The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh

The general communications written to the American Bahá’í community by the Guardian of the Faith between 1922 and 1929 explained and encouraged the development of the administrative institutions created by Bahá’u’lláh and promulgated by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in His Will and Testament. These letters have been published in a volume entitled “Bahá’í Administration,” the source of information on the institutions of Local and National Spiritual Assemblies, the Annual Convention, and the nature of those relationships organically uniting Bahá’ís in their collective worship and activity.

The letters now collected and published under the title of “The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh” have a different aim and a far larger scope. These later communications unfold a clear vision of the relation of the Bahá’í community and the entire process of social evolution under the Dispensation of Bahá’u’lláh. The vital distinction between the Bahá’í community and the sects and congregations of former religions had already been made apparent, but the present volume establishes the Bahá’í Administrative Order as the nucleus and pattern of the world civilization emerging under divine inspiration at this focal point of human history. While, therefore, it represents a continuance of the Guardian’s special task of teaching and guiding the Bahá’ís throughout the development of a rapidly maturing Faith, the volume discloses the full degree to which Bahá’u’lláh’s Message applies to the world of humanity and not merely to those who are believers at this time. The title and subtitles were not part of the original text, but have been added with Shoghi Effendi’s approval for the convenience of the reader.