Hands of the Cause of God (abbreviated as Hands or Hands of the Cause), in the Baháʼí Faith, refers to several prominent Baha'is appointed for life by Baha'u'llah, 'Abdu'l-Baha', and Shoghi Effendi to promote the Baháʼí teachings and preserve the unity of the Baháʼí Faith community. Each one of the appointees is referred to as a Hand of the Cause. Of the fifty individuals given the title, Baha'u'llah appointed four during his lifetime; 'Abdu'l-Baha' also posthumously designated four individuals as Hands of the Cause; and afterwards, Shoghi Effendi appointed forty-two to this rank over the 36 years of his ministry. Hands of the Cause played a significant role in propagating the religion and protecting it from schism.
'Abdu'l-Baha' formally defined the role of these prominent Baháʼís, elaborated on their responsibilities, and emphasized their importance. In his Will and Testament, he stated that the responsibility for appointing and guiding the Hands in the future would rest with his successor, Shoghi Effendi. A few weeks before his death in November 1957, Shoghi Effendi appointed the final group of the Hands, and in a letter to the Baháʼís of the world, referred to the Body of the Hands as the Chief Stewards of the Baháʼí Faith. This Body of 27 men and women assumed the leadership and guidance of the worldwide Baháʼí community for six years following the death of Shoghi Effendi, until the election of the Universal House of Justice in April 1963. In the administrative structure of the Baháʼí Faith, authority is not held by individuals; rather, decisions are made collectively through consultation in Baháʼí councils. The supreme governing institution is the Universal House of Justice in the Baháʼí Faith.
The temporary administration of the affairs of the faith by the Hands until the formation of the Universal House of Justice was foreseen in the Kitab-i-Aqdas. After its establishment in April 1963, the Universal House of Justice created the Institution of the Counsellors in 1968, and the appointed Continental Counsellors over time took on the role that the Hands of the Cause were filling. The functions of the Hands were gradually transferred to newly formed institutions of Continental Boards of Counsellors and subsequently the International Teaching Center, whose membership included five Counsellors from around the world and all living Hands of the Cause as permanent members. The announcement in 1968 also changed the role of the Hands of the Cause, from continental appointments to worldwide. As the Hands of the Cause died, the number of the Counsellors serving at the International Teaching Centre reached nine and took on the functions of the nine Hands of the Cause who worked in the Baháʼí World Centre in the lifetime of Shoghi Effendi until the establishment of the International Teaching Center.
In the Baháʼí Faith, the appointment of distinguished individuals with the title of Hands of the Cause of God (Ayádí-yi Amru'lláh) began during the time of Baháʼu'lláh. After Him, His successor ʻAbdu'l-Bahá, who is known as the Center of the Covenant of Baháʼu'lláh, referred to several Baháʼís as Hands of the Cause in one of his books titled Memorials of the Faithful. ʻAbdu'l-Bahá elaborated on the appointment process and duties of the Hands in his Will (Alwáḥ-i-Waṣáyá) and assigned the responsibility of appointing them to the Guardian of the Baháʼí Faith.
Shoghi Effendi, the successor of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá, appointed individuals to the position of Hands of the Cause of God during his lifetime. He gradually appointed 42 individuals from various parts of the world to this role. In total, 50 individuals were designated as Hands of the Cause: 4 by Baháʼu'lláh, 4 by ʻAbdu'l-Bahá, and 42 by Shoghi Effendi, bringing the total of 50 Hands of the Cause in the Baháʼí Faith.
After the death of Shoghi Effendi in 1957 and until the establishment of the Universal House of Justice the Hands of the Cause collectively as Custodians, led the worldwide Baháʼí community based on the guidance of Shoghi Effendi, as expressed in his final message to the Baháʼís of the world dated October 2, 1957, just weeks before his sudden death. The 27 living Hands continued their activities, focusing on protecting and preserving the Baháʼí community and encouraging the believers to fulfill the goals of Shoghi Effendi's Ten Year Plan, which ultimately led to the election of the Universal House of Justice in April 1963.
In a message (November 1964) the Universal House of Justice announced that since it was no longer possible to appoint Hands of the Cause, the need was the development of new institutions; the Continental Boards of Counsellors (1968) and the International Teaching Centre (1973) to fulfil functions of the Hands of the Cause.
The Hands, in consultation with the Universal House of Justice, served their purpose for the remainder of their lives. The last surviving Hand of the Cause, ʻAlí-Muhammad Varqá, died in 2007.
In total, four Hands were named by Baháʼu'lláh, four by ʻAbdu'l-Bahá, and forty-two by Shoghi Effendi.
Appointed by Baháʼu'lláh (1863–1892)
These four Hands served as a means of communication between Bahá’u’lláh and the Baháʼís of Iran. After Baháʼu'lláh's death, they played a crucial role in supporting the succession of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and in maintaining the unity of the Baháʼí community. In 1899, at the instruction of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, they established the first Baháʼí Spiritual Assembly in Tehran.
Appointed posthumously by ʻAbdu'l-Bahá (1892–1921)
‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the eldest son and appointed successor of Bahá’u’lláh, guided the four individuals who, after the death of Bahá'u'lláh, continually and actively followed him in his ministry. These individuals played a prominent role in protecting the Baháʼí Faith against attacks by the supporters of Muhammad-‘Alí, the younger half-brother of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, who challenged his authority as the appointed successor of Bahá’u’lláh.
In the book Tadhkirat al-Wafá (Memorials of the Faithful), ‘Abdu’l-Bahá mentioned four prominent Baháʼís who, throughout their lives, devoted themselves to spreading the Baháʼí teachings and promoting its principles and ethics with selflessness, referring to them posthumously as Hands of the Cause of God. These individuals are:
Muhammad-Ridá (Mullá Muhammad Ábádí Yazdí)
Nabíl-i-Akbar (Aqa Muhammad-i- Qa'ini) (1829–1892)
'Ali-Muhammad Varqá (d. 1896), who, along with his son Rúḥu’lláh, gave his life for the promotion of the Baháʼí Faith teachings.
Mullá Sádiq Khurasani, also known among the Baháʼís as Ismu'lláhu'l-Asdaq (d. 1889)