Hands of the Cause
Editorial introduction
Bahá’u’lláh named as Hands of His Cause those souls who had given up their own will, who harboured no thought of self and stood firm in service; ‘Abdu’l-Bahá added that it is not a title to be handed out or a chair of honour to be sat in, but that whoever serves the Word of God is a hand of God. Their duties are to diffuse the divine fragrances, edify souls, promote learning and improve character; the same instructions turn practical in a moment, settling a pharmacist’s bill or securing a modest living for a Hand in straitened circumstances. Appointments, temporary arrangements with assemblies and later statements about rank belong to different seasons of an institution’s growth, and each asks to be read in its own occasion. Peter’s counsel that those who tend a flock should do so willingly and by example, not as lords over it, offers a kindred ethic of service [1]. The path continues through Shoghi Effendi and the Guardianship, under whose direction the Hands were appointed and set to the defence and spread of the Faith.
These are the Hands of the Cause among mankind, and these are the souls who, having abandoned their own will and desire, have held fast to the Will and Purpose of God. They harbor no thoughts of self, and stand firm in service and in offering praise and glorification to the Self-Sufficient, the Most High.
And in one station the hosts of Truth are the Hands of His Cause, that is, those souls who arise for the sake of God to educate the peoples and reform the world, who make the inhabitants of earth aware through wisdom and utterance and guide them to the supreme horizon.
Yet the people of the earth remain heedless and veiled, save for a numbered few who are the Hands of the Cause among His servants. In truth, praise and glorification today befit these souls who have arisen to reform the world and are confirmed in that which exalteth the Word of God.
This news brought joy, for the primary duties of the Hands of the Cause of God are to author beneficial books and innovative treatises proving the Divinity and Oneness of God and the truth of the Holy Manifestations, especially in these days using principles of natural philosophy and rational proofs and logical arguments, since most people in the world are distant from tradition and are attached to, convinced by, and pleased with reason.
The Hands of the Cause of God have been and are the educators of the servants.
God has chosen you through His bestowed bounty, selected you for His servitude, distinguished you with His mercy, and elected you for guidance to the straight path. He has overshadowed you with clouds of supreme bounty and clothed you in garments of providence among all people. Teach the friends love and piety, fellowship and faithfulness, that you may be the root of righteousness and the seed of prosperity and signs of servitude to God between the people.
It is not a title to be bestowed upon whomsoever they wish, nor a seat to which anyone who desireth may become heir. The "Hands of the Cause" are the hands of God. Thus whosoever is the helper and servant of the Word of God, he is the hand of God.
As for your question about the Hands - the Hands are those souls who were appointed by the Supreme Pen or were addressed by this title and honored with this station by the pen of 'Abdu'l-Baha. For each one who remains firm in God's Covenant, this title holds true for them.
Regarding your question about the Hands of the Cause - showing consideration and respect for them is obligatory. Certainly do not let them remain in straitened circumstances. When you observe that they are in hardship, provide them with enough for a moderate living.
And regarding His Honor the Hand of the Cause Ibn-i-Abhar, upon him be the Most Glorious Splendor - definitely pay his debts immediately, including the hundred tomans to Aqa Ghulam-'Ali the pharmacist, and likewise give him all his allowances to date without any reduction, and show the utmost love and respect.
Whatever the Hands of the Cause deem advisable is the very truth and must be carried out. … Today, whatever the Hands of the Cause deem advisable is implemented by this servant.
… In any case, so that this family may not become completely dejected and despairing, this matter is being referred to the Hands regarding whatever manner they deem advisable to implement.
The Hands of the Cause of God who are firm in the Covenant are the lamps of the horizons. When they decide upon a matter, obedience and submission are obligatory, and obedience to them brings about unity, fellowship and oneness among the friends.
The Hands of the Cause of God are like brilliant lamps. Whatever decision they make, or agreement they reach, or majority vote they achieve, all must obey and submit.
Therefore, whenever any of the friends conceives of an idea or brings an important matter to mind, they must refer it to the assembly in the presence of the Hands of the Cause - upon them be the Glory of God, His praise, His might, and His exaltation. If the Hands approve it, then it may be carried out; if not, then no.
Therefore, leave this Spiritual Assembly in its initial state, and if the appointment of new members is necessary, let the Spiritual Assembly of the Hands of the Cause of God implement whatever they consider appropriate by majority vote within the assembly itself.
If you deem it advisable, this matter could be discussed in Tehran at the spiritual gathering of the Hands of the Cause of God. Whatever you consider appropriate and suitable to the time, place and circumstances, implement it by majority vote. For if matters, especially in the gathering of the Hands of the Cause of God, are not decided upon, that gathering will become completely weak and foundationless, and many problems will arise.
Since the Hands of the Cause of God attained this honor in the blessed days, therefore showing them consideration and respect is obligatory upon all. Thus in that Spiritual Assembly, which is a temporary body until the prescribed assembly is formed, the Hands of the Cause of God are permanent members. Without this approach, the necessary authority will not be achieved.
The Hands of the Cause of God must now have permanent membership in this spiritual assembly, for it is spiritual and not political in nature.
The Hands of the Cause of God, upon them be the Most Glorious Glory of God, are among the original members and pillars of the Spiritual Assembly and have voting rights.
The Hands of the Cause must, in whichever manner possible, have permanent membership of the Spiritual Assembly.
Especially necessary is consideration of the Hands of the Cause, and respect for them is obligatory, for the Blessed Beauty has so commanded.
O thou servant of the One true God! Be obedient to the Hands of the Cause of God follow what they consider to be of advantage of the Cause and do as they have asked you.
You who are signs of the favors of the Luminary of the horizons must illumine the world and show obedience to the Hands of the Cause of God, and in every breath be alive and refreshed through the sweet-scented breaths of the Abha Kingdom.
O Hands of the Cause! Gather together and unite, and become as one spirit, one soul, one body, one heart and one mind. Do not allow anyone to create a breach in the Cause of God or introduce any weakness.
In brief, during 'Abdu'l-Baha's absence, the Hands of the Cause of God must protect the Cause of God so that it remains preserved and safeguarded from all contingencies.
It is evident that the Hands of the Cause must today think about protecting the Cause of God from every direction, so that through the assistance of the Most Glorious Kingdom they may succeed and become manifestations of "Whosoever draws near to Me by a span, I will draw near to him by a cubit."
However, those Hands of the Cause of God should be assured that these matters are like the foam on a flood: "As for the foam, it vanishes as scum upon the banks, while that which benefits mankind remains on earth." Through the protection, preservation and confirmation of the Ancient Beauty, I hope that the Hands of the Cause of God, may the glory of God be upon them, will, like bars of iron, protect the mighty fortress of the Cause from the attack of others.
Through His prevailing Will, He hath established the edifice of His Cause upon the foundation of exposition and the elements of explanation, and hath created for it guardians and protectors to preserve it from every heedless betrayer and ignorant speaker - they who transgress not what God hath revealed in the Book and who speak naught except that which He hath permitted them in the final abode. I bear witness that they are the Hands of His Cause amidst all creation and the Lamps of His guidance between earth and heaven. They are they who stand at His gate and drive away such as are unworthy to enter His court.
The Hands of the Cause of God, upon them be praise, upon them be glory, upon them be bounty and bestowal, must show forth tremendous power and the might of Gabriel in teaching the Cause of God and promoting the religion of God, so that 'Abdu'l-Baha may be assured of the spread of the divine fragrances in the East.
The Hands of the Cause of God, upon them be the Most Glorious Glory of God, their greatest duty today is to diffuse the divine fragrances, for through this the divine edifice becomes firm and solid.
The time must be regarded as precious, and opportunity must not be lost. Therefore the Hands of the Cause of God must devote all their time to teaching.
The Hands of the Cause of God must, like this servant, focus all their thoughts on teaching the Cause of God so that the confirmations of the Abha Kingdom may arrive successively. What results can come from Assemblies? Rather, they will ultimately cause discord. Observe how in Tehran all time is now spent on these accounts and stories while teaching has been completely abandoned.
Today the Hands of the Cause must each be like a globe of fire from the heat of attraction, and from the flame of guidance become like the light of Moses' Mount.
The Hands of the Cause of God must always strive in such matters so that divine confirmations may surround from all directions. At every moment they should gain joy and fragrance and increase in strength and power.
Upon hearing this news, through the assistance and bounty of the Blessed Beauty, health was suddenly restored and I immediately set about writing this letter so that the Hands of the Cause of God may give the glad tidings to all the friends that 'Abdu'l-Baha is not weak - through the assistance, bounty, grace and confirmation of the Ancient Beauty He is supremely powerful, and proof of this is that night and day He is occupied with writing and speaking.
O ye Hands of the Cause! Supplicate ye and pray on my behalf as I do pray on yours that a heavenly power, a divine bounty, a celestial assistance, and victory from on high be vouchsafed on us all and that we may be aided to achieve that which is seemly and necessary to promulgate the Divine light towards the east and towards the west and like those holy souls who attained the sheltering shadow of Jesus Christ we may sacrifice ourselves and recall at all times how our Beloved One suffered afflictions and torments and persecutions with such constancy and how often He became chained and fettered so that He might save us poor ones and enable us lowly ones to attain honour and glory in His Kingdom.
Openly at odds with his tyrannical oppressors, no matter how often they threatened him, he defied them. He was never vanquished. Whatever he had to say, he said. He was one of the Hands of the Cause of God, steadfast, unshakable, not to be moved.
He became one of the Hands of the Cause of God and was steadfast in the Covenant with perfect firmness and constancy.
Through God's grace - exalted be His glory - thou art mentioned and recorded in the Book as one of the Afnans of the Tree and as one of the Hands of the Cause.
O Hands of the Cause of God! This visitation prayer should be recited by me along with a group of the loved ones of God at the fragrant resting place of that promulgator of God's Cause on a special day, and you should disseminate this visitation prayer among all the loved ones.
Have the illumined grave of the Hand of the Cause Haji Akhund and the purified resting place of the martyred noble soul Mulla 'Ali-Jan built and repaired with utmost speed and perfect workmanship, even if people later destroy them.
O herald of the Kingdom! Give thanks to God that in this journey you traveled with Mr. Harris, the herald of the Kingdom of the All-Merciful, and became companions with His Holiness Ibn-i-Abhar, Hand of the Cause of God, and became confidants with the faithful servant at the Threshold of Baha, Aqa Mirza Mahmud.
O two faithful servants of Truth and two helpers of the Covenant and two Hands of the Cause of the luminous horizons!
Convey the most wonderful and sweetest greetings to all the friends and loved ones of God. And upon you be the Most Glorious Glory.
Light and glory, magnification and praise be upon the Hands of His Cause, through whom the light of patience hath shone forth and the ordinance of choice been established - God, the Powerful, the Mighty, the Choosing. Through them the ocean of bounty hath surged and the fragrance of God's tender mercy, the Lord of all beings, hath been wafted.
And blessing and peace and glorification and glory and remembrance and praise be upon the Hands of His Cause, who drank from the hands of bounty the choice wine of the most great steadfastness. These are servants whom neither the hosts of the wicked nor the ranks of the evil ones did frighten, and who performed that which they were bidden by God, the Lord of the Day of Return.
They are the Hands of His Cause amidst creation, they who have aided God throughout all ages and have arisen to accomplish that which God did desire, in such wise that neither the power of kings nor the clashing of their swords nor the neighing of their steeds did deter them from the Truth. They have raised their call with utmost power between earth and heaven, summoning all unto the Lord of mankind, the Sovereign of the hereafter and of the former world, the Lord of the Throne on high and of the dust below.
These are they whom God hath described in His mighty Book, both aforetime and in these days: "Men whom neither merchandise nor traffic beguile from the remembrance of God," and in another passage: "They speak not until He hath spoken, and they do as they are bidden." Through them hath God revealed His Cause and His sovereignty, through them hath He guided mankind unto His straight Path and His mighty Announcement, and through them have His traces been spread abroad, His signs been exalted, and His lights been manifested.
May the light that shineth from this luminous horizon, and the fragrances that are wafted from this noble station, rest upon the hands of His Cause who have not broken His covenant and testament, and who have arisen to make mention of Him and praise Him amongst His servants - they are honored servants who speak not until He hath spoken, and who act according to His bidding.
Praise be to God that despite the turning away of the world and the blindness of the nations, the Hands of the Cause of God are arising with complete dedication to serve the Cause, and are, despite the enemies, drinking from the Kawthar of eternity in the Most Great Name.
… I beseech Thee by the mysteries hidden in Thy verses and by the lights shining from the horizon of Thy manifestation, to ordain for each one of the Hands of Thy Cause that which will enable them to raise the standards of Thy guidance among Thy creatures and the banners of Thy victory in Thy lands.
Remembrance, praise, glorification and splendor be upon the Hands of His Cause who have traversed the lands to exalt His Word, spread His traces, and manifest that which draws them near to Him and teaches them His straight path and His mighty Message.
And blessings and peace and glory and splendor be upon the Hands of His Cause who did not break His covenant and testament, who traveled throughout the lands to exalt His Word and spread His signs - these are servants whom We made dawning-places of Our most beautiful names and Our most exalted attributes, and through them God gave His servants to drink of the Kawthar of recognition and the Salsabil of utterance.
And benediction and peace and glorification and splendor be upon the Hands of His Cause who have traveled through the lands to exalt His Word and elevate His Cause, whom God hath made lamps of guidance among His creatures and from whom have flowed rivers of wisdom and utterance amidst all religions.
And peace and blessings be upon the Hands of His Cause who have traversed the lands to exalt His Word, who have not violated His Covenant and Testament, and who have attained unto the choice wine of revelation in His days. These are among the most exalted of creatures in His Book.
Glory, radiance, light and splendor be upon the hands of the Cause of God who have aided His Cause throughout all lands and regions. These are servants whom We have made keys to the doors of knowledge and understanding in the contingent world. Exalted is the All-Merciful Who hath assisted them to arise to serve His firm and mighty Cause.
These are the Hands of His Cause amongst mankind and the cupbearers of the Salsabil of divine knowledge amidst all religions.
The glory from Us be upon My servants and My loved ones, and upon the Hands of My Cause whom God hath made the guides of His creation in His realm and the lamps of His Cause in His lands.
These are the Hands of the Cause amongst the servants, and these are the lights of the horizons. Through them the light has shone forth and God's commandments and laws have been spread among the people of the Dispensation. These are they who serve the chalices of divine bounties and heavenly gifts. In the name of Truth do they take, in remembrance of Truth do they drink, and to every seeker and questor do they give. These are souls who have had and have no will or purpose of their own. They gaze toward the horizon of the All-Merciful and act according to His command.
Through His sovereignty He hath manifested servants possessed of love and understanding, and made them the hands of His Cause amongst His creation and the lamps of His guidance amongst His creatures.
These are the Hands of God's Cause amongst creation, and these are the trees in the divine garden, their leaves moved by His will and their fruits manifested through His decree.
These are servants whom God hath mentioned in His Scriptures, Books and Tablets, and made them the Hands of His Cause amongst His servants. Through them the clouds have rained, and vegetation hath sprouted in valleys and upon hills, and the decree of the Book was raised up.
Blessed are the Hands of My Cause who have attained unto My remembrance and praise and the service of My Cause, and joy be unto My loved ones who have drunk the choice wine of revelation from the hand of My bounty, and who have soared in My atmosphere and cast aside all else but Me. We have mentioned them in every world among My worlds with such mention as hath been confirmed by the tongue of My grandeur. Through their names have flowed rivers of wisdom and utterance before the faces of all religions.
Light and glory be upon the Hands of the Cause amidst humanity, whom God hath purified from tyranny and immorality, and adorned with the raiment of piety. These are honored servants whom God hath mentioned in His Books, His Scrolls and His Scriptures, both in the past and future, and hath preferred them above many of His creatures.
Glory, praise, peace and splendor be upon the Hands of His Cause who have inhaled the fragrance of the Day of God and have turned to Him with illumined hearts, and who have taken the chalices of prosperity in My Most Great Name from the hands of bounty. These are servants whom God hath described in His Books, His Scriptures, His Psalms and His Tablets, and whom He hath made the Hands of His Cause in His lands.
These are the Hands of the Cause amongst the servants and the Standards of Guidance in all lands. Through the rustling of the Divine Lote-Tree and the flowing of the Supreme Pen, they have attained unto a wondrous new life and have drunk from the chalice of detachment.
In the letter of the beloved of the heart, mention was made of the gathering of the Hands of the Cause, upon them be the Glory of God, the Most Glorious, in that land, and great joy and delight were expressed at this matter.
And peace and blessings be upon the Seal of the Prophets and upon the Hands of the Cause and Dawning-places of wisdom who took no protector or helper for themselves besides Him.
We have made you the hands of His Cause. Aid ye the Wronged One, for He hath been afflicted at the hands of the wicked ones. He, verily, aideth him who aideth Him, and remembereth him who remembereth Him.
O God, my God! Send Thy blessings upon the Hands of Thy Cause in these days, who have remembered Thee and aided Thee and arose to serve Thy Cause among the servants.
O thou who hast turned towards Mine horizon! Glorify on My behalf the Hands of My Cause, whom We have chosen for My remembrance amongst My servants and for the proclamation of My Most Great Call and My Great News. We beseech God to guard them, preserve them, and aid them with His hosts from on high.
O my God! Send down Thy blessings upon the Hands of Thy Cause, whose heads Thou hast adorned with the crowns of detachment and whose temples Thou hast arrayed with the robes of righteousness and fear of God, and whom Thou hast preserved from transgression and immorality.
Meet each of the Hands of the Cause and convey to them the greetings and salutations of the Wronged One, and likewise to the loved ones in that land.
Although the storm of human strife was grievous, praise be unto God that the Ark of Salvation hath arrived, safely and securely, at the shores of peace. Impart, with utmost joy and delight on behalf of 'Abdu'l-Baha, salutations and this message to the honorable Hands of the Cause of God, and the honorable Amin, and likewise to the monarchs of determination and constancy in the Covenant and Testament.
O my Lord! Assist the hands of Thy Cause with hosts rushing forth from Thy Kingdom and stars rising from Thy Dominion and lions roaring in the thickets of Thy Lordship.
Further quotations · supplied wording and references
It is not a title that may be awarded to whomsoever it pleases, nor is it a chair of honour in which whomsoever pleases sits. The Hands of the Cause are Hands of God. Hence whosoever is the servant and the promoter of the Word of God, he is the Hand of God. The object is the spirit and not the letters or words. The more self-effacing one is, the more he is assisted in the Cause of God; and the more meek and humble, the nearer is he to God.
... The institution of the Hands of the Cause of God was brought into existence in the time of Baha'u'llah and when the Administrative Order was proclaimed and formally established by 'Abdu'l-Baha in His Will, it became an auxiliary institution of the Guardianship. The Auxiliary Boards, in their turn, were brought into being by Shoghi Effendi as an auxiliary institution of the Hands of the Cause.
The Rank, and Position of the Hands of the Cause, are superior to the position of the National Assemblies. … Because the Guardian has restrained the Hands at this time, and given as one of their functions, aiding the National bodies in winning the goals of the Ten Year Crusade, the National bodies should not misunderstand the true position of the Hands. They should report to the Hands, where teaching assistance is needed, etc., so the Hands, and their Auxiliary Boards, may be of the greatest assistance.
The Institution of the Hands of the Cause of God, charged in the sacred Texts with the specific duties of protecting and propagating the Faith, has a particularly vital responsibility to discharge. In their capacity as protectors of the Faith, the Hands will continue to take action to expel Covenant-breakers and to reinstate those who sincerely repent, subject in each instance to the approval of the Universal House of Justice.
The authority of expulsion and reinstatement will be exercised by the Hands of Cause of God, subject in each instance to the approval of the Universal House of Justice. When a member of the Continental Boards of Counsellors learns of any incipient Covenant-breaking, the matter should be reported without delay with the matter. A copy of the report should be sent to the Hands in the Holy Land and to the other members of the Board.
The exalted rank and specific functions of the Hands of the Cause of God make it inappropriate for them to be elected or appointed to administrative institutions, or to be elected as delegates to national conventions. Furthermore, it is their desire and the desire of the House of Justice that they be free to devote their entire energies to the vitally important duties conferred upon them in the Holy Writings...
The Hands of the Cause of God have the prerogative and obligation to consult with the Continental Board of Counsellors and National Spiritual Assemblies on any subject which, in their view, affects the interests of the Cause... The House of Justice will call upon them to undertake special missions on its behalf, to represent it on both Baha'i and other occasions and to keep it informed of the welfare of the Cause ... they will operate increasingly on an intercontinental level, a facto which will lend tremendous impetus to the diffusion throughout the Baha'i world of the spiritual inspiration channelled through them -- the Chief Stewards of Baha'u'llah's embryonic World Commonwealth.
For thought and discussion