Obedience to Civil Authority
Exported from Holy-Writings.com on 2026-06-19 - 1 clipping

In the United States questions often arise as to what civil authority one 
should obey especially when there is apparent conflict between the 
immediate civil authority under which one resides and a superior 
authority, such as a state government or the Federal Government.  People 
unfamiliar with the workings of the legal system find it difficult to 
determine their course of action when such conflicts arise.  Often it is 
thought that the superior authority is the one to be obeyed under these 
circumstances; thus, for example, in cases of school desegregation there are 
those who, in trying to carry out a Federal ruling, find themselves in open 
dispute with others who may prefer to support contrary actions of a local 
or state authority.

A Bahá'í caught in the cross-fire generated by this kind of conflict is often 
bewildered because he wishes to carry out the injunction of Bahá'u'lláh to 
be loyal to one's government.  But how, he may well ask himself, can one 
be loyal to two or more conflicting authorities?  The tendency of many 
people in choosing among loyalties is to feel that the Federal Government, 
being the supreme authority in the land, must be obeyed in preference to 
any local or state authority.  How, then, does the principle of loyalty to 
government apply when there is apparent conflict between state and 
Federal laws?  The following excerpts from the writings of the Guardian 
and The Universal House of Justice clarify these questions.

"To all administrative regulations which the civil authorities 
have issued from time to time, or will issue in the future in that land, as 
in all other countries, the Bahá'í community, faithful to its sacred 
obligations towards its government, and conscious of its civic duties, has 
yielded, and will continue to yield implicit obedience...." (Shoghi Effendi, 
God Passes By)

"We see, therefore, that we must do two things - shun politics like the 
plague, and be obedient to the Government in power in the place where 
we reside. If they (the Bahá'ís) become involved in the issues the 
Governments of the world are struggling over, they will be lost.  But if 
they build up the Bahá'í pattern they can offer it as a remedy when all 
else has failed." (Letter written on Shoghi Effendi's behalf, Bahá'í 
News 241, p.14)

"The full text of the quotations from which these excerpts are taken 
makes it clear that Bahá'ís must live the Bahá'í life, fully and 
continuously, unless prevented by the authorities.  If local, state, or 
federal authorities actively prohibit Bahá'í life or some aspect of it, then 
Bahá'ís must submit to these requirements in all cases except where a 
spiritual principle is involved such as a denial of faith. This, Bahá'ís 
cannot do under any circumstances.  The lives the friends lead will prove 
to be the greatest teachers." (The Universal House of Justice, July 23, 
1964)

Bahá'ís obey the law, Federal or state, unless submission to these laws 
amounts to a denial of their Faith.  We live the Bahá'í life, fully and 
continuously, unless prevented by authorities.  This implies, if it does not 
categorically state, that a Bahá'í is not required to make a judgment as to 
the precedence of federal or state law — this is for the courts to
decide." 
(The Universal House of Justice, March 30. 1965)

Civil disobedience is not permissible for Bahá'ís. However, a Bahá'í may 
decide, while obeying a repugnant regulation, to complain to the 
authorities, if wisdom and consultation with Bahá'í institutions dictate such 
action.

In conclusion, a Bahá'í should be implicitly obedient to the constituted 
authority in the community wherein he functions.  Thus, for example, if 
school administrators are permitted by the state to promulgate rules and 
regulations for student conduct, the Bahá'í student will obey those rules.  
He may take part in action to correct such rules only by conduct which 
does not violate any Bahá'í principle or any law or regulation including the 
rule itself.  Where a state or local government or agency enforces an unjust 
law, or unjustly enforces any law, the Bahá'í within the jurisdiction will not 
attempt to demonstrate the invalidity of the law by violating it, nor will he 
violate any second law in protest against the first.

By such a standard of conduct. universally applied. the American Bahá'í 
Community will not only be demonstrating that striking contrast between 
itself and secular society longed for by the beloved Guardian but also be 
freed to ". . . concentrate on perfecting our characters as individual Bahá'ís; 
and on maturing our still embryonic. and as yet improperly understood 
World Order; on spreading the Message. according to the provisions of the 
Divine Plan; and, on building a tightly knit, world-wide Bahá'í 
community."

Statement by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States
-- Obedience to Civil Authority (Used by permission of the curator)