Editing Covenant-breaker (section)

==Definition==
Covenant-breaking does not refer to attacks from non-Baháʼís or former Baháʼís.{{sfn|Johnson|2020|p=35}} Rather, it is in reference to internal campaigns of opposition where the Covenant-breaker is seen as challenging the unity of the Baháʼí Faith, causing internal division, or by claiming or supporting an alternate succession of authority or administrative structure. The central purpose of the covenant is to prevent schism and dissension.<ref name="bahai-library1">[https://bahai-library.com/momen_encyclopedia_covenant Moojan Momen, ''The Covenant and Covenant-breaker'', Bahá’í Library Online, '''1995''']</ref>

In a letter to an individual dated 23 March 1975, the Universal House of Justice wrote:<ref>{{cite web |author=National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States |date=2000 |title=Guidance for Bahá'í Groups |url=https://bahai-library.com/nsa_guidance_bahai_groups |access-date=2025-03-22 |website=Baha'i Library Online |location=}}</ref>
{{quote|When a person declares his acceptance of Baháʼu'lláh as a Manifestation of God he becomes a party to the Covenant and accepts the totality of His Revelation. If he then turns round and attacks Baháʼu'lláh or the Central Institution of the Faith he violates the Covenant. If this happens every effort is made to help that person to see the illogicality and error of his actions, but if he persists he must, in accordance with the instructions of Baháʼu'lláh Himself, be shunned as a Covenant-breaker.}}

The term '''Covenant-breaker''' (Arabic: ناقضين) was first used by [[ʻAbdu'l-Bahá]] during his ministry to describe partisans of his half-brother [[Mírzá Muhammad ʻAlí]], who challenged his leadership, although the concept of expulsion from the community of believers and avoidance of contact with them is rooted in the direct instruction and practices of [[Covenant of Baháʼu'lláh|Baháʼu'lláh]]. In ʻAbdu'l-Bahá's [[Will and Testament of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá|Will and Testament]], he appointed [[Shoghi Effendi]] as the first ''[[Guardian (Baháʼí Faith)|Guardian]]'', defined it as an institution, and also called for the election of the [[Universal House of Justice]]. ʻAbdul-Bahá defined in the same manner opposition to these two institutions as Covenant-breaking and advised all Baháʼís to shun anyone opposing the Covenant: "...one of the greatest and most fundamental principles of the Cause of God is to shun and avoid entirely the Covenant-breakers, for they will utterly destroy the Cause of God, exterminate His Law and render of no account all efforts exerted in the past."<ref>''The Will And Testament of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá'', [http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/ab/WT/wt-2.html#gr10 p 20]</ref>