Supreme Tribunal

Regarding women on the future Supreme Tribunal

• https://bahai-library.com/uhj_equality_monogamy_uhj#s4b
• https://bahai-library.com/uhj_women_uhj

Differences to be amicably and conclusively settled by the Supreme Tribunal, including members from all governments and peoples of the world

"Should differences arise, they shall be amicably and conclusively settled by the Supreme Tribunal, that shall include members from all the governments and peoples of the world."

('Abdu’l-Bahá, Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, p. 13)

"Universal Court of Arbitration" and "International Tribunal" are the same

"The Universal Court of Arbitration and the International Tribunal are the same."

(On behalf of Shoghi Effendi, 17 June 1933, at https://bahai-library.com/uhj_equality_monogamy_uhj )

World super-state to include a supreme tribunal whose judgment will be binding even in cases where parties did not submit their cases voluntarily

"Some form of a world super-state must needs be evolved, in whose favor all the nations of the world will have willingly ceded every claim to make war, certain rights to impose taxation and all rights to maintain armaments, except for purposes of maintaining internal order within their respective dominions. Such a state will have to include within its orbit...a supreme tribunal whose judgment will have a binding effect even in such cases where the parties concerned did not voluntarily agree to submit their case to its consideration."

(Shoghi Effendi, World Order of Bahá'u'lláh, pp. 40-41)

International court to define exact boundaries and decide number of soldiers/guns to be maintained by nation according to population for its own internal order and if a nation rebelled, the Court would empower the others to join forces

"Bahá'u'lláh had said that the functions of the International Court would be to settle disputes that arose from time to time between the nations; to define the exact boundaries of the different countries, and to decide what number of soldiers and guns should be maintained by each nation, according to its population, in order to preserve internal order. For instance, one country might have ten thousand soldiers, another twenty thousand, another fifteen thousand, and so on, in accordance with the size and population of the nation; also if any people rebelled against the decision of the Court and rejected it, the Court would empower the others to join their forces and to endorse their decision, if need be, by united action.

"We had not seen any of these things actualized as yet, but we should do so in the future."

(Attributed to 'Abdu'l-Bahá, 'Abdu'l-Bahá in London, pp. 70-71)

Universal Court of Arbitration will have to be explained and elucidated by the Universal House of Justice

"...regarding the nature and scope of the Universal Court of Arbitration, this and other similar matters will have to be explained and elucidated by the Universal House of Justice, to which, according to the Master’s explicit instructions, all important and fundamental questions must be referred. At present the exact implication and full significance of the provisions of the Master’s Will are as yet imperfectly understood, and time will serve to reveal the wisdom and the far-reaching effects of His words."

(Shoghi Effendi, Bahá'í Administration, p. 47)

From Lights of Guidance (uncategorized)

Factor in Establishing the Lesser Peace

"The Supreme Tribunal is an aspect of a World Superstate; the exact nature of its relationship to that State we cannot at present foresee.

"Supreme Tribunal is the correct translation; it will be a contributing factor in establishing the Lesser Peace."

(From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer, November 19, 1945: Bahá'í News, No. 210, August 1948, p. 3, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1074)

The Supreme Tribunal Will Fulfil Task of Establishing Universal Peace

"...the question of universal peace, about which Bahá'u'lláh says that the Supreme Tribunal must be established: ...the Supreme Tribunal which Bahá'u'lláh has described will fulfil this sacred task with the utmost might and power. And His plan is this: that the national assemblies of each country and nation--that is to say parliaments--should elect two or three persons who are the choicest men of that nation, and are well informed concerning international laws and the relations between governments and aware of the essential needs of the world of humanity in this day. The number of these representatives should be in proportion to the number of inhabitants of that country. The election of these souls who are chosen by the national assembly, that is, the parliament, must be confirmed by the upper house, the congress and the cabinet and also by the president or monarch so these persons may be the elected ones of all the nation and the government. From among these people the members of the Supreme Tribunal will be elected, and all mankind will thus have a share therein, for every one of these delegates is fully representative of his nation. When the Supreme Tribunal gives a ruling on any international question, either unanimously or by majority rule, there will no longer be any pretext for the plaintiff or ground of objection for the defendant. In case any of the governments or nations, in the execution of the irrefutable decision of the Supreme Tribunal, be negligent or dilatory, the rest of the nations will rise up against it, because all the governments and nations of the world are the supporters of this Supreme Tribunal. Consider what a firm foundation this is!..."

('Abdu'l-Bahá: Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, pp. 306-307, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1075)

The Mission of the Supreme Tribunal is to Prevent War

"A Supreme Tribunal shall be elected by the peoples and Governments of every nation, where members from each country and Government shall assemble in unity. All disputes shall be brought before this Court, its mission being to prevent war.

"A Supreme Tribunal shall be established by the peoples and Governments of every nation, composed of members elected from each country and Government. The members of this Great Council shall assemble in unity. All disputes of an international character shall be submitted to this Court, its work being to arrange by arbitration everything which otherwise would be a cause of war. The mission of this Tribunal would be to prevent war."

('Abdu'l-Bahá: Paris Talks, London, 1961 ed., pp. 132 and 155, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1076)

See also

• Institution
• International Executive
• World Parliament

To-dos for this page

• Incorporate from https://bahai-library.com/supplement_abdul-baha_europe_1912-1913 (search for "Universal Court of Arbitration" and "court of justice")