The House of Justice is an organization for establishing leadership of the Bahais and is based in the city of Haifa in Israel. Bahaullah founded it and its architect was Abdul Baha and Shogi Effendi implemented it.

The House of Justice is the last hope of the Bahais as it establishes the leadership (Wali Amr) of the Bahais. It constitutes the nine member committee of the world Bahais. It is also an interpreter of the religious laws. Let us see the importance of the House of Justice in the words of the Bahai leaders.

Bahaullah writes on page 26 of in his book, 'Aqdas', published in Tehran and in Ganjene Hudud-e-Ahkam , chapter 27, page 213:
"Indeed it is obligatory that in each city a House of Justice is established comprising nine persons. There is no problem if the numbers of persons are more."

Bahaullah recommended an English legislative system after his death. He propounded a council of nine members under the nomenclature 'Wali Amr Ilah' as his successor. The Council would reform and reorganize the rights and leadership of the Bahais.

In the said system, two separate organizations were set up viz.
1. Organization for Religious Laws
2. Organization for Explanation (of Laws)

The source of the organization for religious laws is its legislations while the organization for explanation refers to explanation of rights, exegesis of the writings and the sayings of the Bahai leaders.

The sources of the religious legislations are
i. The book of Aqdas of Bahaullah and his other writings.
ii. The House of Justice.

Perusal of the book Aqdas and the other writings of Bahaullah indicate that the Text of the rights of Bahais comprises of three parts. Firstly, some of the laws advocated by Mirza Ali Mohammad Bab in his book 'Bayan' with few appropriations.

Secondly, abrogation or additions to the laws of Bayan which were not feasible or were against the human rights.

Thirdly, some new laws about worship, punishments of crime given by Bahaullah in his book Aqdas and in his other writings.

A glance at the above indicates that generally laws are ambiguous and irrational and cannot be implemented and executed. (For instance punishment of stealing, inheritance, punishment of adultery etc.).

The House of Justice is the only hope for the Bahais for legislating and explaining the laws in absence of Bahaullah and his successors Abdul Baha and Shogi Effendi.

The important sources pertaining to the House of Justice are the book of Aqdas, Ishraqat Auh Baital Adl of Bahaullah, Alwah was Wiasaya of Abdu Baha, Daur Bahai of Shogi Effendi. The book Ganjeene Hudud Ahkam is also one of the sources.

It is written in the book Alwah was Wisaya, page 15 & 16, printed in Egypt and the book Nazr Ijmaali dar Diyat Bahai, page 68 and in Ganjeene Hudude Ahkam, chapter 28:

"As for the House of Justice, God has made it a source of all goodness and safe from all evil. It is a must for the selection of the public that it is established with believers who should be manifestation of piety, a place of knowledge and knowing, steadfastness on religion and altruistic to humanity. The aim of the House of Justice generally is to establish the house of justice in all cities and they in turn form the House of Justice. It is a source of all affairs and foundation for laws and religious edict. It will stipulate the words of God and solve all the problems. Wali Amr Ilah will be the head of this and cannot be removed from the position."

Organization for Explanation (of Bahai scriptures)
Anyone who wishes to interpret the Bahai text/scriptures will find these words of Abdul Baha and through him the Awliya-e-Amr-e-Ilahi (Kitabe Aqdas and Lauhe Ahadi) very relevant:

'O beloved friends after the loss of Bahaullah the Agasaan (branches) and Afnaan and the Hands of Amre Ilahi and the lovers of Bahaullah must refer to the two sources which are from the two blessed trees. One is Shoghi Effendi as he is the sign of Allah and the chosen branch and Wali-e-Amr-e-Ilahi and referee of all the Agasaan (branches) and Afnaan and the Hands of Amr-e-Ilahi and the Wali-e-Amr-e-Ilahi and the interpreter of Allah's signs. After him, will be the Bikr and after the Bikr will be established the House of Justice. This will be founded and legislated under the protection of Bahaullah and the guardianship and security of Hazrat Aalaa (Bab) may my soul be sacrificed for both of them. This has been decreed by Allah. A firm protection from Allah is for the one who is obedient to the Wali-e-Amr-e-Ilaah. And the organs of the House of Justice and all the Agsaan and Afnaan and the Hands of Amre Ilaahi must necessarily obey the Wali-e-Amre Ilaahi with utmost submission, attention and humility. …..O lovers of God it is necessary that we select the successor of the Wali-e-Amr-e-Ilaahi in his lifetime so that there are no differences after him. The Wali-e-Amr-e-Ilaahi is the blessed chief of this assembly and its biggest organ, he cannot be removed. And if he cannot make himself present then it is necessary that he appoints a representative so that there is no wrongdoing and the rights of the general people are observed. Because the Wali-e-Amr certainly has the capacity to resolve the issues. He must appoint someone after him….and the rights of Allah return in the Wali-e-Amr till the scattering of the winds of Allah and the raising of the word of Allah and the good actions and the common social benefit are effected.'
(Ref: Alwah-e-Wasaya pg. 11-16 by Abdul Baha quoted from Nazre Ijmaali pg. 66-68)

On pg.75 in Nazre Ijmaali it is quoted from chain 105 of Badee written by Shoghi Effendi:

'This new order rests on two pillars. The first and greatest pillar is the guardianship of God which is the centre of interpretation. The second pillar is the House of Justice of God which must be referred to for interpretation. In this divine regulation is the interpretation of the laws of the Shariat. This is the foundation of the covenant and the pledge which is not possible without taking both pillars together as one cannot exist without the other.'

In pg. 77 in Daure Bahai it is written:
'Although the Wilayate Amr (Guardianship of the divine affair) is the new regulation instituted by none other than Hazrat Bahaullah the foundation of this regulation is shaky and is forever deprived of the original inheritance that according to Abdul Baha is present in every divine Shariat.'

It was a matter of great misfortune for the Bahai Faith that in the year 1336 Shoghi Effendi passed away. And even more unfortunate that he failed to leave behind a son in line with his grandfather's prophesy; rather being childless, he failed to leave behind any successor male or female. The elaborate plan for the successorship of the Bahai Faith was buried along with Shoghi Effendi. This was the best possible evidence for the falsity and deceptiveness of the Bahai Faith depriving it of all divine links and exposing it for what it is - a manmade invention.

Finally the leadership of the Bahai Faith came to rest, of all people, in an American woman. She was Ruhiyya Maxwell, the wife of Shoghi Effendi. The Bahais realised that the leadership of a woman was not the best way to proceed and at best could be a very short-term measure. Eventually, a conference was organised in London wherein 9 men were chosen as members of the Universal House of Justice. The Universal House of Justice was headquartered in Haifa, Israel. The members of the Universal House of Justice were re-elected at regular intervals. However, since the Universal House of Justice was deprived of its greatest support and pillar - Wali-e-Amr, it was deprived of any legitimacy and sanctity. Consider the following reasons:

1) On page 76 of Daur-e-Bahai, there is mention of Wali-e-Amr and the Universal House of Justice:
'…since both these pillars (Wali-e-Amr and the Universal House of Justice) are necessary for the fulfillment of responsibilities and other comprehensive issues and the rectification of the divine affair (i.e. both are necessary and one cannot do without the other).

2) It is likewise mentioned on the 77th page of Daur-e-Bahai:
'The power, command, rights and selection of both these pillars (Wali-e-Amr and the Universal House of Justice) cannot be separated from one another. Neither of them is lower than the other in terms of importance and significance.'

3) At times of being questioned about the Wali-e-Amr (rather the lack of one), the Bahais respond that the Universal House of Justice is fulfilling the role of the Wali-e-Amr thereby making his existence needless. The falsity of this claim is more evident than the mid day Sun in the light of the following excerpt of Daue-e-Bahai pg. 80:
'It is not possible for either of them (Wali-e-Amr and the Universal House of Justice) to encroach upon the responsibilities of the other. They cannot exceed their own mandates and overstep their own limits. Both have to abide by the responsibilities and duties assigned to them by God.

Shoghi Effendi's infertility was indeed unforeseen and he himself never expected it as is evident from his comment on the 82nd page of Daur-e-Bahai:
'The Wali-e-Amr is present (at all times) and even in the future they will be present. With their sayings and actions they will testify to this reality.'

Also he writes on page 31 of Nazr-e-Ijmaali:
'The instituting of Shoghi Rabbani to the position of Wali-e-Amr by Abdul Baha and the laws to appoint the subsequent leaders (Wali-e-Amr) point towards the permanent existence of a Wali-e-Amr (in every era) and his continuous leadership of the Universal House of Justice.'

Shoghi Effendi's death and the instituting of the Universal House of Justice was a major catastrophe that left an indelible mark on the Bahai Faith. It led to the first full-fledged split in the Bahai Faith giving rise to the Orthodox sect under the leadership of Remy/Remi. Charles Mason Remy/Remi, one of the Hands of the Cause, was the chief of the House of the Nations (Baitul Milali). He split up from the mainstream Bahai Faith after Shoghi Effendi's death as the Wali-e-Amr of the Orthodox Order. At present he is residing in a distant corner of the world in Iran. His successor is Joel Marinjala. There are many books/literature that have been published that on one hand reject the status of the Universal House of Justice headquartered in Israel and on the other hand establish the credentials of Charles Remy/Remi and Joel Marinjala. The Orthodox Sect functions out of Australia. Its centre of propagation is in the USA. Over here it is appropriate to mention a comment from Abdul Baha on these groups of the Bahai Faith.

In the first volume of Badiul Aasaar pg. 119 Abdul Baha writes:
'If the Bahais split into two groups and each of them institutes a Universal House of Justice then they are both false.'

Briefly, it is evident from the Bahai Faith scriptures that the Universal House of Justice lacks the requisite standing and legitimacy devoid as it is of a Wali-e-Amr as prophesied and envisaged by Bahaullah.

The Universal House of Justice in its current state is devoid of the requisite authority because it was not formed according to the right provision since Shoghi Effendi died childless and could not leave behind a successor who could assume the title of Wali-e-Amr. In the event of a worthy successor not assuming the title of Wali-e-Amr another branch (Wali-e-Amr) was to be selected. Shoghi Effendi failed to act on this provision thereby depriving the Universal House of Justice of any validity.

It is apparent that the Universal House of Justice is far from what was dreamt of by Bahaullah. It is equally intriguing that it is headquartered in Haifa, Isreal. Strangely, an Englishman or an American is selected to lead it and not someone from the progeny of Bahaullah. In fact, the nine members of the Universal House of Justice are mainly from these two countries.

This article was sent in by a reader and translated for the benefit of other readers on this web site