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Translation of "'Umumi" in Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Bahá
In an email message to the Universal House of Justice dated 23 March 1997, a question has been raised concerning translation. In an undated Tablet from 'Abdu'l-Bahá addressed to Mrs. True (first translated into English by Dr. Ameen Farid in July 1909) the following statement has been revealed.
According to the ordinances of the Faith of God, women are the
equals of men in all rights save only that of membership on the
Universal House of Justice, for as hath been stated in the text of the
Book, both the head and the members of the House of Justice are men.
However, in all other bodies, such as the Temple Construction Committee,
the Teaching Committee, the Spiritual Assembly, and in charitable
and scientific associations, women share equally in all rights with
men. (Revised translation from the Persian, authorized 1987)
In the above Tablet, for the title "The Universal House of Justice" the Persian words used are: "Baytu'l-'Adl-i-'Umumi". The question has been asked, whether the translation of the word "'Umumi", as "Universal", could be a mistake, since the word has the connotation of "public" or "general" in addition to its meaning as "universal". Thus, following such an argument, the reference in the above text could perhaps be not to the "Universal House of Justice" but to the Local Spiritual Assembly of Chicago.
The word "'umumi" as an adjective qualifying the title of the institution of the "House of Justice" appears three times in the Persian text of 'Abdu'l-Bahá'í Will and Testament.[1] Shoghi Effendi's translation of this adjective is invariably "Universal" with a capital "U". The passages from the Will and Testament are as follows:[2]
[1] See "Alvah-i-Vasayay-i-Mubarakiy-i-Hadrat-i-'Abdu'l-Bahá" (Cairo: Mirza Abu'l-Qasim Gulistanih-Shirazi, 1924-25), pages 12, 15, and 21.
[2] See "Will and Testament of Abdu'l-Bahá" Wilmette: Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1971), pages 11, 14, and 19-20. Translation of "'Umumi" in Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Bahá 30 March 1997
"The sacred and youthful branch, the guardian of the Cause of
God as well as the Universal House of Justice, to be universally
elected and established, are both under the care and protection of the
Abha Beauty, under the shelter and unerring guidance of His Holiness,
the Exalted One (may my life be offered up for them both).
Whatsoever they decide is of God." (page 11)"and now, concerning the House of Justice which God hath
ordained as the source of all good and freed from all error, it must be
elected by universal suffrage, that is, by the believers. Its members
must be manifestations of the fear of God and daysprings of knowledge
and understanding, must be steadfast in God's faith and the
well-wishers of all mankind. By this House is meant the Universal House of
Justice, that is, in all countries a secondary House of Justice must be
instituted, and these secondary Houses of Justice must elect the members of
the Universal one. Unto this body all things must be referred."
(page 14)"Unto the Most Holy Book every one must turn and all that is not
expressly recorded therein must be referred to the Universal House of
Justice. That which this body, whether unanimously or by a majority doth
carry, that is verily the Truth and the Purpose of God Himself. Whoso
doth deviate therefrom is verily of them that love discord, hath
shown forth malice and turned away from the Lord of the Covenant. By
this House is meant that Universal House of Justice which is to be
elected from all countries, that is from those parts in the East and
West where the loved ones are to be found, after the manner of the
customary elections in Western countries such as those of England." (pages
19-20)There is no doubt whatsoever that by the term "Baytu'l-'Adl-i-'Umumi", in the above-mentioned Tablet, the institution intended, whose membership is to be of men only, is none other than "The Universal House of Justice" and not the Local Spiritual Assembly of Chicago.