And now, concerning the House of Justice which God hath
ordained as the source of all good and freed from all error, it must be elected
by universal suffrage, that is, by the believers. Its members must be
manifestations of the fear of God and daysprings of knowledge and
understanding, must be steadfast in God’s faith and the well-wishers of all
mankind. By this House is meant the Universal House of Justice, that is, in all
countries a secondary House of Justice must be instituted, and these secondary
Houses of Justice must elect the members of the Universal one. Unto this body
all things must be referred. It enacteth all ordinances and regulations that
are not to be found in the explicit Holy Text. By this body all the difficult
problems are to be resolved and the Guardian of the Cause of God is its sacred
head and the distinguished member for life of that body. Should he not attend
in person its deliberations, he must appoint one to represent him. Should any
of the members commit a sin, injurious to the common weal, the Guardian of the
Cause of God hath at his own discretion the right to expel him, whereupon the
people must elect another one in his stead. This House of Justice enacteth the
laws and the government enforceth them. The legislative body must reinforce the
executive, the executive must aid and assist the legislative body so that
through the close union and harmony of these two forces, the foundation of
fairness and justice may become firm and strong, that all the regions of the
world may become even as Paradise itself. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘The Will and
Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’)
