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52. take counsel together # 30 |
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Bahá’u’lláh 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 Bahá’í Administrative Order.
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In Questions and Answers, number 99, Bahá’u’lláh
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 Bahá’í 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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