The Baháʼí Administrative Order, as described by Shoghi Effendi and 'Abdu'l-Bahá, is divinely ordained, essential, and complementary, comprising the Twin Institutions of the Guardianship and the Universal House of Justice (UHJ). Their fundamental object is to ensure the continuity of divine authority, safeguard unity, and maintain the integrity and flexibility of Baháʼí teachings. These institutions are "chosen Successors" destined to apply principles, promulgate laws, protect institutions, and adapt the Faith.
The Guardianship's Role: The Guardian is described as the "sacred head" and "distinguished member for life" of the Universal House of Justice. The Guardianship ensures the continuity of "divine guidance" after the Prophet's ascension and the Master ('Abdu'l-Bahá). It is a "Mighty stronghold" through which the Cause remains "impregnable and safe". Shoghi Effendi states that the Guardian "enhances the prestige of the exalted assembly [UHJ], stabilizes its supreme position, safeguards its unity, assures the continuity of its labors". The Guardian cannot override the majority decision of the UHJ but can insist on reconsideration of enactments believed to conflict with Baháʼu’lláh's utterances.
The Universal House of Justice's Role: The House of Justice, "ordained as the source of all good and freed from all error," is to be elected by universal suffrage. The Twin Institutions are meant to act in conjunction, administering affairs, coordinating activities, promoting interests, executing laws, and defending subsidiary institutions.
Succession: Baháʼu’lláh appointed 'Abdu'l-Bahá as the Center of the Covenant. 'Abdu'l-Bahá, in turn, appointed Shoghi Effendi as the First Guardian, with instructions for the Guardian to appoint his successor during his lifetime. The Will and Testament specifies that the successor would be the "first-born of his lineal descendents" unless that person lacked a "goodly character," in which case another branch could be chosen.
The sources identify a specific line of succession: Baháʼu’lláh, 'Abdu’l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi (First Guardian), Charles Mason Remey (Second Guardian), and Joel Bray Marangella (Third Guardian), with Nosrat’u’llah Bahremand being the current Guardian. This continuous line is presented as essential for divine guidance and to prevent deviation from the truth.
Core Challenge: The Absence of a Legitimate Guardian and an "Illegitimate UHJ"
The central challenge identified by these sources is the perceived absence of a legitimate Guardian within what they term the "Haifan Baha'i Faith" and the resulting "illegitimate" or "bogus" Universal House of Justice. They argue that the "so called UHJ was spuriously created by the former Hands of the Cause, without authority and in total contradiction to the provisions of the Will and Testament of 'Abdu’l-Bahá".
Specific Challenges to the Administrative Order
This fundamental perceived deviation leads to a series of significant challenges and breakdowns within the Administrative Order:
Mutilation of the World Order and Loss of Divine Guidance: Shoghi Effendi explicitly stated, "Divorced from the institution of the Guardianship the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh would be mutilated" and its "integrity... imperiled, and the stability of the entire fabric would be gravely endangered". The sources assert that without a living Guardian, the Faith is not "being kept from becoming endangered" and lacks "the necessary guidance to define the sphere of the legislative action of its elected representatives [UHJ]". They question how the "large body of Bahá'ís" can "keep themselves from deviating from the truth" if they believe there is no Guardian.
A Universal House of Justice Without a Head: A key point of contention is 'Abdu'l-Bahá's clear ordination that "the guardian of the Cause of God is its sacred head and the distinguished member for life of that body [the UHJ]". The sources repeatedly ask, "How can a body live without a head?" if there is no Guardian. This highlights a perceived structural impossibility for the UHJ to function legitimately in the absence of a Guardian.
Non-Adherence to 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Will and Testament: The sources claim that several instructions from 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Will and Testament are "not being followed" because the "large body of Bahá'ís" believes there is no Guardian. Examples include:
The requirement for the Hands of the Cause to "elect from their own number nine persons that shall at all times be occupied in the important services in the work of the Guardian".
The incumbent duty upon all believers, including the members of the House of Justice, to "show their obedience, submissiveness and subordination Unto the guardian of the Cause of God, to turn unto him and be lowly before him".
The Guardian's role in directing the Hands of the Cause to "continually urge them to strive and endeavor... to diffuse the sweet savors of God, and to guide all the peoples of the world". This non-adherence leads to the conclusion that the "large body of Bahá'ís" "must be already deviating" from the truth.
Immorality and Moral Failure: As discussed previously, the sources explicitly link the "rampant" immorality and moral failures within the "Haifan Baha'i Faith" to the administrative breakdown. This includes "a disproportionately high rate of moral failure among the Baha’i teachers of Ruhi Children Moral Classes," with "almost ALL the most famous Baha’i Teachers hav[ing] been disgraced their moral lives". Examples of "absolute immorality" are cited in relation to Ruhi classes, counselors with "divorced life," NSA members involved in "sexual misconduct," and broader "controversies and scandals" like "elopement episodes, financial frauds, gross violation of Baha’i stipulations (like consuming alcohol and post marital affairs) and legal violations (like duplicate passports)". The lack of administrative action to address these issues, contrary to Shoghi Effendi's directives, further highlights the challenge.
Illegitimate Collection of Huququ'llah: The "illegitimate UHJ" is accused of "wrong doing" by "demanding and collecting the Right of God (Huququ’llah), without having any authority to do so and in contradiction to the provisions of the sacred Will and Testament of 'Abdu’l-Bahá". The sources assert that "only the Guardian is the right authority of the Cause, and the Guardians will be the sole lawful recipients of the Huququ’llah". The current Guardian, Nosrat’u’llah Bahremand, considers its payment "not obligatory". Furthermore, the lack of transparency in the financial affairs of the "UHJ" regarding these funds is highlighted as a serious challenge, leading to "severe mistrust" and accusations of "misappropriation of funds".
Humiliation of Sincere Baháʼís and Erosion of Trust: The Administrative Order faces challenges from within its local institutions. One instance describes a "sincere Baha’i" who was "ex-communicated" and subjected to "severe humiliation" by a Local Spiritual Assembly (LSA) for resisting interference in personal matters and for daring to "write to UHJ". This experience led the individual to lose "hopes in the administrative order of the Baha’i Faith and indeed in the integrity of LSA members and other Baha’is". This personal experience directly reinforces the belief that "all this problem in the Faith is due to not having A GUARDIAN of the Faith".
In summary, a narrative where the various challenges to the Baháʼí Administrative Order—ranging from moral failings and financial impropriety to structural illegitimacy and the inability to follow foundational texts—are fundamentally attributed to the discontinuity of the Guardianship and the perceived unauthorized establishment of a Universal House of Justice without its divinely appointed head and guiding authority. This, " leads to a Faith that is "deviating from the truth".
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