circa 1969: National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Iran

Members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Iran with Hands of the Cause Dr. Varqa and Mr. Ala'i, and Continental Counsellor Hadi Rahmani. (Andalib, vol. 10, no. 39)

Baha’u’llah’s paternal uncles

Bahá'u'lláh had four paternal uncles. Among those to whom He taught the Faith of the Báb in Nur were these uncles. Two of them rejected the Cause of God and actively rose up against it. These were Shaykh Aziz'u'llah and Safi Quli Big. The other two, Mulla Zaynu'l-'Abidin and Karbila'i Zaman, became ardent believers. The former accompanied Bahá'u'lláh to the fortress of Shaykh Tabarsi, and when Bahá'u'lláh was bastinadoed in Amul, threw himself upon His feet and was beaten so much that he fainted. 

(Adib Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Baha'u'llah vol. 2)

January 19, 2000: The Passing of Hand of the Cause Amatu'l-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum

The Universal House of Justice

Department of the Secretariat

26 January 2000

To all National Spiritual Assemblies

Dear Bahá’í Friends,

Further to its message of 19 January 2000 concerning the passing of Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum, the Universal House of Justice has asked us to convey the following.

On the afternoon of 23 January, in a light rain, the blessed remains of Rúhíyyih Khánum were laid to rest in Haifa, following a funeral service at the House of the Master and graveside prayers attended by more than 1100 believers. The interment took place in a plot of land which had been converted into a garden by Shoghi Effendi, directly across the street from the Master’s House. The participants came from near and far, and included 24 Continental Counselors, representatives of 76 National Spiritual Assemblies, and pilgrims, as well as members of the institutions and volunteers serving at the Bahá’í World Centre. Among them, too, were senior officials from the Canadian and United States embassies, representatives of the Israeli government, the mayors of ‘Akká and Haifa, and other prominent Israeli citizens. 

The House of Justice is deeply gratified that such a wide representation of believers was able to come to the Holy Land on very short notice to pay final respects on behalf of all the friends throughout the world who could not be present. Moreover, it warmly appreciates the various expressions of sympathy and love received at the World Center through many messages and gifts of flowers. It is also pleased that news of Rúhíyyih Khánum’s passing and funeral has been given coverage by the world press and electronic media.

Enclosed for your interest is a copy of the printed program of the funeral service.

Without doubt, the memory of a life so inestimably precious, so extraordinarily dynamic as that of Amatu’l-Bahá will infuse the Bahá’í institutions and individual friends everywhere with renewed resolve and redoubled energy.

With loving Bahá’í greetings,

Department of the Secretariat

Membership of the Universal House of Justice: 1963-2013

Members of the Universal House of Justice 2003-2013

Members of the Universal House of Justice 1963-2003 

(Prepared by Arjen Bolhuis and Sana Rezai; Baha'i Library Online)

Geographic expansion of the Baha’i Community during the Ten Year Crusade (1953 - 1963)

The number of countries within the pale of the Faith doubled through the opening of:

• 43 in the Asiatic Continent
• 37 in the African Continent
• 21 in the European Continent
• 30 in the American Continent

(Adapted from: ‘The Baha’i Faith 1844-1963, Information Statistical and Comparative’, by Hands of the Cause residing in the Holy Land)