of God it should not be used, but if it can be done without in any way giving the impression that the Prophet is being represented or personified then there is no objection to its use. As to the portrayal of living persons, there are occasions when this may be done, such as spontaneous or local presentations for the purpose of teaching or describing events, but generally it is unwise to do so."
- (Universal House of Justice, 12 August 1975, in Compilation on the Arts, no. 69)
The Central Figures of the Faith may not be depicted in a historical novel[edit]
"There is no objection to Bahá'ís writing novels portraying historical events and figures of the nature described in your letter. However, in view of the impossibility of ever portraying adequately the Manifestation of God as a character in a novel, and of the disrespect implicit in such an attempt, no such portrayal involving any of the Central Figures of the Faith should be attempted."
- (On behalf of the Universal House of Justice, 10 June 1986, in Compilation on the Arts, no. 79)
Three Central Figures Cannot Be Portrayed[edit]
"...the Faith can certainly be dramatized, but two things must be remembered: no personal presentation of the Bab, Bahá'u'lláh or the Master, only Their words can be used, but no figure must represent Them; great dignity must be the keynote."
- (From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer, August 19, 1951, in Lights of Guidance, no. 334)
Not to portray the Greatest Holy Leaf in drama or fiction[edit]
"While the House of Justice realizes that biographies of the Greatest Holy Leaf will be written, it feels that it would not be befitting to portray her in any dramatic or fictional form."
- (On behalf of the Universal House of Justice, 22 September 1986, in Compilation on the Arts, no. 80)
Encouraged to dramatize historic episodes of the Faith without portrayal; can instead report actual words of the Bab, Bahá'u'lláh and Abdu'l-Bahá by Their disciples[edit]
"As to your question concerning the advisability of dramatizing Bahá'í historic episodes: The Guardian would certainly approve, and even encourage that the friends should engage in such literary pursuits which, no doubt, can be of an immense teaching value. What he wishes the believers to avoid is to dramatize the Personages of the Bab, Bahá'u'lláh and Abdu'l-Bahá, that is to say to treat Them as dramatic figures, as characters appearing on the stage. This, as already pointed out, he feels would be quite disrespectful. The mere fact that They appear on the scene constitutes an act of discourtesy which can in no way be reconciled with Their highly exalted station. Their message, or actual Words, should be preferably reported and conveyed by Their disciples appearing on the stage."
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, July 25, 1936, in Lights of Guidance, no. 342)
"...the Faith can certainly be dramatized, but two things must be remembered: no personal presentation of the Bab, Bahá'u'lláh or the Master, only Their words can be used, but no figure must represent Them; great dignity must be the keynote."
- (From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer, August 19, 1951, in Lights of Guidance, no. 334)
May use light of great intensity or differing colors to represent the Manifestation as long as long as not personifying[edit]
"...an examination of the letters of the beloved Guardian makes it absolutely clear that it is not permissible to portray on the stage the figure of the Manifestation of God, nor even of the Master... The Universal House of Justice considers it inappropriate to represent the Guardian of the Faith as a character in a play. The use of light, either of great intensity or in different colours, needs your careful consideration. If the use of light in any way at all suggests a personification of the Manifestation of God it should not be used, but if it can be done without in any way giving the impression that the Prophet is being represented or personified then there is no objection to its use. As to the portrayal of living persons, there are occasions when this may be done, such as spontaneous or local presentations for the purpose of teaching or describing events, but generally it is unwise to do so."
- (Universal House of Justice, 12 August 1975, in Compilation on the Arts, no. 69; also in Lights of Guidance, no. 343)
Portraying Letters of the Living is permitted[edit]
"Your letter ... requesting guidance in the matter of visual representation of the personages connected with the Heroic Age of the Faith has been received. The Universal House of Justice wishes you to know that there is nothing in the instructions of the Guardian, nor of the House of Justice, .. to prohibit artists ... to make drawings of Letters of the Living in surroundings, or participating in events, which are historically accurate. Obviously, in addition to accuracy, it is important to uphold the dignity of the personages being portrayed."
- (5 October 1983, on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to a National Spiritual Assembly; in Importance of the Arts in Promoting the Faith, no. 54)
