We have a fixed time for you, O peoples. If ye fail, at the appointed hour, to turn towards God, He, verily, will lay violent hold on you, and will cause grievous afflictions to assail you from every direction. How severe, indeed, is the chastisement with which your Lord will then chastise you!”

(Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 214)

 

“The world is in travail, and its agitation waxeth day by day. Its face is turned towards waywardness and unbelief. Such shall be its plight, that to disclose it now would not be meet and seemly. Its perversity will long continue. And when the appointed hour is come, there shall suddenly appear that which shall cause the limbs of mankind to quake. Then, and only then, will the Divine Standard be unfurled, and the Nightingale of Paradise warble its melody.”

(Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 118)

 

“The great and fundamental teachings of Bahá’u’lláh are the oneness of God and unity of mankind. This is the bond of union among Bahá’ís all over the world. They become united among themselves, then unite others. It is impossible to unite unless united. Christ said, “Ye are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted?” This proves there were dissensions and lack of unity among His followers. Hence His admonition to unity of action.

Now must we, likewise, bind ourselves together in the utmost unity, be kind and loving to each other, sacrificing all our possessions, our honor, yea, even our lives for each other. Then will it be proved that we have acted according to the teachings of God, that we have been real believers in the oneness of God and unity of mankind.”

(The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 156)

 

Unfortunately, most of the salts of the Earth lost savour and did not act according to the teachings of God after the passing of the first Guardian of the Cause of God to the Abha Kingdom.

Those former Hands of the Cause accused Shoghi Effendi the first Guardian; that He did not act according to the Will and Testament of Abd’u’l Baha which is compulsory for all the Guardians of the Cause of God to the end of the Baha’i Era: “It is incumbent upon the Guardian of the Cause of God to appoint in his own life-time, him that shall become his successor that differences may not arise after his passing.”

(The Will and Testament, p. 11)

 

Now after the passing of 66 years from the disobedience and revolt of the former Hands, people can see and feel the grievous afflictions and plights which have started and day by day will be increased.

The former Hands of the Cause revolted against the second Guardian of the Cause of God despite the abundance of Guidance and Teachings of Abd’u’l Baha and the messages and directives of the first Guardian:

“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 the Guardian of the Cause of God, to turn unto him and be lowly before him.”

(Abdu’l-Baha, The Will and Testament, p. 11)

 

Regarding the Universal House of Justice, Abdu’l Baha in His sacred Will and Testament has clearly stated that:  “THE GUARDIAN OF THE CAUSE OF GOD IS ITS SACRED HEAD AND THE DISTINGUISHED MEMBER FOR LIFE OF THAT BODY. Should he not attend in person its deliberations, he must appoint one to represent him. Should any of the members commit a sin, injurious to the common weal, the Guardian of the Cause of God hath at his own discretion the right to expel him, whereupon the people must elect another one in his stead.”

(Abdu’l-Baha, The Will and Testament, p. 13)

 

“O friends! The Hands of the Cause of God must be nominated and appointed by the Guardian of the Cause of God.

ALL MUST BE UNDER HIS SHADOW AND OBEY HIS COMMAND.

Should any, within or without the company of the Hands of the 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.

The obligations of the Hands of the Cause of God are to diffuse the Divine Fragrances, to edify the souls of men, to promote learning, to improve the character of all men and to be, at all times and under all conditions, sanctified and detached from earthly things. They must manifest the fear of God by their conduct, their manners, their deeds and their words.

THIS BODY 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 ENDEAVOR TO THE UTMOST OF THEIR ABILITY TO DIFFUSE THE SWEET SAVORS OF GOD, AND TO GUIDE ALL THE PEOPLES OF THE WORLD, FOR IT IS THE LIGHT OF DIVINE GUIDANCE THAT CAUSETH 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 surface of the earth may become heavenly, that contention and conflict amidst peoples, kindreds, nations and governments may disappear, that all the dwellers on earth may become one people and one race, that the world may become even as one home.”

(Abdu’l-Baha, The Will and Testament, p. 12)

 

“It would, however, be helpful and instructive to bear in mind certain basic principles with reference to the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, which, together with the Kitab-i-Aqdas, constitutes the chief depository wherein are enshrined those priceless elements of that Divine Civilization, the establishment of which is the primary mission of the Baha’i Faith. A study of the provisions of these sacred documents will reveal the close relationship that exists between them, as well as the identity of purpose and method which they inculcate.”

(The World Order of Baha’u’llah, p. 3)

“In this Dispensation, divine guidance flows on to us in this world after the Prophet’s ascension, through first the Master, and then the Guardians.”

(Shoghi Effendi, Directives from the Guardian, p. 34)

 

To the integrity of this cardinal principle of our Faith the words, the deeds of its present and future Guardians must abundantly testify. By their conduct and example, they must needs establish its truth upon an unassailable foundation and transmit to future generations unimpeachable evidences of its reality.

(The World Order of Baha’u’llah, p. 151)

 

Knowledgeable believers will know that the right of interpretation and explanation of the verses of the Aqdas, following the ascension of Abdu’l Baha, is in the exclusive sphere of the authority of the Guardians of the Baha’i Faith and even a real and legitimate Universal House of Justice established in conformity with the Will and Testament of Abdu’l Baha, will never infringe on that authority, as stated by Shoghi Effendi:

  “Neither can, nor will ever, infringe upon the sacred and prescribed domain of the other.”

 (The World Order of Baha’u’llah, p. 150).

 

“Divorced from the institution of the Guardianship the World Order of Baha’u’llah would be mutilated and permanently deprived of that hereditary principle… Without such an institution the integrity of the Faith would be imperiled, and the stability of the entire fabric would be gravely endangered. Its prestige would suffer, the means required to enable it to take a long, an uninterrupted view over a series of generations would be completely lacking, and the necessary guidance to define the sphere of the legislative action of its elected representatives would be totally withdrawn.”

 (Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Baha’u’llah, p. 148)

 

The institution of Guardianship is anticipated in the Kitab-i-Aqdas in the verses pertaining to the appointment of the Center of the Covenant and the Interpreter of the Book, but other than that there is no mention of the Guardianship.  Moreover, as Shoghi Effendi has written: “the Will and Testament of Abdu’l-Baha, which, together with the Kitab-i-Aqdas, constitutes the chief depository wherein are enshrined those priceless elements of that Divine Civilization, the establishment of which is the primary mission of the Baha’i Faith.  A study of the provisions of these sacred documents will reveal the close relationship that exists between them, as well as the identity of purpose and method which they inculcate. Far from regarding their specific provisions as incompatible and contradictory in spirit, every fair-minded inquirer will readily admit that they are not only complementary, but that they mutually confirm one another, and are inseparable parts of one complete unit.”

(Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Baha’u’llah, p. 3)

 

“It should be stated, at the very outset, in clear and unambiguous language, that THESE TWIN INSTITUTIONS of the Administrative Order of Baha’u’llah should be regarded as divine in origin, essential in their functions and complementary in their aim and purpose… Acting in conjunction with each other THESE TWO INSEPARABLE INSTITUTIONS administer its affairs, coordinate its activities, promote its interests, execute its laws and defend its subsidiary institutions.”

 (Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Baha’u’llah, p. 148)

 

“Acting in conjunction with each other these TWO INSEPARABLE INSTITUTIONS administer its affairs, coordinate its activities, promote its interests, execute its laws and defend its subsidiary institutions. Severally, each operates within a clearly defined sphere of jurisdiction; each is equipped with its own attendant institutions — instruments designed for the effective discharge of its particular responsibilities and duties. Each exercises, within the limitations imposed upon it, its powers, its authority, its rights and prerogatives. These are neither contradictory, nor detract in the slightest degree from the position which each of these institutions occupies. Far from being incompatible or mutually destructive, they supplement each other’s authority and functions, and are permanently and fundamentally united in their aims.”

(Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Baha’u’llah, p. 147)

 

“I feel it, however, incumbent upon me by virtue of the responsibility attached to the Guardianship of the Faith, to dwell more fully upon the essential character and the distinguishing features of that world order as conceived and proclaimed by Baha’u’llah. I feel impelled, at the present stage of the evolution of the Baha’i Revelation, to state candidly and without any reservation, whatever I regard may tend to insure the preservation of the integrity of the nascent institutions of the Faith. I strongly feel the urge to elucidate certain facts, which would at once reveal to every fair-minded observer the unique character of that Divine Civilization the foundations of which the unerring hand of Baha’u’llah has laid, and the essential elements of which the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Baha has disclosed. I consider it my duty to warn every beginner in the Faith that the promised glories of the Sovereignty which the Baha’i teachings foreshadow, can be revealed only in the fullness of time, that the implications of the Aqdas and the Will of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, as the twin repositories of the constituent elements of that Sovereignty, are too farreaching for this generation to grasp and fully appreciate.”

(Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Baha’u’llah, p. 16)

 

“To the integrity of this cardinal principle of our Faith the words, the deeds of its present and future Guardians must abundantly testify. By their conduct and example they must needs establish its truth upon an unassailable foundation and transmit to future generations unimpeachable evidences of its reality.”

(Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Baha’u’llah, p. 150)

 

“It should be stated, at the very outset, in clear and unambiguous language, that these twin institutions of the Administrative Order of Baha’u’llah should be regarded as divine in origin, essential in their functions and complementary in their aim and purpose. Their common, their fundamental object is to INSURE THE CONTINUITY OF THAT DIVINELY-APPOINTED AUTHORITY WHICH FLOWS FROM THE SOURCE OF OUR FAITH, TO SAFEGUARD THE UNITY OF ITS FOLLOWERS AND TO MAINTAIN THE INTEGRITY AND FLEXIBILITY OF ITS TEACHINGS.” (Emphasis added)

(Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Baha’u’llah, p. 148)

 

“Hail emergence of the unfoldment in the opening years of the second epoch of the formative age of the Baha’i Dispensation of the august Institution foreshadowed by the Founder of the Faith and formally established in the Testament of the Center of His Covenant, closely associated in provisions of the same Will with Institution of the Guardianship, DESTINED TO ASSUME IN THE FULLNESS OF TIME, **UNDER THE AEGIS OF THE GUARDIAN**, THE DUAL SACRED RESPONSIBILITY FOR PROTECTION AND PROPAGATION OF THE CAUSE OF BAHA’U’LLAH. (emphasis added)

(Shoghi Effendi, Messages to the Baha’i World – 1950-1957, p. 58)

 

“A word should now be said regarding the theory on which this Administrative Order is based and the principle that must govern the operation of its chief institutions. It would be utterly misleading to attempt a comparison between this unique, this divinely-conceived Order and any of the diverse systems which the minds of men, at various periods of their history, have contrived for the government of human institutions.”

(Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Baha’u’llah, p. 152)

 

“This new-born Administrative Order incorporates within its structure certain elements which are to be found in each of the three recognized forms of secular government, without being in any sense a mere replica of any one of them, and without introducing within its machinery any of the objectionable features which they inherently possess. It blends and harmonizes, as no government fashioned by mortal hands has as yet accomplished, the salutary truths which each of these systems undoubtedly contains without vitiating the integrity of those God-given verities on which it is ultimately founded.”

(Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Baha’u’llah, p. 152)

 

And certainly the Guardianship is the: “Divinely-appointed authority which flows from the source of our Faith, to safeguard the unity of its followers and to maintain the integrity and flexibility of its teachings.”

(Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Baha’u’llah, p. 148)

 

Nosrat’u’llah Bahremand, Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith

This is a follow-up to my message of 25 April 2022 concerning the fire at a construction site in the Holy Land.  This construction was undertaken by the illegitimate organization which undeservedly is calling itself the Universal House of Justice. They planned to disturb and remove the physical remains of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá from the existing shrine in the same building as the shrine of the Bab and move these remains to another place when this construction site caught on fire. I would like to ask the question if the fake UHJ has the resources for the construction of a building in the Holy Land, why they do not build the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár (Baha’i House of Worship) which Abdu’l Baha commanded and was emphasized by Shoghi Effendi? The land had been purchased and the plan/design and model were prepared during the Ministry of the first Guardian which must be available in the Archive, if the former rebellious Hands of the Cause or fake UHJ have not destroyed them. So far, the majority of what they have done is against the true Baha’i Faith and is evidence of their falsehood and deception. I draw the attention of all the Baha’is to the following undeniable facts:

Seventy-one years ago, Shoghi Effendi the First Guardian of the Baha’i Faith directed the following message to all the Baha’is of the world in the Cablegram of April 25, 1951:

“Preliminary steps taken in preparation of final design for the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár on Mount Carmel by President of the International Bahá’í Council, specifically appointed by `Abdu’l-Bahá to be its architect.”

Process of the unfoldment of the ever-advancing Administrative Order accelerated by the formation of the International Bahá’í Council designed to assist in the erection of the superstructure of the Báb’s Sepulcher, cement ties uniting the budding World Administrative Center with the recently established state and pave the way for the formation of the Bahá’í Court, essential prelude to the institution of the Universal House of Justice.”

(Shoghi Effendi, Messages to the Bahá’í World -1950-1957, p. 12)

And one year later, in a Cablegram dated April 23,1952, he announced the following statement:

Eighteen plots, a twenty-two thousand square meter area, have been added to the International Bahá’í endowments on the slopes of Carmel. Government survey concluded paving the way for the acquisition of over one hundred forty thousand square meters of property in the precincts of the Most Holy Tomb at Bahjí. The design for the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár on Carmel, conceived by the President of the International Bahá’í Council, completed.”

(Shoghi Effendi, Messages to the Bahá’í World: 1950–1957, p26)

Also, in the same year in a Cablegram dated October 8, 1952, He wrote:

Doubling the number of Mashriqu’l-Adhkárs, through the initiation of the construction of one on the Asiatic and the other on the European continent. The acquisition of the site of the future Mashriqu’l-Adhkár on Mount Carmel… The establishment of a Bahá’í Court in the Holy Land, preliminary to the emergence of the Universal House of Justice

 Shoghi”

(Messages to the Bahá’í World: 1950–1957    p42)

Everybody can read the following paragraph in Star of the West volume 13 page 221: SW_Volume13.pdf (bahai-library.com) :

Regarding the Bahai Temple to be built on Mount Carmel Abdul Baha wrote to Mr. Charles Mason Remey of Washington, D. C., in a tablet dated October 7, 1921: “Some time ago I wrote thee a letter the content of which was that praise be to God, thou hast become confirmed in drawing a plan for the pilgrim house in Haifa. It is my hope that this pilgrim house may be built under your supervision. Also, in the future a  Mashreq’ul Azkar will be established on Mount Carmel. Thou wilt be its architect and founder, I give thee this glad tidings,”

(Star of the West, volume 13, p221)

SW_Volume13.pdf (bahai-library.com)

The first Guardian in the following messages gave the glad tidings about the decision to purchase suitable land for the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár:

The third announcement is that preliminary steps have been taken, aiming at the acquisition of an extensive area at the head of the holy mountain, scene of the revelation of the Tablet of Carmel, preparatory to the purchase of the site for the future Mother Mashriqu’l-Adhkár of the Holy Land, made possible by the munificent hundred thousand dollar donation of the Hand of the Cause, Amelia Collins, signalizing the opening of the second stage in the unfoldment of the mighty process set in motion by the Author of the Faith.”

(Shoghi Effendi, Messages to the Bahá’í World: 1950–1957, p170)

[7 October 1953]

And more glad tidings in cablegrams of April 1954 and April 1955:

The site for the first Mashriqu’l-Adhkár of the Holy Land has been selected—an area of approximately twenty thousand square meters—situated at the head of the Mountain of God, in close proximity to the Spot hallowed by the footsteps of Bahá’u’lláh, near the time-honored Cave of Elijah, and associated with the revelation of the Tablet of Carmel, the Charter of the World Spiritual and Administrative Centers of the Faith on that mountain. Funds totaling one hundred thousand dollars have, moreover, been contributed by one of the Hands of the Cause, residing in the Holy Land, and negotiations have been initiated with the Israeli authorities for the purpose of effecting the immediate purchase of the selected site.

 –Shoghi

April,1954”

(Messages to the Bahá’í World: 1950–1957, p63)

“The international Bahá’í endowments on Mt. Carmel have been greatly enhanced by the signature of a contract with the Israeli Authorities for the acquisition of an area of thirty-six thousand square meters, situated on the promontory of Mt. Carmel, overlooking the Cave of Elijah, as well as the spot sanctified by the footsteps of Bahá’u’lláh and associated with the revelation of the Tablet of Carmel, for the price of one hundred and eight thousand dollars, to serve as the site for the first Mashriqu’l-Adhkár of the Holy Land, the entire sum having been donated by Amelia Collins, Hand of the Cause and outstanding benefactress of the Faith.

–Shoghi”

April,1955

(Messages to the Bahá’í World: 1950–1957, p 78-79)

 

File:BW Volume12.pdf – Bahaiworks, a library of works about the Bahá’í Faith

This is a follow-up to my message of 25 April, 2022 concerning the fire at a construction site in the Holy Land.

This construction was undertaken by the illegitimate organization which undeservedly is calling itself the Universal House of Justice. They planned to disturb and remove the physical remains of Abdu’l-Baha from the existing shrine in the same building as the shrine of the Bab and move these remains to another place when this construction site caught on fire. I would like to ask the question if the fake UHJ has the resources for the construction of a building in the Holy Land, why they do not build the Mashriqu’l-Adhkar (Baha’i House of Worship) which Abdu’l-Baha commanded and was emphasized by Shoghi Effendi? The land had been purchased and the plan/design and model were prepared during the Ministry of the first Guardian which must be available in the Archive, if the former rebellious Hands of the Cause or fake UHJ have not destroyed them. So far, the majority of what they have done is against the true Baha’i Faith and is evidence of their falsehood and deception. I draw the attention of all the Baha’is to the following undeniable facts:

Seventy-one years ago, Shoghi Effendi the First Guardian of the Baha’i Faith directed the following message to all the Baha’is of the world in the Cablegram of April 25, 1951:

“Preliminary steps taken in preparation of final design for the Mashriqu’l-Adhkar on Mount Carmel by President of the International Baha’i Council, specifically appointed by Abdu’l-Baha to be its architect.”
Process of the unfoldment of the ever-advancing Administrative Order accelerated by the formation of the International Baha’i Council designed to assist in the erection of the superstructure of the Bab’s Sepulcher, cement ties uniting the budding World Administrative Center with the recently established state and pave the way for the formation of the Baha’i Court, essential prelude to the institution of the Universal House of Justice.”

(Shoghi Effendi, Messages to the Baha’i World -1950-1957, p. 12)

And one year later, in a Cablegram dated April 23, 1952, he announced the following statement:

“Eighteen plots, a twenty-two thousand square meter area, have been added to the International Baha’i endowments on the slopes of Carmel. Government survey concluded paving the way for the acquisition of over one hundred forty thousand square meters of property in the precincts of the Most Holy Tomb at Bahji. The design for the Mashriqu’l-Adhkar on Carmel, conceived by the President of the International Baha’i Council, completed.”

(Shoghi Effendi, Messages to the Baha’i World: 1950-1957, p. 26)

Also, in the same year in a Cablegram dated October 8, 1952, He wrote:

“Doubling the number of Mashriqu’l-Adhkars, through the initiation of the construction of one on the Asiatic and the other on the European continent. The acquisition of the site of the future Mashriqu’l-Adhkar on Mount Carmel. The establishment of a Baha’i Court in the Holy Land, preliminary to the emergence of the Universal House of Justice. Shoghi”

(Messages to the Baha’i World: 1950-1957 p. 42)

Everybody can read the following paragraph in Star of the West volume 13 page 221: SW_Volume13.pdf (bahai-library.com) :

“Regarding the Bahai Temple to be built on Mount Carmel Abdul Baha wrote to Mr. Charles Mason Remey of Washington, D. C., in a tablet dated October 7, 1921: “Some time ago I wrote thee a letter the content of which was that praise be to God, thou hast become confirmed in drawing a plan for the pilgrim house in Haifa. It is my hope that this pilgrim house may be built under your supervision. Also, in the future a Mashreq’ul Azkar will be established on Mount Carmel. Thou wilt be its architect and founder, I give thee this glad tidings,”

(Star of the West, volume 13, p. 221) SW_Volume 13.pdf (bahai-library.com)

The first Guardian in the following messages gave the glad tidings about the decision to purchase suitable land for the Mashriqu’l-Adhkar:

“The third announcement is that preliminary steps have been taken, aiming at the acquisition of an extensive area at the head of the holy mountain, scene of the revelation of the Tablet of Carmel, preparatory to the purchase of the site for the future Mother Mashriqu’l-Adhkar of the Holy Land, made possible by the munificent hundred thousand dollar donation of the Hand of the Cause, Amelia Collins, signalizing the opening of the second stage in the unfoldment of the mighty process set in motion by the Author of the Faith.”

(Shoghi Effendi, Messages to the Baha’i World: 1950–1957, p. 170) [7 October 1953]

And more glad tidings in cablegrams of April 1954 and April 1955:

“The site for the first Mashriqu’l-Adhkar of the Holy Land has been selected –an area of approximately twenty-thousand square meters, situated at the head of the Mountain of God, in close proximity to the Spot hallowed by the footsteps of Baha’u’llah, near the time-honored Cave of Elijah, and associated with the revelation of the Tablet of Carmel, the Charter of the World Spiritual and Administrative Centers of the Faith on that mountain. Funds totaling one hundred thousand dollars have, moreover, been contributed by one of the Hands of the Cause, residing in the Holy Land, and negotiations have been initiated with the Israeli authorities for the purpose of effecting the immediate purchase of the selected site. —Shoghi

April, 1954″ (Messages to the Baha’i World: 1950-1957, p. 63)

“The international Baha’i endowments on Mt. Carmel have been greatly enhanced by the signature of a contract with the Israeli Authorities for the acquisition of an area of thirty-six thousand square meters, situated on the promontory of Mt. Carmel, overlooking the Cave of Elijah, as well as the spot sanctified by the footsteps of Baha’u’llah and associated with the revelation of the Tablet of Carmel, for the price of one hundred and eight thousand dollars, to serve as the site for the first Mashriqu’l-Adhkar of the Holy Land, the entire sum having been donated by Amelia Collins, Hand of the Cause and outstanding benefactress of the Faith. –Shoghi” April, 1955

(Messages to the Baha’i World: 1950-1957, p.78-79)

File:BW Volume12.pdf — Bahaiworks, a library of works about the Baha’i Faith

WHEN DO THEY WAKE UP?

By now, if not all, the majority of those who consider themselves Bahá’ís, must be informed that on 8 April, 2022 a major fire broke out at a construction site in Akká. According to those who are involved in the project, the structure envisaged in the design seeks “to honour ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s unique position” and “to reflect at once His lofty station and His humility.”

Parallel and coincident with Covid 19, those who are running the organisation that undeservedly is calling itself Universal House of Justice had planned to disturb and remove the physical remains of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá from the existing shrine and move to another place which its construction site caught on fire.

In the Bahá’í World News Service September 20, 2019, it is written:

“‘Abdu’l-Bahá had expressed His wish regarding where He should be buried,” explains Mr. Amanat, a distinguished Iranian Canadian architect. “He had said to an early believer that if something should happen to Him and He should pass away, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá wanted to be buried under the sands between Haifa and Akká, which He described as the pathway trodden by the loved ones and the pilgrims.”

In a prayer composed by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, recited by visitors to His resting place, He expresses this supplication to God:

“Make me as dust in the pathway of Thy loved ones.”

This idea in the prayer is one of the organizing principles of the design.

 

Bahá’í World News Service March 21, 2022:

As work presses on at the site for the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Bahá’ís around the world are remembering His urgent call for universal peace, especially today, on Naw-Rúz, the first day of spring and a day of spiritual renewal.

Once completed, the Shrine will serve as a place of quiet contemplation for countless visitors from around the world to draw inspiration from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s life and work as a herald of peace, a champion of social justice, and upholder of the principle of the oneness of humanity.

Seeking spiritual inspiration from stone, bricks and a building is wrong. Why do they ignore the great treasures of knowledge and wisdom which ‘Abdu’l-Bahá bequeathed in His so many Tablets and Writings specially the Covenant and guidance in His Will and Testament, the Charter of the New World Order?

‘Abdu’l-Bahá did not want His burial place to be a tourist’s attraction, the following is the prayer and supplication of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá which shows His desire:

هو الابهی اي خداي من جانم فداي هو الابهی اي خداي من جانم فداي احبابت اين خون افسرده رادر سبيل دوستانت بر خاك ريز و اين تن فرسوده را در راه يارانت خاك راه و غبار اقدام نما اي خداي من. ع ع

“O my God, sacrifice my life for your loved ones, shed this depressed blood for the sake of your friends and make this worn-out body, dust and dirt in the way of your loved ones, my God.”

مجموعه مناجاتها حضرت عبدالبها: صفحه ۴۵۰

If the purpose of construction is not the entertainment and amusement of the followers of the fake UHJ, or if it is not for increasing tourist attraction, job creation and helping the economy of the area and if it is truly “to draw inspiration from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá”, they should realize that:

“He is, and should for all time be regarded, first and foremost, as the Center and Pivot of Bahá’u’lláh’s peerless and all-enfolding Covenant, His most exalted handiwork, the stainless Mirror of His light, the perfect Exemplar of His teachings, the unerring Interpreter of His Word, the embodiment of every ideal, the incarnation of every Bahá’í virtue, the Most Mighty Branch sprung from the Ancient Root, the Limb of the Law of God, the Being “round Whom all names revolve,” the Mainspring of the Oneness of Humanity, the Ensign of the Most Great Peace, the Moon of the Central Orb of this most holy Dispensation—styles and titles that are implicit and find their truest, their highest and fairest expression in the magic name ‘Abdu’l Bahá.”

(The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh, p 65)

They should respect His Will and Testament, the Charter of the New World Order.

“His Will and Testament should thus be regarded as the perpetual, the indissoluble link which the mind of Him Who is the Mystery of God has conceived in order to insure the continuity of the three ages that constitute the component parts of the Bahá’í Dispensation.”

(The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh, p69)

“The creative energies released by the Law of Bahá’u’lláh, permeating and evolving within the mind of ‘Abdu’l Bahá, have, by their very impact and close interaction, given birth to an Instrument which may be viewed as the Charter of the New World Order which is at once the glory and the promise of this most great Dispensation.”

(The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh, p144)

From the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá:

“O ye beloved of the Lord! The greatest of all things is the protection of the True Faith of God, the preservation of His Law, the safeguarding of His Cause and service unto His Word.”

Study the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to find what is the True Bahá’í Faith and to know:

“The mighty stronghold shall remain impregnable and safe through obedience to him who is the Guardian of the Cause of God.” (The Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá)

Also, to notice what a significant difference there is between the real Universal House of Justice and the institution, which is only similar in the name, to that it is undeservedly using.

“And now, concerning the House of Justice which God hath ordained as the source of all good and freed from all error, it must be elected by universal suffrage, that is, by the believers. Its members must be manifestations of the fear of God and daysprings of knowledge and understanding, must be steadfast in God’s faith and the well-wishers of all mankind. By this House is meant the Universal House of Justice, that is, in all countries a secondary House of Justice must be instituted, and these secondary Houses of Justice must elect the members of the Universal one. Unto this body all things must be referred. It enacted all ordinances and regulations that are not to be found in the explicit Holy Text. By this body all the difficult problems are to be resolved and the Guardian of the Cause of God is its sacred head and the distinguished member for life of that body. Should he not attend in person its deliberations, he must appoint one to represent him. Should any of the members commit a sin, injurious to the common weal, the Guardian of the Cause of God hath at his own discretion the right to expel him, whereupon the people must elect another one in his stead.” (Emphasis added)

It is obvious that the bogus UHJ does not have the Guardian of the Cause of God as its sacred head, nor was it elected by the secondary Houses of Justice (National Houses of Justice) Actually even local Houses of Justice have not been established, not even one.

Those who think they are Bahá’ís must put away imitations and herd instinct.

“The first (teaching) is the independent investigation of truth; for blind imitation of the past will stunt the mind. But once every soul inquireth into truth, society will be freed from the darkness of continually repeating the past.”

(Selections From the Writings of ‘Abdu’l Bahá, p 248)

Nosrat’u’llah Bahremand

Some related information:

“The coffin containing the remains of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was borne to its last resting-place on the shoulders of His loved ones. The cortège which preceded it was led by the City Constabulary Force, acting as a Guard of Honor, behind which followed in order the Boy Scouts of the Muslim and Christian communities holding aloft their banners, a company of Muslim choristers chanting their verses from the Qur’an, the chiefs of the Muslim community headed by the Mufti, and a number of Christian priests, Latin, Greek and Anglican. Behind the coffin walked the members of His family, the British High Commissioner, Sir Herbert Samuel, the Governor of Jerusalem, Sir Ronald Storrs, the Governor of Phoenicia, Sir Stewart Symes, officials of the government, consuls of various countries resident in Haifa, notables of Palestine, Muslim, Jewish, Christian and Druze, Egyptians, Greeks, Turks, Arabs, Kurds, Europeans and Americans, men, women and children. The long train of mourners, amid the sobs and moans of many a grief-stricken heart, wended its slow way up the slopes of Mt. Carmel to the Mausoleum of the Báb.”

“Close to the eastern entrance of the Shrine, the sacred casket was placed upon a plain table, and, in the presence of that vast concourse, nine speakers, who represented the Muslim, the Jewish and Christian Faiths, and who included the Mufti of Haifa, delivered their several funeral orations. These concluded, the High Commissioner drew close to the casket, and, with bowed head fronting the Shrine, paid his last homage of farewell to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá; the other officials of the Government followed his example. The coffin was then removed to one of the chambers of the Shrine, and there lowered, sadly and reverently, to its last resting-place in a vault adjoining that in which were laid the remains of the Báb.”

(God Passes By, p 313)

“As I write, the Greatest Holy Leaf is on a visit to the Shrine of the Master. It is over a year, I think, since she has been able to visit the shrine and until now she has not seen the new Gardens, in the laying out of which Shoghi Effendi has taken such a deep interest. …J. E. Esslemont”

(Arohanui: Letters from Shoghi Effendi to New Zealand, p5)

[From the Guardian:]

My dear fellow-worker:

Your charming letter truly gladdened my heart. I will follow the development of your magazine with keen interest and assure you of my desire to help and promote its interests to the fullest possible extent. I am enclosing the photographs of the shrine and gardens recently laid out in the close neighbourhood of the Shrines of the Báb and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. I assure you of my love, appreciation and fervent prayers.

Yours,

 (Letters from Shoghi Effendi to New Zealand, p8)

Design concept for the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá unveiled | BWNS (bahai.org)

Big fire plumbing in Akko in Israel – YouTube

Just Now: Big Fire in Akko Israel

TO: All National Spiritual Assemblies

DATE: 8 April, 2022

MESSAGE:

A major fire broke out earlier today at the construction site of the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. The fire has now been extinguished and no one has been injured. The Holy Site of the Ridván Garden has not been affected.

Time will be required to assess the extent of the damage that has been caused and the remedial work needed. More information will be provided in this regard when it becomes available.

While this is a considerable setback for the project, the steps required to recover from it and for the construction to resume will begin as expeditiously as possible.

The Universal House of Justice

A few years ago one of the Heterodox Bahá’ís told me that when Mason Remey, the second Guardian of the Cause of God, broke his silence and sent his Proclamation to the American National Convention, the former Hands desperately started looking everywhere in the Writings trying to find something to support their bogus claim and anything to give legitimacy to their illegitimately appointed body of Custodians. Of course, there was not even a word that they could find, so they had exhausted their search and were disappointed. Then one day, Mr. Varqa, one of the Hands, said he had good news as he had found something and then showed them a passage in the Aqdas regarding “Endowments dedicated to charity” and gave his interpretation, which was accepted by the desperate Hands. That unauthorized and erroneous interpretation is the one that now is used by the bogus UHJ and its pawns. I am not sure how much of this story is accurate, but I believe there is no reason to doubt its accuracy. Anyhow, I think Mr. Varqa is still alive, and he can explain whether he was the originator of this erroneous interpretation or if it was someone else. 

It seems that the headless and bogus UHJ, which is the product of the violators of the Covenant, i.e., the former Hands of the Cause, is cursed and trapped in their malice and wickedness, for they have not only violated and misrepresented the Will and Testament of the Master, but they have also transgressed against the Aqdas and violated this most Holy Book. They disregarded the following warning of Bahá’u’lláh in The Aqdas: 

“Whoso interpreteth what hath been sent down from the heaven of Revelation, and altereth its evident meaning, he, verily, is of them that have perverted the Sublime Word of God, and is of the lost ones in the Lucid Book.”  — The Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 57 

In 1992 when they translated and published the Aqdas in English they added some notes to the Book. Many of them contained unauthorized and erroneous interpretations. In their translation, they conveniently and sinfully changed the meaning of the word “bilaad” (cities) in the passage about endowments, to “world” to suit their evil intentions. 

“Endowments dedicated to charity revert to God, the Revealer of Signs. None hath the right to dispose of them without leave from Him Who is the Dawning-place of Revelation. After Him, this authority shall pass to the Aghsan, and after them to the House of Justice — should it be established in the world by then — that they may use these endowments for the benefit of the Places which have been exalted in this Cause, and for whatsoever hath been enjoined upon them by Him Who is the God of might and power. Otherwise, the endowments shall revert to the people of Bahá who speak not except by His leave and judge not save in accordance with what God hath decreed in this Tablet — lo, they are the champions of victory betwixt heaven and earth — that they may use them in the manner that hath been laid down in the Book by God, the Mighty, the Bountiful.” — Bahá’u’lláh The Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 34 

In their notes, they illegitimately and erroneously interpreted this passage of the Aqdas to mean that the main reason for including this verse was to tell the people that the Guardianship had been ended only 36 years after its establishment, whereas, Baha’u’llah in the same Holy Book: 

“…alludes to the future Centre of His Covenant, and invests Him with the right of interpreting His holy Writ; anticipates by implication the institution of Guardianship …” — God Passes By p.214 

Also, in the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá which is: “…the Charter of a future world civilization, which may be regarded in some of its features as supplementary to no less weighty a Book than the Kitab-i-Aqdas; signed and sealed by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá; entirely written with His own hand; … establishes the institution of the Guardianship as a hereditary office and outlines its essential functions…” — God Passes By, p. 327 

And while His rightful interpreter; the first Guardian of the Cause of God, assures the continuation of the Guardianship until the end of the Bahá’í Dispensation: 

“In this Dispensation, Divine guidance flows on to us in this world after the Prophet’s ascension, through first the Master, and then the Guardians.” — Lights of Guidance, p.310 

Let’s examine the erroneous and unauthorized interpretations of the man made, headless Body: 

Note 66. “Aghsan” Paragraph 42 “Aghsan” (plural of Ghusn) is the Arabic word for “Branches”. This term is used by Baha’u’llah to designate His male descendants.” 

Bahá’u’lláh only titled each one of His Sons using a superlative or comparative adjective and the word *Ghusn* such as *Ghusn-I-Azam* (Greatest Branch) and *Ghusn-I-At-har*(Purest Branch). or *Ghusn-I-Akbar* (Greater Branch). He never gave anybody other than His sons such a title, nor did He write anything to designate that His male descendants were to carry on such titles. 

Bahá’u’lláh in the Kitab-i-Ahd (Book of the Covenant), refers to His sons using the plural of (Ghusn) *Aghsan * i.e., Branches; but He distinguishes *Aghsan* (His sons) from His other descendants, such as His own kindred and members of the Holy Household, while the first Guardian has identified Aghsan as the sons of Bahá’u’lláh [God Passes By p.239] and [Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh p.244]. Even at the time of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá it was well understood that Branches meant sons of Bahá’u’lláh as this is quite evident from the following Tablet of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: 

“O thou whose heart is attracted and whose breast is dilated with joy by the Holy Fragrances! 

Give the glad-tidings to the assemblies of the beloved who are firm in the Covenant and say: 

“Verily the Lord hath manifested Himself in this new and wonderful age with the greatest bounty and mercy, which have never been preceded and whereof the eye of existence hath never seen the like; and it is His Great Covenant and New Testament, as appointed by the trace of His Supreme Pen, through which, and according to clear ordinances and explicit statements, the matter was plainly shown and the branches (sons), twigs (relations), kinsmen and beloved were commanded to obey the “appointed Center of the Covenant.” But the Covenant of God and His Testament is a bounty to the righteous and a curse to the wicked.” — ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá vol. 2, p. 438 

Generally, in Bahá’u’lláh’s Writings the word ghusn and its plural aghsan, similar to its meaning in English (branch) and (branches), are used as the original meaning (branch of a tree) or other types of usage in representational or symbolic ways, but interestingly mostly these words are used to show a spiritual connection or intellectual realities: 

“Since the affectionate and faithful believers are as the aghsan (branches) and the leaves of this Holy Tree, therefore whatever (hostility and injuries) falls on the Mighty Stock; it will occur to the aghsan (branches), twigs and leaves as well, this is how in every age these tragedies and nuisances have been and will be for the lovers of the Beauty of All-Glorious.” — Bahá’u’lláh, Al’vah-i-Moba’rakeh p. 343, Ma’idiy-i-Asmani. Vol 4, p.42 

“O’ Seeker, do not consider references in The Holy Scriptures to attributes and names such as: the Tree of Blessedness, the Divine Lote-Tree, the Forbidden Tree, the Leaves, the Fruits and the like; imaginary or fantasy. In the sight of God, the subjects of all these attributes have been and are the devoted believers in God, but upon turning away will be consigned to the burning bush of Hell; while they remain faithful, either as an afnan (twigs), as aghsan (branches), as o’ragh (leaves) and assmar (fruits) of that Tree, their faith will be perceived as substantiated but upon their opposition all will be considered as rejected and abandoned”–  Baha’u’llah, Ma’idiy-i-Asmani. Vol 7, p.21

In the continuation of the same note 66, they have written the following erroneous and sinful interpretation and flawed argument: 

“It has particular implications not only for the disposition of endowments but also for the succession of authority following the passing of Bahá’u’lláh and of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Bahá’u’lláh, in the Book of His Covenant, appointed ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, His eldest son, as the Centre of His Covenant and the Head of the Faith. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, in His Will and Testament, appointed Shoghi Effendi, His eldest grandson, as the Guardian and Head of the Faith. This passage of the Aqdas, therefore, anticipates the succession of chosen Aghsan and thus the institution of the Guardianship and envisages the possibility of a break in their line.” 

By their falsity and error, they consider the “Endowments dedicated to charity” to be like a family foundation and business which has to be kept in the family, so with their other false interpretation that Aghsan means male descendent of Bahá’u’lláh, any remaining blood descendant can be a claimant to the Bahá’í properties in the Holy land. The fact is that Endowments dedicated to charity is not a family business, and it has nothing to do with the Guardianship. It is a revenue for the Houses of Justice (Local, National, and International). The Aghsan mentioned in this section did not exist after ‘Abdu’l-Bahá since Shoghi Effendi was not an Aghsan (i.e., son of Bahá’u’lláh), he was a ghusn-i-momtaz (chosen branch). He was chosen from among “affectionate and faithful believers” (branches) as were the second and third Guardians. 

‘Abdu’l-Bahá in one of his Tablets gives the following direction and guidance: 

“Prior to establishment of the House of Justice, Endowments dedicated to charity revert to a spiritual assembly which is free from remnants of concupiscence, there is no other arrangement.” — Ganjineh-i-hodood va Ahkam, p.221 

Shoghi Effendi, the first Guardian of the Cause of God wrote: 

“There is a difference between taxes and spiritual offerings. The House of Justice has certain revenues such as inheritance shares, fees and fines. These are the taxes which, according to the Aqdas, go directly not to the Guardian but to the House of Justice. According to the Master’s Will which complements the Aqdas, the Huquq goes only to the Guardian.” (To Mr. George O. Latimer, Portland, Oregon, dated Haifa, June 17, 1933.) Shoghi Effendi, Extracts from the USBN 

The first Guardian, during his ministry, in more than one hundred of his messages and letters strongly encouraged National and Local Spiritual Assemblies to establish their local and national endowments, even urging the National Spiritual Assemblies to have a part of their International endowments in the Holy Land registered in their names. 

“Theirs is the unrivalled opportunity, should they bestir themselves, to carry forward to a triumphant conclusion this first corporate effort to which they have consecrated themselves and their nascent institutions, to embark, in the course of subsequent Plans, on enterprises destined to safeguard and consolidate, in all parts of the motherland, the achievements so hardly won, to proclaim, unequivocally, systematically and effectively, to the masses throughout the length and breadth of the British Isles the verities enshrined in their Faith, to initiate the establishment of a befitting National Haziratu’l-Quds in either the capital of the United Kingdom or further north in the very heart of the British Isles, to inaugurate national and local endowments, to incorporate the newly constituted assemblies, to undertake the preliminary measures for the erection of the first Mashriqu’l-Adhkar in the British Empire,” — Shoghi Effendi, The Unfolding Destiny of the British Bahá’í Community, p. 220 

“Canadian National Assembly, the establishment of National Bahá’í Endowments, doubling the number of Local Assemblies throughout the Dominion and raising to one hundred the total number of localities where Baha’is reside throughout the Provinces, the constitution of a group in Newfoundland and the formation of a nucleus of the Faith in the Territory of Greenland, singled out for special mention by the Author of the Divine Plan, and the participation of Eskimos and Red Indians in membership to share administrative privileges in local institutions of the Faith in Canada.” — Shoghi Effendi, Messages to Canada, p. 7 

“The incorporation of firmly established Local Spiritual Assemblies must simultaneously be accelerated in order to strengthen the structure of these newly established institutions, and pave the way for the establishment of local Bahá’í endowments.” — Shoghi Effendi, Messages to Canada, p. 48 

“He was very pleased to learn of this endowment, now registered in the name of your Spiritual Assembly, and most generously contributed to the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh by the dear Bahá’í friends Mr. and Mrs. Bakhtiari… It is of the utmost importance that gradually, as the Communities grow stronger, they should acquire endowments to be used for the benefit of all the Bahá’ís. This not only reinforces the sense of community life, but enhances the prestige of the Faith in the eyes of their fellow citizens.” — Shoghi Effendi, Messages to the Indian Subcontinent, p. 215 

“NEWLY-ESTABLISHED ISRAEL BRANCH OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY” 

“While the members of this valiant, this highly gifted, forward marching and deeply consecrated community, and particularly its alert and zealous national representatives, labour to attain these immediate goals, that constitute the distinguishing features and the prime objectives of this newly opened phase of the Crusade, the measures initiated recently in the Holy Land to transfer eventually part of the international Bahá’í endowments on Mt. Carmel to the name of the newly-established Branch of the Canadian National Spiritual Assembly will be steadily and energetically pursued, as a mark of abiding appreciation of the magnificence and exemplary achievements of this community in recent years in the service of the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh.” — Shoghi Effendi, Messages to Canada, p. 48 

The fact that the Endowments dedicated to charity is revenue for the House of Justice was quite clear and well understood by Iranian Bahá’í scholars during the time of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi. The following links are to two different books from two highly knowledgeable teachers of the Faith. Both of them have written about the passage on endowments in the section of the Aqdas pertaining to the revenues of the House of Justice: 

http://www.reference.bahai.org/fa/t/c/GHA/gha-229.html 

http://www.reference.bahai.org/fa/t/c/AK4/ak4-272.html#pg268 

The following is another erroneous and unauthorized interpretation about the phrase “people of Bahá”: 

“The term “people of Bahá” is used with a number of different meanings in the Bahá’í Writings. In this instance, they are described as those ‘who speak not except by His leave and judge not save in accordance with what God hath decreed in this Tablet.’ Following the passing of Shoghi Effendi in 1957, the Hands of the Cause of God directed the affairs of the Cause until the election of the Universal House of Justice in 1963” 

The true interpretation of this phrase is as follows: 

“People of Bahá” simply means people of Bahá, i.e., Bahá’ís. To say otherwise, means that those former Hands of the Cause who have arrogated unto themselves the collective Guardianship have grossly misinterpreted its meaning. They have obviously altered the evident meaning of the word in the Book, and failed to concede the fact that only the Guardian of the Cause of God has the authority to interpret. It is amazing that those Hands who were violators of the Covenant, and had caused a breach in the Cause of God, and subverted His Word, and became the manifestations of the Center of Sedition, described themselves as those “who speak not except by His leave and judge not save in accordance with what God hath decreed in this Tablet”. Who did describe the Hands as such? Themselves? The bogus UHJ? How can they do that? In fact, they did so in opposition to “what God hath decreed.” 

“What deviation can be greater than interpolating and falsifying the words and verses of the Sacred Text,” —  ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, The Will and Testament, p. 5 

A book which was published by the Heterodox Bahá’ís in 1997, based on the Ishraq-i-khavari’s talks about the Aqdas, contains some points that the author could not help himself from saying and which also has escaped the censor, includes the following: 

“‘Abdu’l-Bahá in a tablet explicitly explains that these “people of Bahá” are the Spiritual Assemblies who are managing the spiritual affairs of the Bahá’í communities in cities before the establishment of the House of Justice.” — http://www.reference.bahai.org/fa/t/o/TDKA/tdka-137.html#pg116 

I have not seen the Tablet which Ishraq-i-khavari has mentioned, but I am certain that it is true since ‘Abdu’l-Bahá wrote: 

“Prior to establishment of the House of Justice, Endowments dedicated to charity revert to the spiritual assembly which is free from remnants of concupiscence, there is no other arrangement.” — Ganjineh-i-hodood va Ahkam, p.221 

The following is the interpretation of the phrase “people of Bahá” by the rightful interpreter of the Word of God, Joel B Marangella, the third Guardian, in response to the question of an individual dated 12 April 2003: 

“If you will refer to page 154 in “God Passes By”, in the fifth line from the top of the page you will find this statement: “Rejoice with exceeding gladness, O people of Bahá!” It is clear that Bahá’u’lláh is referring to all faithful believers in this passage. As to the other clauses under the same heading of the Aqdas, one must, of course, when reading the Aqdas always keep in mind that the Will and Testament of the Master supplements the Aqdas, as explained by Shoghi Effendi. In this instance, it is clear that, similarly to the administration of other types of endowments, endowments or gifts to charity are currently administered, on behalf of the believers, that is, the “people of Bahá” at national or local levels by their representatives in the Bahá’í Administrative Order, that is their respective Assemblies (future Houses of Justice) and will in the future be administered by the Universal House of Justice, (when established) for any international endowments and by National and Local Houses of Justice, for endowments at those levels, as appropriate.” 

I want to remind Bahá’ís that: 

“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 the Guardian of the Cause of God, to turn 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.” — ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, The Will and Testament, p. 11 

Nosrat 

Ruhiyyih Khanum and the former Hands who followed her in violation of the Covenant, as well as the headless and spiritually dead body that they created, all followed a common pattern in which they projected a picture of Shoghi Effendi, the first Guardian of the Cause of God, as a weak, irresponsible and careless person who was unfaithful to the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, without being vouchsafed divine guidance, inspiration, and the protection of God. They hung on to any flimsy straw that they could to say that he did not fulfill his divine obligation of appointing his successor during his own lifetime. This is in contradiction to many of the writings of Ruhiyyih Khanum, the former Hands and those who now run the bogus UHJ. On the one hand, they attest to his spirituality, preeminence, precision, hard work, and undoubted faithfulness to the provisions of the Will and Testament, while, on the other, they ignore the fact that Shoghi Effendi had, in strict and faithful accordance with that sacred Document, appointed “in his own lifetime him that shall become his successor.” They further claim that:

“Shoghi Effendi had appointed no successor in his own lifetime because he himself had no natural heir and because no member of the Holy Family qualified.”

See The Ministry of the Custodians, p. 101

And when they were shown many references from the writings of the first Guardian and pilgrim notes that confirmed the fact that he had, to the end of his life, repeatedly emphasized the continuity of the Guardianship until the very end of the Baha’i Dispensation, they still argue that he did not know that he was going to die and that he had hoped he would have a child. Of course, this was nothing more than weird imagination in the heads of the pawns of the bogus UHJ. Even Ruhiyyih Khanum did not say such a peculiar thing as that after so many years of marriage without having a child, they were looking forward to having a child, or by chance a son. Even if that child had been a son, there would not have been any guarantee that the Guardian would still be alive when he would have grown to an age when he could have been appointed his successor. Moreover, even if Shoghi Effendi had survived with a son; according to the provisions of the Will and Testament of the Master, this son could not have become the second Guardian without appointment. Also, there would have been the possibility that his son would not have been eligible for appointment if he did “not manifest in himself the truth of the words: — “The child is the secret essence of its sire,” that is, should he not inherit of the spiritual within him (the Guardian of the Cause of God) and his glorious lineage not be matched with a goodly character,” as required under the terms of the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. If anyone, for any reason, believes that the first guardian during his 36-year ministry, irresponsibly did not appoint his successor, he has definitely betrayed him.

Any ordinary person, even a careless one, when he becomes sick and the doctor tells him that two hundred people have died from this same sickness during one week, and if he is not sure that he has appointed his heir, he would certainly attempt to do so as soon as possible.

“He also told the Guardian that he had heard over the radio that well over two hundred people had died of influenza during the week, and they discussed this a little together.”

Ruhiyyih Khanum, The Passing of Shoghi Effendi, p. 8

How is it possible that the first Guardian, who said the following, had not appointed his successor?

“At one time, while Ruhiyyih Khanum was checking over with him the various lists and totals, he said to her, as he had said many many times during the last year: “This work is killing me! How can I go on with this? I shall have to stop it.”

Ruhiyyih Khanum, The Passing of Shoghi Effendi, p. 6

“Who is going to go back and do all these things? I have no strength left. I am like a broken reed. I can’t do anything more. I have no spirit left to do anything more. Now we will be going back who is going to go up that mountain and make all those plans and stand for hours and supervise the work? I can’t do it.” . . . “He was very, very sad and depressed, and spoke words such as these for a long time. It was not the first time that Ruhiyyih Khanum had heard him speak in this vein, but it was with far greater intensity and in more specific detail than she had ever heard before, and it distressed her very deeply.”

Ruhiyyih Khanum, The Passing of Shoghi Effendi, p. 8

Of course, the history of this goes back several years prior to the above and to an incident recorded in the pilgrim notes of the third Guardian, when one evening at the dinner table Shoghi Effendi mentioned: “the tremendous burden under which the Master had labored, as His ascension neared, in keeping up with His voluminous correspondence.” He had then said: “Now my correspondence is becoming more than I can handle.” When Shoghi Effendi, in this way, clearly alluded to the imminence of his passing, Ruhiyyih Khanum jumped up from the table and in tears rushed out of the room, only to return later when she had composed herself.

Yet, she later wrote:

“I do remember a very few things that might have been significant, but certainly they meant nothing to me at the time. I could never have survived the slightest foreknowledge of the Guardian’s death, . . . “

Ruhiyyih Khanum, The Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith, p. 237

Nosrat’u’llah Bahremand

In my post titled “Baha’is knew…”
02/12/2007

It was explained how the seed of violation of the Covenant of Baha’u’llah was sown, even before the body of the first Guardian of the Faith had been buried. It was obvious that Ruhiyyih Khanum attempted to draw the attention of the Baha’is away from the proper recognition of the International Baha’i Council (the Universal House of Justice in its embryonic stage) and attract their attention instead to the Hands of the Cause, when in her second telegram she commanded: “CLING INSTITUTION HANDS” and in her next telegram announced her decision: “HANDS SHORTLY HAIFA WILL MAKE ARRANGEMENT TO BAHAI WORLD REGARDING FUTURE PLANS”.

It should have been evident that Ruhiyyih Khanum was neither in command of the Faith nor had any authority for decision-making in the Faith, but she had made up her mind and was determined that there would not be any more Guardians despite her lamenting:

“But there was one agonizing issue we could not agree on. Year after year we could come to no conclusion about whether the Guardianship was closed for the period of this Faith.”

(Ministry of the Custodians, p.16)

After the passing of Shoghi Effendi to the Abha Kingdom Ruhiyyih Khanum became a widow. She was no more the liaison officer between the Guardian and the International Baha’i Council, and she was no longer the Guardian’s secretary, but she was still a Hand of Cause. Although this position does not carry any administrative authority in the Faith, it seems that she thought she could make something out of it, for this is evident from her cablegram when she stated:

“…URGE BELIEVERS REMAIN STEADFAST CLING INSTITUTION HANDS LOVINGLY REARED RECENTLY REINFORCED EMPHASIZED BY BELOVED GUARDIAN…”

(Ruhiyyih Khanum, The Passing of Shoghi Effendi, p. 11)

And she made this confession:

“When the Guardian passed away the paramount, supremely urgent task confronting us at our first Conclave was to ensure that everything connected with the affairs, direction, and administration of the Faith was solidly and speedily vested in the Institution of the Hands.”

(Ministry of the Custodians, p. 10)

the Cause are subjects and dependents of the Guardian of the Cause of God and their subsistence is bound upon, and depends on, the existence of the Guardian. From the time they concluded that they did not want a future Guardian anymore, they stripped themselves of their station as a Hand of the Cause (let alone that they then violated the Covenant).

The Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Baha states:

“O friends! The Hands of the Cause of God must be nominated and appointed by the Guardian of the Cause of God. All must be under his shadow and obey his command.”

“This body of the Hands of the Cause of God is under the direction of the Guardian of the Cause of God.”

(The Will and Testament, p. 12)

It is very obvious that after the passing of a Guardian he will not have a shadow anymore and he cannot direct the Hands.

Nosrat

The illegitimate organization calling itself the Universal House of Justice, which has cut off itself from Divine guidance and lacks its “sacred head” as stipulated by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in His Will and Testament, considers that it has endowed a magic power to a term used by Shoghi Effendi in referring to the Hands of the Cause. By their conferring upon this term an incorrect meaning and through repeating it, at least 46 times, in the book titled: “The Ministry of the Custodians” written by Rúhíyyih Khanum, and as a result of its further duplication by some of the cliques who have supported her, they have been able to justify their unjust violation of the Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh.

They consider that conferring such weight and magic power to this term that it will, in effect, give legitimacy to the meaning they have conferred upon it. Additionally,
they consider that by repeating this term often enough they will be able to actually scrap and nullify the immutable provisions of the sacred Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, as well as all the writings of Shoghi Effendi, the first Guardian of the Cause of God, and particularly his Proclamation of 9 January 1951 and those messages in which he repeatedly provided for and safeguarded the continuation of the Guardianship in his faithful fidelity to the Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh.

This magic term, in their view, is “chief stewards” as used by Shoghi Effendi in his last cablegram to the Bahá’í World, dated 8 October 1957, in which he referred to the Hands of the Cause as the “Chief Stewards of Bahá’u’lláh’s embryonic World Commonwealth”.

You have seen that every now and then one of their pawns will post statements in this newsgroup and will assert such a ridiculous definition to the term as the following:

news:[email protected]

“Chief Steward is a naval term. The Chief Steward on the ship has the duty of taking the ship safely to shore in the absence of the captain.”

This same person, despite the fact that some of the participants exposed his/her error in the above definition and provided the true definition of chief steward, wrote the following:

“BUT the Hands of the Cause were CHIEF stewards. Chief Steward is a naval term. When the captain is, absent for whatever reason, the chief steward has the authority to take the ship safely to shore.”

Of course, this is not an isolated example of their ignorance, for among the brainwashed followers of the bogus UHJ such ignorance is quite widespread.

Since it is evident that the bogus organization has tried to manipulate the meanings, as defined in Wikipedia, it is necessary that the current correct definition of “chief steward”, as found in Wikipedia, be recorded before their further manipulation of the term:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief Steward:

“Chief Steward”, from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, main article, Seafarer’s professions and ranks: ” A Chief Steward is the senior unlicensed crewmember working in the Steward’s Department of a ship. Since there is no purser on most ships in the United States Merchant Marine, the steward is the senior person in the department, from whence its name. In the British Merchant Navy, a steward is a junior member of the department (referred to as a Steward’s Assistant in the United States), and so the term “Chief Steward” is always used for the senior member. The chief steward directs, instructs, and assigns personnel performing such functions as preparing and serving meals. Moreover, the steward overseas cleaning and maintaining officers’ quarters and steward department areas; and receiving, issuing, and inventorying stores. The chief steward also plans menus, compiles supply, overtime, and cost control records. The steward may also requisition or purchase stores and equipment. Other duties may include baking bread, rolls, cakes, pies, and pastries. A chief steward’s duties may overlap with those of the Steward’s Assistant, the Chief Cook, and other Steward’s Department crew members.”

In the following passage Joel B. Marangella, the third Guardian of the Cause of God, brings to light why Shoghi Effendi called the Hands “chief stewards”:

“As Shoghi Effendi labored to erect, “at long last the machinery of its highest institutions” and the “supreme organs of its unfolding Order,” he followed up his appointment of the International Bahá’í Council–this “Central Body” of the Faith–with the appointment of the first contingent of twelve living Hands of the Cause in his cablegram of 24 December 1952. He made additional appointments during the concluding years of his ministry, raising the number to twenty-seven at the time of his passing. On 8 October 1957, one month before his passing, Shoghi Effendi dispatched his last cablegram to the Bahá’í World in which he referred to the Hands of the Cause as the “Chief Stewards of Bahá’u’lláh’s embryonic World Commonwealth” with the clear implication that unfortunately was never perceived by the Hands, that while they were the current Chief Stewards–these Hands of the Cause–appointed by the Guardian of the Faith would, as they died, be no more, but the institution of the Hands itself as an integral and immortal organ of the embryonic Commonwealth of Bahá’u’lláh would continue to exist as long as the Dispensation of Bahá’u’lláh endured, and that future Hands would continue to be appointed by future Guardians during the course of the development of this embryonic Commonwealth and as it achieved ultimate maturity in the Golden Age of Bahá’u’lláh, similarly to the other institutions of the Bahá’í Administrative Order, delineated by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in his sacred, divinely-conceived and immortal Will and Testament.”

Dear Nosrat,

I googled “Chief Steward.” In addition to the encyclopedia entry you refer to, below is what I came up with. It is clear to me that Shoghi Effendi always carefully chose his words. I think the designation “Chief Stewards” was a warning to the Hands that they should consider themselves subservient to the Captain of the Ship, the Guardian of the Cause. There is nothing in this phrase to imply taking over the ship.

Jeffrey

The British Columbia Amateur Winemakers Association (BCAWA) http://www.bcawa.ca/bcawa/comphb/chb03.htm It appears the “Chief Steward” presides over the wine and beer tasting. Mmmm… I think I joined the wrong club!

Frank Baum’s “The Emerald City of Oz” http://www.halcyon.com/piglet/ozites/oz0037.htm In this classic children’s story, Quox appoints Kaliko as Chief Steward of the Nome King

The U.S. Coast Guard http://www.marinejobs1.com/chief-steward.html The Chief Steward functions under the direction of the ship’s Supply Officer on large vessels or independently on smaller vessels without Supply Officers. The chief Steward oversees general stateroom and passageway cleanliness and all food service operations on board all classes of MSC civil service crewed ships.

The New England Dog Training Club http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Prairie/9337/chf-stwd.html Dog shows! The chief steward is a member of the match/trial committee and in charge of recruiting and assigning stewards. Depending on how the committee is organized, the chief steward may have some other logistical duties, such as setting up the rings, preparing the ring signs, organizing or coordinating a cleanup crew, and so on. (For example, at large shows, the chief steward usually has a walkie-talkie for paging the cleanup crew and show photographer.)

The Minnesota Association of Professional Employees http://www.mape.org/locals_stewards/stewards/chiefstewarduties032406.pdf A position in the union that coordinates grievances in the local/ region, and assists stewards with grievance handling.

Ancient Egyptian royalty http://terraflex.co.il/ad/egypt/texts/ibe.htm The Chief Steward attended to the Queen.

“There should be appointed the king’s-confidant, Ibe, as chief steward of the Divine Consort, and that there should be collected for him all his things which should go [for the payment (?)] of the works, 15 [an]d that they should be delivered to all the scribes and inspectors sent with the business of the house of the Divine Votress, as many as they were. The list of everyday utensils of silver, gold, copper, of the White House. I [filled (?)] her granaries with [wheat (?)], spelt, and all fruits, I multiplied her cattle yards with bullocks, [obliged (?)] her officials to pay dues all of them.”

A Hotel Job http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:iM6OfYBbWhIJ:www.occupationalinfo.org/31/310137018.html+chief+steward&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=10&gl=us STEWARD/STEWARDESS (hotel & rest.) alternate titles: chief steward/ stewardess; executive. steward/stewardess; house steward/stewardess Supervises and coordinates activities of pantry, storeroom, and noncooking kitchen workers, and purchases or requisitions foodstuffs, kitchen supplies, and equipment: Inspects kitchens and storerooms to ensure that premises and equipment are clean and in order, and that sufficient foodstuffs and supplies are on hand to ensure efficient service.

Excerpts From a Social Media Exchange on the Topic of Covenant 2007

It is very sad that the followers of the erroneous path taken by the former Hands of the Cause, under the leadership of Ruhiyyih Khánum, are distancing themselves more and more from the true Faith of God and violating the
Covenant, yet every day they are talking about the Covenant.

Moojan Momen, in an article which was posted to t.r.b. on 04/02/2007, under the name: Piedmont N…@Spam.net, put forth his own opinion, expressed his particular convictions, interpreted and explained the religion of God
according to his own view and opinion. He wrote:

“Second, the lesser covenant, which obliges individual Bahá’ís to accept the leadership of Bahá’u’lláh’s appointed successors and the administrative institutions of the Faith.”

While the first part of the above sentence is correct if referring to the interpreters of the word of God, i.e., the Center of the Covenant and Guardians as the Center of the Cause, the second part is an erroneous and
unauthorized interpretation. This is what ‘Abdu’l-Bahá says:

“Bahá’u’lláh made a covenant concerning a promised One who will become manifest after one thousand or thousands of years. He likewise, with His Supreme Pen, entered into a great Covenant and Testament with all the Bahá’ís whereby they were all commanded to follow the Center of the Covenant after His departure, and turn not away even to a hair’s breadth from obeying Him. In the Book of Aqdas, He has given positive command in two clear instances and has explicitly appointed the Interpreter of the Book.”

(Bahá’í World Faith, p. 358)

Also:

“As to the most great characteristic of the revelation of Bahá’u’lláh — a specific teaching not given by any of the Prophets of the past — it is the ordination and appointment of the Center of the Covenant. By this appointment and provision He has safeguarded and protected the religion of God against differences and schisms, making it impossible for any one to create a new sect or faction of belief. To insure unity and agreement He has entered into a Covenant with all the people of the world including the Interpreter and Explainer of His teachings so that no one may interpret or explain the religion of God according to his own view or opinion and thus create a sect founded upon his individual understanding of the divine words. The Book of the Covenant or Testament of Bahá’u’lláh is the means of preventing such a possibility, for whosoever shall speak from the authority of himself alone shall be degraded. Be ye informed and cognizant of this.”

(Baha’i World Faith, p. 248)

Moojan wrote:

“Firmness in the Covenant is one of the chief Bahá’í religious virtues and includes, not just the acceptance of the legitimacy of the Bahá’í institution, but much more general attitudes of loyalty and a whole-hearted commitment to the Bahá’í Faith and Bahá’í community.”

Again, the above sentence is misleading; there is no quarrel about firmness in the Covenant (obedience to the Guardians who are the centers of the Cause and Interpreters of the word of God), but what does he mean by “Bahá’í
Institution” which he puts as the foundation of his erroneous and unauthorized interpretation on the acceptance of their legitimacy?

Moojan also wrote:

“Challenging the authority of the center of the Bahá’í Faith is the most serious spiritual offence that a Bahá’í can commit.”

This is a pretence, since the writer is following the organization who is challenging the authority of the Center of the Cause, the third Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith; he ignores the fact that only the Guardians are the Center
of the Cause (Head of the Bahá’í Faith).

‘Abdu’l-Bahá says:

“Were it not for the protecting power of the Covenant to guard the impregnable fort of the Cause of God, there would arise among the Bahá’ís, in one day, a thousand different sects as was the case in former ages. But in this Blessed Dispensation, for the sake of the permanency of the Cause of God and the avoidance of dissension amongst the people of God, the Blessed Beauty (may my soul be a sacrifice unto Him), has through the Supreme Pen written the Covenant and the Testament; He appointed a Center, the Exponent of the Book and the annuller of disputes. Whatever is written or said by Him is conformable to the truth and under the protection of the Blessed Beauty. He is infallible. The express purpose of this last Will and Testament is to set aside disputes from the world.”

(Bahá’í World Faith, p. 357-358)

Also, the Master in his Will and Testament says:

“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 the guardian of the Cause of God, to turn 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.”

Nosrat

When we look back and review the events following the passing of the first Guardian Shoghi Effendi, we are faced with many questions of which the “Custodians” case is one of them. A general question stands out which is: were all the sequences from the first telegram of Ruhiyyih Khanum up to the creation of the man-made and bogus Custodians premeditated?

Ruhiyyih Khanum in the book called “The Ministry of the Custodians” didn’t mention anything about her first telegram in which she had announced that Shoghi Effendi was ill at a time when he wasn’t in this world anymore, and she copied her cablegram when she announced the passing of the first Guardian in which she said:

“.URGE BELIEVERS REMAIN STEADFAST CLING INSTITUTION HANDS LOVINGLY REARED RECENTLY REINFORCED EMPHASIZED BELOVED GUARDIAN.”

At that time the Baha’i Faith was well organized. There were many Local and National Spiritual Assemblies and at the International level there was the International Baha’i Council at the summit, which according to Shoghi Effendi’s Message of 23 November 1951 this “Central Body” had to direct the affairs of the National Assemblies. On the other hand, the Hands of the Cause did not have any administrative authority or responsibility. Baha’is did not have direct contact or communication with the Hands, they were in contact and in touch with their Local Spiritual Assembly. Why did Ruhiyyih Khanum tell the Baha’is to cling to the Hands? And why did she have to tell Baha’is that this institution:

“REARED RECENTLY [was] REINFORCED [and] EMPHASIZED [by] BELOVED GUARDIAN”?

In the next cablegram in which she announced the date of the funeral and invited the Hands of the Cause and Auxiliary Board Members and members of NSA’s to attend the funeral she stated:

“ANY PRESS RELEASE SHOULD STATE [that MEETING [of] HANDS SHORTLY [in] HAIFA WILL MAKE ANNOUNCEMENT TO BAHÁ’Í WORLD REGARDING FUTURE PLANS”

(Ministry of the Custodians, p. 7)

It is known that Ruhiyyih Khanum and other former Hands of the Cause ignored the fact that according to the sacred Will and Testament of the Master:

“It is incumbent upon the Guardian of the Cause of God to appoint in his own lifetime him that shall become his successor”. They also took no notice of the fact that the first Guardian had appointed his successor “in his own lifetime” by appointing him as the Head of the Embryo of the Universal House of Justice.

The deceased Guardian had in place a ten-year Crusade, yet most of it remained uncompleted, so there was not an immediate need for planning. Ruhiyyih Khanum did not have any authority to tell the Hands or anybody else what to do. When the first Guardian was alive she, as his secretary, had the duty of transmitting the Guardian’s orders, but upon the passing of the Guardian she had no authority to replace him as the Guardian, also the Hands did not have any authority for planning.

It is evident that the future plans of Ruhiyyih Khanum were to give birth to a bastard and bogus body called “The Custodians of the Baha’i World Faith” as a successor to the Guardian in opposition to the Master plan established by Abdu’l-Baha and to dissolve the International Baha’i Council and thereby abort the embryo of the Universal House of Justice.

Nosrat’u’llah Bahremand

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