Non-interference in political matters
Compilations[edit]
Cause of God is (presently) withdrawn from political affairs[edit]
"If any person wishes to speak of government affairs, or to interfere with the order of Governors, the others must not combine with him because the Cause of God is withdrawn entirely from political affairs; the political realm pertains only to the Rulers of those matters: it has nothing to do with the souls who are exerting their utmost energy to harmonizing affairs, helping character and inciting (the people) to strive for perfections. Therefore no soul is allowed to interfere with (political) matters, but only in that which is commanded."
- ('Abdu’l-Bahá, National Bahai Archives (USA), unpublished Tablets of 'Abdu’l-Bahá, printed in Bahá'í World Faith, p. 407)
Friends of God strictly forbidden from meddling with political affairs[edit]
“Not only with regard to publication, but all matters without any exception whatsoever, regarding the interests of the Cause in that locality … should be referred exclusively to the Spiritual Assembly … unless it be a matter of national interest, in which case it shall be referred to the national body. … By national affairs is not meant matters that are political in their character, for the friends of God the world over are strictly forbidden to meddle with political affairs in any way whatever, but rather things that affect the spiritual activities of the body of the friends in that land.”
- (Shoghi Effendi, Unfolding Destiny, p. 8)
To be on guard against impression being given that Bahá'ís are political or interfere in government political activities[edit]
“I would warn [the Bahá’ís] to be on their guard lest the impression be given to the outside world that the Bahá’ís are political in their aims and pursuits or interfere in matters that pertain to the political activities of their respective governments. The Cause, still in its state of infancy, should be adequately protected from this particular danger….”
- (Shoghi Effendi, 13 November 1931 to an individual believer, cited in The Compilation of Compilations, Vol II, p. 420; Youth (compilation), no. 2248)
