Shoghi Effendi

From Freepedia

Shoghi Effendi Rabbani was the Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith from 1921 to his death in 1957.

Shoghi Effendi was the eldest grandson of `Abdu'l-Bahá. Born on March 1, 1897, from his earliest childhood he had a special relationship with his grandfather. He studied at the American University of Beirut and later at Balliol College, Oxford in England. After the passing of `Abdu'l-Bahá on November 28th 1921 Shoghi Effendi learned that he had been appointed to a newly created position called the Guardianship, the highest appointed position in the new administrative order of the Bahá'í Faith set out in the Will and Testament of `Abdu'l-Bahá.

Contents 1 Accomplishments 2 Shoghi Effendi's private life 3 Covenant-breaking (Excommunication) 4 Unexpected Death 5 References 6 See also 7 External links

Accomplishments

Shoghi Effendi, who was a student at Oxford University at the time of his grandfather's passing, served as the Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith until his passing in 1957. For thirty-six years he developed the worldwide Bahá'í community and its administrative structure. Because the Bahá'í community was relatively small and undeveloped when the Guardian assumed the leadership of the Faith, he strengthened and developed it over many years to the point where it was capable of supporting the administrative structure envisioned by `Abdu'l-Bahá. Under Shoghi Effendi's direction, National Spiritual Assemblies were formed, and many thousands of Local Spiritual Assemblies sprang up as the Bahá'í Faith spread around the globe.

In his lifetime, Shoghi Effendi translated many of the writings of the Báb, Bahá'u'lláh and `Abdu'l-Bahá. During his ministry the Bahá'í Religion developed into a global faith. From the time of appointment until his death, the Bahá'í Faith grew from 100,000 to 400,000 members, and countries of representation went from 35 to 250. He also appointed 32 living Hands of the Cause, oversaw the completion of the superstructure of the Shrine of the Báb, wrote God Passes By in 1944 to commemorate the centennial anniversary of the Faith, launched the Ten Year Crusade in 1953, and acted as the official representative of the Faith to legal authorities in Palestine/Israel throughout many attempts by Covenant-breakers to take authority from him.

Shoghi Effendi is not regarded as one of the Central Figures of the Bahá'í Faith. Whereas the works of the three Central Figures (Bahá'u'lláh, the Founder of the Bahá'í Faith; the Báb, Forerunner of Bahá'u'lláh and Founder of the Bábí Faith; and `Abdu'l-Bahá, authorized Interpreter of the Bahá'í Writings) constitute the source of the Bahá'í Faith, Shoghi Effendi's writings are effectively limited to commentaries on the works of the Central Figures.

Shoghi Effendi's private life

Shoghi Effendi Rabbani was Oxford educated and had an excellent command of the English language. He was highly intelligent and energetic. In 1937, he married Mary Maxwell entitled Amatu'l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khanum, a Canadian. She was the only child of May Maxwell, one of the foremost disciples of `Abdu'l-Bahá, and William Sutherland Maxwell, a distinguished Canadian architect. Then herself 27 years old, Mary Maxwell was a tall, athletic active woman. In 1941 she became Shoghi Effendi's principal secretary in English. In 1951, Shoghi Effendi appointed her to the First International Bahá'í Council, (the embryonic Universal House of Justice.

Shoghi Effendi and Rúhíyyih Khanum never had children.

Covenant-breaking (Excommunication)

In the Will and Testament of `Abdu'l-Bahá, He stated:

"The sacred and youthful branch, the Guardian of the Cause of God, as well as the Universal House of Justice to be universally elected and established, are both under the care and protection of the Abha Beauty, under the shelter and unerring guidance of the Exalted One (may my life be offered up for them both). Whatsoever they decide is of God. Whoso obeyeth him not, neither obeyeth them, hath not obeyed God; whoso rebelleth against him and against them hath rebelled against God; whoso opposeth him hath opposed God; whoso contendeth with them hath contended with God; whoso disputeth with him hath disputed with God; whoso denieth him hath denied God; whoso disbelieveth in him hath disbelieved in God; whoso deviateth, separateth himself and turneth aside from him hath in truth deviated, separated himself and turned aside from God. May the wrath, the fierce indignation, the vengeance of God rest upon him!"

Throughout Shoghi Effendi's life, nearly all remaining family members and descendents of `Abdu'l-Bahá rebelled against his authority at some point, and were expelled by him as Covenant-breakers. Other branches of Bahá'u'lláh's family had already been declared Covenant-breakers in `Abdu'l-Bahá's Will and Testament. Refer to Covenant-Breaking in Shoghi Effendi's Immediate Family.

In the case of the expulsion of Ruhi Afnan, it received public attention, and created particular hardships for Shoghi Effendi's family life.

Unexpected Death

Image:Shoghi effendi.jpg

Main article: Passing of Shoghi Effendi

The Shoghi Effendi's passing came unexpectedly in 1957 as he was traveling to Britain and caught the Asiatic flu. He passed away without children, and no will could be found.

The suddenness of his death caught the Bahá'í world off-guard, and with no will to specify a successor, the Bahá'í Faith was temporarily stewarded by the Hands of the Cause. At the end of the Ten Year Crusade, planned by Shoghi Effendi and concluding in 1963, the Universal House of Justice was first elected. As its first order of business, the Universal House of Justice evaluated the situation caused by the lack of a will from the Guardian. It determined that under the circumstances, given the criteria for succession described in the Will and Testament of `Abdu'l-Bahá, there was no legitimate way for another Guardian to be appointed.

Therefore, although a succession of Guardians is envisioned in the Will and Testament, Shoghi Effendi remains the first and last occupant of this office.

NOTE: this is disputed by relatively small groups of Bahá'ís who claim that the Guardianship continues. See Bahá'í divisions.

References

• Ru'hi'yyih Rabbani, The Priceless Pearl, Bahá'í Publishing Trust, UK; ISBN 1-870989-91-0. 404pp.
• Riaz Khadem, Shoghi Effendi in Oxford, George Ronald, Oxford. ISBN 0-85398-423-9. 173pp.
• Ugo Giachery, Shoghi Effendi - Reflections, George Ronald, Oxford. ISBN 0-85398-050-0

See also

• Bahá'í Faith
• Bahá'í divisions

External links

• The Bahá'í World
• The work and life of Shoghi Effendi
• Writings of Shoghi Effendi
• Biography of Shoghi Effendi
• Directions to the Resting Place of Shoghi Effendi
• Writings of Shoghi Effendi in English, Persian, and Arabic
• Genealogy A purported genealogy of Shoghi Effendi drawn by Grover Gonzales. Mirrored here