Shoghi Effendi

For 36 years—from 1921 until his passing in 1957—Shoghi Effendi immersed himself completely in the work he had been appointed to shoulder as Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith.

Letter of Circa May, 1922 (undated).

Our Common Servitude May I also express my heartfelt desire that the friends of God in every land regard me in no other light but that of a true brother, united with them in our common servitude to the Master’s Sacred Threshold, and refer to me in their letters

...after that grievous event and great calamity...

IN THE NAME OF GOD This servant, after that grievous event and great calamity, the ascension of His Holiness ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá to the Abhá Kingdom, has been so stricken with grief and pain and so entangled in the troubles (created) by the enemies of the Cause of God, that

To an unnamed professor

Replying to your question as to whether I have been officially designated to represent the Bahá'í Community: 'Abdu'l-Bahá in his testament has appointed me to be the head of the universal council which is to be duly elected by national councils representative of the followers of Bahá'u'lláh in different countries.

Dear fellow-workers in the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh

Dear fellow-workers in the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh:— It is with words of regret and disappointment that I desire to open this letter because of my inability, in view of my manifold and pressing duties, to respond individually and in writing to the many messages of love and sympathy

To August Forel, regarding his correspondence with ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá

Honoured Sir: It is with regret and sorrow that I enclose at last the long-protracted translations of ‘Abdu’l- Bahá’s answer to your letter. His sudden passing to the Great Beyond has plunged us all in profound grief and added heavily to our preoccupations and responsibilities. Happily, however, the

In a letter regarding the pain of ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá's passing

Your . . . letter reached me in the very midst of my sorrows, my cares and afflictions . . . the pain, nay the anguish of His bereavement is so overwhelming, the burden of responsibility He has placed on my feeble and my youthful shoulders is so overwhelming . . . I am enclosing for you personally the

In a letter written to Nayyir Afnan, a nephew of 'Abdu'l-Baha

"Your ... letter reached me in the very midst of my sorrows, my cares and afflictions ... the pain, nay the anguish of His bereavement is so overwhelming, the burden of responsibility He has placed on my feeble and my youthful shoulders is so overwhelming..." He goes on to say: "I am

In a letter regarding missing His last days

All bitter remorse of having missed Him – in His Last Days – on this earth, I shall take with me to the grave no matter what I may do for Him in future, no matter to what extent my studies in England will repay his wondrous love for me. Originally sent

In a letter to a Local Spiritual Assembly about the purpose of consultation

The Ancient Beauty, exalted be His Most Great Name, states: “The canopy of world order is upraised upon the two pillars of consultation and compassion,” and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in one of His Tablets asserts: > “The purpose of consultation is to show that the views of several individuals are assuredly preferable

In response to Elizabeth Whyte, regarding the passing of ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá

Moments of gloom of intense sadness, of agitation I often experience for wherever I go I remember my beloved grandfather and whatever I do I feel the terrible responsibility He has so suddenly placed upon my feeble shoulders. How intensely I feel the urgent need of a thorough regeneration to