SHOGHI EFFENDI: THE RANGE AND POWER OF HIS PEN ‘AlíNakhjávání CASA EDITRICE BAHÁ’Í ‘Alí Nakhjávání SHOGHI EFFENDI: THE RANGE AND POWER OF HIS PEN Acuto 2006 CASA EDITRICE BAHÁ’Í © Copyright 2006 - Casa Editrice Bahá’í - Ariccia 1st Edition CASA EDITRICE BAHÁ’Í s.r.l. Sede legale: Via Stoppani, 10, 00197 RomaTel. 06 8079647 Deposito e amm.ne: Via Filippo Turati, 9 - 00040 Ariccia (Roma) ● Tel. 06 9334334 ISBN 88-7214-112-5 Foreword Some 90 youth from 25 countries, mainly European, participated in the last of the three World Order courses given at Acuto during the month of February 2006. The purpose of this course was to consider the wide range of the works of Shoghi Effendi, both in English and in Persian/ Arabic, and cast a panoramic and cursory glance over the contents of each of his major writings. The beloved Guardian, in the course of his blessed ministry, provided the friends and the general public with a reliable survey of the significant and historical Bahá’í events of the Heroic Age, an overview of the stages enabling the current Administrative Order of the Faith to become the nucleus and pattern of the future institutions of world society, and a unique and authentic translation into English of the fundamental Writings of the Founder of the Faith. Through the power of his inspired pen Shoghi Effendi also succeeded in carrying the Community of the Most Great Name from its modest and rudimentary beginnings to a stage of development enabling it to be a potent instrument, well-equipped to realize and put into effect the exalted ideals which distinguish the divine message of Bahá’u’lláh. ‘Alí Nakhjávání Table of Contents Introduction 1 I Extracts from Shoghi Effendi’s writings during the pre-Guardianship period 17 A. Specimens of translations of Tablets revealed by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá 18 B. A sampling of letters Shoghi Effendi wrote 19 C. Extracts from Shoghi Effendi’s Diary 21 II Works produced during the initial period of the Guardian’s ministry 27 A. Early letters 27 B. Translation of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Will and Testament 34 C. Preparing the text of The Passing of ‘Abdu’l- Bahá 38 III Translations 52 A. Role of Mr George Townshend 52 B. Translations of Sacred Texts 53 C. Comments on Shoghi Effendi’s genius in his translation work 64 IV The Dawn-Breakers 92 V God Passes By 113 VI Outline of works published in English 135 A. Bahá’í Administration 135 B. and C. ‘The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh’ 138 v CONTENTS D. ‘The Goal of a New World Order’ 141 E. ‘The Golden Age of the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh’ 147 F. This Decisive Hour 150 G. ‘America and the Most Great Peace’ 155 H. ‘The Dispensation of Bahá’u’lláh’ 160 I. ‘The Unfoldment of World Civilization’ 165 J. The Advent of Divine Justice 171 K. The Promised Day is Come 176 L. Citadel of Faith 183 M. Messages to the Bahá’í World (1950–1957) 191 N. Sundry compilations of letters to divers national communities 196 1. United Kingdom 196 2. Indian subcontinent 201 3. Germany and Austria 207 4. Australasia 210 5. Canada 218 6. New Zealand 127 7. Alaska 220 8. Japan 221 O. Letters written on behalf of the Guardian by his 224 secretaries VII Shoghi Effendi’s writings in Persian/Arabic 253 1. The Universal House of Justice 253 2. Local and National Spiritual Assemblies 254 3. Teaching and the advancement of the Cause 256 4. Opposition to the Faith 257 5. Importance of historical sites and relics 258 6. Historic developments 259 7. Obligations of individual Bahá’ís 260 8. Clarification of certain laws of the Kitáb-i- 261 Aqdas 9. Miscellaneous matters 261 vi CONTENTS VIII Shoghi Effendi’s style 287 A. Writing style in English 287 B. Comparison of English and Persian writings 295 IX Miscellaneous 307 A. Brief statements introducing the Faith 307 B. Statistical surveys 310 C. The Bahá’í World volumes 311 Conclusion 318 Abbreviations 322 Bibliography 324 vii Introduction Violette and I lived as adult Bahá’ís during the period of the Guardianship. We had the privilege of being in Shoghi Effendi’s presence, meeting him and listening to him in Haifa. We had the joy of participating in his plans. I hope to be able to convey to you something of the station of Shoghi Effendi, his personality, the power of his pen, and the influence that he has had on the Bahá’í community. It is impossible to make any study of the writings of the Head of a religion without arriving first at an understanding, however inadequate, of the functions of the occupant of that office and the scope of the authority conferred upon him. It is important to ap- preciate that Shoghi Effendi’s entire literary output was devoted to matters related to the Faith. The Faith during the time of Shoghi Effendi was in its infancy. I am sorry to say it, but we are still very immature. Shoghi Effendi often referred to the immaturity of the Bahá’í community. He was like a champion tennis player. He was the champion of the the world and was faced with children who like to play some tennis. He stood there and taught us how to hold the racket and how to hit the ball. We thought he was another adult Bahá’í, except that he was related to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Bahá’u’lláh and the Báb through his lineage. We really did not know who he was. In fact, Shoghi Effendi seems to have even concealed his own true station. The institution of the Guardianship was created by ‘Abdu’l- Bahá through the provisions of His Will and Testament. His half- brother, Muḥammad-‘Alí, who was to succeed Him, had dis- qualified himself by breaking the Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh, thus placing himself outside the pale of the Faith. This matter became 1 SHOGHI EFFENDI: THE RANGE AND POWER OF HIS PEN clearly evident to the generality of the friends when ‘Abdu’l- Bahá was asked what was then to be expected after His passing. He replied: ‘As to the question ye have asked me, know verily that this is a well-guarded secret. It is even as a gem concealed within its shell. That it will be revealed is predestined. The time will come when its light will appear, when its evidences will be made manifest, and its secrets unraveled’ (WOB 150). This secret was disclosed when the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was read. The friends became aware that Shoghi Effendi was to be the Successor, as he was ‘the Light that after My passing shineth from the Dayspring of Divine Guidance’ (WTA 3). He is also referred to as ‘that primal branch’ (WTA 3), ‘the blest and sacred bough’ (WTA 3), ‘the sign of God, the chosen branch, the guardian of the Cause of God, he unto whom all . His loved ones must turn. He is the expounder of the words of God’ (WTA 11). ‘Abdu’l-Bahá goes on to say, ‘The sacred and youthful Branch [is] . under the care and protection of the Abhá Beauty, [and] under the shelter and unerring guidance of His Holiness, the Exalted One [the Báb] . Whoso obeyeth him not . hath not obeyed 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’ (WTA 11). As a crowning statement we read this ringing call: ‘Well is it with him that seeketh the shelter of his shade that shadoweth all mankind’ (WTA 3). It became clear therefore that such interpretations of the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh as were given by the pen or at the instruction of Shoghi Effendi, just like the interpretations written by ‘Abdu’l- Bahá, were to be regarded as being as binding, in terms of their validity, as Bahá’u’lláh’s sacred Text. It is in this light that the Universal House of Justice chose to include in the introductory paragraphs of its Constitution the following statement: ‘The provenance, the authority, the duties, the sphere of action of the Universal House of Justice all derive 2 INTRODUCTION from the revealed Word of Bahá’u’lláh which, together with the interpretations and expositions of the Centre of the Covenant and of the Guardian of the Cause – who, after ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, is the sole authority in the interpretation of Bahá’í scripture – con- stitute the binding terms of reference of the Universal House of Justice and are its bedrock foundation’ (CUHJ 4). The Bahá’í world has had thirty-nine years of Scripture revealed by Bahá’u’lláh and a total of sixty-five years of inspired interpret- ation by His two Authorized Interpreters. It must be remembered that, with the passing of Shoghi Effendi, authorized interpretation of Bahá’í scripture came to an end. However, this does not mean that individual interpretations, provided they are labelled as such, are forbidden. On the con- trary, these are encouraged and regarded as a healthy exercise, mentally and spiritually, in our continuous strivings to study our teachings with a ‘searching eye’ (TB 157). In this connection the Universal House of Justice has written: ‘A clear distinction is made in our Faith between authoritative interpretation and the interpretation or understanding that each individual arrives at for himself from his study of its teachings. While the former is confined to the Guardian, the latter, accord- ing to the guidance given to us by the Guardian himself, should by no means be suppressed.