Hands Of The Cause
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Hand of the Cause was a title given to prominent early members of the
Baháʼí Faith The Baháʼí Faith is a religion founded in the 19th century that teaches the Baháʼí Faith and the unity of religion, essential worth of all religions and Baháʼí Faith and the unity of humanity, the unity of all people. Established by ...
, appointed for life by the religion's founders. Of the fifty individuals given the title, the last living was
ʻAlí-Muhammad Varqá ʻAlí-Muhammad Varqá ( fa, ;‎ 1911September 22, 2007) was a prominent adherent of the Baháʼí Faith. He was the longest surviving Hand of the Cause of God, an appointed position in the Baháʼí Faith whose main function is to propagate an ...
who died in 2007. Hands of the Cause played a significant role in propagating the religion, and protecting it from schism. With the passing of
Shoghi Effendi Shoghí Effendi (; 1 March 1897 – 4 November 1957) was the grandson and successor of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá, appointed to the role of Guardian of the Baháʼí Faith from 1921 until his death in 1957. He created a series of teaching plans that over ...
in 1957, the twenty-seven living Hands of the Cause at the time would be the last appointed. The
Universal House of Justice The Universal House of Justice ( fa, بیت‌العدل اعظم) is the nine-member supreme ruling body of the Baháʼí Faith. It was envisioned by Baháʼu'lláh, the founder of the Baháʼí Faith, as an institution that could legislate o ...
, the governing body first elected in 1963, created the
Institution of the Counsellors The Institution of the Counsellors is the current appointed branch in the administrative system of the Baháʼí religion. It consists of the 9 International Counsellors of the International Teaching Centre, the 90 Continental Counsellors, their ...
in 1968 and the appointed Continental Counsellors over time took on the role that the Hands of the Cause were filling. The announcement in 1968 also changed the role of the Hand of the Cause, changing them from continental appointments to worldwide, and nine Counsellors working at the
International Teaching Centre The International Teaching Centre (ITC) is a Baháʼí institution based in the Baháʼí World Centre in Haifa, Israel. Its duties are to stimulate and coordinate the Continental Board of Counselors and assist the Universal House of Justice in ...
took on the role of the nine Hands of the Cause who worked in the
Baháʼí World Centre The Baháʼí World Centre is the name given to the spiritual and administrative centre of the Baháʼí Faith, representing sites in or near the cities of Acre and Haifa, Israel. Much of the international governance and coordination of the ...
. The most complete list of the Hands available is from ''The Baháʼí World: Vol XIV''. The
Universal House of Justice The Universal House of Justice ( fa, بیت‌العدل اعظم) is the nine-member supreme ruling body of the Baháʼí Faith. It was envisioned by Baháʼu'lláh, the founder of the Baháʼí Faith, as an institution that could legislate o ...
has said that this list may not be complete, and that a study of the letters and archives may reveal others named to this position.


Responsibilities

‘Abdu’l-Baha in his will and testament asks the Hands of the Cause of God to be "ever watchful" and "so soon as they find anyone beginning to oppose and protest against the Guardian of the Cause of God, cast him out from the congregation of the people of Baha and in no wise accept any excuse from him." The Hands of the Cause are also referred to by
Shoghi Effendi Shoghí Effendi (; 1 March 1897 – 4 November 1957) was the grandson and successor of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá, appointed to the role of Guardian of the Baháʼí Faith from 1921 until his death in 1957. He created a series of teaching plans that over ...
as the "Chief Stewards of Baháʼu'lláh's embryonic World Commonwealth".


Appointments

Four Hands were named by
Baháʼu'lláh Baháʼu'lláh (born Ḥusayn-ʻAlí; 12 November 1817 – 29 May 1892) was the founder of the Baháʼí Faith. He was born to an aristocratic family in Persia, and was exiled due to his adherence to the messianic Bábí Faith. In 1863, in I ...
, four by
ʻAbdu'l-Bahá ʻAbdu'l-Bahá (; Persian language, Persian: ‎, 23 May 1844 – 28 November 1921), born ʻAbbás ( fa, عباس), was the eldest son of Baháʼu'lláh and served as head of the Baháʼí Faith from 1892 until 1921. ʻAbdu'l-Bahá was later C ...
and forty-two by
Shoghi Effendi Shoghí Effendi (; 1 March 1897 – 4 November 1957) was the grandson and successor of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá, appointed to the role of Guardian of the Baháʼí Faith from 1921 until his death in 1957. He created a series of teaching plans that over ...
(including ten posthumously).


Appointed by Baháʼu'lláh

*
Adíb Hájí Mírzá Ḥasan-i-Adíbu'l-ʻUlamá ( ar, ‎; September 1848–2 September 1919), known as Mírzá Ḥasan or Adíb, was an eminent follower of Baháʼu'lláh, the founder of the Baháʼí Faith. He was appointed a Hand of the Ca ...
(1848–1919) *
Hají Ákhúnd Ḥají Mullá ʻAlí-Akbar S͟hahmírzádí ( fa, ‎ 18421910), known as Ḥají Ák͟húnd, was an eminent follower of Baháʼu'lláh, the founder of the Baháʼí Faith. He was appointed a Hand of the Cause, and identified as one of the ni ...
(1842–1910) *
Ibn-i-Asdaq Mírzá ʻAlí-Muḥammad-i-K͟hurásání ( ar, ; died 1928), known as Ibn-i-Aṣdaq, was an eminent follower of Baháʼu'lláh, the founder of the Baháʼí Faith. He was appointed a Hand of the Cause and identified as one of the nineteen Ap ...
(d.1928) * Ibn-i-Abhar (d.1917)


Appointed posthumously by ʻAbdu'l-Bahá

*Muhammad-Ridá (Mullá Muhammad Ábádí Yazdí) *
Nabíl-i-Akbar Áqá Muḥammad-i-Qá'iní (also known as Fadil-i-Qa'ini ("Learned One of Qa'ín") and surnamed Nabíl-i-Akbar ( ar, ); ‎ 1829–1892) was a distinguished Baháʼí from the town of Qá'in. He is one of 19 Apostles of Baháʼu'lláh, and re ...
(1829–1892) *Ismu'lláhu'l-Asdaq (d. 1889) (Mullá Sádiq Khurasani) *
Varqá Varqá ( ar, , born Mírzá ʻAlí-Muhammad ( fa, ); died 1896) was an eminent follower of Baháʼu'lláh, the founder of the Baháʼí Faith. Varqá was referred to by ʻAbdu'l-Bahá ʻAbdu'l-Bahá (; Persian: ‎, 23 May 1844 – 28 No ...
(d. 1896)


Appointed posthumously by Shoghi Effendi

* John Ebenezer Esslemont (1874–1925) * Hájí Amín (1831–1928) *
Keith Ransom-Kehler Keith Ransom-Kehler (February 14, 1876 – October 27, 1933) was an American leader within the Baháʼí Faith, posthumously deemed a Hand of the Cause of God. She is believed to have been the Baháʼí Faith's first American martyr A martyr (, ' ...
(1876–1933) *
Martha Root Martha Louise Root (August 10, 1872 – September 28, 1939) was an American traveling teacher of the Baháʼí Faith in the early 20th century. From the declaration of her belief in 1909 until her death thirty years later, she went around the ...
(1872–1939) * John Henry Hyde Dunn (1855–1941) *Siyyid Mustafá Rúmí (d. 1942) *'Abdu'l-Jalil Bey Sa'd (d. 1942) *Muhammed Taqiy-i-Isfáhani (d. 1946) *Roy C. Wilhelm (1875–1951) *
Louis George Gregory Louis George Gregory (born June 6, 1874, in Charleston, South Carolina; died July 30, 1951, in Eliot, Maine) was a prominent American member of the Baháʼí Faith who was devoted to its expansion in the United States and elsewhere. He traveled ...
(1874–1951)


Appointed individually by Shoghi Effendi ear of appointment

* Amatu'l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih K͟hánum (1910–2000)
952 Year 952 ( CMLII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Europe * Summer – At the Reichstag in Augsburg (assembled by King Otto I), joined by German nob ...
*Jalál K͟háḍih (1897–1990)
953 Year 953 ( CMLIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Byzantine Empire * Battle of Marash: Emir Sayf al-Dawla marches north into the Byzantine Empire an ...
(also transliterated Jalal Khazeh) *Paul Edmond Haney (1909–1982)
954 Year 954 ( CMLIV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Europe * Spring – A Hungarian army led by Bulcsú crosses the Rhine. He camps at Worms in th ...
*
ʻAlí-Muhammad Varqá ʻAlí-Muhammad Varqá ( fa, ;‎ 1911September 22, 2007) was a prominent adherent of the Baháʼí Faith. He was the longest surviving Hand of the Cause of God, an appointed position in the Baháʼí Faith whose main function is to propagate an ...
(1911–2007)
955 Year 955 ( CMLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Europe * August 10 – Battle of Lechfeld: King Otto I ("the Great") defeats the Hungarians (also ...
* Agnes Baldwin Alexander (1875–1971) 957


First contingent, appointed 24 December 1951 by Shoghi Effendi

*
Dorothy Beecher Baker Dorothy Beecher Baker (December 21, 1898 - January 10, 1954) was an American teacher and prominent member of the Baháʼí Faith. She rose to leadership positions in a Local Spiritual Assembly and then was elected to the National Spiritual Assembl ...
(1898–1954) * Amelia Engelder Collins (1873–1962) *
ʻAlí-Akbar Furútan ʻAlí-Akbar Furútan (29 April 1905 – 26 November 2003) was a prominent Iranian Baháʼí educator and author who was given the rank of Hand of the Cause in 1951. A native of Sabzivár in what was, at the time, Iran's Khurásán, ʻAl ...
(1905–2003) *
Ugo Giachery Ugo Giachery (May 13, 1896 – July 5, 1989) was a prominent Italian Baháʼí from an aristocratic family from Palermo. At an anniversary of the founding of the spiritual assembly of Perugia Giachery told the story of how, as a young wounde ...
(1896–1989) *Hermann Grossmann (1899–1968) * Horace Hotchkiss Holley (1887–1960) * Leroy C. Ioas (1896–1965) *
William Sutherland Maxwell William Sutherland Maxwell (November 14, 1874 – March 25, 1952) was a well-known Canadian architect and a Hand of the Cause in the Baháʼí Faith. He was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada to parents Edward John Maxwell and Johan MacBean. Lif ...
(1874–1952) *Taráz'u'lláh Samandarí (1874–1968) *
Valíyu'lláh Varqá Mírzá Valíyu'lláh Khán-i-Varqá ( fa, ‎ ; 18841955) was a prominent Persian Baháʼí who was appointed a Hand of the Cause by Shoghi Effendi. He was the son of Varqá, the martyr-poet, and the father of ʻAlí-Muhammad Varqá, ( ...
(1884–1955) *
George Townshend George Townshend may refer to: *George Townshend (Royal Navy officer) (1715–1769), British naval commander *George Townshend, 1st Marquess Townshend (1724–1807), British field marshal, his nephew *George Townshend, 2nd Marquess Townshend (1753 ...
(1876–1957) *
Charles Mason Remey Charles Mason Remey (15 May 1874 – 4 February 1974) was a prominent member of the early American Baháʼí community, and served in several important administrative capacities. He is well-known for an attempted schism of 1960, in which he cla ...
(1874–1974)


Second contingent, appointed 29 February 1952 by Shoghi Effendi

*Siegfried Schopflocher (1877–1953) *S͟hu'á'u'lláh ʻAláʼí (1889–1984) *Músá Banání (1886–1971) * Clara Dunn (1869–1960) * D͟hikru'lláh K͟hádim (1904–1986) *
Adelbert Mühlschlegel Adelbert Mühlschlegel (June 16, 1897 – July 29, 1980) was a prominent German Baháʼí from a Protestant family. He became a Baháʼí in 1920, translated Baháʼí literature and served as a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of German ...
(1897–1980) *Corinne Knight True (1861–1961)


Last contingent, appointed 2 October 1957 by Shoghi Effendi

* Hasan Muvaqqar Balyúzí (1908–1980) * Abu'l-Qásim Faizi (1906–1980) * John Graham Ferraby (1914–1973) * Harold Collis Featherstone (1913–1990) * Rahmatu'lláh Muhájir (1923–1979) * Enoch Olinga (1926–1979) * John Aldham Robarts (1901–1991) * William Sears (1911–1992)


Custodians

During the period between the death of Shoghi Effendi and the election of the Universal House of Justice the Hands of the Cause held a convocation from which they constituted a body of nine from among their number to serve in the Holy Land and to act as Custodians of the Baháʼí Faith, a body which functioned without officers and with a quorum of five, whose duties included taking care of Baháʼí World Center properties and other assets; corresponding with and advising National and Regional Spiritual Assemblies; acting on behalf of the Baháʼí Faith for its protection; and maintaining close contact with the rest of the Hands, who would henceforth devote their time to the successful completion of the goals of the
Ten Year Crusade Ten, TEN or 10 may refer to: * 10, an even natural number following 9 and preceding 11 * one of the years 10 BC, AD 10, 1910 and 2010 * October, the tenth month of the year Places * Mount Ten, in Vietnam * Tongren Fenghuang Airport (IATA code ...
. The Hands of the Cause maintained the number of Custodians, replacing those who died or were unable, for health or personal reasons, to remain at the Baháʼí World Center permanently. The idea of a group of nine elected from among the Hands of the Cause to stay at the Baha'i World Centre was referred to in the Will and Testament of
ʻAbdu'l-Bahá ʻAbdu'l-Bahá (; Persian language, Persian: ‎, 23 May 1844 – 28 November 1921), born ʻAbbás ( fa, عباس), was the eldest son of Baháʼu'lláh and served as head of the Baháʼí Faith from 1892 until 1921. ʻAbdu'l-Bahá was later C ...
, one of the defining documents of Baháʼí administration. This body of nine was given the duty to validate any appointments made as Guardian: :"The Hands of the Cause of God must elect from their own number nine persons that shall at all times be occupied in the important services in the work of the Guardian of the Cause of God. The election of these nine must be carried either unanimously or by majority from the company of the Hands of the Cause of God and these, whether unanimously or by a majority vote, must give their assent to the choice of the one whom the Guardian of the Cause of God hath chosen as his successor."


Ministry (1957–1963)

In 1957 after the unexpected death of Shoghi Effendi while he was travelling to Britain, the living Hands of the Cause gathered in Haifa and elected nine members that would retain the leadership of the religion until the
Universal House of Justice The Universal House of Justice ( fa, بیت‌العدل اعظم) is the nine-member supreme ruling body of the Baháʼí Faith. It was envisioned by Baháʼu'lláh, the founder of the Baháʼí Faith, as an institution that could legislate o ...
was elected in 1963. All eligible appointees as Guardian had been excommunicated and no appointment had been made by Shoghi Effendi, so they left the situation to be decided by the Universal House of Justice, which had the scriptural authority to legislate on matters that were unaddressed in the religion's texts. In a statement released by the complete body of the Hands of the Cause they wrote: :We the undersigned: :in our capacity as Hands of the Cause of God duly nominated and appointed by the Guardian of the Baháʼí Faith, His Eminence the late Shoghi Effendi Rabbani, assembled this 25 November 1957 at the Baháʼí World Centre and constituting the supreme body of the Baháʼí World Community :DO HEREBY UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVE AND PROCLAIM AS FOLLOWS: :WHEREAS THE Guardian of the Baháʼí Faith, His Eminence the late Shoghi Effendi Rabbani, died in London (England) on 4 November 1957, without having appointed his successor; :AND WHEREAS it is now fallen upon us as Chief Stewards of the Baháʼí World Faith to preserve the unity, the security and the development of the Baháʼí World Community and all its institutions; :AND WHEREAS in accordance with the Will and Testament of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá) "the Hands of the Cause of God must elect from their own number nine persons that shall at all times be occupied in the important services in the work of the Guardian of the Cause of God"; :We nominate and appoint from our own number to act on our behalf as the Custodians of the Baháʼí World Faith :: Ruhiyyih Rabbani ::
Charles Mason Remey Charles Mason Remey (15 May 1874 – 4 February 1974) was a prominent member of the early American Baháʼí community, and served in several important administrative capacities. He is well-known for an attempted schism of 1960, in which he cla ...
::Amelia E. Collins :: Leroy C. Ioas :: Hasan Balyuzi ::
ʻAlí-Akbar Furútan ʻAlí-Akbar Furútan (29 April 1905 – 26 November 2003) was a prominent Iranian Baháʼí educator and author who was given the rank of Hand of the Cause in 1951. A native of Sabzivár in what was, at the time, Iran's Khurásán, ʻAl ...
::Jalal Khazeh ::Paul E. Haney ::Adelbert Muhlschlegel :to exercise -- subject to such directions and decisions as may be given from time to time by us as the Chief Stewards of the Baháʼí World Faith -- all such functions, rights and powers in succession to the Guardian of the Baháʼí Faith, His Eminence the late Shoghi Effendi Rabbani, as are necessary to serve the interests of the Baháʼí World Faith, and this until such time as the Universal House of Justice, upon being duly established and elected in conformity with the Sacred Writings of Baháʼu'lláh and the Will and Testament of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá, may otherwise determine. In 1959 Mason Remey and Hasan Balyuzi found that they could no longer serve in a permanent capacity as Custodian of the Faith at the
Baháʼí World Centre The Baháʼí World Centre is the name given to the spiritual and administrative centre of the Baháʼí Faith, representing sites in or near the cities of Acre and Haifa, Israel. Much of the international governance and coordination of the ...
, and thus John Ferraby and Horace Holley were selected to replace them as Custodians. Then in 1960 after the death of Horace Holley, William Sears was elected to replace him and serve as a Custodian.


Closing of their office

The Custodians called for the election of the
Universal House of Justice The Universal House of Justice ( fa, بیت‌العدل اعظم) is the nine-member supreme ruling body of the Baháʼí Faith. It was envisioned by Baháʼu'lláh, the founder of the Baháʼí Faith, as an institution that could legislate o ...
at the close of the
Ten Year Crusade Ten, TEN or 10 may refer to: * 10, an even natural number following 9 and preceding 11 * one of the years 10 BC, AD 10, 1910 and 2010 * October, the tenth month of the year Places * Mount Ten, in Vietnam * Tongren Fenghuang Airport (IATA code ...
in 1963 and excluded themselves from being electable to that institution. Upon the election of the Universal House of Justice the Custodians closed their office and turned to that newly elected body. They announced: :"WE, THE UNDERSIGNED, DULY NOMINATED AND APPOINTED AS CUSTODIANS OF THE BAHAʼI WORLD FAITH BY THE DECLARATION OF THE HANDS OF THE CAUSE OF GOD MADE AT BAHJI ON NOVEMBER 25TH, 1957... do now declare that the Universal House of Justice was so established and elected by action of the International Baháʼí Convention held at Haifa on April 21st, 22nd and 23rd, 1963 and we hereby release all the said functions, rights and powers which were conferred upon us under the said Declaration of November 25th, 1957 as determined by the Universal House of Justice in its communication of June 7th, 1963, and we declare that all the said functions, rights and powers now devolve rightfully and in full accordance with the Sacred Writings of the Baháʼí Faith upon the Universal House of Justice. We make this statement for the full body of the Hands of the Cause of God in accordance with the powers conferred upon us by the Declaration of November 25th, 1957, and the office of Custodians of the Baháʼí World Faith has thus ceased to exist."


See also

*
Apostles of Baháʼu'lláh The Apostles of Baháʼu'lláh were nineteen prominent early followers of Baháʼu'lláh, the founder of the Baháʼí Faith. The apostles were designated as such by Shoghi Effendi, head of the religion in the earlier half of the 20th century, an ...
* Disciples of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá *
Institution of the Counsellors The Institution of the Counsellors is the current appointed branch in the administrative system of the Baháʼí religion. It consists of the 9 International Counsellors of the International Teaching Centre, the 90 Continental Counsellors, their ...
*
Letters of the Living The Letters of the Living ( ar, حروف الحي) was a title provided by the Báb to the first eighteen disciples of the Bábí Religion. In some understandings the Báb places himself at the head of this list (as the first letter). In this ar ...


Notes


References

* * * * * * * * * *


External links


Portraits of the Hands of the Cause

Fadil-i-Mazandarani
- House of Justice message of 1998 concerning the status and rank of Fadil-i-Mazandarani. {{Baháʼí 19th-century establishments in Asia