Writings
This, in support of the Fund - rich or poor, will be a source of spiritual confirmations far beyond our capacity to envisage.
What is the unity of the believers?
"The unity of the believers, rich or poor alike, in their support of the Fund will be a source of spiritual confirmations far beyond our capacity to envisage." (The Universal House of Justice letter dated September 17th, 1992 to the Continental Boards of Counsellors)
It is not just a moral or material obligation for us to give to the Funds, but also this other kind of obligation.
What is spiritual obligation?
"Beyond this there is, we believe, a worldwide need for appreciation of this basic principle of our Faith: that contributing to the Fund should constitute an integral part of the spiritual life of every Bahá’í and be regarded as the fulfillment of a fundamental spiritual obligation." (The Universal House of Justice, A Wider Horizon, Selected Letters, letter dated November 18, 1991 to the followers of Bahá’u’lláh in every land)
Except for the portion of the Bahá’í Funds devoted exclusively to charitable, philanthropic, or humanitarian purposes, contributions to the Bahá'í Funds are accepted only from these people.
Who are the Bahá'ís?
"One of the distinguishing features of the Cause of God is its principle of non-acceptance of financial contributions for its own purposes from non-Bahá’ís: support of the Bahá’í Fund is a bounty reserved by Bahá’u’lláh to His declared followers. This bounty imposes full responsibility for financial support of the Faith on the believers alone, every one of whom is called upon to do his utmost to ensure that the constant and liberal outpouring of means is maintained and increased to meet the growing needs of the Cause. Many Bahá’í communities are at present dependent on outside help, and for them the aim must be to become self-supporting, confident that the Generous Lord will, as their efforts increase, eventually enable them to offer for the progress of His Faith material wealth as well as their devotion, their energy and love." (From a letter of the Universal House of Justice to the Bahá’ís of the World, Naw-Rúz 1974)
This quality is the spirit and action of freely and frequently giving to others.
What is generosity?
"To give and to be generous are attributes of Mine; well is it with him that adorneth himself with My virtues." (Bahá'u'lláh, Hidden Words, #49 Persian)
"A primary requisite for all who have responsibility for the care of the funds of the Faith..." (UHJ)
What is trustworthiness?
"Trustworthiness is the greatest portal leading unto the tranquility and security of the people. In truth the stability of every affair hath depended and doth depend upon it. All the domains of power, of grandeur and of wealth are illumined by its light." (Bahá’u’lláh, Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 37)
These are the surest way of lifting once and for all time the burden of hunger and misery from mankind.
What are our contributions to the Faith?
"...our contributions to the Faith are the surest way of lifting once and for all time the burden of hunger and misery from mankind, for it is only through the system of Bahá’u’lláh -- Divine in origin -- that the world can be gotten on its feet and want, fear, hunger, war, etc. be eliminated." (Shoghi Effendi, Bahá’í Funds: Contributions and Administration, p. 12)
When we contribute to the Faith, 'Abdu'l-Bahá said we would receive this.
What is blessings?
"O Friends of God! Be ye assured that in place of these contributions, your agriculture, your industry, and your commerce will be blessed by manifold increases, with goodly gifts and bestowals. He who cometh with one goodly deed will receive a tenfold reward." (Preamble to the Prayer for the Fund)
Among the Bahá’ís, this is the age that one can give to the Funds.
What is any age?
"Any Bahá’í can give to the Cause’s Funds, adult or child. No statement is required on this subject; Bahá’í children have always given to the Cause, everywhere. Whatever situation may arise in a class which non-Bahá’í children attend is for the teacher of the class to solve. No ruling should be made to cover such things." (18 August 1949 to a National Spiritual Assembly, on behalf of Shoghi Effendi)
To surrender, destroy, or suffer the loss of something in order to obtain something else, sometimes that is greater; to make holy.
What is sacrifice?
"It is not the amount of the contribution which is important, but the degree of self-sacrifice that it entails—for it is this that attracts the confirmations of God.” (Letter from the Universal House of Justice, dated April 13, 1975, to all National Spiritual Assemblies receiving assistance from the Bahá’í International Fund, in Lights of Guidance, par. 841)
In regards to contributions, information related to the donations must be strictly preserved and kept private. This standard must be upheld by the Treasurer and assistants, as well as the local Assembly members and its staff.
What is confidentiality?
"There is no objection to the ... Spiritual Assembly keeping a record of the names of contributors, and sums received; but no pressure must ever be brought on the Bahá’ís to contribute, it must be voluntary, and should be considered confidential, unless the friends themselves wish to mention it openly." (Shoghi Effendi, 26 October 1945 to an individual believer)
Shoghi Effendi encourages us to be like this, continually emptying ourselves of all that we have and being refilled continuously from an invisible source.
What is a fountain or spring?
"We must be like the fountain or spring that is continually emptying itself of all that it has and is continually being refilled from an invisible source. To be continually giving out for the good of our fellows undeterred by the fear of poverty and reliant on the unfailing bounty of the Source of all wealth and all good -- this is the secret of right living." (Shoghi Effendi, Bahá’í Funds: Contributions and Administration, p. 11)
Shoghi Effendi referred to it as “the life-blood” of the Bahá’í institutions.
What is the Funds of the Faith?
"...In the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, Bahá’u’lláh more than once refers to the necessity for combining spiritual and material means in achieving the purposes of the Faith. Shoghi Effendi, for his part, referred to the Fund as the lifeblood of the Cause." (The Universal House of Justice, A Wider Horizon, Selected Letters, letter dated November 18, 1991 to the followers of Bahá’u’lláh in every land)
This is the important frequency of our giving to the Bahá'í Funds.
What is regular giving?
"We must be like the fountain or spring that is continually emptying itself of all that it has and is continually being refilled from an invisible source. To be continually giving out for the good of our fellows undeterred by the fear of poverty and reliant on the unfailing bounty of the Source of all wealth and all good -- this is the secret of right living." (Shoghi Effendi, Bahá’í Funds: Contributions and Administration, p. 11)
This quality involves turning towards and trusting in God; letting go of attachments that do not serve our greater purpose.
What is detachment?
"The essence of detachment is for man to turn his face towards the courts of the Lord, to enter His Presence, behold His Countenance, and stand as witness before Him." (Bahá’u’lláh, Tablets Revealed after the Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 155)
The Universal House of Justice said it was okay to do this but that it is better not to restrict our contributions when giving to the Funds.
What is earmarking?
"In general, although it is permitted for the friends to earmark contributions, it is apparent that it is often better that the friends allow the Assembly to use their contributions without restricting them. Furthermore, an Assembly is by no means obligated to accept an earmarked contribution; if it does, however, it is bound to respect the earmarking." (On behalf of the Universal House of Justice, letter dated 21 August 1980 to a National Spiritual Assembly)
'Abdu'l-Bahá told us that when we give to the Funds we will be blessed. He said we would receive this kind of reward when we perform one goodly deed.
What is tenfold reward?
"...Be ye assured that in place of these contributions, your agriculture, your industry, and your commerce will be blessed by manifold increases, with goodly gifts and bestowals. He who cometh with one goodly deed will receive a tenfold reward. There is no doubt that the living Lord will abundantly confirm those who expend their wealth in His path." (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Bahá’í Prayers, p. 83)
Our contributions support this system in the Faith.
What is the Bahá'í Administrative Order?
"...our contributions to the Faith are the surest way of lifting once and for all time the burden of hunger and misery from mankind, for it is only through the system of Bahá’u’lláh -- Divine in origin -- that the world can be gotten on its feet and want, fear, hunger, war, etc. be eliminated." (Shoghi Effendi, Bahá’í Funds: Contributions and Administration, p. 12)
God does not burden a soul beyond this in us.
What is our capacity?
All the friends of God ... should contribute to the extent possible, however modest their offering may be. God doth not burden a soul beyond its capacity . . . O Friends of God! Be ye assured that in place of these contributions, your agriculture, your industry, and your commerce will be blessed by manifold increases, with goodly gifts and bestowals. He who cometh with one goodly deed will receive a tenfold reward. There is no doubt that the living Lord will abundantly confirm those who expend their wealth in His path. (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Bahá’í Prayers, p. 83)
‘Abdu’l-Bahá taught that spiritual and material developments are conditioned upon amity among all men, and this quality.
Bahá'u'lláh teaches us that this spiritual quality was why God created us.
What is love?
"Contributing to the Fund is a service that every believer can render, be he poor or wealthy; for this is a spiritual responsibility in which the amount given is not important. It is the degree of the sacrifice of the giver, the love with which he makes his gift, and the unity of all the friends in this service which bring spiritual confirmations." (The Universal House of Justice, letter dated 18 December 1964)
The Chicago local Bahá'í Fund goal for this year (2024-2025) OR the monthy fund goal (Bahá'í months).
What is $112,000?
OR
What is $5,895?
The Báb teaches us to do this and to not pride ourselves on our earthly possessions.
What is fear God?
"Fear thou God and pride not thyself on thine earthly possessions, inasmuch as what God doth possess is better for them that tread the path of righteousness." (The Báb, Selections from the Writings of the Báb, p. 19)
Bahá’u’lláh has written that the fulfillment of every undertaking on earth is dependent upon this.
What is material means?
Bahá’u’lláh has written that, “. . . He Who is the Eternal Truth—exalted be His glory—
hath made the fulfilment of every undertaking on earth dependent on material means.” (from Ḥuqúqu’lláh - The Right of God: A Compilation of Extracts from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and from Letters Written by and on Behalf of Shoghi Effendi and the Universal House of Justice, #4)
When each of us participates in contributing our share, no matter how poor or small, and in whatever format offered.
What is universal participation?
"The House of Justice believes that the financial needs of the Cause should be met by universal participation in giving and urges National and Local Spiritual Assemblies to pursue this goal with vigor and imagination, recalling to the friends the plea of the beloved Guardian to every believer “unhesitatingly, to place, each according to his circumstances, his share on the altar of Bahá’í sacrifice.” The fact that only we, the Bahá’ís, can contribute financially to the Cause is both our honor and our challenge." (Universal House of Justice, Riḍván 1967 – The Bahá’ís of the World)
Complete trust or confidence in something or someone; strong belief in God.
(Shoghi Effendi teaches us that our contributions to the fund constitute a practical and effective way whereby we can test the measure and character of this quality in ourselves.)
What is faith?
"Contributions to this fund constitute, in addition, a practical and effective way whereby every believer can test the measure and character of his faith, and prove in deeds the intensity of his devotion and attachment to the Cause." (On behalf of Shoghi Effendi, letter dated 25 September 1934 to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada)
These are the 5 different types of permanent Bahá'í Funds.
What are the International Bahá'í Fund, Continental Bahá'í Fund, National Bahá'í Fund, Regional Bahá'í Council Fund, and the Local Bahá'í Fund?