11.   Abbas Effendi’s Vision for Shoghi Effendi
"Salutation and praise …. rest upon that primal branch [i.e. Shoghi Effendi] that after my passing shines from the day-spring of divine guidance, for behold! he is the blest and sacred bough that has branched out from the Twin Trees. Well it is with him that seeks the shelter of his shade that shadows all mankind."

"O my loving friends! After the passing away of this wronged-one, it is incumbent upon the Aqsan (Branches), the Afnan (Twigs) of the sacred Lote-Tree, the Hands (Pillars) of the Cause of God and loved ones of the Abha Beauty to turn unto Shoghi Effendi, the youthful branch, branched out from the two hallowed & sacred Lote-Tree and the first groom from the union of the two offshoot of the Tree of Holiness, as he is the sign of God, the chosen branch, the guardian of the cause of God, he unto whom all the Aghsan, the Afnan, the Hands of the Cause of God and His loved ones must turn. He is the expounder of the words of god, and after him will succeed the first born of his lineal descendants, the sacred and youthful branch, the guardian of the cause of god, as well as the Universal [i.e. Umumi] House of Justice, to be universally elected and established, are both under the care and protection of Abha Beauty [i.e. Baha], under the shelter and unerring guidance of His Holiness, the Exalted One [i.e. the Primal Point].
Whatsoever they decide is of god. Whose obeys him not, neither obeys them, has not obeyed god; Whoso rebels against him and against them has rebelled against god; Whoso opposes him has opposed god; Whoso contends with them has contended with god; Whoso disputes with him has disputed with god; Whoso denied him has denied god; Whoso disbelieves in him has disbelieved in god; Whoso deviates, separates himself and turns aside from him, has in truth deviated, separated himself, and turned aside from god. May the wrath, the fierce indignation, the vengeance of god rest upon him! The mighty stronghold shall remain impregnable and safe through obedience to him who is the guardian of the Cause of god. It is incumbent upon the members of the House of Justice, upon all the Aghsan, the Afnan, the Hands of the Cause of God to show their obedience, submissiveness and subordination unto him and be lowly before him. He that opposes him has opposed the True One, will make a breach in the Cause of God, will subvert His Word and will become a manifestation of the Center of Sedition.”

"My object is to show that the Hands of the Cause of God must be even watchful and as soon as they find anyone beginning to oppose and protest against the guardian of the Cause of God, cast him out from the congregation of the people of Baha and in no wise accept any excuse from him."
Succession. "O ye beloved of the lord! It is incumbent upon the guardian of the Cause of God to appoint in his lifetime him that shall become his successor, that differences may not arise after his passing. He that is appointed must manifest in himself detachment from all worldly things, must be the essence of purity, must show in himself the fear of God, knowledge, wisdom and learning. Thus, should the first born of the guardian of the Cause of God not manifest in himself the truth of the words: "the child is the secret essence of its sine,", that is, should he not inherit the spiritual within him (the guardian of the cause of god) and his glorious lineage not be matched with a goodly character, then must he (the guardian of the cause of god) choose another branch to succeed him and these, whether anonymously or by a majority vote, must give their assent to the choice of the one whom the guardian of the cause of god has chosen as his successor, this assent must be given in such wise as the assembly and dissenting voices may not be distinguished (i.e. secret ballot)."

"O friends! The Hands of the Cause of God must be nominated and appointed by the guardian after the Cause of God. All must be under his shadow and obey his command, should any, within or without the comply of the Hands of Cause of God disobey and seek division, the wrath of god and his vengeance will be upon him, for he will have caused a breach in the true faith of god."
"This body [i.e. Majma] of the Hands of the Cause of God is under the direction of the guardian of the Cause of God. He must continually urge them to strive and endeavour to the utmost of their ability to diffuse the sweet savors of god, and to guide all the people, for it is the light and divine guidance that causes all the universe to be illumined. To disregard, though it be for a moment, this absolute command which is binding upon everyone, is in no wise permitted, that the existent world may become even as the Abha paradise, that the one face of the earth may become heavenly, that contention conflict [i.e. امم، ملل، شعب، قطب،] may disappear, that all the dwellings on earth may become our people [i.e. millat] and one race, that the world become even as one home. Should differences arise they should be amicably and conclusively settled by the Supreme Tribunal [i.e. "Mahkam-i Umumi that shall include members from all the government and people [i.e. دُوَل و ملل] of the world."
[The word 'amicably' does not appear in the original text which sums as follows:
محکمه عمومی که شامل اعضاء از جمیع دول (و ملل است فصل دعوی کند و حکم قاطع نماید.
Shoghi Effendi was the grandson of Sir Abbas Effendi. His parents were Sir Abbas Effendi's eldest daughter Ziyaiyya Khanum and Mirza Hadi of Shiraz surnamed Afnan, see Baha's family chart. Shoghi Effendi was born on March 3, 1897. He died in London on November 4, 1957. Shoghi Effendi was a boy of about ten years old when Sir Abbas Effendi designated him 'the sign of god', 'the guardian of the cause of god' and "the expounder of the words of god.
In the Aqdas Baha says: (English translation, P.39) "If you differ on a matter, bring it back to God which the sun shines from the horizon of this heaven whenever it sets, go back to that which was sent down from him. It is sufficient for the words."
(English translation, P.55) "He who speaks other than sent down in my tablets is not one of mine. Beware you follow every evil claimant. The tablets have been adorned with the garment of the seal of the Breaker of dawns who speaks between the heavens and the earth. Hold fast to the indissoluble Lord and the rope of my firm and strong command.

In his Will and Testament Baha specifically provided that Sir Abbas Effendi's half-brother Mirza Muhammad Ali was Sir Abbas Effendi's Successor-in-office (for the full text see succession of Baha). It was not lawful for Sir Abbas Effendi to delegate authority to his grandson Shoghi Effendi to function as the guardian of the cause of god.

Sir Abbas Effendi himself in his Will and Testament states that "unto the Most Book [i.e. Aqdas] everyone must turn". Thereafter Sir Abbas Effendi's appointment of Shoghi Effendi as the guardian of the cause was null and void _ . Where the principal fails the accessory also fails. Under the terms of Sir Abbas Effendi's Will and Testament Shoghi Effendi was to be succeeded by the first-born of his lineal descendants. Shoghi Effendi was required to appoint in his lifetime his successor-in-office. If the first-born did not "inherit the spiritual within Shoghi Effendi," Shoghi Effendi was to choose another branch from his lineal descendants to succeed him. The Hands of the Cause, who held office during Shoghi Effendi's pleasure were required to check their own number nine persons, who were required to give their assent to the choice of the one whom Shoghi Effendi was required to choose as his successor.

No occasion, however arose for the council of nine of the Hands of the Cause of God to be called upon to exercise their right of assent as Shoghi Effendi died without issue.
Sir Abbas Effendi had made no provision for the contingency in default of Shoghi Effendi's lineal descendants. Consequently Sir Abbas Effendi's structure for the Cause of God, according to him, collapsed with no competent authority to administer the Bahai affairs.

The company or body of the Hands of God were nominated and appointed by the guardian of the cause of god Shoghi Effendi. They were under his shadow and had to obey his command. These nominees and appointees, in their term, elected the council of nine to assist the guardian in his work and to ratify the appointment of the successor appointed by him.
With death without issue of their appointer Shoghi Effendi, the guardian, the appointment of his nominees & appointees, the company & body of the Hands of the Cause of god, lapsed and the council of nine ceased to exist.

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