The Hands of the Cause--What are Their Functions?
You would think that the answer to the question posed as the heading
for this article would be a simple one. But it isn't, primarily because those
individuals who were designated as Hands of the Faith by Shoghi
Effendi, the first Guardian, performed a role within the Cause which, clearly,
was not theirs to assume. That is, in 1957 the Hands of the Cause arrogated to
themselves the powers of a collective Guardianship, taking on all the
responsibilities of the Guardian of the Faith, and there is nowhere in the
writings a provision for such a takeover of the Faith by the Hands of the
Cause.
'Abdu'l-Bahá's Will
establishes the duties of the Hands. The Master wrote: "The obligations
of the Hands of the Cause of God are to diffuse the Divine Fragrances, to edify
the souls of men, to promote learning, to improve the character of all men and
to be, at all times and under all conditions, sanctified and detached from
earthly things. They must manifest the fear of God by their conduct, their
manners, their deeds and their words."
The Hands do not even operate on their own. "This
body of the Hands of the Cause of God is under the direction of the guardian of
the Cause of God. He must continually urge them to strive and endeavor to the
utmost of their ability to diffuse the sweet savors of God,
and to guide all the peoples of the world..."
The Hands are enjoined by 'Abdu'l-Bahá
to "be ever watchful and so soon as they find anyone
beginning to oppose and protest against the guardian of the Cause of God [to]
cast him out from the congregation of the people of Baha
and in no wise accept any excuse from him." They are not, though,
instructed to cast out believers who, for whatever reason they may have, oppose
and protest against the Hands of the Faith. (Yet that is
exactly what happened in 1960.)
'Abdu'l-Bahá's Will also made the following a requirement for the Hands:
"The
Hands of the Cause of God must elect from their own number nine persons that
shall at all times be occupied in the important services in the work of the
guardian of the Cause of God. The election of these nine must be carried either
unanimously or by majority from the company of the Hands of the Cause of God
and these, whether unanimously or by a majority vote, must give their assent to
the choice of the one whom the guardian of the Cause of God hath chosen as his
successor. This assent must be given in such wise as the assenting and
dissenting voices may not be distinguished (i.e., secret ballot)."
As everyone should know by now, the assent of the nine Hands does not
mean that the Hands can overrule the Guardian in his choice of his successor. Shoghi Effendi made that very clear in his statement
printed in the "Baha'i News" of February 1955, page 1. The first
Guardian wrote: "The statement in the Will of 'Abdu'l-Bahá
does not imply that the Hands of the Cause of God have been given the authority
to overrule the Guardian. 'Abdu'l-Bahá
could not have provided for a conflict of authority in the Faith."
Thus, the Hands of the Cause in 1960 were not in a position to overrule
the appointment by Shoghi Effendi of Mason Remey as his successor. Their responsibility was to place
themselves under the direction of the second Guardian and to recognize that
they "must be under his shadow and obey his command." They
were called upon by 'Abdu'l-Bahá in His Will
and Testament to recognize that "Should any, within or without the
company of the Hands of the Cause of God disobey and seek division, the wrath
of God and His vengeance will be upon him, for he will have caused a breach in
the true Faith of God."
In light of the preceding statement, then, if believers perceive that
there is a breach in the Faith today, they have but to realize that 'Abdu'l-Bahá had indicated how that schism could
occur! They must recognize that one or more members of the body of Hands could
well be responsible for schism, rather than to suggest the only other
alternative available: that the second Guardian of the Faith was the cause. 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Will
identifies the Guardian of the Faith as the security for the Faith’s
unity. "The mighty stronghold shall remain impregnable and safe through
obedience to him who is the guardian of the Cause of God. It is incumbent upon
the members of the House of Justice, upon all the Aghsán,
the Afnán, the Hands of the Cause of God to
show their obedience, submissiveness and subordination unto the guardian of the
Cause of God." The Master's Will states: "He that opposeth him hath opposed the True One, will make a breach
in the Cause of God, will subvert His word and will become a manifestation of
the Center of Sedition."
'Abdul-Baha's Will
cautions all believers to be aware of the manner in which the Covenant is
violated. He states in his Will that "The greatest of all
things is the protection of the True Faith of God, the preservation of His
Laws, the safeguarding of His Cause and service unto His Word." At the
close of His Will the believers are instructed by 'Abdu'l-Bahá
to recognize when anyone should "advance a pretext" for
violating the Covenant. Thus, all of us are responsible for recognizing when
even the Hands of the Cause of God might go astray. We should realize, then,
just what the implications are when the Master's Will says: "All must
seek guidance and turn unto the Center of the Cause and the House of
Justice."
The Hands of the Cause are not the Center of the Cause; nor are they
the House of Justice. Quite simply, their primary function is to "diffuse
the Divine Fragrances