Bahá'í Community: Structures

Dr. Moojan Momen

i. Nineteen Day Feast

The basis for the functioning of each local Bahá'í community is the Nineteen-Day Feast. This event is held every nineteen days on the first day of each Bahá'í month (see Bahá'í calendar). All the Bahá'ís of an area must try to attend it. The meeting itself is divided into three parts. The first is a devotional portion at which prayers and passages from the holy writings are read. After this, there is an administrative part of the meeting during which there is usually a short report about the affairs of the Bahá'í Faith in the area. A very important aspect of this part of the meeting is a general consultation among the gathered Bahá'ís about any issues that may be raised by an individual. The third part of this meeting is a social portion at which refreshments are served. At present, in many smaller Bahá'í communities, the Nineteen Day Feast is held in the home of one of the Bahá'ís and the host is responsible for the refreshments. This basic pattern of the Nineteen Day Feast can be adapted around the world to accommodate cultural differences.

ii. The Local and National Spiritual Assemblies

The Bahá'ís in each area gather once a year during the Bahá'í holy day of Ridván (21 April) to hold an election. They elect nine of their number to be the Local Spiritual Assembly for the area. This assembly is the coordinating body of the Bahá'ís in that area. In a small Bahá'í community, it is usually just responsible for: organizing activities to spread the Bahá'í Faith; arranging holy day celebrations and Nineteen Day Feasts; administering a local Bahá'í fund; and acting as an intermediary between the National Spiritual Assembly (see below) and the individual Bahá'ís. In larger Bahá'í communities, its role is more extensive (see below).

The next level up in the Bahá'í administrative hierarchy is the National Spiritual Assembly. This is formed in any country where there are sufficient Local Spiritual Assemblies. Delegates are elected to a National Convention, at which the National Spiritual Assembly is elected. In some parts of the world however, there is not a sufficiently strong foundation of Local Spiritual Assemblies. Here, several countries may be grouped together under one Assembly, which is then often called a Regional Spiritual Assembly. Alternatively, some countries are divided into more than one "National" Spiritual Assembly (the United States of America, for example, has one assembly for the continental USA, and one each for Hawaii and Alaska). Some colonies and dependent territories also have their own "National" Spiritual Assemblies.

Within its area of jurisdiction, each National Spiritual Assembly is responsible for stimulating and coordinating the activities of Local Spiritual Assemblies and individual Bahá'ís. It is also the main channel of communication between the Bahá'ís in its area and the Bahá'í World Centre.

Within its area of jurisdiction, each Spiritual Assembly, whether local or national, is responsible for a wide range of functions such as:

• the promotion of the Bahá'í Faith;
• the expansion and consolidation of the Bahá'í community;
• the defence of the Bahá'í Faith against attacks made upon it;
• the collecting and disbursement of a Bahá'í Fund;
• the publication and distribution of Bahá'í literature;
• the organization of child education and youth activities;
• the administration of social and economic development projects by the Bahá'í community (for example projects promoting education, the social advancement of women or racial unity);
• providing humanitarian assistance to the sick and needy;
• representing the Bahá'ís of an area in all their activities and relationships with Bahá'ís in other communities, and with the appropriate governmental and non-governmental organizations, agencies, and associations;
• promoting the study of the Bahá'í writings and the strengthening and better functioning of the Bahá'í institutions;
• supervision of Bahá'í marriages, divorces, and funerals; and
• arbitrating and settling differences among members of the community.

The assembly can carry out these functions directly or through committees or individuals appointed by the assembly.

iii. The Universal House of Justice

The Universal House of Justice is elected by all of the members of all National Spiritual Assemblies at an International Convention. At present, this is held every five years. The Universal House of Justice is the supreme authority in the Bahá'í world and is, according to `Abdu'l-Bahá, "the source of all good and freed from all error."¹ It is the supreme legislative authority of the Bahá'í Faith and is empowered to legislate on any areas that are not explicitly covered in the Bahá'í scriptures.

The men of God's House of Justice have been charged with the affairs of the people. They, in truth, are the Trustees of God among His servants and the daysprings of authority in His countries . . . Inasmuch as for each day there is a new problem and for every problem an expedient solution, such affairs should be referred to the Ministers of the House of Justice that they may act according to the needs and requirements of the time . . . It is incumbent upon all to be obedient unto them. (Bahá'u'lláh)²

Many of the responsibilities and duties of the Universal House of Justice mirror on a global scale the general duties of the Local and National Spiritual Assemblies which are outlined in the previous section. Other specific responsibilities include:

• promoting peace and amity among the nations;
• ensuring that no body or institution within the Bahá'í community abuse its privileges;
• safeguarding the rights, freedom and initiative of the individual;
• developing the Bahá'í world centre and the administrative institutions of the Bahá'í Faith;
• adjudicating in disputes referred to it by Local or National Spiritual Assemblies or by individuals;
• preserving and safeguarding the sacred texts of the Bahá'í Faith.³

Although the Universal House of Justice is the supreme authority in the Bahá'í world and its directives are therefore binding upon all Bahá'ís, any decisions made by the Universal House of Justice can subsequently, when circumstances change, be abrogated or changed by a further decision of the Universal House of Justice. (On women and the Universal House of Justice).

iv. The Appointed Institutions of the Bahá'í Faith

As well as the above elected institutions, there are some institutions to which individual Bahá'ís may be appointed. Shoghi Effendi appointed a number of individuals to the position of Hand of the Cause. He gave these persons the task of promoting the expansion of the Bahá'í Faith and defending it against attacks. Since the death of Shoghi Effendi, no further Hands of the Cause can be appointed. Their functions, however, have been perpetuated through the creation of a number of institutions to which individual Bahá'ís are appointed for limited terms. The central institution of this appointed arm of the Bahá'í administration is the International Teaching Centre, which is based in Haifa. This institution supervises Continental Boards of Counsellors based in the different continents. These in turn appoint members of the Auxiliary Boards, which are responsible for a country or a part of a country. These Auxiliary Board members can, in turn, appoint assistants to help them in their tasks.

This appointed arm of the Bahá'í administration has no administrative powers or authority. It functions to stimulate and encourage the individual Bahá'ís and in a consultative capacity with the elected institutions.

[Note: in the  United States there is now an additional level of elected institution, that of the Regional Council. This institution obviously fits between the National and Local levels, but it must be noted that they would fit in a horizontal fashion instead of a vertical one, as Local assemblies still report to National]

iv. The Bahá'í World Centre

The world centre of the Bahá'í Faith is in the Haifa-Akka area. Here are situated the holiest shrines of the Bahá'í world: the shrine of Bahá'u'lláh at Bahjí just outside Akka and the shrine of the Báb (which at present also contains the shrine of `Abdu'l-Bahá) situated on the side of Mount Carmel in the city of Haifa.

Adjacent to the shrine of the Báb in Haifa is a semicircular pathway, known as "the arc", on which are the main administrative buildings of the world centre. When completed these will include:

• the seat of the Universal House of Justice,
• the seat of the International Teaching Centre,
• the International Bahá'í Archives,
• the Centre for the Study of the Sacred Text, and
• the International Bahá'í Library.

The Bahá'í World Centre also consists of several buildings, which were the residences of Bahá'u'lláh and `Abdu'l-Bahá during their lives, and extensive gardens around these buildings.

Most of the holy places of the Bahá'í world are at the Bahá'í world centre in the Haifa-Akka area and in Iran, Iraq, and Turkey. These are places linked to the lives of the central figures of the religion. Those Bahá'ís who can afford to do so without difficulty are encouraged to perform a pilgrimage to them. The holy places in Iran and Iraq, however, cannot at present be visited due to persecutions of the Bahá'í Faith in those countries.

v. The Bahá'í Calendar

All the calendars now in widespread use in the world are closely associated with one or other of the world religions. Bahá'u'lláh has introduced a new calendar, beginning from 1844 AD.

The Bahá'í calendar was called by Bahá'u'lláh the Badí` (wondrous) calendar. Each year consists of nineteen months of nineteen days each. The year begins with the spring equinox on 21st March. The Bahá'í months are named after various spiritual qualities or divine attributes.

There are four additional (intercalary) days before the last month of the year (`Alá') which make the number of days up to 365. They are increased to five days in a leap year. These days are called the Ayyám-i-Há and are specially set aside for hospitality and the giving of presents.

Bahá'ís have nine holy days, most of which commemorate significant events in Bahá'í history. (For historical information on these events, see Bahá'í History)

vi. The House of Worship (Mashriqu'l-Adhkár)

At present, Bahá'ís in most local communities have no special place of worship. They meet either in each other's homes or at a Bahá'í centre. It is envisaged, however, that in the future in each town there will be built a house of worship (Mashriqu'l-Adhkár). Around it will be built schools, universities, libraries, medical facilities, orphanages and so on. This will become the spiritual and social centre of the community.

The Bahá'í house of worship is open to peoples of all backgrounds, not just Bahá'ís, in accordance with the Bahá'í aim of fostering unity. In his speech at the laying of the cornerstone of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár in Wilmette, `Abdu'l-Bahá stated that:

. . . the original purpose of temples and houses of worship is simply that of unity--places of meeting where various peoples, different races and souls of every capacity may come together in order that love and agreement should be manifest between them . . . that all religions, races and sects may come together within its universal shelter . . .⁴

At present Bahá'ís prefer to use their money on other projects and, therefore, there are only seven of these Houses of Worship around the world as a symbol of future intentions. These seven are: near Chicago, USA; near Kampala, Uganda; near Sydney, Australia; near Frankfurt, Germany; near Panama City, Panama; near Apia, Samoa; and in New Delhi, India.