2.18.8 The condition in which Shoghi Effendi entered his office
At the time of the passing of Sir Abbas Effendi in 1921, the only members of the Baha's family, unaffected by Sir Abbas Effendi's anathema, and possessed of a clean bill of health to quality then "to worship god alone, Baha" were Sir Abbas Effendi's full sister Sultan or Bahiyya Khanum, surnamed the supreme leaf (Waraqa-i-Bahiyya), Sir Abbas Effendi's wife lady Munira, Sir Abbas Effendi's four daughters, Sir Effendi's four sons-in-law, and their issues.

It was in such circumstance that Shoghi Effendi was inducted into office as Guardian of the cause under the terms of Sir Abbas Effendi's will and testament, for which no probate was taken out. Apparently an irregularity which set people's tongue wagging whether the will and treatment was tampered with or not tempered with.

Pleading inability to enter upon the duties of his office forthwith to recover from the shock caused by the death of Sir Abbas Effendi, Shoghi Effendi withdrew his hand from the things, retired into solitude for a number of years, and left the actual handling of the Bahai affair in the hands of the elderly members of the Sir Abbas Effendi's family with Baha's daughter the supreme leaf as a titular head, who served as a mere rubber-stamp, master minded by Sir Abbas Effendi's wife lady Munira, "the she of Isfahan, who stuck to the most great branch [sir Abbas Effendi like a tick of Edirne] in allusion to parasitic acarids which infected man when Baha lived in exile at Edirne." to quote from Baha's autograph letter addressed to his wife and sons and daughters who were in Haifa on vacation. Facsimile of which is reproduced in Subhi Fazlullah Muhtadi's Payam-i-Padar. P. 109.

Inverted with such totalitarian powers as "whose disputeth with him hath disputed with god; whoso denieth him hath denied God; whoso deviateth separates himself and turneth aside from him, has in truth 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! 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 opposeth him hath 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 [i.e. Muhammad Ali]. Beware, beware the days after the ascension (of Baha) [i.e. Baha’s death] waxed haughty and rebellious and divine unity for his Excuse deprived himself and perturbed and poisoned others ……… By the Ancient Beauty [Jamal-i Qadam, to wit Baha]! This wronged one [i.e. Abdul Baha] hath in nowise borne nor doth (He bear a grudge against anyone; towards none doth He entertain any ill-feeding and uttereth no word save for the good of the world. My supreme obedience, however, of necessity prompeth) me to guard and preserve the Cause of God …. Beware lest anyone falsely interpret these words, and like unto them that have broken the covenant after the day of ascension (of Baha), to advance a pretext, raise the standard of revolt, wax stubborn and open wide the door of fake interpretation ..” " (The Bahai World 1926-1928 Vol. II, excerpts from the will and testament of Abdal-Baha [Sir Abbas Effendi] p.85).

On the one hand, the Father designates Muhammad Ali as “the Branch derived from the ancient stock, He whom god has chosen, the Most Great Branch, god’s proof among his creation, and the Sweet Savor of god between the heaven and the earth”, on the other hand, the son, Abdul Baha Abbas “the Center of the Covenant, the Most Mighty Branch, the Branch derived from the ancient stock”, brands Muhammad Ali as “the Center of sedition, a ferocious lion, a ravening wolf, a blood-thirsty beast, a perturber and poisoner of others, a covenant-breaker, a kindler of discord, a shower of malice, a stirrer of sedition, a dishonour of god, and a temperer with the sacred writings”. Has god, Baha, erred in his divine judgement of Muhammad Ali? Or it is that history repeats itself?

As for Abdul Baha’s assertion that he “uttereth no word save for the good of the world”, a few extracts without comment are appended.
The extracts are from a recording of a message by Abdul Baha broadcast from the Abha kingdom in the invisible world addressed to his followers in the world.

The Kashful-Hiyal (the Uncovering of Deceptions) by Abdul Husayn Ayati nicknamed Avareh, one-time chief Bahai missionary, vol I, sixth impression, pp. 130-133: O’ Stupid Sheep! For the past seventy years we have tantalised you with promises we have held out to you; we have defrauded you of your earnings acquired by you by the toil of the hand” to be billed. What have we offered you in return to compensate your sacrifices in life and property?

What is the effect of the Faith we have brought you! If there were justice it has increased, if there were morals they have deteriorated; if there were universal peace its foundations have become weaker; if there were superstitions we have added new ones to them. In short our word is of no effect and will never be of any effect. We have failed to protect members of our own family from falsehood, dissension, avidity, and base qualities. How can we protect you and the peoples of the world from them? We ourselves have broken up into several factions, indulging ourselves in scurrilous language, one against the other and casting reflections on the honour and integrity of one another. Do you expect that the effect of our word is such as to edify you and the people of the world? Then know that you yourselves are stupid and naïve persons; if you reform yourselves, if you cast off your superstitions, and if ameliorate your characters, you will have no need of us and of the guardian of the Cause. But for your ready response, we and the guardian of the Cause will be on wild-goose-chase.

If you wish to carry on as before, by all means do so! You are quite welcome to it, may god give you eternal toil, and make sacrifices in life and property until there is no spark of life left in you.

Shoghi Effendi came out of his retirement, took over the reins if the Bahais administration, and demanded ready and implicit obedience from the servants of God, in default of which any servant of god was liable to excommunication or summary expulsion from the faith under same pretence and pretext. Shoghi Effendi brooked interference. His decisions were absolute and final and his words authoritative. As the divinely-ordained guardian all the faithful must obey him.


 

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