DID YOU KNOW???

The first organized system of compulsory funds in the Baha'i world did not come from Baha'u'llah or Abdu'l Baha. It began after 1921, under Shoghi Effendi.

On March 12, 1923, Shoghi Effendi issued a call for the establishment of local and national Baha'i Funds, placing them under the exclusive control of Spiritual Assemblies. From that moment onward, financial contribution was framed not simply as generosity, but as a “sacred obligation” tied to loyalty, conscience, and service to the Cause.

This marked a sharp departure from the spirit of the Faith as lived and taught by Baha'u'llah and the Master. Baha'u'llah revealed Huququ'llah as a personal spiritual law, based on inner willingness and detachment, not institutional pressure. Abdu'l Baha repeatedly refused money for himself and redirected offerings to the poor. Neither created a centralized, assembly-controlled funding structure.

Yet here, for the first time, believers were instructed that all donations must flow through administrative bodies, and that assemblies would decide how funds were spent. Teaching, education, service, and even aid to the needy were now filtered through bureaucratic approval.

This 1923 shift laid the foundation for what many Baha'is experience today: constant appeals, multiple funds, subtle pressure, and the merging of faithfulness with financial compliance. What began as a “necessity” has evolved into a system where spirituality is often measured by contribution rather than conduct.

For Free Baha'is, this moment is crucial. It helps explain how the Faith gradually moved away from a religion of the heart toward an institution sustained by control of money—something neither Baha'u'llah nor Abdu'l Baha ever intended.

Demanding Transparency For Huququ'llah Funds From The Universal House of Justice (UHJ)

 

I have noticed that despite repeated requests, many people are unable to obtain the account of the Huququ’llah funds collected by the Universal House of Justice (UHJ). What steps would Team Free Baha'is recommend for addressing this issue?

 

Answer:

Hi Bob,

Allah’u’Abha!

If efforts to obtain the account of Huququ’llah funds collected by the UHJ have been unsuccessful, it may be necessary to escalate the matter to lower authorities within the Baha'i community. This could include contacting the National Spiritual Assembly or the International Teaching Center for guidance and support and indirectly put pressure on the UHJ to act on the same. It may also be helpful to gather support from other concerned individuals and groups, and to advocate for greater transparency and accountability in the handling of Baha'i funds.

One important step that we could take to ensure prompt implementation is to establish clear deadlines for submission, and follow up on any missed deadlines. This could involve engaging key Baha'i contributors to the fund to raise questions in meetings, and ensuring that these discussions are recorded in the meeting minutes for follow-up at subsequent meetings with stakeholders.

Ultimately, it is important to approach the situation with humility, patience, and a commitment to upholding the principles and values of the Baha'i Faith.

Please feel free to share any inspiring stories of your efforts to obtain Huququ'llah accounts from the UHJ. We would love to feature them in our magazine and share them with the community as a powerful example of dedication and perseverance in upholding the principles of transparency and accountability.

If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Regards,

Team Free Baha’is

Reference: The Caravan Magazine, Vol. 7, Edition 2