New Ridvan message sheds light in time of darkness
The international governing body of the Baha’i Faith, the Universal House of Justice, has released its latest message on the occasion of Ridvan.
Ridvan is a 12-day festival celebrated around the world. It marks the time when the Founder of the Baha’i Faith, Baha’u’llah, publicly declared His unifying cause to the world.
The Ridvan message marks the commencement of the second phase of the Nine Year Plan – part of a series of ambitious campaigns undertaken by the worldwide Baha’i community to contribute to the welfare of society.
The Universal House of Justice highlights the “ongoing learning” taking place all around the globe – learning that is imbued with “a deeper recognition of the significance of the Baha’i community’s endeavours and the implications they hold for a troubled world in desperate need of direction.”
Many in the wider society who encounter the grassroots activity of Bahá’ís are struck by its distinctive characteristics: it springs from a sincere concern for the well-being of all, it is oriented towards unity and service, and it follows clear principles yet does not presume to have an immediate answer to every problem. In a spirit of common endeavour, Baha’is seek to collaborate with others and to learn together; and in the relationships they form with those who occupy positions of authority and responsibility in society, they are earnest and clear-sighted.
The Universal House of Justice
The Universal House of Justice states that “however turbulent the times, we urge you not to be apprehensive or disheartened.”
When the world’s horizons darken, hope becomes a scarce and precious resource—but one with which the community … has been richly blessed because of its conviction about the future of humanity and because of what it has learned from its own experience. Multitudes yearn for the hope you can bring to their hearts.
The Universal House of Justice
The message points to the Baha’is of Iran as a “golden example of a community that has long sheltered the flame of hope”.
The friends in Iran are mentioned as examples of what it looks like to be “a beacon of hope, a fount of compassion and insight, and trusted companions on the path of service.”
To read the message in its entirety, click here.
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The Universal House of Justice
The Universal House of Justice is the international governing council of the Baha’i Faith. Ordained by Baha’u’llah in His book of laws, the Kitab-i-Aqdas, it is a nine-member body elected every five years by the entire membership of all national Baha’i assemblies.
Published in April, 2026, in Baha'i Institutions > Guidance
Available online at: horizons.bahai.org.au/bahai-institutions/new-ridvan-message-sheds-light-in-time-of-darkness/
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