The Bahá’í Administrative Order

The affairs of the Bahá’í community are administered through a system of institutions, each with its defined sphere of action. The origins of this system—known as the Bahá’í Administrative Order—are found in the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh Himself. He revealed principles that guide its operation, established its institutions, appointed ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as the sole interpreter of His Word, and conferred authority on the Universal House of Justice. In His Will and Testament, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá appointed his grandson, Shoghi Effendi, as the Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith. From the outset of his ministry, Shoghi Effendi dedicated energy to the development of the Administrative Order, bringing it into being in embryonic form and paving the way for the election of the Universal House of Justice. Read more