After his death ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s will appointed his grandson, Shoghi Effendi, to lead the Bahá’í Faith, and to be the authorised interpreter of the Teachings. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá referred to his grandson as “the Guardian”.
The Guardian was born in Acre in 1897, the first child of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s eldest daughter. Like his grandfather, he grew up devoted to the service of both the Bahá’í community and to humanity. Shoghi Effendi was a keen linguist and spoke fluent Persian, Arabic, Turkish, French and English.
A kind humble and intensely shy person, he entered Balliol College, Oxford University in 1920 and dedicated himself to perfecting his English so that he could translate correctly and eloquently from Persian and Arabic into English, so that the writings of Bahá’u'lláh could be translated and widely distributed.
When he was only 25, and still studying in Oxford, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá passed away and he learned of his appointment in his will and testament. Taking as his guide the writings of Bahá’u'lláh, the Báb and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, he worked tirelessly to develop the fledgling Bahá’í communities around the world, so that would be able to support the institutions outlined by Bahá’u'lláh
Under the Guardianship many local and national Spiritual Assembles were established, which shouldered the responsibility for pastoral care of their communities, as well as to serve and assist wider society in efforts to establish peace and resolve conflict.
Shoghi Effendi also laid the foundations of the international governing body of the Bahá’í Faith, the Universal House of Justice. He also translated many volumes of the Faiths sacred writings from their original Persian and Arabic into a majestic style of English, so that authoritative translations could be made widely available.
Shoghi Effendi died in 1957 whilst visiting London, following thirty six years as leader of the Faith. He was laid to rest in New Southgate Cemetery in north London. Shoghi Effendi had by the time of his death overseen the expansion of the Bahá’í community on all continents, and prepared the way for the election of the Universal House of Justice in 1963.
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