Since its inception of establishment in Iran, the Baha’i organization [1] has been accompanied by a series of challenges; from the Babi troubles in the Qajar [2] era to the burning of Shiite houses and their displacement from Baha’i villages in the Pahlavi era, which they claimed they were revenge for the Qajar era in the Pahlavi era.
The widespread influence of the Baha’ism in the Pahlavi government structure, especially the second Pahlavi, and their boldness and arrogance increased to such an extent that one of the Baha’i officials in Shiraz claims according to a report by “SAVAK”: “We will turn Muslim mosques into straw-rick thanks to the disciples of the God’s faith the Excellency Hoveiyda.”![1] [3]
Talking about the Baha’ism as a “deviant cult” is a reductionist approach to an organization which is turning to become a government. The fundamental nature of the Baha’ism organization is to achieve “power” in its complete dimensions, including a single land, a single people, a single structure, and a single constitution. Additionally, this article attempts to discuss the main goals of Baha’ism in terms of its activities; that is, from “community making to the dream of government” based on Baha’ism documents and the words of Baha’i leaders.
History and Structure of Baha’ism at a Glance
Mirza Hussein Ali Nouri (born 1233 A.H.), known as Bahaullah claimed for the promised one and the position of “the One whom God will manifest…” about 13 years after Ali Muhammad Shirazi’s (the Bab) death. In 1868, A.D., he was exiled to Acre in Palestine with his followers, and died there in 1892 A.D. at the age of 75. His son, Mirza Abbas Nouri, known as Abbas Effendi and Abdul Baha (1260-1340 A.H.), became his father’s successor. He also died in 1921 A.D. and was buried next to the Bab’s tomb located on Mount Carmel, in Palestine.
Shoghi Effendi, a granddaughter of Abbas Effendi, succeeded him and in 1908 A.D., traveled with his family to the city of Haifa. Then, he studied at the University of Beirut and later at the University of Oxford in England. The most important developments in Bahaism, including the plan to migrate Baha’is to different parts of the world, the expansion of Baha’ism organizational structures, and the establishment of the Baha’i International Board or “the universal house of justice”, were among his initiatives.
The main Baha’i organization is called ” the universal house of justice” which was established in 1963 A.D. and its first elections were held. The center and buildings surrounding this organization are located on Mount Carmel (located in Haifa). This center consists of nine people all of whom must be men, and is elected every five years by the national Baha’i assemblies of the world and is considered the authority for all Baha’i affairs. According to “Abdul Hamid Ishraq Khavari”, a Baha’i researcher and author, “Whatever is approved in the universal house of justice is the “right and will of God”, and opposing the laws of the universal house of justice is a manifestation of hypocrisy and turning away from God.”
In every city or village where the number of Baha’is is at least nine, they are bound to form a local spiritual assembly. Local assemblies are a subsidiary of the national assembly, and their representatives elect the members of the national spiritual assembly. National assemblies are the liaison between the Baha’i community of each country and the universal house of justice and implement the policies and goals of the universal house of justice.
From “Administrative Discipline” to “Modern Spy Network”
Baha’is are governed by the dominance of highly coherent and hierarchical organizational structure called the “the Baha’i Administrative Discipline.” The administrative discipline covers all Baha’i members from birth to death.
This organization confronts against any rebellion or error at three levels, including: administrative boycott, spiritual boycott, and excommunication. people who do not comply with certain administrative orders are administratively boycotted and are prevented certain privileges and rights. Spiritual boycott includes those who do not follow or separate from the theological fundamentals of Baha’ism. Excommunication, as the most severe institutional punishment, includes those who not only have separated from Baha’ism, but who, after separation, insult the theological fundamentals of Baha’ism.
From ” Making Community” to “Establishing a Universal Government”
One of the ultimate Baha’i principles is the establishment of the “Divine Sovereignty” in the “Golden Age,” which requires the establishment of the Baha’i government in the cradle of God’s faith; i.e., the country of Iran, and in the next stage, the Baha’i rule over the entire world under the title of “New World Order.” This central belief was first expressed by Shoghi Effendi and he listed seven stages for it as follows:
- Anonymity 2. Oppression 3. Separation of the religious law of Allah from ancient religions 4. Independence of the religion of Allah and its equality with other religions 5. Recognizing the Baha’i Faith officially and its recognition as the official religion of the country 6. The emergence of the earthly dominance of the Divine Cause and the integration of the state organization with the Baha’i system of government 7. At international level, the establishment of universal monarchy, the manifestation of external and spiritual dominance of the Divine Cause, and the establishment of the greatest peace and beginning of the Golden Age of Baha’i era.
The Baha’i Organization’s Executive Plans for Fulfillment of the Baha’i Government
To fulfill the dream of world governance, the Baha’i Organization has not stopped at simply producing literature or the aspirations of its followers, but has formulated and implemented special plans and programs, subjected them to trial and error, and continues to move in this direction as before. The most fundamental plan of the Baha’i Organization, under the title of “Divine Plan” or “Kingdom”, has been started in recent years and is being implemented. It has also presented its programs and aims across the world.
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[۱] [5] Written in the center of the documents of the Islamic Revolution