.
..
At
first, overcome by the grief of Abdu'l-Baha
sudden death at a time when he himself was studying away from the Holy
Land, and shaken by the extraordinary task assigned to him
in Abdu'l-Baha's
Will and Testament , he went away
to be alone for some time. After a period of preparation, he
came back ready to shoulder his responsibilities as the Guardian of the
Cause. From that day onwards he did not spare himself in anyway. Content
with little food and rest,
he
worked every hour of the day and far into the night, attending to the many
needs of
a
fast-growing world community. The detailed plans he gave for the progress
of
the
Faith in both the East and the West; the innumerable letters he
answered;
the volumes of translations he made from
the
writings of the Bab,
Baha'u'llah
and Abdu'l-Baha,
as
well as the remarkable books
he personally wrote,
all
remain as a lasting tribute to the colossal amount of dedicated
work
he accomplished.
.
As
a man, Shoghi Effendi had a rare combination of outstanding qualities which
set
him
apart from others and which inspired great love and administration in all
those who
knew
him. As Guardian of the Cause, he led the Baha'is through ordeals which
often seemed insurmountable, to victory after victory, until the Administrative
Order of their Faith was firmly established throughout the world, the institutions
through which they could combine their
forces
in the service of God and their fellowmen had been erected, and the unity
of
the
followers of Baha'u'llah ensured throughout the Baha'i Dispensation.
.
In
His Will and Testament, Abdu'l-baha had assured the baha'is that the Guardian
would
be under God's
special care and protection, and that he would be guided
to
lead them in all their undertakings. The years of the Guardianship proved
the
significance of Abdu'l-Baha's promise.
...
...
Shoghi
Effendi
Guardian
of the Baha'i Faith
.
...
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