Hands of the Cause of God (abbreviated as Hands or Hands of the Cause), in the Baháʼí Faith, refers to several prominent Baha'is appointed for life by Baha'u'llah, 'Abdu'l-Baha', and Shoghi Effendi to promote the Baháʼí teachings and preserve the unity of the Baháʼí Faith community. Each one of the appointees is referred to as a Hand of the Cause. Of the fifty individuals given the title, Baha'u'llah appointed four during his lifetime; 'Abdu'l-Baha' also posthumously designated four individuals as Hands of the Cause; and afterwards, Shoghi Effendi appointed forty-two to this rank over the 36 years of his ministry. Hands of the Cause played a significant role in propagating the religion and protecting it from schism.
'Abdu'l-Baha' formally defined the role of these prominent Baháʼís, elaborated on their responsibilities, and emphasized their importance. In his Will and Testament, he stated that the responsibility for appointing and guiding the Hands in the future would rest with his successor, Shoghi Effendi. A few weeks before his death in November 1957, Shoghi Effendi appointed the final group of the Hands, and in a letter to the Baháʼís of the world, referred to the Body of the Hands as the Chief Stewards of the Baháʼí Faith. This Body of 27 men and women assumed the leadership and guidance of the worldwide Baháʼí community for six years following the death of Shoghi Effendi, until the election of the Universal House of Justice in April 1963. In the administrative structure of the Baháʼí Faith, authority is not held by individuals; rather, decisions are made collectively through consultation in Baháʼí councils. The supreme governing institution is the Universal House of Justice in the Baháʼí Faith.
The temporary administration of the affairs of the faith by the Hands until the formation of the Universal House of Justice was foreseen in the Kitab-i-Aqdas. After its establishment in April 1963, the Universal House of Justice created the Institution of the Counsellors in 1968, and the appointed Continental Counsellors over time took on the role that the Hands of the Cause were filling. The functions of the Hands were gradually transferred to newly formed institutions of Continental Boards of Counsellors and subsequently the International Teaching Center, whose membership included five Counsellors from around the world and all living Hands of the Cause as permanent members. The announcement in 1968 also changed the role of the Hands of the Cause, from continental appointments to worldwide. As the Hands of the Cause died, the number of the Counsellors serving at the International Teaching Centre reached nine and took on the functions of the nine Hands of the Cause who worked in the Baháʼí World Centre in the lifetime of Shoghi Effendi until the establishment of the International Teaching Center.
Brief history
In the Baháʼí Faith, the appointment of distinguished individuals with the title of Hands of the Cause of God (Ayádí-yi Amru'lláh) began during the time of Baháʼu'lláh. After Him, His successor ʻAbdu'l-Bahá, who is known as the Center of the Covenant of Baháʼu'lláh, referred to several Baháʼís as Hands of the Cause in one of his books titled Memorials of the Faithful. ʻAbdu'l-Bahá elaborated on the appointment process and duties of the Hands in his Will (Alwáḥ-i-Waṣáyá) and assigned the responsibility of appointing them to the Guardian of the Baháʼí Faith.
Shoghi Effendi, the successor of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá, appointed individuals to the position of Hands of the Cause of God during his lifetime. He gradually appointed 42 individuals from various parts of the world to this role. In total, 50 individuals were designated as Hands of the Cause: 4 by Baháʼu'lláh, 4 by ʻAbdu'l-Bahá, and 42 by Shoghi Effendi, bringing the total of 50 Hands of the Cause in the Baháʼí Faith.
After the death of Shoghi Effendi in 1957 and until the establishment of the Universal House of Justice the Hands of the Cause collectively as Custodians, led the worldwide Baháʼí community based on the guidance of Shoghi Effendi, as expressed in his final message to the Baháʼís of the world dated October 2, 1957, just weeks before his sudden death.Shoghi Effendi, Messages to the Baha'i World - 1950-1957, p. 127 The 27 living Hands continued their activities, focusing on protecting and preserving the Baháʼí community and encouraging the believers to fulfill the goals of Shoghi Effendi's Ten Year Plan, which ultimately led to the election of the Universal House of Justice in April 1963.Hatcher, S. William and Martin, J. Douglass (1986) Baha’i Faith -- the emerging global religion, Harper & Row
In a message (November 1964) the Universal House of Justice announced that since it was no longer possible to appoint Hands of the Cause, the need was the development of new institutions; the Continental Boards of Counsellors (1968) and the International Teaching Centre (1973) to fulfil functions of the Hands of the Cause.
The Hands, in consultation with the Universal House of Justice, served their purpose for the remainder of their lives. The last surviving Hand of the Cause, ʻAlí-Muhammad Varqá, died in 2007.
Appointments In total, four Hands were named by Baháʼu'lláh, four by ʻAbdu'l-Bahá, and forty-two by Shoghi Effendi.
Appointed by Baháʼu'lláh (1863–1892) Adíb (1848–1919) Hají Ákhúnd (1842–1910) Ibn-i-Asdaq (d.1928) Ibn-i-Abhar (d.1917) These four Hands served as a means of communication between Bahá’u’lláh and the Baháʼís of Iran. After Baháʼu'lláh's death, they played a crucial role in supporting the succession of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and in maintaining the unity of the Baháʼí community. In 1899, at the instruction of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, they established the first Baháʼí Spiritual Assembly in Tehran.
Appointed posthumously by ʻAbdu'l-Bahá (1892–1921) ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the eldest son and appointed successor of Bahá’u’lláh, guided the four individuals who, after the death of Bahá'u'lláh, continually and actively followed him in his ministry. These individuals played a prominent role in protecting the Baháʼí Faith against attacks by the supporters of Muhammad-‘Alí, the younger half-brother of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, who challenged his authority as the appointed successor of Bahá’u’lláh.«Hands of the Cause of God». www.bahai-encyclopedia-project.org. 7-27-2020.
In the book Tadhkirat al-Wafá (Memorials of the Faithful), ‘Abdu’l-Bahá mentioned four prominent Baháʼís who, throughout their lives, devoted themselves to spreading the Baháʼí teachings and promoting its principles and ethics with selflessness, referring to them posthumously as Hands of the Cause of God. These individuals are: Muhammad-Ridá (Mullá Muhammad Ábádí Yazdí) Nabíl-i-Akbar (Aqa Muhammad-i- Qa'ini) (1829–1892) 'Ali-Muhammad Varqá (d. 1896), who, along with his son Rúḥu’lláh, gave his life for the promotion of the Baháʼí Faith teachings. Mullá Sádiq Khurasani, also known among the Baháʼís as Ismu'lláhu'l-Asdaq (d. 1889)
Ministry of Shoghi Effendi (1921–1957) Shoghi Effendi appointed distinguished Baháʼís known as "Hands of the Cause of God" in five phases, recognizing their sacrificial and outstanding efforts in promoting and protecting the unity of the Baháʼí Faith through education and the spread of Baháʼí Teachings.
First Phase: Posthumous Appointments John Ebenezer Esslemont (1874–1925) – Scotland Hájí Amín (1831–1928) – Iran Keith Ransom-Kehler (1876–1933) – US Martha Root (1872–1939) – US John Henry Hyde Dunn (1855–1941) – Australia Siyyid Mustafá Rúmí (d. 1942) – Burma (now Myanmar) 'Abdu'l-Jalil Bey Sa'd (d. 1942) – Egypt Muhammed Taqiy-i-Isfáhani (d. 1946) – Egypt Roy C. Wilhelm (1875–1951) – US Louis George Gregory (1874–1951) – US
Second Phase: Appointed individually at different times Shoghi Effendi appointed the following individuals at various times. (appointment year for each is in brackets) Amatu'l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih K͟hánum (1910–2000) --Baháʼí World Centre Jalál K͟háḍih (1897–1990) – Iran Paul Edmond Haney (1909–1982) – US ʻAlí-Muhammad Varqá (1911–2007) – Iran Agnes Baldwin Alexander (1875–1971) – Hawaii
Third Phase: the First contingent, appointed 24 December 1951 Dorothy Beecher Baker (1898–1954) – US Amelia Engelder Collins (1873–1962) – US ʻAlí-Akbar Furútan (1905–2003) – Iran Ugo Giachery (1896–1989) – Italy Hermann Grossmann (1899–1968) – Germany Horace Hotchkiss Holley (1887–1960) – US Leroy C. Ioas (1896–1965) – US William Sutherland Maxwell (1874–1952) – Canada Taráz'u'lláh Samandarí (1874–1968) – Iran Valíyu'lláh Varqá (1884–1955) – Iran George Townshend (1876–1957) – Ireland Charles Mason Remey (1874–1974) – US
Fourth Phase: Second contingent, appointed 29 February 1952 Siegfried Schopflocher (1877–1953) – Canada S͟hu'á'u'lláh ʻAláʼí (1889–1984) – Iran Músá Banání (1886–1971) – Africa Clara Dunn (1869–1960) – Oceania D͟hikru'lláh K͟hádim (1904–1986) – Iran Adelbert Mühlschlegel (1897–1980) – Germany Corinne Knight True (1861–1961) – US
Fifth Phase: Last contingent, appointed 2 October 1957 This final group was appointed a few weeks before Shoghi Effendi's death: Hasan Muvaqqar Balyúzí (1908–1980) – British Isles Abu'l-Qásim Faizi (1906–1980) – Arabian Peninsula John Graham Ferraby (1914–1973) – British Isles Harold Collis Featherstone (1913–1990) – Oceania Rahmatu'lláh Muhájir (1923–1979) – Pacific Ocean Enoch Olinga (1926–1979) – Africa-Uganda John Aldham Robarts (1901–1991) – South-Western Africa William Sears (1911–1992) – South-Western Africa
Responsibilities ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, in His "Will and Testament", outlined both the method of appointment and the primary responsibilities of the Hands of the Cause of God. The Hands were to be appointed by His successor, Shoghi Effendi.
Their two main responsibilities were:
Protection of the Baháʼí Faith Guarding the unity of the Baháʼí community Defending the Faith against division, schism, and opposition Propagation of the Baháʼí Teachings Encouraging education and study of the Baháʼí Writings Promoting moral and spiritual leadership Inspiring and guiding the community in its teaching efforts
‘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."
Duties and functions as an institution
Further structure In 1951, Shoghi Effendi revived the Institution of the Hands of the Cause as a functioning group with no legislative, executive, or judicial authority and was entirely exempt from the priestly function of making authoritative interpretations of the sacred writings of the Faith.The Universal House of Justice, (2001) The Institution of the Counsellors, Baháʼí World Centre. p. 6. The group was to assist the national spiritual assemblies in meeting their set goals of expansion and consolidation of Baháʼí Faith communities in their areas of jurisdiction. Later, their responsibilities expanded to the protection of the Faith from external and internal attacks. By 1957, the original appointed group of twelve had reached twenty-seven. The group included individuals from all continents, plus several members of the first International Council. The continental Hands assisted the Baháʼís with a system of transnational coordination and a form of leadership that differed significantly from that of the assemblies. With the sudden death of Shoghi Effendi, they were to exercise overall headship of the Baháʼís during the period between the death of Shoghi Effendi and the establishment of the Universal House of Justice (1957–1963). During the years 1951–1957, Shoghi Effendi provided further administrative structure and expanded roles for the Hands of the Cause:
Continental Coordination A group of resident Hands at the Baháʼí World Centre in Haifa acted as the liaison between the Guardian and the Continental Hands.