1. n.d.. Remarks to Pilgrims to Haifa by Shoghi Effendi. Vivian Fellows. Six short, undated quotations. Pilgrims.
2. 2025. After Shoghi Effendi: Guardianship, Lineage, and the Limits of Claim. Iman Motlagh Arani. Theological-legal analysis of the Bahá’í Covenant as it pertains to the institution of the Guardianship, and the claims advanced by Mason Remey and the "Orthodox Bahá’ís"; the nature of the Covenant, the Guardianship, and the Aghsan. Essays.
3. 2023-11-28. Reflections on the First Century of the Formative Age. Universal House of Justice. Overview of the Faith's developments and activities during the previous century, including the Guardianship, global expansion, community building and development, participation in societal discourse, and construction of the Bahá'í World Centre. UHJ-letters.
4. 2009. Hands of the Cause (Ayádí Amr Alláh). Eunice Braun. On the institution, established by Bahá’u’lláh, of individuals named by Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and Shoghi Effendi, charged with protecting and propagating the Bahá’í Faith; one of the two parallel lines of responsibility in Bahá’í administration. Encyclopedia.
5. 2003/2023. Members of the Universal House of Justice 1963-2023 and Hands of the Cause: Timeline. A. Bolhuis, comp, Sana Rezai, comp. List of names and dates of all who served on the House of Justice or as Hands. Chronologies.
6. 1997-06-04. Authority of the Hands of the Cause to direct the Faith and expel Covenant-breakers. Universal House of Justice. Authority of the Hands of the Cause assume control of the Faith and eject Covenant-breakers following Shoghi Effendi's passing. UHJ-letters.
7. 1988. Lights of Guidance: A Bahá'í Reference File. Bahá'u'lláh, Abdu'l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi, Universal House of Justice, Helen Bassett Hornby, comp. . The classic Bahá'í reference book. This is its first online edition. Compilations-personal.
8. 1986. Hands of the Cause of God. Universal House of Justice, Lilian Alá'í, Ray Hudson. Six documents from Bahá'í World 18 part four section 2: The Hands of the Cause of God and their functions, their work and travels 1979-1983, Boards of Counsellors and the International Teaching Centre, and tributes by Lilian Ala'i and Ray Hudson. UHJ-documents.

1. 1887-04-13 — The first mention of the concept of `Hand of the Cause' in Bahá'u'lláh's writings is within a Tablet revealed in honour of Ibn-i-Asdaq. [BBD115; EB173]
2. 1957-06-04 — Shoghi Effendi added protection of the Cause to the duties of the Hands of the Cause. They were to perform this function in collaboration with the national spiritual assemblies. [BBRSM127; CB380; MBW122–3; CBN No 93 Oct 1957 p3]
3. 1957-10-02 — Shoghi Effendi designated the Hands of the Cause the 'Chief Stewards of Bahá'u'lláh's embryonic World commonwealth'. [MBW127]
4. 1957-11-25 —
   Nine Hands were chosen to serve as Custodians of the Faith residing in the Holy Land. [BBD57; BW13:342; DH215]
   • The Hands residing in the Holy Land were established as a legal body under the title 'The Custodians of the Bahá'í World Faith'.
   • The Hands chosen as first Custodians are Rúhíyyih Khánum, Mason Remey, Amelia Collins, Leroy Ioas, Hasan Balyuzi, 'Alí Akbar Furútan, Jalál Kházeh, Paul Haney and Adelbert Mühlschlegel. [BW13:345–6; MC40–1]
5. 1963-11-00 —
   The Universal House of Justice sent a message to the Bahá’ís of the World regarding the "Development of the Institution of the Hands of the Cause of God" subsequent to the two week meeting of the Hands of the Cause in the Holy Land and their consultation with the Universal House of Justice. The House took two important decisions:
   • They stated that there was no way additional Hands could be appointed.
   • Responsibility for decisions on matters of general policy affecting the Institution of the Hands of the Cause, which was formerly exercised by the beloved Guardian, now devolves upon the Universal House of Justice as the supreme and central institution of the Faith to which all must turn.

     The relationship of the Hands to the other institutions of the Cause to the other institutions of the Faith was established.

     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.

     An increase in the Membership of the Auxiliary Boards was planned, in Africa from eighteen to twenty-seven; in Asia from fourteen to thirty-six; in Australasia from four to nine; in Europe from eighteen to twenty-seven; and in the Western Hemisphere from eighteen to thirty-six. [Development Hands November 1964; Mess1963-1986 p44-46]

6. 1964-11-00 —
   The Hands of the Cause of God met in the Holy Land for a period of 14 days to discuss their vital responsibilities, and particularly as Standard-Bearers of the Nine Year Plan. The Universal House of Justice consulted with them on the Ridván 1964 goal of the “Development of the Institution of the Hands of the Cause of God, in consultation with the body of the Hands of the Cause, with a view to the extension into the future of its appointed functions of protection and propagation.”
   • Communications between the National Spiritual Assemblies with the Hands of the Cause and their Board members was encouraged in whatever way proved to be effective. They should be invited to attend the National Convention or to send one or two Board members as deputies.
   • Auxiliary Board members should be freed from administrative responsibilities and as delegates. Should a Board member be elected to an NSA he/she would be able to choose which role to accept.
   • An increase in the number of Auxiliary Board members will be required along with an increase in the Continental Funds. [Message to NSAs November 1964; Mess1983-1986 p46-47]
7. 1965-03-09 — In a message that was addressed to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Netherlands, but given wide distribution among other national assemblies, the Universal House of Justice addressed three groups of questions:

   1. Why were steps taken to elect a Universal House of Justice with the foreknowledge that there would be no Guardian? 2. Was the time ripe for such an action? 3. Could not the International Bahá'í Council have carried on the work.
   The question of the infallibility of the Universal House of Justice and its ability to function without the presence of the Guardian was addressed, as well as concern over the functioning of the Universal House of Justice in the absence of the Guardian, particularly the matter of expulsion of members of the House of Justice. [9 March 1965]

8. 2007-09-22 —
   The passing of Hand of the Cause of God Dr. Ali-Muhammad Varqa (b.1911 or 1912) at his home in Haifa. Mr Varqa received his name from 'Abdu'l-Bahá in memory of his grandfather, who had been killed for being a follower of Bahá'u'lláh. He was the last survivor of the 27 Hands of the Cause who were alive when Shoghi Effendi passed away in 1957. [BWNS579; One Country]
   • He had been appointed Hand of the Cause on the 15th of March, 1955 after the passing of his father Hand of the Cause of God Jináb-i-Valíyu'lláh Varqá, [MoVxxiv]
   • He was appointed as the last Trustee of the Huqúqulláh, a position also held by his father. During his tenure, the Huqúqulláh expanded its base from a few Iranian believers to include every believer in the world in 1992.
   • He lived in Iran but happened to be away during the revolution in 1979 and never returned. He was accepted as a refugee in Canada and lived there for several years before being called to service at the World Centre.
   • For a short biography see LoF183-187.

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