398. Bahá’í Justified in Defending his Life in Emergency
"Regarding the question you raised: In an emergency, when there is no legal source at hand to appeal to, a Bahá’í is perfectly justified in defending his life."
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, July 24, 1943)
399. Self-Defense
"From the texts you already have available it is clear that Bahá’u’lláh has stated that it is preferable to be killed in the path of God's good-pleasure than to kill, and that organized religious attack against Bahá’ís should never turn into any kind of warfare, as this is strictly prohibited in our Writings.
"The House of Justice does not wish at the present time to go beyond the guidelines given in the above-mentioned statements. The question is basically a matter of conscience, and in each case the Bahá’í involved must use his judgment in determining when to stop in self-defense lest his action deteriorate into retaliation.
"Of course the above principles apply also in cases when a Bahá’í finds himself involved in situations of civil disorder. We have, however, advised the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States that under the present circumstances in that country it is preferable that Bahá’ís do not buy nor own arms for their protection or the protection of their families."
- (From a letter of the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada, May 26, 1969: Messages from the Universal House of Justice, 1968-1973, p. 26)
400. Pioneer Living in a Remote Area Lacking Protection: Circumstances Under Which a Bahá’í is Justified in Defending Self
"We have your letter of March 2, 1972 asking if … a pioneer couple living in a remote area lacking police protection may have a weapon in their possession for defending themselves as thieves have broken into their house twice and robbed them.
"A hitherto untranslated Tablet from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá points out that in the case of attack by robbers and highwaymen, a Bahá’í should not surrender himself, but should try, as far as circumstances permit, to defend himself, and later on lodge a complaint with the government authorities. A statement in a letter written on behalf of the Guardian indicates that in an emergency when there is no legal force at hand to appeal to a Bahá’í is justified in defending his life. Although we have advised certain National Assemblies in countries facing increasing civil disorder that it is preferable that Bahá’ís do not buy or own arms for their protection or the protection of their families, we feel that in the circumstances you have outlined in your letter it would be permissible for the pioneer family to keep a weapon in the house, provided the law permits."
- (From a letter of the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of Honduras, March 20, 1972)
