I have already referred in my previous communications of January 10, 1926,
and February 12, 1927, to the perplexing yet highly significant situation
that has arisen in Egypt as a result of the final judgment of the Muslim
ecclesiastical court in that country pronounced against our Egyptian
brethren, denouncing them as heretics, expelling them from their midst,
and refusing them the application and benefits of the Muslim Law. I have
also acquainted you with the difficulties with which they are faced, and
the plans which they have conceived, in order to obtain from the Egyptian
civil authorities a recognition of the independent status of their Faith.
It must be explained, however, that in the Muslim countries of the Near
and Middle East, with the exception of Turkey which has lately abolished
all ecclesiastical courts under its rule, every recognized religious
community has, in matters of personal status such as marriage, divorce and
inheritance, its own ecclesiastical court, totally independent of the
civil and criminal tribunals, there being in such instances no civil code
promulgated by the government and embracing all the different religious
communities. Hitherto regarded as a sect of Islam, the Baha'is of Egypt,
who for the most part are of Muslim origin, and unable therefore to refer
for purposes of marriage and divorce to the recognized religious tribunals
of any other denomination, find themselves in consequence in a delicate
and anomalous position. They have naturally resolved to refer their case
to the Egyptian Government, and have prepared for this purpose a petition
to be addressed to the head of the Egyptian Cabinet. In this document they
have set forth the motives compelling them to seek recognition from their
rulers, have asserted their readiness and their qualifications to exercise
the functions of an independent Baha'i court, have assured them of their
implicit obedience and loyalty to the State, and of their abstinence from
interference in the politics of their country. They have also decided to
accompany the text of their petition with a copy of the judgment of the
Court, with selections from Baha'i writings, and with the document that
sets forth the principles of their national constitution which, with few
exceptions, is identical with the Declaration and By-laws promulgated by
your Assembly.
I have insisted that the provisions of their constitution should, in all
its details, conform to the text of the Declaration of Trust and By-laws
which you have established, endeavoring thereby to preserve the uniformity
which I feel is essential in all Baha'i National Constitutions. I would
like, therefore, in this connection to request of you what I have already
intimated to them, that whatever amendments you may decide to introduce in
the text of the Declaration and By-laws should be duly communicated to me,
that I may take the necessary steps for the introduction of similar
changes in the text of all other National Baha'i Constitutions.
It will be readily admitted that in view of the peculiar privileges
granted to recognized religious Communities in the Islamic countries of
the Near and Middle East, the request which is to be submitted by the
Baha'i Egyptian National Assembly to the Government of Egypt is more
substantial and far-reaching than what has already been granted by the
Federal Authorities to your Assembly. For their petition is chiefly
concerned with a formal request for recognition by the highest civil
authorities in Egypt of the Egyptian National Spiritual Assembly as a
recognized and independent Baha'i court, free and able to execute and
apply in all matters of personal status such laws and ordinances as have
been promulgated by Baha'u'llah in the Kitab-i-Aqdas.
I have asked them to approach informally the authorities concerned, and to
make the fullest possible inquiry as a preliminary measure to the formal
presentation of their historic petition. Any assistance which your
Assembly, after careful deliberation, may find it advisable to offer to
the valiant promoters of the Faith in that land will be deeply
appreciated, and will serve to confirm the solidarity that characterizes
the Baha'i Communities of East and West. Whatever the outcome of this
mighty issue--and none can fail to appreciate the incalculable
possibilities of the present situation--we can rest assured that the
guiding Hand that has released these forces will, in His inscrutable
wisdom and by His omnipotent power, continue to shape and direct their
course for the glory, the ultimate emancipation, and the unqualified
recognition of His Faith.
Your true brother,
Shoghi.
Haifa, Palestine.
February 27, 1929.