How was the Universal House of Justice leadership formed?
Bahaismiran:
As the second organizer and leader of Baha’ism cult, Abdul Baha has planned 3 pillars for the administrative order and organizational establishment: The first pillar is the institute for the creed guardianship, the second pillar is the institute for the disciples of the creed and the third one is the justice houses (local, national and international)[1]. He considered the first pillar in his grandson’s entity; that is, Shoqi Effendi and 23 male offspring. Because Shoqi was barred, this pillar was canceled and forgotten. The second pillar which was determined to assist and preach the Baha’i creed by Abdul Baha continued its activity during 36-yearsShoqi’s guardianship over Baha’ism. After Shoqi’s death, the institute of the disciples of the creed was dissolved because there wasn’t any guardian. The third pillar has been entitled “the universal house of Justice†by Hussein Ali Baha and his successors. This panel has been predicted in three level: Local, national and international. Today, Baha’is call the international house of justice as “the universal house of Justice†and the local and national ones as “local and national spiritual assembliesâ€. There are 9 members in the universal house of justice who are elected for 5 years. According to heads of Baha’ism, these members are infallible[2]. Their commandments are the divine inspiration and commandments. Being disagreed with them equal disagreeing God.[3] They are inspired heavenly inspiration.[4]
Baha’is consider this panel and organization as means for the universal unity.[5] They believe that the universal house of justice and the time for its establishement promised by Daniel the prophet.[6] In 1951, a panel called “the minor house of justice†was established by Shoqi Effendi. Because this panel didn’t accord with Bahaullah and Abdul Baha’s will and orders, a group of Baha’is opposed. First, Mason Remey from America was appointed as the guardian of the minor house of justice. The rest of its members especially Rouhieh Maxwell (Shoqi’s wife) had dispute over the succession of guardian of creed; so Mason resigned and Rouhieh Maxwell took over the responsibility of minor house of justice and Baha’ism organization in Heyfa. Eventually, in 1963, the members of the universal house of justice were elected while 56 national spiritual assembly members were present.[7]
[1] Bahaullah and the new era, translated by Soleymani, Bahai publication, 1988, p.290.
[2] Hussein Ali Nouri, Eshraqat, Bita, p.27.
[3] Qolam Ali Dehqan, the new order pillar, p. 190.
[4] Hussein Ali nouri, the tablets after the Aqdas, 1980, p.37.
[5] The Universal House of Justice, translated by Houshang Fath A’azam, p. 81.
[6] The same, pp. 80-81
[7] The same, pp. 83-103