Hands of the Cause
Encyclopedia
The Hands of the Cause of God, Hands of the Cause, or Hands (informally) were a select group of Bahá'ís
, appointed for life, whose main function was to propagate and protect the Bahá'í Faith
. Unlike the members of the elected institutions and other appointed institutions in the Bahá'í Faith, who serve in those offices, Hands are considered to have achieved a distinguished rank in service to the religion (Hornby (1983), #1079, p. 322).
According to The Will and Testament of `Abdu'l-Bahá
, they are to be nominated and appointed by the Guardian of the Cause of God and are to be under his direction and obey his command.(pp. 12,13)
The title is no longer given out. The last living Hand of the Cause was `Alí-Muhammad Varqá
(1911-2007). The work of the Hands of the Cause is now carried out by the Continental Counsellors
and the Auxiliary Boards.
There were fifty Hands of the Cause in all, four named by Bahá'u'lláh
, four by `Abdu'l-Bahá
and forty-two by Shoghi Effendi
(including ten posthumously). Twenty-seven Hands were alive when Shoghi Effendi died in 1957.
The most complete list of the Hands available is from "The Bahá'í World: Vol XIV". The Universal House of Justice
has confirmed that this list may not be complete, and that a study of the letters and archives may reveal others named to this station.
. 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 Bahá’í World Center permanently. Those who served as Custodians, some for limited periods, were: Hasan Balyuzi, Amelia Collins, Abu’l-Qasim Faizi, John Ferraby, Ali Akbar Furutan, Paul Haney, Leroy Ioas, Jalal Khazeh, Adelbert Mühlschlegel, Charles Mason Remey, Horace Holley, William Sears, and Rúhíyyih Khánum. To maintain the quorum of five Custodians at the Bahá’í World Center, the Hands appointed alternates or substitute Custodians. Their numbers included Shuaullah Alai, Ugo Giachery, and Ali-Muhammad Varqa, as well as several who also served as permanent Custodians for some time. Despite being in his mid-eighties, Remey had served as a Custodian from November 1957 through October 1959, when he and Hasan Balyuzi—both unable to continue as permanent members—were replaced. It was after this that Remey became disaffected from the main body of Bahá'ís.
Bahá'í Faith
The Bahá'í Faith is a monotheistic religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in 19th-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind. There are an estimated five to six million Bahá'ís around the world in more than 200 countries and territories....
, appointed for life, whose main function was to propagate and protect the Bahá'í Faith
Bahá'í Faith
The Bahá'í Faith is a monotheistic religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in 19th-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind. There are an estimated five to six million Bahá'ís around the world in more than 200 countries and territories....
. Unlike the members of the elected institutions and other appointed institutions in the Bahá'í Faith, who serve in those offices, Hands are considered to have achieved a distinguished rank in service to the religion (Hornby (1983), #1079, p. 322).
According to The Will and Testament of `Abdu'l-Bahá
Will and Testament of `Abdu'l-Bahá
A seminal document, written in three stages by `Abdu'l-Bahá. Several sections were written under imminent threat of harm. The first section was probably written in 1906....
, they are to be nominated and appointed by the Guardian of the Cause of God and are to be under his direction and obey his command.(pp. 12,13)
The title is no longer given out. The last living Hand of the Cause was `Alí-Muhammad Varqá
`Alí-Muhammad Varqá
`Alí-Muhammad Varqá was a prominent adherent of the Bahá'í Faith. He was the longest surviving Hand of the Cause of God, an appointed position in the Bahá'í Faith whose main function is to propagate and protect the religion on the international level.Varqá was born in 1911 in Tehran, Iran to a...
(1911-2007). The work of the Hands of the Cause is now carried out by the Continental Counsellors
Institution of the Counsellors
The Counsellors are part of the administrative order of the Bahá'í Faith, and are part of a greater administrative branch called the Institution of the Counsellors, established by the Universal House of Justice in 1968....
and the Auxiliary Boards.
There were fifty Hands of the Cause in all, four named by Bahá'u'lláh
Bahá'u'lláh
Bahá'u'lláh , born ' , was the founder of the Bahá'í Faith. He claimed to be the prophetic fulfilment of Bábism, a 19th-century outgrowth of Shí‘ism, but in a broader sense claimed to be a messenger from God referring to the fulfilment of the eschatological expectations of Islam, Christianity, and...
, four by `Abdu'l-Bahá
`Abdu'l-Bahá
‘Abdu’l-Bahá , born ‘Abbás Effendí, was the eldest son of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith. In 1892, `Abdu'l-Bahá was appointed in his father's will to be his successor and head of the Bahá'í Faith. `Abdu'l-Bahá was born in Tehran to an aristocratic family of the realm...
and forty-two by Shoghi Effendi
Shoghi Effendi
Shoghí Effendí Rabbání , better known as Shoghi Effendi, was the Guardian and appointed head of the Bahá'í Faith from 1921 until his death in 1957...
(including ten posthumously). Twenty-seven Hands were alive when Shoghi Effendi died in 1957.
The most complete list of the Hands available is from "The Bahá'í World: Vol XIV". The Universal House of Justice
Universal House of Justice
The Universal House of Justice is the supreme governing institution of the Bahá'í Faith. It is a legislative institution with the authority to supplement and apply the laws of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith, and exercises a judicial function as the highest appellate institution in the...
has confirmed that this list may not be complete, and that a study of the letters and archives may reveal others named to this station.
Appointments
Note: Orthography of some names below is not correct. Accented and underscored characters were not transcribed.Appointed by Bahá'u'lláh
- Hají Mullá `Alí-AkbarHají ÁkhúndḤají Mullá `Alí-Akbar Shahmírzádí , known as Ḥají Ákhúnd was an eminent follower of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith, a global religion of Persian origin. He was appointed a Hand of the Cause, and identified as one of the nineteen Apostles of Bahá'u'lláh.- Background :Hají Ákhúnd was...
(1842-1910), known as Hají Ákhúnd - Hájí Mírzá Muhammad-TaqíIbn-i-AbharḤájí Mírzá Muḥammad-Taqí known as Ibn-i-Abhar , was an eminent follower of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith, a global religion of Persian origin. He was appointed a Hand of the Cause, and identified as one of the nineteen Apostles of Bahá'u'lláh.-Background:Ibn-i-Abhar was...
(d.1917), known as Ibn-i-Abhar - Mírzá Muhammad-HasanAdíbHájí Mírzá Ḥasan-i-Adíbu'l-`Ulamá known as Mírzá Ḥasan or Adíb, was an eminent follower of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith, a global religion of Persian origin. He was appointed a Hand of the Cause, and identified as one of the nineteen Apostles of Bahá'u'lláh.-Background:Mírzá Hasan...
(1848-1919), known as Adíb - Mírzá `Ali-MuhammadIbn-i-AsdaqMírzá `Alí-Muḥammad-i-Khurásání known as Ibn-i-Aṣdaq , was an eminent follower of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith, a global religion of Persian origin. He was appointed a Hand of the Cause, and identified as one of the nineteen Apostles of Bahá'u'lláh.Ibn-i-Asdaq was...
(d.1928), known as Ibn-i-Asdaq
Appointed by `Abdu'l-Bahá
- Aqa Muhammad-i-Qa'iniNabíl-i-AkbarÁqá Muḥammad-i-Qá'iní also known as Fadil-i-Qa'ini surnamed Nabíl-i-Akbar , was a distinguished Bahá'í from the town of Qá'in...
(1829-1892), known as Nabíl-i-Akbar - Mirza 'Alí-Muhammad VarqáVarqáVarqá , born Mírzá `Alí-Muhammad , was an eminent follower of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith, a global religion of Persian origin...
(d. 1896), the father of Rúhu'lláh - Mulla Sadiq-i-Muqaddas, entitled Ismu'llahu'l-Asdaq
- Shaykh Muhammad-Riday-i-Yazdi
Appointed posthumously by Shoghi Effendi
- John Ebenezer EsslemontJohn EsslemontJohn Ebenezer Esslemont M.B., Ch.B. , was a prominent British Bahá'í from Scotland. He was the author of the well-known introductory book on the Bahá'í Faith, Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era, which is still in circulation. He was named posthumously by Shoghi Effendi as the first Hand of the Cause he...
(1874-1925) - Hájí AmínHájí AmínMullá Abu'l-Hasan-i-Ardikání , surnamed Amín-i-Iláhí, better known as Hájí Amín was an eminent follower of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith, a global religion of Persian origin...
(1831–1928) - Keith Ransom-Kehler (1876-1933)
- Martha RootMartha RootMartha Louise Root was a prominent traveling teacher of the Bahá'í Faith in the late 19th and early 20th century. Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith called her "the foremost travel teacher in the first Bahá'í Century", and named her a Hand of the Cause posthumously...
(1872-1939) - John Henry Hyde Dunn (1855-1941)
- Siyyid Mustafá Rúmí (d. 1942)
- Abdu'l-Jalil Bey Sa'd (d. 1942)
- Muhammed Taqiy-i-Isfahani (d. 1946)
- Roy C. Wilhelm (1875-1951)
- Louis George GregoryLouis George GregoryLouis George Gregory was a prominent member of the Bahá'í Faith. In 1951 he was posthumously appointed a Hand of the Cause, the highest appointed position in the Bahá'í Faith, by Shoghi Effendi.-Early years:He was born on June 6, 1874 to African-American parents liberated during the Civil War...
(1874-1951)
First contingent, appointed 24 December 1951 by Shoghi Effendi
- Dorothy Beecher Baker (1898-1954)
- Amelia Engelder Collins (1873-1962)
- `Alí-Akbar Furútan`Alí-Akbar Furútan`Alí-Akbar Furútan was a prominent Iranian Bahá'í educator and author who was given the rank of Hand of the Cause in 1951....
(1905-2003) - Ugo GiacheryUgo GiacheryUgo Giachery was a prominent Italian Bahá'í 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 wounded soldier, still ignorant of the Bahá'í Faith, he was in Perugia in 1916...
(1896-1989) - Hermann Grossmann (1899-1968)
- Horace Hotchkiss Holley (1887-1960)
- Leroy C. IoasLeroy IoasLeroy C Ioas was a Hand of the Cause of the Bahá'í Faith. His parents declared themselves Bahá'ís in 1898 and took Ioas to meet `Abdu'l-Bahá during the latter’s travels in the United States in 1912...
(1896-1965) - William Sutherland MaxwellWilliam Sutherland MaxwellWilliam Sutherland Maxwell was a well-known Canadian architect and a Hand of the Cause in the Bahá'í Faith. He was born in Montreal, Canada to parents Edward John Maxwell and Johan MacBean.-Education:...
(1874-1952) - Taráz'u'lláh Samandarí (1874-1968)
- Valíyu'lláh VarqáValíyu'lláh VarqáMírzá Valíyu'lláh Khán-i-Varqá was a prominent Persian Bahá'í, and appointed a Hand of the Cause by Shoghi Effendi.He was the son of Varqá, the martyr-poet, and the father of `Alí-Muhammad Varqá, ....
(1884-1955) - George TownshendGeorge Townshend (Bahá'í)George Townshend was born in Ireland and was a well-known writer, clergyman before his conversion to the Bahá'í Faith in which he became a Hand of the Cause.-Early accomplishments:...
(1876-1957) - Charles Mason RemeyMason RemeyCharles Mason Remey was a prominent and controversial American Bahá'í who was appointed in 1951 a Hand of the Cause, and president of the International Bahá'í Council...
(1874-1974)
Second contingent, appointed 29 February 1952 by Shoghi Effendi
- Siegfried Schopflocher (1877-1953)
- Shu'á'u'lláh `Alá'í (1889-1984)
- Músá Banání (1886-1971)
- Clara Dunn (1869-1960)
- Dhikru'lláh KhádimDhikru'llah KhademDhikru'llah Khadem was a prominent follower of the Bahá'í Faith, and was appointed by Shoghi Effendi to be a Hand of the Cause in 1952....
(1904-1986) - Adelbert MühlschlegelAdelbert MühlschlegelAdelbert Mühlschlegel was a prominent German Bahá'í from a Protestant family. He became a Bahá'í in 1920, translated Bahá'í literature and served as a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of Germany....
(1897-1980) - Corinne Knight True (1861-1961)
Appointed by Shoghi Effendi [year of appointment]
- Amatu'l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih KhánumRúhíyyih KhanumAmatu'l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum , born Mary Sutherland Maxwell was the wife of Shoghi Effendi, the head of the Bahá'í Faith from 1921–1957. She was appointed by him as a Hand of the Cause, and served an important role in the transfer of authority from 1957–1963...
(1910-2000) [1952] (1897-1990) [1953] (also transliterated Jalal Khazeh) - Paul Edmond Haney (1909-1982) [1954]
- `Alí-Muhammad Varqá`Alí-Muhammad Varqá`Alí-Muhammad Varqá was a prominent adherent of the Bahá'í Faith. He was the longest surviving Hand of the Cause of God, an appointed position in the Bahá'í Faith whose main function is to propagate and protect the religion on the international level.Varqá was born in 1911 in Tehran, Iran to a...
(1911-2007) [1955] - Agnes Baldwin AlexanderAgnes Baldwin AlexanderAgnes Baldwin Alexander was an American author and leader of the Bahá'í Faith.-Life:Agnes Baldwin Alexander was born July 21, 1875 in Honolulu when it was the Kingdom of Hawaii. Her father was educator William DeWitt Alexander and mother was Abigail Charlotte Baldwin...
(1875-1971) [1957]
Last contingent, appointed 2 October 1957 by Shoghi Effendi
- Hasan Muvaqqar BalyúzíHasan M. BalyuziHasan M. Balyuzi was a prominent Iranian Bahá'í. He was born in Iran, but he spent most of his life in Britain. Balyuzi was an Afnán, a descendant of the Báb's family, on both sides of his family. His father was governor of the Persian Gulf ports and later minister of the interior of Iran.In 1925...
(1908-1980) - Abu'l-Qásim FaiziAbu'l-Qasim FaiziAbu'l-Qásim Faizi or Fayḍí was a Persian Bahá'í. He studied at the American University of Beirut.He married Gloria `Alá'í in 1939. Together they pioneered to Iraq and Bahrain...
(1906-1980) - John Graham FerrabyJohn FerrabyJohn Ferraby was a British Bahá'í born in Southsea, England into a liberal Jewish family. He was educated at Malvern and at King's College, Cambridge, to which he won a major scholarship....
(1914-1973) - Harold Collis Featherstone (1913-1990)
- Rahmatu'lláh MuhájirRahmátu'llah MuhájirRaḥmatu'lláh Muhájir was a prominent fourth generation Bahá'í, born on 4 April 1923 in the town of 'Abdu'l-'Azím, Iran. In 1954, Dr Muhájir married Írán Furútan, the daughter of `Alí-Akbar Furútan, and together they pioneered to the Mentawai Islands of Indonesia...
(1923-1979) - Enoch OlingaEnoch OlingaEnoch Olinga was born to an Anglican family of the Iteso ethnic group in Uganda. He became a Bahá'í, earned the title Knight of Bahá'u'lláh and was appointed as the youngest Hand of the Cause, the highest appointed position in the religion. He served the interests of the religion widely and...
(1926-1979) - John Aldham RobartsJohn Robarts (Bahá'í)John Aldham Robarts was a prominent Canadian Bahá'í. He was born in 1901 in Waterloo, Ontario, to Aldham Wilson Robarts and Rachel Mary Montgomery-Campbell...
(1901-1991) - William SearsWilliam Sears (Bahá'í)William Sears was a Hand of the Cause of God, writer and a popular television and radio personality. In 2010, he was honored at the Dawn Breakers International Film Festival for achieving excellence as a professional media personality.-Personal life:Sears was married twice and had two children...
(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 Bahá’í Faith, a body which functioned without officers and with a quorum of five, whose duties included taking care of Bahá’í World Center properties and other assets; corresponding with and advising National and Regional Spiritual Assemblies; acting on behalf of the Bahá’í 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 CrusadeTen Year Crusade
The Ten Year World Crusade was launched by Shoghi Effendi in an effort to facilitate an organized expansion of the Bahá'í Faith....
. 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 Bahá’í World Center permanently. Those who served as Custodians, some for limited periods, were: Hasan Balyuzi, Amelia Collins, Abu’l-Qasim Faizi, John Ferraby, Ali Akbar Furutan, Paul Haney, Leroy Ioas, Jalal Khazeh, Adelbert Mühlschlegel, Charles Mason Remey, Horace Holley, William Sears, and Rúhíyyih Khánum. To maintain the quorum of five Custodians at the Bahá’í World Center, the Hands appointed alternates or substitute Custodians. Their numbers included Shuaullah Alai, Ugo Giachery, and Ali-Muhammad Varqa, as well as several who also served as permanent Custodians for some time. Despite being in his mid-eighties, Remey had served as a Custodian from November 1957 through October 1959, when he and Hasan Balyuzi—both unable to continue as permanent members—were replaced. It was after this that Remey became disaffected from the main body of Bahá'ís.
See also
- Apostles of Bahá'u'lláhApostles of Bahá'u'lláhThe Apostles of Bahá'u'lláh were nineteen eminent early followers of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith. The apostles were designated as such by Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith, and the list was included in The Bahá'í World, Vol...
- Disciples of `Abdu'l-BaháDisciples of `Abdu'l-BaháShoghi Effendi, Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith, designated nineteen Western Bahá'ís as Disciples of 'Abdu'l-Bahá and 'Heralds of the Covenant':*Dr. John E. Esslemont*Thornton Chase*Howard MacNutt*Sarah Farmer*Hippolyte Dreyfus-Barney*Lillian Kappes...
- Institution of the CounsellorsInstitution of the CounsellorsThe Counsellors are part of the administrative order of the Bahá'í Faith, and are part of a greater administrative branch called the Institution of the Counsellors, established by the Universal House of Justice in 1968....
- Letters of the LivingLetters of the LivingThe Letters of the Living 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...
External links
- Portraits of the Hands of the Cause of God
- Hands of the Cause of God - links to biographies
- Fadil-i-Mazandarani - House of Justice message of 1998 concerning the status and rank of Fadil-i-Mazandarani.
- The Guardian Announces Appointment of Hands of the Cause - Announcement of the first contingent of 12 Hands in 1951.
- Second Appointment of Hands of the Cause - Announcement of the second contingent, appointing 7 new hands in 1952.
- A Tribute to the Hands of the Cause of God - History, appointments, and other details.