earth. One must guide mankind to the ocean of true understanding
in a spirit of love and tolerance. The Kitáb-i-Aqdas itself
beareth eloquent testimony to the loving providence of God.


The principle governing this progressive application was enunciated in a
letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to a National Spiritual
Assembly in 1935:


The laws revealed by Bahá’u’lláh in the Aqdas are, whenever
practicable and not in direct conflict with the Civil Law of the
land, absolutely binding on every believer or Bahá’í institution
whether in the East or in the West. Certain ... laws should be
regarded by all believers as universally and vitally applicable at
the present time. Others have been formulated in anticipation of a
state of society destined to emerge from the chaotic conditions
that prevail today... What has not been formulated in the Aqdas,
in addition to matters of detail and of secondary importance
arising out of the application of the laws already formulated by
Bahá’u’lláh, will have to be enacted by the Universal House of
Justice. This body can supplement but never invalidate or modify
in the least degree what has already been formulated by
Bahá’u’lláh. Nor has the Guardian any right whatsoever to lessen
the binding effect much less to abrogate the provisions of so
fundamental and sacred a Book.


The number of laws binding on Bahá’ís is not increased by the publication
of this translation. When it is deemed timely, the Bahá’í community will