Women and the Universal House of Justice
Documents[edit]
Both Women and Men Have Been Created in the Image of God, but House of Justice confined to men, and the wisdom of this to be made manifest as clear as the sun at high noon[edit]
"Know thou, O handmaid, that in the sight of Bahá, women are accounted the same as men, and God hath created all humankind in His own image, and after His own likeness. That is, men and women alike are the revealers of His names and attributes, and from the spiritual viewpoint there is no difference between them. Whosoever draweth nearer to God, that one is the most favoured, whether man or woman. How many a handmaid, ardent and devoted, hath, within the sheltering shade of Bahá, proved superior to the men, and surpassed the famous of the earth.
"The House of Justice, however, according to the explicit text of the Law of God, is confined to men;[+F1 (From other extracts it is evident that the limitation of membership to men applies only to the Universal House of Justice, and not to the National and Local Houses of Justice.)] this for a wisdom of the Lord God's which will erelong be made manifest as clearly as the sun at high noon."
- ('Abdu'l-Bahá: Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, 1978 World Centre edition, sec. 38, pp. 79-80, in Lights of Guidance, no. 2072)
Wisdom of exclusion to be known in the future, but we can't give an explanation to satisfy an ardent feminist[edit]
"Your letter of March 26th, 1971 asking for clarification of the exclusion of women from membership in the Universal House of Justice in view of the great principle of the Cause of the equality of men and women has been received and we offer you the following comments.
"In a Tablet to an early woman believer Abdu'l-Bahá stated: 'O maidservant of God! Know thou that in the sight of God, the conduct of women is the same as that of men... From the spiritual point of view ... there is no difference between women and men...' He added, however: 'As to the House of Justice: according to the explicit text of the Law of God, its membership is exclusively reserved to men. There is divine wisdom in this which will presently be made manifest even as the mid-day sun.'
"The beloved Guardian in reply to the same query from a believer pointed out in a letter written on his behalf on July 15th 1947: 'People must just accept the fact that women are not eligible to the International House of Justice. As the Master says the wisdom of this will be known in the future, we can only accept, believing it is right, but not able to give an explanation calculated to silence an ardent feminist!'
"We must have faith in the Supreme Manifestation of God and His Exemplar, Whose prescience is revealed in such provisions which will one day 'be made manifest even as the mid-day sun.'"
- (From a letter of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer, May 26, 1971, in Lights of Guidance, no. 2073)
The Membership of the Universal House of Justice is Confined to Men; This is Not a Function Designated for Women[edit]
"As regards the membership of the International House of Justice, Abdu'l-Bahá states in a Tablet that it is confined to men, and that the wisdom of it will be revealed as manifest as the sun in the future. In any case the believers should know that, as Abdu'l-Bahá Himself has explicitly stated that sexes are equal except in some cases, the exclusion of women from the International House of Justice should not be surprising. From the fact that there is no equality of functions between the sexes one should not, however, infer that either sex is inherently superior or inferior to the other, or that they are unequal in their rights."
- (From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer, July 28, 1936: Women, A Compilation, p. 9, in Lights of Guidance, no. 2074)
Only men on the House of Justice but voting for its members is a right belonging to women; women shall obtain extraordinary privileges according to the exigency of the time and place and their capacity[edit]
"As regards the constitution of the House of Justice, Bahá'u'lláh addresses the men. He says: 'O ye men of the House of Justice!'
"But when its members are to be elected, the right which belongs to women, so far as their voting and their voice is concerned, is indisputable. When the women attain to the ultimate degree of progress, then according to the exigency of the time and place and their great capacity, they shall obtain extraordinary privileges. Be ye confident on these accounts. His Holiness Bahá'u'lláh has greatly strengthened the cause of women, and the rights and privileges of women is one of the greatest principles of Abdu'l-Bahá. Rest ye assured! Ere long the days shall come when the men addressing the women, shall say: 'Blessed are ye! Blessed are ye! Verily ye are worthy of every gift. Verily ye deserve to adorn your heads with the crown of everlasting glory, because in sciences and arts, in virtues and perfections ye shall become equal to man, and as regards tenderness of heart and the abundance of mercy and sympathy ye are superior'."
- ('Abdu'l-Bahá: Paris Talks, 1961, U.K. edition, pp. 182-184, in Lights of Guidance, no. 2075)
Reference to the "Men of Justice" cited in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas is based on a certain fundamental principle deriving from Bahá'u'lláh[edit]
"To the general premise that women and men have equality in the Faith, this, as often explained by Abdu'l-Bahá, is a fundamental principle deriving from Bahá'u'lláh and therefore His mention of the 'Men of Justice' in the Kitab-i-Aqdas should be considered in light of that principle."
- (From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer, June 29, 1976: Women, in Lights of Guidance, no. 2076)
Notes[edit]
- The Aqdas mentions "Men of Justice" in context with the House of Justice in par. 52 that could perhaps be in reference to the Local House of Justice--but note that the Tablet of Ishraqat mentions itself as being a part of the Aqdas uses the phrase "men of God's House of Justice" appears to speak in the context of the Universal House of Justice: "This passage, now written by the Pen of Glory, is accounted as part of the Most Holy Book: The men of God's House of Justice...All matters of State should be referred to the House of Justice"
Wisdom of exclusion to be revealed in the future; women to continue on local and national Houses of Justice and the International Bahá'í Council as long as it exists but only to be men on the Universal House of Justice per the Aqdas[edit]
"It has been elucidated in the writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi that, while the membership of the Universal House of Justice is confined to men, both women and men are eligible for election to Secondary and Local Houses of Justice (currently designated as National and Local Spiritual Assemblies)."
- (Notes to the Kitab-i-Aqdas, no. 80)
"As regards your question concerning the membership of the Universal House of Justice, there is a Tablet from 'Abdu'l-Bahá in which He definitely states that the membership of the Universal House is confined to men and that the wisdom of it will be fully revealed in the future. In the local, as well as the National Houses of Justice, however, women have the full right of membership. It is therefore, only to the International House that they cannot be elected. The Bahá'ís should accept this statement of the Master in a spirit of deep faith, confident that there is a divine guidance and wisdom behind it, which will be gradually unfolded to the eyes of the world."
"Regarding your question, the Master said the wisdom of having no women on the International House of Justice, would become manifest in the future. We have no other indication than this.
"At present there are women on the International Council, and this will continue as long as it exists, but when the International House of Justice is elected, there will only be men on it, as this is the law of the Aqdas."
- (On behalf of? Shoghi Effendi, Directives from the Guardian, pp. 79-80)
Women to be calm and composed with progress toward equality within society and the Faith pointing out that 'Abdu'l-Baha will take steps to help women advance (references "men of the House of Justice" along with limits in women's then lack of representation on political institutions)[edit]
"I am endeavouring, with Bahá'u'lláh's confirmations and assistance, so to improve the world of the handmaidens that all will be astonished. This progress is intended to be in spirituality, in virtues, in human perfections and in divine knowledge. In America, the cradle of women's liberation, women are still debarred from political institutions because they squabble. They are yet to have a member in the House of Representatives. Also Bahá'u'lláh hath proclaimed: "O ye men of the House of Justice." Ye need to be calm and composed, so that the work will proceed with wisdom, otherwise there will be such chaos that ye will leave everything and run away. "This newly born babe is traversing in one night the path that needeth a hundred years to tread." In brief, ye should now engage in matters of pure spirituality and not contend with men. 'Abdu'l-Bahá will tactfully take appropriate steps. Be assured. In the end thou wilt thyself exclaim, "This was indeed supreme wisdom!" I appeal to you to obliterate this contention between men and women...."
"No one can on his own achieve anything. 'Abdu'l-Bahá must be well pleased and assist."
