For their authority, the Custodians referred to the Will and Testament of ʻAbdul-Bahá which states that "the Hands of the Cause of God must elect from their own number nine persons that shall at all times be occupied in the important services in the work of the Guardian of the Cause of God."(Hatcher & Martin 1998, p. 190)(ʻAbdu'l-Bahá 1992, p. 12) See: Rabbani, Ministry of the Custodians, 1992, Letter of 28 May 1960, to all National Spiritual Assemblies (pp. 204-206), Letter of 5 July 1960, to all National Spiritual Assemblies (pp. 208-209), Letter of 7 July 1960, to all Hands of the Cause, Cable of 26 July 1960, to all National Spiritual Assemblies (p.223), and Letter of 15 October 1960, to all National Spiritual Assemblies (pp. 231-236)[1] In addition, the Guardian had written that the Hands had executive authority in carrying out his directives. (Effendi 1982, pp. 82–83)[2] Hatcher, William; Martin, J.D. (1998). The Baháʼí Faith: The Emerging Global Religion. New York: Harper and Row. ISBN0-87743-264-3. ʻAbdu'l-Bahá (1992) [Composed 1901-08]. The Will And Testament of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá. Wilmette, Illinois, USA: Baháʼí Publishing Trust. Effendi, Shoghi (1982). The Light of Divine Guidance (Volume 2). Germany: Baháʼí Publishing Trust. ISBN3-87037-159-5.
For their authority, the Custodians referred to the Will and Testament of ʻAbdul-Bahá which states that "the Hands of the Cause of God must elect from their own number nine persons that shall at all times be occupied in the important services in the work of the Guardian of the Cause of God."(Hatcher & Martin 1998, p. 190)(ʻAbdu'l-Bahá 1992, p. 12) See: Rabbani, Ministry of the Custodians, 1992, Letter of 28 May 1960, to all National Spiritual Assemblies (pp. 204-206), Letter of 5 July 1960, to all National Spiritual Assemblies (pp. 208-209), Letter of 7 July 1960, to all Hands of the Cause, Cable of 26 July 1960, to all National Spiritual Assemblies (p.223), and Letter of 15 October 1960, to all National Spiritual Assemblies (pp. 231-236)[1] In addition, the Guardian had written that the Hands had executive authority in carrying out his directives. (Effendi 1982, pp. 82–83)[2] Hatcher, William; Martin, J.D. (1998). The Baháʼí Faith: The Emerging Global Religion. New York: Harper and Row. ISBN0-87743-264-3. ʻAbdu'l-Bahá (1992) [Composed 1901-08]. The Will And Testament of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá. Wilmette, Illinois, USA: Baháʼí Publishing Trust. Effendi, Shoghi (1982). The Light of Divine Guidance (Volume 2). Germany: Baháʼí Publishing Trust. ISBN3-87037-159-5.
The Universal House of Justice specifically refers to paragraph 42 of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas as evidence that Baháʼu'lláh anticipated that the line of Guardians was not guaranteed forever by providing for the disposition of the religion's endowments in the absence of the Aghsán.(Taherzadeh 1992, p. 390) See also Notes 66 and 67 of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, pp. 196-197. Taherzadeh, Adib (1992). The Covenant of Baháʼu'lláh. Oxford, UK: George Ronald. ISBN0-85398-344-5.
For their authority, the Custodians referred to the Will and Testament of ʻAbdul-Bahá which states that "the Hands of the Cause of God must elect from their own number nine persons that shall at all times be occupied in the important services in the work of the Guardian of the Cause of God."(Hatcher & Martin 1998, p. 190)(ʻAbdu'l-Bahá 1992, p. 12) See: Rabbani, Ministry of the Custodians, 1992, Letter of 28 May 1960, to all National Spiritual Assemblies (pp. 204-206), Letter of 5 July 1960, to all National Spiritual Assemblies (pp. 208-209), Letter of 7 July 1960, to all Hands of the Cause, Cable of 26 July 1960, to all National Spiritual Assemblies (p.223), and Letter of 15 October 1960, to all National Spiritual Assemblies (pp. 231-236)[1] In addition, the Guardian had written that the Hands had executive authority in carrying out his directives. (Effendi 1982, pp. 82–83)[2] Hatcher, William; Martin, J.D. (1998). The Baháʼí Faith: The Emerging Global Religion. New York: Harper and Row. ISBN0-87743-264-3. ʻAbdu'l-Bahá (1992) [Composed 1901-08]. The Will And Testament of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá. Wilmette, Illinois, USA: Baháʼí Publishing Trust. Effendi, Shoghi (1982). The Light of Divine Guidance (Volume 2). Germany: Baháʼí Publishing Trust. ISBN3-87037-159-5.
Glaysher, Frederick (founder) (5 March 2012). Reform Baha'i Faith (Talk). Troy Interfaith Group: Glaysher, Frederick. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021.
[7], US District Court for Northern District Court of Illinois Eastern Division, Civil Action No. 64 C 1878: Orthodox Baháʼí Respondents' Surreply Memorandum to NSA's Reply Memorandum, p2 para 2 line 15
Glaysher, Frederick (founder) (5 March 2012). Reform Baha'i Faith (Talk). Troy Interfaith Group: Glaysher, Frederick. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021.