52 Take Counsel Together #30
Categories: NOTESSources: The Kitab-i-aqdas
Baha'u'llah has established consultation as one of the fundamental
principles of His Faith and has exhorted the believers to take counsel
together in all matters. He describes consultation as the lamp of
guidance which leadeth the way and as the bestower of understanding.
Shoghi Effendi states that the principle of consultation ... constitutes
one of the basic laws of the Baha'i Administrative Order.
In Questions and Answers, number 99, Baha'u'llah outlines an approach to
consultation and stresses the importance of achieving unanimity in
decision-making, failing which the majority decision must prevail. The
Universal House of Justice has clarified that this guidance concerning
consultation was revealed before Spiritual Assemblies had been established
and was in answer to a question about the Baha'i teachings on
consultation. The House of Justice affirms that the emergence of Spiritual
Assemblies, to which the friends may always turn for assistance, in no way
prohibits them from following the procedure outlined in Questions and
Answers. This approach may be used by the friends, should they wish, when
they desire to consult on their personal problems.
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