Shoghi Effendi - Definition and Overview

Shoghi Effendi (1897-1957)

The Guardian's Resting Place in London

Shoghi Effendi Rabbani was the Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith. He was appointed to that station in the Will and Testament of `Abdu'l-Bahá. Shoghi Effendi was the eldest grandson of 'Abdu'l-Bahá. He was born on March 1st 1897. From his earliest childhood he had a special relationshop with his grandfather 'Abdu'l-Bahá. He studied at the American University of Beirut and later at Balliol College, Oxford in England. After the passing of 'Abdu'l-Bahá on November 28th 1921 Shoghi Effendi began to guide the Bahá'í community, he set up the administrative principles upon which all future Bahá'í institutions are to function, he translated the writings of the Báb, Bahá'u'lláh and 'Abdu'l-Bahá and built the superstructure of the Shrine of the Báb in Haifa, Israel. During his ministry from 1921-1957 the Bahá'í-Religion developed to a global faith. When he took office there existed about 100.000 Bahá'ís, most of them of Persian origin. Only a few Bahá'ís lived in India, Europe and in the United States of America. Bahá'ís lived in about 35 countries. 36 years later at the end of his ministry more than 400.000 Bahá'ís lived in 250 countries. He was married to Amatu'l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khanum, a Hand of the Cause of God, which is the highest position occupied by individuals in the Bahá'í Faith. Shoghi Effendi died in England on November 4th, 1957 of Asian flu while on a visit to purchase furnishings for the Bahá'í archives building on Mount Carmel, Israel.

Genealogy of Shoghi Effendi

Below are thumbnail illustrations of the genealogy of Shoghi Effendi, showing direct lineage going back to Adam. Because of the image length, this chart has been divided into top and bottom sections. The chart was drawn by Grover Gonzales, and is also available here (http://bahai-library.com/?file=visuals_genealogyguardian.html) and here (mirrored) (http://farrid.20m.com/gu.htm).

Genealogy of Shoghi Effendi, top

Genealogy of Shoghi Effendi, bottom

References

• Ru'hi'yyih Rabbani, The Priceless Pearl, Bahai Publishing Trust, UK; ISBN 1-870989-91-0. 404pp.
• Riaz Khadem, Shoghi Effendi in Oxford, George Ronald, Oxford. ISBN 0-85398-423-9. 173pp.
• Ugo Giachery, Shoghi Effendi - Reflections, George Ronald, Oxford. ISBN 0-85398-050-0

See also: Orthodox Bahai Faith.

External links

• The Bahá'í World (http://www.bahai.org)
• The work and life of Shoghi Effendi (http://www.bahai.org/article-1-3-0-5.html)
• Writings of Shoghi Effendi (http://bahai-library.com/writings/shoghieffendi/)
• Biography of Shoghi Effendi (http://bahai-library.com/biography/life.shoghi.effendi.html)
• Directions to the Resting Place of Shoghi Effendi (http://www.bahai.org.uk/shoghi/)
• Writings of Shoghi Effendi in English, Persian, and Arabic (http://reference.bahai.org)
• Divine standard unfurled (http://www.bupc.org/genealogy.html)