Covenant

and

Administration

The excerpts appearing on the following pages have been compiled from the Bahá'í Sacred Writings, from the letters and writings of Shoghi Effendi, from statements approved by Shoghi Effendi, and from the Proclamation of the Hands of the Cause of God.

1971

THE COVENANT............................................................................... 3

THE WILL AND TESTAMENT OF `ABDUL-BAHA.................................... 39

THE ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER OF BAHA'U'LLAH................................. 44

Advent Advent of Divine Justice, by Shoghi Effendi

A.S.M. America's Spiritual Mission, "Divine Plan" Teaching Tablets of `Abdu'l-Bahá, 1916-1917

B. Admin. Bahá'í Administration, letters of Shoghi Effendi, 1922-1932

B. Community Bahá'í Community, compiled by the N.S.A., 1947

B. Proc. Bahá'í Procedure, compiled by N.S.A. (out of print)

B.S. Bahá'í Scriptures (compilation, out of print)

B.W.F. Bahá'í World Faith, collection from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh and `Abdu'l-Bahá

Chall. Reqts. [Ed. - see p. 11 in an online version] Challenging Requirements, by Shoghi Effendi, 1947

D.B. Dawn Breakers (Nabils Narrative)

Gl. Gleanings form the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh

G.P.B. God Passes By, by Shoghi Effendi, 1944

M.A. Messages to America, letters of Shoghi Effendi, 1932-1946

P.D. The Promised Day is Come, by Shoghi Effendi, 1941

P. & M. Prayers and Meditations by Bahá'u'lláh

Promulg. U. P. Promulgation of Universal Peace, talks by `Abdu'l-Bahá in the United States

W.O.B. World Order of Bahá'u'lláh, letters of Shoghi Effendi, 1929-1936

W. & T. Will and Testament of `Abdu'l-Bahá

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I. THE GREAT OR "ANCIENT" COVENANT OF GOD ........................ 7

A. THE COVENANTS OF GOD REGARDING SUCCESION OF THE PROPHETS..........7

B. THE COVENANT MADE BY THE MANIFESTATIONS CONCERNING THE FUTURE PROPHETS...........................................................................8

II. THE NEW COVENANT ­ THE COVENANT OF BAHÁ'U'LLÁH.....................9

A. THE GREAT, THE ANCIENT COVENANT FULFILLED BY BAHÁ'U'LLÁH..10

1. Prophecies concerning the Next Manifestation....................................12

2. Two Forms of Bahá'í Covenant......................................................12

B. THE "LESSER COVENANT" ­ WITH THE BELIEVERS..............................12

1. Bahá'u'lláh's Appointment of `Abdu'l-Bahá as the Center of the Covenant....12

a. Purpose of This Covenant.....................................................13

b. Station of `Abdu'l-Bahá as Center of the Covenant........................15

c. Difficulty of Understanding the Station of `Abdu'l-Bahá.................16

d. This Covenant Unique and Unknown in Previous Dispensations.......17

2. `Abdu'l-Bahá's Covenant with the Believers.................................18

a. His Appointment of Shoghi Effendi as the First Guardian of the Line of Guardians........................................................................18

b. Succession of Guardians......................................................20

III. QUALIFICATIONS OF BAHA'I FAITH AND PRACTICE....................................21

A. THE BELIEVERS ­ PARTY OF THE COVENANT

B. THE GUARDIAN'S STATEMENT CONCERNING QUALIFICATIONS OF BELIEVER.........................................................................................21

1. The True Believer Destined for High Station ......................................22

a. Attainment Dependent on Certain Conditions......................................22

b. Evidences of Firmenss.................................................................23

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C. NECESSITY FOR FIRMNESS IN THE COVENANT ..................................24

1. To Preserve the Unity of the Faith...................................................24

2. To insure Victory and Attract Bounties of God....................................26

IV. COVENANT-BREAKING............................................................................27

A. RESULTS OF VIOLATION OF THE COVENANT......................................29

1. Covenant-Breakers Cut Themselves Off from the Cause of God................30

2. Expulsion and Reinstatement of Covenant-Breakers..............................30

B. NECESSITY OF SHUNNING COVENANT-BREAKERS..............................31

V. PROTECTION OF THE COVENANT...............................................................33

VI. POWER OF THE COVENANT......................................................................34

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"For this divine Covenant is an institution of the Lord."

`Abdu'l-Bahá, from Tablet,

Star of West, Vol. VIII, p. 223.

"So firm and mighty is this Covenant that from the beginning of time until the present day no religious Dispensation hath produced its like... It is indubitably clear, that

the pivot of the oneness of mankind is nothing else but the power of the Covenant...The lamp of the Covenant is the light of the world, and the words traced by the

Pen of the Most High a limitless ocean...The power of the Covenant is as the heat of the sun which quickeneth and promoteth the development of all created things

on earth. The light of the Covenant, in like manner, is the educator of the minds, the spirits, the hearts and souls of men."

-- Words of `Abdu'l-Bahá, cited in God Passes By, pp. 238-239.

"...Today, the Lord of Hosts is the defender of the Covenant, the forces of the Kingdom protect it, heavenly souls tender their services, and heavenly angels

promulgate and spread it broadcast. It is considered with insight, it will be seen that all the forces of the Universe, in the last analysis serve the Covenant..."

`Abdu'l-Bahá from Tablet, Star of West, Vol. XI, p. 242.

" For firmness in the Covenant will preserve the unity of the religion of God and the foundation of the religion of God will not be shaken."

`Abdu'l-Bahá from Tablet, Star of West, Vol. VIII, p. 223.

"Everything (in the world) is subject to corruption; but the Covenant of thy Lord shall continue to pervade all regions."

`Abdu'l-Bahá from Tablet, Star of West, Vol. IV, p. 170.

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I. THE GREAT OR "ANCIENT" COVENANT OF GOD

Since time immemorial God has covenanted with His people that He would not leave them to themselves alone but would send them Teachers or Prophets with unerring guidance to assist and help them, to lead them to true knowledge and to show them the path of nearness to Him. This is the Great Covenant, the Ancient Covenant of God through which God has unfailingly released His regenerating Power, which has recreated all things and which has educated man enabling him to build an ever-advancing civilization. Each of His Manifestations in turn has always foretold the Prophets or Teacher to come after Him.

"The golden thread of the Covenant runs through and connects the religious Dispensations of the past. The Old Testament means the Old Covenant: the New Testament means the New Covenant."

Study Outline on the Covenant (1948), p.12

"God's purpose in sending His Prophets unto men is twofold. The first is to liberate the children of men from the darkness of ignorance, and guide them to the light of true understanding. The second is to ensure the peace and tranquillity of mankind, and provide all the means by which they can be established."

-- Bahá'u'lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, pp. 79-80

A. THE COVENANTS OF GOD REGARDING SUCCESION OF THE PROPHETS

"Every Prophet Whom the Almighty and Peerless Creator hath purposed to send to the peoples of the earth hath been entrusted with a Message, and charged to act

in a manner that would best meet the requirements of the age in which He appeared."

-- Bahá'u'lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 79

The following are a few of numerous references containing the Covenants of God regarding the succession of Prophets to be sent to the world to renew His

everlasting Covenant and to guide men to the light of understanding.

(From World Order Magazine, Vol. VIII, p.32)

ADAM Gen. II 15-17

NOAH Gen. IV: 18, IX: 8-17

ABRAHAM Gen. XV: 18, XVII: 1-9, XXII: 17-18

MOSES Exodus XIX: 1-6, XXIV: 1-18, XXXI: 16, III: 15

c ­ Jeremiah renews ­ Jer. XI: 1-8

JESUS Heb. XII 24, VIII: 5-13

MUHAMMAD Qur'án IV: 57-83, pp. 417-420 (Rodwell's Trans.)

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The BÁB Prayers and Meditations., pp. 128-129, 306, 85-86

BAHÁ'U'LLÁH Gleanings., pp. 127-128, 331-332

B. THE COVENANT MADE BY THE MANIFESTATIONS CONCERNING THE FUTURE PROPHETS

"The divine Prophets are conjoined in the perfect state of love. Each One has given the glad tidings of His successor's coming and each successor has sanctioned the One Who preceded Him. They were in the utmost unity, but Their followers are in strife."

-- `Abdu'l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 222

"His Holiness Abraham, on Him be peace, made a covenant concerning His Holiness Moses and gave the glad-tidings of His coming. His Holiness Moses made a covenant concerning the Promised One, i.e. His Holiness Christ, and announced the good news of His Manifestation to the world. His Holiness Christ made a covenant concerning the Paraclete and gave the tidings of His coming. His Holiness the Prophet Muhammad made a covenant concerning His Holiness the Báb and the Báb was the One promised by Muhammad, for Muhammad gave the tidings of His coming. The Báb made a Covenant concerning the Blessed Beauty of Bahá'u'lláh and gave the glad-tidings of His coming for the Blessed Beauty was the One promised by His Holiness the Báb. 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."

-- `Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablet (Archives), cited in Bahá'í World Faith, p. 358

Every Prophet has covenanted with His people that they accept and follow the coming Manifestation who would be the reappearance of His own reality.

The following are a few references containing such covenants (From World Order Magazine, Vol. VIII, p.32):

MOSES Deut., XVIII: 15-19, XXXIII: 2

JESUS John, XV: 26, XVI: 7

II. Peter, III: 1-12

MUHAMMAD Qur'án LIV: 53-56 (page 79), III: 75 (page 394)

THE BÁB Prayers and Meditations., pp. 84-86, 285-286

BAHÁ'U'LLÁH Gleanings., p. 346, 373-374

The World Order of Bahá'u'lláh., pp. 132, 167, 116-117, 124-126

`Abdu'l-Bahá (regarding future Manifestations) - The World Order of Bahá'u'lláh., p. 111

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Prophecies of the Báb about Bahá'u'lláh (cited by Shoghi Effendi)

"Today the Bayán is in the stage of seed; at the beginning of the manifestation of `Him Whom God shall make manifest' its ultimate perfection will become apparent...."

-- From Persian Bayán, in The World Order of Baha'u'llah, p. 100

"Ere nine will have elapsed from the inception of this Cause," He more particularly has stated, "the realities of the created things will not be made manifest. All that thou hast as yet seen is but the stage from the moist germ until We clothed it with flesh. Be patient, until thou beholdest a new creation."

-- Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, p. 29*

"The Bayán deriveth all its glory from `Him Whom God shall make manifest.'"

-- From Persian Bayán, in The World Order of Baha'u'llah, p. 100

"...O Thou Remnant of God! I have sacrificed myself wholly for Thee: I have accepted curses for Thy sake, and have yearned for naught but martyrdom in the path of Thy love. Sufficient witness unto me is God, the Exalted, the Protector, the Ancient of Days."

From Qayyúmu'l-Asmá, in The World Order of Baha'u'llah, p. 101

* "Year Nine" is 1269A.H. or 1853-1853A.D. (see God Passes By, p. 104)

II. THE NEW COVENANT ­ THE COVENANT OF BAHA'U'LLAH

"All through the Holy Books is to be found the promise of a still newer Covenant that would be made in the Latter Days. This is the Covenant of the 'Day of God'."

Study Outline on the Covenant (1948), p.12

"Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake...But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more."

Jeremiah 31:31-34

"The Lord, the All-Glorified," He has moreover declared, "hath, beneath the shade of the Tree of Anísá (Tree of Life), made a new Covenant and established a great Testament... Hath such a Covenant been established in any previous Dispensation, age, period or century? Hath such a Testament, set down by the Pen of the Most High, ever been witnessed? No, by God!"

-- `Abdu'l-Bahá, cited in God Passes By, p. 238

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"The Revelation which, from time immemorial, hath been acclaimed as the Purpose and Promise of all the Prophets of God, and the most cherished Desire of His Messengers, hath now, by virtue of the pervasive Will of the Almighty and at His irresistible bidding, been revealed unto men. The advent of such a Revelation hath been heralded in all the sacred Scriptures."

-- Bahá'u'lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 5

"With each and every Prophet, Whom We have sent down in the We have established a separate Covenant concerning the `Remembrance of God' and His Day..."

-- The Báb, cited in The World Order of Baha'u'llah, p. 126

"The time foreordained unto the peoples and kindreds of the earth is now come. The promises of God, as recorded in the holy Scriptures, have all been fulfilled. Out of Zion hath gone forth the Law of God, and Jerusalem, and the hills and land thereof, are filled with the glory of His Revelation. Happy is the man that pondereth in his heart that which hath been revealed in the Books of God, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting. Meditate upon this, O ye beloved of God, and let your ears be attentive unto His Word, so that ye may, by His grace and mercy, drink your fill from the crystal waters of constancy, and become as steadfast and immovable as the mountain in His Cause."

-- Bahá'u'lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, pp. 12-13

"The Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh, whose supreme mission is none other but the achievement of this organic and spiritual unity of the whole body of nations, should, if we be faithful to its implications, be regarded as signalizing through its advent the coming of age of the entire human race. It should be viewed not merely as yet another spiritual revival in the ever-changing fortunes of mankind, not only as a further stage in a chain of progressive Revelations, nor even as the culmination of one of a series of recurrent prophetic cycles, but rather as marking the last and highest stage in the stupendous evolution of man's collective life on this planet."

-- Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Baha'u'llah, p. 163

A. THE GREAT, THE ANCIENT COVENANT FULFILLED BY BAHA'U'LLAH

"In His Name who shines forth from the Horizon of Might! Verily the Tongue of the Ancient gives glad tidings to those who are in the world concerning the appearance of the Greatest Name, and who takes His Covenant among the nations. Verily, He is Myself; the Shining-Place of My Identity; the East of My Cause; the Heaven of My Bounty; the Sea of My Will; the Lamp of My Guidance; the Path of My Justice; the Standard of My Love. The one who hath turned to Him hath turned to My face and is illumined through the lights of My Beauty; hath acknowledged My Oneness and confessed My Singleness. The one who hath denied Him hath been deprived of the Salsibil of My Love, of the Kawthar of My Grace, the cup of My Mercy and of the Wine by which the sincere ones have been attracted and the monotheists have taken flight in the air of My Compassion, which no one hath known except him whom I have taught the matter revealed in My Hidden Tablet."

Bahá'u'lláh, Bahá'í Scriptures, (Out of Print), p. 255, sec.527.

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The following is the Guardian's explanation of the excerpt (above):

It should be made clear to every one reading those extracts that by the phrase "the Tongue of the Ancient" no one else is meant but God, and that the term "the Greatest Name" is an obvious reference to Bahá'u'lláh, and that "the Covenant" referred to is not the specific Covenant of which Bahá'u'lláh is the immediate Author and `Abdu'l-Bahá the Center but that general Covenant which, as inculcated by the Bahá'í teaching, God Himself invariably establishes with mankind when He inaugurates a new Dispensation. "The Tongue" that "gives," as stated in those extracts, the "glad-tidings" is none other than the Voice of God referring to Bahá'u'lláh, and not Bahá'u'lláh referring to `Abdu'l-Bahá.

-- Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Baha'u'llah, p. 137 (Dispensation)

"...The Prophetic Cycle hath, verily, ended. The Eternal Truth is now come. He hath lifted up the Ensign of Power, and is now shedding upon the world the unclouded splendor of His Revelation."

-- Bahá'u'lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 60

"The Faith of Bahá'u'lláh should indeed be regarded, if we wish to be faithful to the tremendous implications of its message, as the culmination of a cycle, the final stage in a series of successive, of preliminary and progressive revelations. These, beginning with Adam and ending with the Báb, have paved the way and anticipated with an ever-increasing emphasis the advent of that Day of Days in which He Who is the Promise of All Ages should be made manifest."

-- Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Baha'u'llah, p. 103

"A Revelation, hailed as the promise and crowning glory of past ages and centuries, as the consummation of all the Dispensations within the Adamic Cycle, inaugurating an era of at least a thousand years' duration, and a cycle destined to last no less than five thousand centuries, signalizing the end of the Prophetic Era and the beginning of the Era of Fulfillment..."

-- Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, p. 100

1. Prophecies Concerning the Next Manifestation

"...First is the Covenant that every Prophet makes with humanity, or, more definitely, with His People that they will accept and follow the coming Manifestation who will be the reappearance of His reality..."

Shoghi Effendi, Bahá'í News, No. 80, p. 5, col. 1.

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"Whoso layeth claim to a Revelation direct from God, ere the expiration of a full thousand years, such a man is assuredly a lying impostor. We pray God that He may graciously assist him to retract and repudiate such claim. Should he repent, God will, no doubt, forgive him. If, however, he persisteth in his error, God will, assuredly, send down one who will deal mercilessly with him."

-- Bahá'u'lláh, in The Kitab-i-Aqdas, p32 [Ed. - now at par. 37], cited in The World Order of Baha'u'llah, p. 132

2. Two Forms of Bahá'í Covenant

"As regards the meaning of the Bahá'í Covenant: The Guardian considers the existence of two forms of Covenant both of which are explicitly mentioned in the literature of the Cause. First is the Covenant that every Prophet makes with humanity, or more definitely, with His people that they will accept and follow the coming Manifestation who will be the reappearance of His reality. The second form of Covenant is such as the one Bahá'u'lláh made with His people that they should accept the Master [`Abdu'l-Bahá]. This is merely to establish and strengthen the succession of the series of Lights that appear after every Manifestation. Under the same

category falls the Covenant the Master made with the Bahá'ís that they should accept His administration after Him..."

Shoghi Effendi, through his Secretary, Bahá'í News, No. 80, p.5, col. 1

B. THE "LESSER COVENANT" ­ WITH THE BELIEVERS

1. Bahá'u'lláh's Appointment of `Abdu'l-Bahá as the Center of the Covenant

"When the ocean of My presence hath ebbed and the Book of My Revelation is ended, turn your faces toward Him Whom God hath purposed, Who hath branched from this Ancient Root."

-- Bahá'u'lláh, in The Kitab-i-Aqdas, p63 [Ed. - now online as par. 121], cited in The World Order of Baha'u'llah, p. 134

"It is incumbent upon the Aghsán, the Afnán and My Kindred to turn, one and all, their faces towards the Most Mighty Branch. Consider that which We have revealed in Our Most Holy Book: `When the ocean of My presence hath ebbed and the Book of My Revelation is ended, turn your faces toward Him Whom God hath purposed, Who hath branched from this Ancient Root.' The object of this sacred verse is none other except the Most Mighty Branch [`Abdu'l-Bahá]. Thus have We graciously revealed unto you Our potent Will, and I am verily the Gracious, the All-Powerful."

-- Bahá'u'lláh, in Kitáb-I-`Ahd [Ed. - p. 221 in online version], cited in The World Order of Baha'u'llah, p. 134

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"When the Mystic Dove will have winged its flight from its Sanctuary of Praise and sought its far-off goal, its hidden habitation, refer ye whatsoever ye understand not in the Book to Him Who hath branched from this mighty Stock."

-- Bahá'u'lláh, in The Kitab-i-Aqdas, p82 [Ed. - now online as par. 174], cited in The World Order of Baha'u'llah, p. 134

"There hath branched from the Sadratu'l-Muntahá this sacred and glorious Being, this Branch of Holiness; well is it with him that hath sought His shelter and abideth beneath His shadow. Verily the Limb of the Law of God hath sprung forth from this Root which God hath firmly implanted in the Ground of His Will, and Whose Branch hath been so uplifted as to encompass the whole of creation. Magnified be He, therefore, for this sublime, this blessed, this mighty, this exalted Handiwork!...

A Word hath, as a token of Our grace, gone forth from the Most Great Tablet--a Word which God hath adorned with the ornament of His own Self, and made it sovereign over the earth and all that is therein, and a sign of His greatness and power among its people ..."

-- Bahá'u'lláh, in Tablet of the Branch, cited in The World Order of Baha'u'llah, p. 135

"In accordance with the explicit text of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas Bahá'u'lláh hath made the Center of the Covenant the Interpreter of His Word-- a Covenant so firm and mighty that from the beginning of time until the present day no religious Dispensation hath produced its like."

-- `Abdu'l-Bahá, cited by Shoghi Effendi in The World Order of Baha'u'llah, p. 136

"In the Book of Aqdas, He has given positive command in two clear instances and has explicitly appointed the Interpreter of the Book. Also in all the Divine Tablets, especially in the Chapter of The Branch--all the meanings of which mean the Servitude of `Abdu'l-Bahá, that is `Abdu'l-Bahá--all that was needed to explain the Center of the Covenant and the Interpreter of the Book has been revealed from the Supreme Pen. Now as `Abdu'l-Bahá is the Interpreter of the Book He says that the "Chapter of The Branch" means `Abdu'l-Bahá, that is, the Servitude of `Abdu'l-Bahá, and none other."

-- `Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablet (Archives), cited in Baha'i World Faith, pp. 358-359

a. Purpose of This Covenant

Inasmuch as great differences and divergences of denominational belief had arisen throughout the past, every man with a new idea attributing it to God, Bahá'u'lláh desired that there should not be any ground or reason for disagreement among the Bahá'ís. Therefore, with His own pen He wrote the Book of His Covenant, addressing His relations and all people of the world, saying, "Verily, I have appointed One Who is the Center of My Covenant. All must obey Him; all must turn to Him;

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He is the Expounder of My Book, and He is informed of My purpose. All must turn to Him. Whatsoever He says is correct, for, verily, He knoweth the texts of My Book. Other than He, no one doth know My Book." The purpose of this statement is that there should never be discord and divergence among the Bahá'ís but that they should always be unified and agreed...

-- `Abdu'l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 317

Therefore, you must read the Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh. You must read the Tablet of the Branch and regard that which He has so clearly stated. Beware! Beware! lest anyone should speak from the authority of his own thoughts or create a new thing out of himself. Beware! Beware! According to the explicit Covenant of Bahá'u'lláh you should care nothing at all for such a person. Bahá'u'lláh shuns such souls.

-- `Abdu'l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 323

"To ensure 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...."

-- `Abdu'l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 451

"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."

-- `Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablet (Archives), cited in Bahá'í World Faith, pp. 357-8

"To direct and canalize these forces let loose by this Heaven-sent process, and to insure their harmonious and continuous operation after His ascension, an instrument divinely ordained, invested with indisputable authority, organically linked with the Author of the Revelation Himself, was clearly indispensable. That instrument Bahá'u'lláh had expressly provided through the institution of the Covenant..."

-- Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, pp. 237-238

"To the people of Faith, the clear appointment of the Center of the Cause, after the departure of the Manifestation, is considered the most important point in religious matters, as it is the greatest channel which connects the servants of God with Holy and Divine Truth."

Mírzá Abu'l-Fadl, Bahá'í Proofs, p. 108

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b. Station of `Abdu'l-Bahá as Center of the Covenant

i. Interpreter of the Word of God

"I am according to the explicit texts of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas and the Kitáb-i-`Ahd the manifest Interpreter of the Word of God... Whoso deviates from my interpretation is a victim of his own fancy."

-- `Abdu'l-Bahá, cited in The World Order of Baha'u'llah, p. 138

"My station is the station of servitude--a servitude which is complete, pure and real, firmly established, enduring, obvious, explicitly revealed and subject to no interpretation whatever... I am the Interpreter of the Word of God; such is my interpretation."

-- `Abdu'l-Bahá, cited in The World Order of Baha'u'llah, p. 133

ii. The Shield and Shelter for All Mankind

"We have made Thee a shelter for all mankind," He, in yet another Tablet, affirms, "a shield unto all who are in heaven and on earth, a stronghold for whosoever hath believed in God, the Incomparable, the All-Knowing. God grant that through Thee He may protect them, may enrich and sustain them, that He may inspire Thee with that which shall be a wellspring of wealth unto all created things, an ocean of bounty unto all men, and the dayspring of mercy unto all peoples."

-- Bahá'u'lláh, Tablet to `Abdu'l-Bahá, cited in The World Order of Baha'u'llah, pp. 135-136

iii. The Mystery of God

"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 Bahá'í 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. He is, above and beyond these appellations, the "Mystery of God"--an _expression by which Bahá'u'lláh Himself has chosen to designate Him, and which, while it does not by any means justify us to assign to Him the station of Prophethood, indicates how in the person of `Abdu'l-Bahá the incompatible characteristics of a human nature and superhuman knowledge and perfection have been blended and are completely harmonized."

-- Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Baha'u'llah, p. 134

"But if any soul asks concerning the station of this servant, the answer is -- `Abdu'l-Bahá. If he inquires after the meaning of the Branch, the answer is -- `Abdu'l-Bahá. If he desires to know the significance of the verse regarding The Branch, the answer is -- `Abdu'l-Bahá. If he insists upon the explanation of the meaning of the Branch extended from the Ancient Root, the answer is -- `Abdu'l-Bahá."

`Abdu'l-Bahá from Tablet, Star of West, Vol. VIII, p. 186; also p. 212

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"According to the clear text of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas and other tablets, the Center of the Covenant is the remover of difficulties, for he is the interpreter of the Book. Not one soul has the right to say one word of his own account, or to explain anything or to elucidate the text of the Book, whether in public or private..."

`Abdu'l-Bahá from Tablet, Star of West, Vol. VIII, p. 223

c. Difficulty of Understanding the Station of `Abdu'l-Bahá

"...it would be indeed difficult for us, who stand so close to such a tremendous figure and are drawn by the mysterious power of so magnetic a personality, to obtain a clear and exact understanding of the role and character of One Who, not only in the Dispensation of Bahá'u'lláh but in the entire field of religious history, fulfills a unique function. Though moving in a sphere of His own and holding a rank radically different from that of the Author and the Forerunnner of the Bahá'í Revelation, He, by virtue of the station ordained for Him through the Covenant of Bahá'u'lláh, forms together with them what may be termed the Three Central Figures of a Faith that stands unapproached in the world's spiritual history. He towers, in conjunction with them, above the destinies of this infant Faith of God from a level to which no individual or body ministering to its needs after Him, and for no less a period than a full thousand years, can ever hope to rise..."

-- Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Baha'u'llah, pp. 131-132

Render thanks unto God, O people, for His appearance; for verily He is the most great Favor unto you, the most perfect bounty upon you; and through Him every mouldering bone is quickened. Whoso turneth towards Him hath turned towards God, and whoso turneth away from Him hath turned away from My Beauty, hath repudiated My Proof, and transgresses against Me. He is the Trust of God amongst you, His charge within you, His manifestation unto you and His appearance among His favored servants...We have sent Him down in the form of a human temple. Blest and sanctified be God Who createth whatsoever He willeth through His inviolable, His infallible decree. They who deprive themselves of the shadow of the Branch, are lost in the wilderness of error, are consumed by the heat of worldly desires, and are of those who will assuredly perish."

Bahá'u'lláh, from a Tablet of the Branch, cited in The World Order of Baha'u'llah, p. 135

"Thou knowest, O my God, that I desire for Him naught except that which Thou didst desire, and have chosen Him for no purpose save that which Thou hadst intended for Him. Render Him victorious, therefore, through Thy hosts of earth and heaven...Ordain, I beseech Thee, by the ardor of My love for Thee and yearning to manifest Thy Cause, for Him, as well as for them that love Him, that which Thou hadst destined for Thy Messengers and the Trustees of Thy Revelation. Verily, Thou art the Almighty, the All-Powerful."

-- Revealed for `Abdu'l-Bahá, cited in The World Order of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 136

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d. This Covenant Unique and Unknown in Previous Dispensations

"In former cycles no distinct Covenant was made in Writing by the Supreme Pen; no distinct personage was appointed to be the Standard differentiating falsehood from truth, so that whatsoever he said was to stand as truth and that which he repudiated was to be known as falsehood. At most, His Holiness Jesus Christ gave only and intimation, a symbol, and that was but an indication of the solidarity of Peter's faith. When he mentioned his faith, His Holiness said, 'Thou art Peter' ­ which means rock ­ 'and upon this rock will I build my church.' This was a sanction of Peter's faith; it was not indicative of his [Peter] being the expounder of the Book, but was a confirmation of Peter's faith.

"But in this Dispensation of the Blessed Beauty (Bahá'u'lláh) among its distinctions is that He did not leave people in perplexity. He entered into a Covenant and Testament with the people. He appointed a Center of the Covenant. He wrote with His own pen and revealed it in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, the Book of Laws, and Kitáb-I-`Ahd, the Book of the Covenant, appointing Him (`Abdu'l-Bahá) the Expounder of the Book. You must ask Him (`Abdu'l-Bahá) regarding the means of the texts of the verses. Whatsoever He says is correct. Outside of this, in numerous Tablets He (Bahá'u'lláh) has explicitly recorded it, with clear, sufficient valid and forceful statements. In the Tablet of the Branch He explicitly states: Whatsoever the Branch says is right, or correct; and every person must obey The Brach with his life, with his heart, with his tongue. Without His will, not a word shall anyone utter. This is an explicit text of the Blessed Beauty. So there no excuse left for anybody. No soul shall, of himself, speak anything. Whatsoever His (`Abdu'l-Bahá's) tongue utters, whatsoever His pen records, that is correct; according the explicit text of Bahá'u'lláh in the Tablet of the Branch."

`Abdu'l-Bahá, Star of West, Vol. III, No. 14, p. 9

"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..."

-- `Abdu'l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 451

"Written entirely in His own hand...this unique and epoch-making Document [Kitáb-I-`Ahd], designated by Bahá'u'lláh as His 'Most Great Tablet', and alluded to by Him as the 'Crimson Book' in His 'Epistle to the Son of the Wolf', can find no parallel in the Scriptures of any previous Dispensation, not excluding that of the Báb Himself. For nowhere in the writings of the Author of the Bábi Revelation, do we find any single document establishing a Covenant endowed with an authority comparable to the Covenant which Bahá'u'lláh had Himself instituted."

-- Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, p. 238

"In short, one of the specific teachings of this cycle of His Holiness Bahá'u'lláh which has not been manifest during the former cycles, is that His Holiness Bahá'u'lláh left no opportunity for a difference (division). For in His blessed Day He made a Covenant and Testament with the traces of the Supreme Pen and explained the One to whom all should turn; and He explicitly pointed to the Interpreter of the Book, and thus closed

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all doors to interpretations. We must offer thanks to God, for He gave us rest (peace) in this blessed cycle, and left no occasion for anyone to hesitate (doubt). All must therefore obey and be submissive and wholly turn themselves to the one appointed by Him, i.e. the Center of the Covenant."

`Abdu'l-Bahá, Star of West, Vol. VIII, p. 187

"So firm and mighty is this Covenant that from the beginning of time until the present day no religious Dispensation hath produced its like."

`Abdu'l-Bahá, cited in The World Order of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 146 (Disp.).

2. `Abdu'l-Bahá's Covenant with the Believers

a. His Appointment of Shoghi Effendi as the First Guardian of the Line of Guardians

"Salutation and praise, blessing and glory rest upon that primal branch of the Divine and Sacred Lote-Tree, grown out, blest, tender, verdant and flourishing from the Twin Holy Trees; the most wondrous, unique and priceless pearl that doth gleam from out the Twin surging seas...for behold! he the blest and sacred bough that hath branched out from the Twin Holy Trees. Well is it with him that seeketh the shelter of his shade that shadoweth all mankind."

Complete text p.3 (Bahá'í Administration., p. 3)

"O my loving friends! After the passing away of this wronged one, it is incumbent upon the Aghsán (Branches), the Afnán (Twigs) of the Sacred Lote-Tree, the Hands (pillars) of the Cause of God and the loved ones of the Abhá Beauty to turn unto Shoghi Effendi ­ the youthful branch branched from the two hallowed and sacred Lote-Tress and the fruit grown from the union of the two offshoots of the Tree of Holiness, -as he is the Sign of God, the chosen branch, the guardian of the Cause of God, he unto whom all the Aghsán, the Afnán, the Hands of the Cause of God and His loved ones must turn. He is the expounder of the words of God and after him will success the first-born of his lineal descendants."

Complete text, p.11 (Bahá'í Administration., p. 6)

"O ye beloved of the Lord! 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. He that is appointed must manifest in himself detachment from all worldly things, must be the essence of purity, must show in himself the fear of God, knowledge, wisdom and learning. Thus should be the first-born of the guardian of the Cause of God 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, then must he (the guardian of the Cause of God) choose another branch to succeed him.

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"O ye the faithful loved ones of `Abdu'l-Bahá! It is incumbent upon you to take the greatest care of Shoghi Effendi, the twig that hath branched from and the fruit given forth by the two hallowed and Divine Lote-Trees, that no dust of despondency and sorrow may stain his radiant nature, that day by day he may wax greater in happiness, in joy and spirituality, and may grow to become even as a fruitful tree.

"For he is, after `Abdu'l-Bahá, the guardian of the Cause of God, the Afnán, the Hands (pillars) of the Cause and the beloved of the Lord must obey him and turn unto him. He that obeyeth him not, hath not obeyed God; he that turneth away from him, hath turned away, hath turned away from God and he that denieth him, hath denied the True One. Beware lest anyone falsely interpret these words, and like unto them that have broken the Covenant after the Day of Ascension (of Bahá'u'lláh) advance a pretext, raise the standard of revolt, wax stubborn and open wide the door of false interpretation. To none is given the right to put forth his own opinion or express his particular convictions. All must seek guidance and turn unto the Center of the Cause and the House of Justice. And he that turneth unto whatsoever else is indeed in grievous error.

"The Glory of Glories rest upon you!"

Complete text, pp.25-26 (Bahá'í Administration., p. 12)

"...The mighty stronghold shall remain impregnable and safe through obedience to him who is the guardian of the Cause of God..."

Complete text, p.11 (Bahá'í Administration., p. 7)

"O ye that stand fast in the Covenant! When the hour cometh that this wronged and broken-winged bird will have taken its flight unto the celestial concourse, when it will have hastened to the Realm of the Unseen and its mortal frame will have been either lost or hidden neath the dust, it is incumbent upon the Afnán, that are steadfast in the Covenant of God, and have branched from the Tree of Holiness; the Hands (pillars) of the Cause of God, (the glory of the Lord rest upon them), and all the friends and loved ones, one and all to bestir themselves and arise with heart and soul and in one accord, to diffuse the sweet savors of God, to teach His

Cause and to promote His Faith. It behooveth them not to rest for a moment neither to seek repose. They must disperse themselves in every land, pass by every clime and travel throughout all regions. Bestirred, without rest and steadfast to the end they must raise in every land the triumphal cry 'O Thou Glory of Glories!' (Yá- Bahá'u'l-Abhá), must achieve renown in the world wherever they go, must burn brightly even as a candle in every meeting and must kindle the flame of Divine love in every assembly; that the light of truth may rise resplendent in the midmost heart of the world, that throughout the East and throughout the West a vast concourse may gather under the shadow of the Word of God, that the sweet savors of holiness may be diffused, that faces may shine radiantly hearts be filled with the Divine spirit and souls be made heavenly.

"In these days, the most important of all things is the guidance of the nations and peoples of the world. Teaching the Cause is of utmost importance for it is the head corner-stone of the foundation itself..."

Complete text, p.10 (Bahá'í Administration., pp. 5-6)

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b. Succession of Guardians

By "the hereditary principle and the law of primogeniture" (The World Order of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 147) "he [Shoghi Effendi] is the expounder of the words of God and after him will succeed the first-born of his lineal descendants."

-- `Abdu'l-Bahá, Will and Testament., p. 11.

"O ye beloved of the Lord! 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. He that is appointed must manifest in himself detachment from all worldly things, must be the essence of purity, must show in himself the fear of God, knowledge, wisdom and learning. Thus should the first-born of the guardian of the Cause of God 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) choose another branch to succeed him."

-- `Abdu'l-Bahá, Will and Testament., p. 12. (Bahá'í Administration., p. 8)

"The Hands of the Cause of God must elect from their own number nine persons that shall at all times be occupied in the important services in the work of the guardian of the Cause of God. The election of these nine Hands of the Cause of God and these, whether unanimously or by a majority vote, must give their assent to the choice of the one whom the guardian of the Cause of God hath chosen as his successor. This assent must be given in such wise as the assenting and dissenting voices may not be distinguished (secret ballot)."

Complete text, p.12 (Bahá'í Administration., p. 8)

"The statement in the Will of `Abdu'l-Bahá does not imply that the Hands of the Cause of God have been given the authority to overrule the Guardian. `Abdu'l-Bahá could not have provided for a conflict of authority in the Faith. This is obvious, in view of His own words, which you will find on page 13 (p. 11 of 1944 U. S. edition) of the Will and Testament of `Abdu'l-Bahá. '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 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,' etc."

(Letter to an American believer from the Guardian through his secretary, June 6, 1954, published in Bahá'í News, February 1955.)

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III. QUALIFICATIONS OF BAHA'I FAITH AND PRACTICE

"i. God's promise of a blessing to be fulfilled on the performance of a condition. ii. A divine ordinance designed to govern the relations between God and man."

(Funk & Wagnall's New Dictionary.)

"The promises of God as revealed in the Scriptures, conditioned on certain terms on the part of man, as obedience, repentance, faith, etc."

(Webster's New International Dictionary)

A. THE BELIEVERS ­ PARTY OF THE COVENANT

"O party of the Covenant! Verily, the Beauty of El-Abhá hath promised the most great assistance to the beloved who are firm in the Covenant and to confirm them through the mightiest power...Adhere to the hem of the robe of the Lofty One and do your best to spread the Covenant of God..."

Tablets of `Abdu'l-Bahá, Vol. I, p. 1.

"...according to the irrefutable texts, He has taken from us a firm covenant that we may live and act in accord with the divine exhortations, commands and lordly teachings."

Tablets of `Abdu'l-Bahá, Vol. I, p. 42.

"The first duty prescribed by God for His servants is the recognition of Him Who is the Day Spring of His Revelation and the Fountain of His laws, Who representeth the Godhead in both the Kingdom of His Cause and the world of creation. Whoso achieveth this duty hath attained unto all good; and whoso is deprived thereof, hath gone astray, though he be the author of every righteous deed. It behooveth every one who reacheth this most sublime station, this summit of transcendent glory, to observe every ordinance of Him Who is the Desire of the world. These twin duties are inseparable. Neither is acceptable without the other. Thus hath it been decreed by Him who is the Source of Divine inspiration."

-- Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, pp. 330-331. (Bahá'u'lláh, Introductory Words to Kitáb-i-Aqdas [Ed. - now online as par. 1], in Star of West, Vol. IV, p. 298.)

B. THE GUARDIAN'S STATEMENT CONCERNING QUALIFICATIONS OF BELIEVER

"Regarding the very delicate and complex question of ascertaining the qualifications of a true believer...I would only venture to state very briefly and as adequately as present circumstances permit the principal factors that must be taken into consideration before deciding whether a person may be regarded a true believer or not." And he continues: "Full recognition of the station of the Forerunner [the Báb], the Author [Bahá'u'lláh], and True Exemplar [`Abdu'l-Bahá] of the Bahá'í Cause, as set forth in `Abdu'l-Bahá's Testament; unreserved acceptance of, and submission to, whatsoever has been revealed by their Pen; loyal and steadfast adherence to every clause of our Beloved's sacred will; and close association with the spirit as well as the form of the present day Bahá'í administration throughout the world..."

-- Bahá'í Administration., p. 90 (Incorporated as Article II, By-Laws of National Spiritual Assembly.)

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1. The True Believer Destined for a High Station

"The station which he who hath truly recognized this Revelation will attain is the same as the one ordained for such prophets of the house of Israel as are not regarded as Manifestations 'endowed with constancy.'"

Bahá'u'lláh, cited in The World Order of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 111; see also Advent of Divine of Justice, pp. 63-64.

"Consider ye what doors His Holiness Bahá'u'lláh has opened before you, and what a high and exalted station He has destined for you, and what bounties He has prepared for you! Should we become intoxicated with this cup, the sovereignty of the globe of earth will become lower in our estimation than the children's plays. Should they place in the arena the crown of the government of the whole world, and invite each one of us to accept it, undoubtedly we shall not condescend, and shall refuse to accept it."

`Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablet, America's Spiritual Mission, "Divine Plan" Teaching Tablets of `Abdu'l-Bahá 1916-1917., p.23 [Ed. - pp. 50-51 in online version]; Bahá'í World Faith, p. 425

a. Attainment of Supreme Station Dependent upon Certain Conditions

i. Firmness in the Covenant

"The first condition is firmness in the Covenant of God. For the power of the Covenant will protect the Cause of Bahá'u'lláh from the doubts of the people of error. It is the fortified fortress of the Cause of God and the firm pillar of the religion of God. Today no power can conserve the oneness of the Bahá'í world save the Covenant of God; otherwise differences like unto a most great tempest will encompass the Bahá'í world. It is evident that the axis of the oneness of the world of humanity is the power of the Covenant and nothing else...Therefore, in the beginning one must make his steps firm in the Covenant -- so that the confirmations of

Bahá'u'lláh may encircle from all sides, the cohorts of the Supreme Concourse may become the supporters and the helpers, and the exhortations and advices of `Abdu'l-Bahá, like unto the pictures engraved on stone, may remain permanent and ineffaceable in tablets of the hearts."

`Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablet, America's Spiritual Mission, "Divine Plan" Teaching Tablets of `Abdu'l-Bahá 1916-1917., p. 23-24 [Ed. - pp. 51-52 in online version]; Bahá'í World Faith, pp. 425-426

ii. Fellowship and Love

"The second condition: Fellowship and love amongst the believers. The divine friends must be attracted to and enamored of each other and ever be willing to sacrifice their own lives for each other...This is the wisdom for the appearance of the Holy Manifestations! When the most great bestowal reveals itself in the hearts of the believers, the world of nature will be transformed, the darkness of the contingent being will vanish, and heavenly illumination will be obtained. Then the whole world will become the Paradise of Abhá, every one of the believers of God will become a blessed tree, producing wonderful fruits."

`Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablet, America's Spiritual Mission, "Divine Plan" Teaching Tablets of `Abdu'l-Bahá 1916-1917., p. 24 [Ed. - pp. 52-53 in online version]; Bahá'í World Faith, p. 426

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iii. Promotion of the Faith

"The third condition: Teachers must continually travel to parts of the continent, nay, rather, to all parts of the world, but they must travel like `Abdu'l-Bahá, who journeyed throughout the cities of America. He was sanctified and free from every attachment and in the utmost severance..." "The aim is this" The intention of the teacher must be pure, his heart independent, his spirit attracted, his thought at peace, his resolution firm, his magnanimity exalted and in the love of God a shining torch. Should he become as such, his sanctified breath will even affect the rock; otherwise there will be no result whatsoever..."

`Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablet, America's Spiritual Mission, "Divine Plan" Teaching Tablets of `Abdu'l-Bahá 1916-1917., pp. 24-25 [Ed. - pp. 53-54 in online version]; Bahá'í World Faith, p. 426-427

"It is known and clear that today the unseen divine assistance encompasseth those who deliver the Message. And if the work of delivering the Message be neglected, the assistance shall be entirely cut off, for it is impossible that the friends of God receive assistance unless they be engaged in delivering the Message."

Tablets of `Abdu'l-Bahá, Vol. II, pp. 390-391.

b. Evidences of Firmness

"O ye cohorts of God! If you observe that a soul has turned his face completely toward the Cause of God, his intention is centralized upon the penetration of the Word of God, he is serving the Cause day and night with the utmost fidelity, no scent of selfishness is inhaled from his manners and deeds, and no trace of egotism or prejudice is seen in his personality ­ nay rather he is a wanderer in the wilderness of the love of God, and one intoxicated with the wine of the knowledge of God, occupied wholly with the diffusion of the fragrances of God, and attracted to the signs of the Kingdom of God; know ye of a certainty that he is confirmed with the powers of the Kingdom, assisted by the Heaven of Might; and he will shine, gleam and sparkle like unto the morning star with the utmost brilliancy and splendor from the horizon of the everlasting gift. If he is alloyed with the slightest trace of passion, desire, ostentation or self-interest, it is certain that the results of all efforts will prove fruitless, and he will become deprived and hopeless."

Tablets of `Abdu'l-Bahá, Vol. I, p. 42.

Firmness in the Covenant means obedience so that no one may say, 'this is my opinion,' nay rather he must obey that which proceeds from the Pen and Tongue of the Covenant."

`Abdu'l-Bahá, in Tablet, Star of West, Vol. IV, p. 174

"Endeavor, therefore, that ye may scatter and disperse the army of doubt and error with the power of the Holy Utterances. This is my will and this is my counsel. Do not quarrel with anybody, and shun every form

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of dispute. Utter the Word of God. If he accepts it the desired purpose is attained, and if he turns away leave him to himself and trust to God. Such is the attribute of those who are firm in the Covenant."

`Abdu'l-Bahá, in Tablet, Star of West, Vol. X, p. 265

"O ye beloved of the God, know that steadfastness and firmness in this new and wonderful Covenant is indeed the spirit that quickeneth the hearts which are overflowing with the love of the Glorious Lord; verily, it is the power which penetrates into the hearts of the people of the world! Your Lord hath assuredly promised His servants who are firm and steadfast to render them victorious at all times, to exalt their word, propagate their power, diffuse their lights, strengthen their hearts, elevate their banners, assist their hosts, brighten their stars, increase the abundance of the showers of mercy upon them, and enable the brave lions (or teachers) to conquer.

"Hasten, hasten, O ye firm believers! Hasten, hasten, O ye steadfast! Abandon the heedless, set aside every ignorant, take hold of the strong rope, be firm in this Great Cause, draw light from this Evident Light, be patient and be steadfast in this wise Religion! Ye shall see the hosts of inspiration descending successively from the Supreme World, the procession of attraction falling incessantly from the heights of heaven, the abundance of the Kingdom of El Abhá outpouring continually and the teachings of God penetrating with the utmost power, while the heedless are indeed in evident loss."

Tablets of `Abdu'l-Bahá, Vol. II, pp. 442-443

"Iscariot must not be forgotten; the Divine sheep must constantly be guarded against devouring wolves; the light of the Cause of God must be protected from contrary winds by means of a chimney; the oppressed fowls must be shielded against the birds of prey; blooming roses should be saved from the outstretched hands of injustice and the lambs of God must be fortified against the fierce claws of ravenous animals."

`Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablet (Archives), Bahá'í World Faith, p. 357

C. NECESSITY FOR FIRMNESS IN THE COVENANT

1. To Preserve the Unity of the Faith

" The aim of the appearance of the Blessed Perfection...was the unity and agreement of all people of the world. Therefore, my utmost desire, firstly, is the accord and union and love of the believers, and after that of all the people of the world..."

`Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablet (Archives), Bahá'í World Faith, p. 402

"...This New World Order, whose promise is enshrined in the Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh, whose fundamental principles have been enunciated in the writings of the Center of His Covenant, involves no less than the complete unification of the entire human race..."

-- Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Baha'u'llah, p. 162

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"Today the most important affair is firmness in the Covenant, because firmness in the Covenant wards off differences."

`Abdu'l-Bahá, Star of West, Vol. III, No. 14, p. 9; also Vol. XII, p. 227

"...Therefore, the hope is entertained that thou wilt be assisted under all conditions, for today that which is most important is firmness in the Covenant and the Testament and otherwise Bahá'í unity will not be preserved. If Bahá'í unity could be preserved through something else, undoubtedly the Blessed Beauty would have commanded it."

`Abdu'l-Bahá, Star of West, Vol. X, p. 268

"Be sure, therefore, that if the believers are not united in the Will of God they will not be assisted. This is especially necessary because all of them are under the tent of the Covenant in this Revelation. There is strength only in unity. Under one tent there is union and harmony. The Covenant of God in this day of manifestation is a lifeboat and ark and ark of salvation. All true followers of the Blessed Perfection are sheltered and protected in this ark. Whoever leaves it, trusting in his own will and strength, will drown and be destroyed. For the Blessed Perfection left no possibility for discord, disagreement and dissension. The Covenant is like the sea and the believers as the fishes in the sea. If a fish leaves the water it cannot live. There is nothing to equal, nothing so effective as the Covenant of God to bring about and continue unity..."

`Abdu'l-Bahá as quoted in "Ten Days in the Light of Acca," p. 48, in Star of West, Vol. VIII, p. 222

"...Misunderstanding cannot be eliminated by any power save that of the Covenant...All previous books are subordinate to this Book of the Covenant...consider that if the friends remain firm in the Covenant, will there be any misunderstanding among them? No, by God! Except those souls who have an evil intention and are thinking of leadership and forming party...these souls are themselves at present among the pioneers of violation. This is because of their personal motives for they had thought of securing leadership and wealth..."

`Abdu'l-Bahá, from Tablet, Star of West, Vol. X, pp. 235-236

"We have no other aim save the protection of the Fortified Fortress of the Cause of God. We must guard this Fortified Fortress from the attack of the thoughtless ones. Hence we must all turn our faces to the appointed Center in order that the Bahá'í Unity might be preserved; otherwise in one year the Bahá'ís would be divided into a thousand sects. We entertain no other object except the safety of the Cause of God!"

`Abdu'l-Bahá, from Tablet, Star of West, Vol. V, pp. 233

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2. To Insure Victory and Attract the Bounties of God

"So firm and mighty is this Covenant that form the beginning of time until the present day no religious Dispensation hath produced its like."

"Whatsover is latent in the innermost of this holy cycle shall gradually appear and be made manifest, for now is but the beginning of its growth and the dayspring of the revelation of its signs."

`Abdu'l-Bahá, cited in The World Order of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 146

"Today no soul has any station or enjoys any title except the soul who is firm in the Covenant and steadfast in the Testament, who entirely forgets himself and is released from the world."

`Abdu'l-Bahá, from Tablet, Star of West, Vol. VIII, p. 218

"Today whoever is firm in the Covenant shall become ignited like unto a candle in the assemblage of the world and the confirmation of the Kingdom of Abhá shall encircle him from all directions."

`Abdu'l-Bahá, from Tablet, Star of West, Vol. VIII, p. 219

"Rest ye assured that if a soul arises in the utmost perseverance and raises the Call of the Kingdom and resolutely promulgates the Covenant ­ be he an insignificant ant ­ he shall be enabled to drive away the formidable elephant from the arena, and if he be a feeble moth he shall cut to pieces the plumage of the rapacious vulture."

`Abdu'l-Bahá, from Tablet, Star of West, Vol. X, p. 265

"Be ye assured with the greatest assurance that, verily, God will help those who are firm in His Covenant in every matter, through His confirmation and favor, the lights of which will shine forth unto the east of the earth, as well as the west thereof. He will make them the signs of guidance among the creation and as shining and glittering stars from all horizons."

Tablets of `Abdu'l-Bahá, Vol. I, p. 83

"...Whoever is firm in the Covenant and the Testament is today endowed with a seeing eye, and a responsive ear and daily advances in the divine realm until he becomes a heavenly angel."

`Abdu'l-Bahá, from Tablet, Star of West, Vol. X, p. 251

Prayers for Firmness in the Covenant

"Praised be Thou, O Lord my God! I implore Thee by Them Who are the Tabernacles of Thy Divine holiness, Who are the Manifestations of Thy transcendent unity and the Day-Springs of Thine inspiration and revelation, to grant that Thy servants may not be kept back from this Divine Law which, at Thy will and according to Thy pleasure, hath branched out from Thy most great Ocean. Do Thou, then, ordain for them that which Thou didst ordain for Thy chosen ones and for the righteous among Thy creatures, whose constancy in Thy Cause the tempests of trials have failed to shake, and whom the

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tumults of tests have been powerless to hinder from magnifying Thy most exalted Word ­ the Word through which the heavens of men's idle fancies and vain imaginations have been split asunder. Thou art, verily, the Almighty, the All-Glorious, the All-Knowing."

Bahá'u'lláh, Prayers and Meditations., p. 27

"Bring them together again, O Lord, by the power of Thy Covenant and gather their dispersion by the might of Thy Promise, and unite their hearts by the dominion of Thy Love; and make them love each other so that they may sacrifice their spirits, expend their money, and scatter themselves for the love of one another. O Lord, cause to descend upon them quietness and tranquility! Shower upon them the Clouds of Thy Mercy in great abundance, and make them to characterize themselves with the characteristics of the Spiritual! O Lord, make us firm in Thy noble command, and bestow upon us Thy Gifts through Thy Bounty, Grace and Munificence.

"Verily, Thou art the Generous, the Merciful, and Benevolent."

`Abdu'l-Bahá, Star of West, Vol. IV, p. 240

IV. COVENANT-BREAKING

"...Now, that the true Faith of God may be shielded and protected, His Law guarded and preserved and His Cause remain safe and secure, it is incumbent upon everyone to hold fast unto the Text of the clear and firmly established blessed verse...He said: - 'Should he for a moment pass out from the shadow of the Cause, he surely shall be brought to naught.' Reflect! What stress He layeth upon one moment's deviation: that is, were he to incline a hair's breadth to the right or left, his deviation would be established and his utter nothingness made manifest...

"What deviation can be greater than breaking the Covenant of God! What deviation can be greater than interpolating and falsifying the words and verses of the Sacred Text...What deviation can be greater than calumniating the Center of the Covenant himself! What deviation can be more glaring than spreading broadcast false and foolish reports touching the Temple of God's Testament!...What deviation can be more infamous than the vain and feeble interpretations of the people of doubt! What deviation can be more wicked than joining hands with strangers and with the enemies of God! "

-- `Abdu'l-Bahá, Will and Testament., Complete text, pp. 6-7

"His Holiness Bahá'u'lláh covenanted, no that I (`Abdu'l-Bahá) am the Promised One, but that `Abdu'l-Bahá is the Expounder of the Book and the Center of the Covenant; and that the Promised One of Bahá'u'lláh will appear after one thousand or thousands of years. This is the Covenant which Bahá'u'lláh made. If a person shall deviate, he is not acceptable at the Threshold of Bahá'u'lláh. In case of difference, `Abdu'l-Bahá must be con-

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sulted. They must resolve around his good pleasure. After `Abdu'l-Bahá, whenever the Universal House of Justice is organized it will ward off differences."

Star of West, Vol. XII, p. 228

"The sacred and youthful branch, the guardian of the Cause of God, as well as the Universal House of Justice, are both under the care and protection of the Abhá Beauty, under the shelter and unerring guidance of His Holiness, the Exalted One (may my life be offered up for them both). Whatsoever they decide is of God. Whoso obeyeth him not, neither obeyeth them, hath not obeyed God; whoso rebelleth against him and against them hath rebelled against God; ...whoso denieth himhath denied God;...whoso deviateth, separateth himself and turneth aside from him in truth deviated, separated himself and turned aside from God. May the wrath, the fierce indignation, the vengeance of God rest upon him! 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 Aghsán, the Afnán, 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. Beware, beware, lest the days after the ascension (of Bahá'u'lláh) be repeated when the Center of Sedition waxed haughty and rebellious and with Divine Unity for his excuse deprived himself and perturbed and poisoned others. No doubt every vainglorious one that purposeth dissension and discord will not openly declare his evil purposes, nay rather, even as impure gold, would he seize upon divers measures and various pretexts that he may separate the gathering of the people of Bahá. My object is to show that the Hands of the Cause of God must be ever watchful and so soon as they find anyone beginning to oppose and protest against the guardian of the Cause of God cast him out from the congregation of the people of Bahá and in no wise accept any excuse from him. How often hath grievous error been disguised in the garb of truth, that it might sow the seeds of doubt in the hearts of men!"

Will and Testament., Complete text, pp. 11-12 (Bahá'í Administration., pp. 7-8)

"O ye the faithful loved ones of `Abdu'l-Bahá! It is incumbent upon you to take the greatest care of Shoghi Effendi, the twig that hath branched from and the fruit given forth by the hallowed and Divine Lote-Trees, day by day he may wax greater in happiness, in joy and spirituality, and may grow to become even as a fruitful tree.

"For he is, after `Abdu'l-Bahá, the guardian of the Cause of God, the Afnán, the Hands (pillars) of the Cause and the beloved of the Lord must obey him and turn unto him. He that obeyeth him not, hath not obeyed God; he that turneth away from him, hath turned away, hath turned away from God and he that denieth him, hath denied the True One. Beware lest anyone falsely interpret these words, and like unto them that have broken the Covenant after the Day of Ascension (of Bahá'u'lláh) advance a pretext, raise the standard of revolt, wax stubborn and open wide the door of false interpretation. To none is given the right to put forth his own opinion or express his particular convictions. All must seek guidance and turn unto the Center of the Cause and the House of Justice. And he that turneth unto whatsoever else is indeed in grievous error.

"The Glory of Glories rest upon you!"

Will and Testament.(end), Complete text, pp. 25-26 (Bahá'í Administration., p. 12)

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"...Carnal desires are the cause of differences as it is the case with violators. These do no doubt the validity of the Covenant, but selfish motives have dragged them to this condition. It is not that they ignore what they do ­ they are perfectly aware and still they exhibit opposition.

"In short, the ocean of the Covenant is tumultuous and wide. It casts ashore the foam of violation and thus rest ye assured..."

`Abdu'l-Bahá, from Tablet, Star of West, Vol. X, p. 246

"O ye servants!...do not follow self; break not God's Covenant and violate not His Testament. Proceed with perfect steadfastness and with heart, soul and tongue, turn unto Him, and be not of the thoughtless..."

Star of West, Vol. XIII, p. 22; also Bahá'í World Faith, p. 434

"Those who have broken the Covenant of God, notwithstanding His commands, and have turned away, they are the people of error before the Most Opulent, the Exalted!"... "Those who have been faithful to God's Covenant are the highest ones in the sight of the exalted Lord. Those who have become negligent are of the people of fire in the sight of thy Lord, the Beloved, the Independent."

Star of West, Vol. XIII, p. 23; also Bahá'í World Faith, p. 435

A. RESULTS OF VIOLATION OF THE COVENANT

"Now consider the body of the faithful believers: If any one member severs his connection with the Center of the Covenant ­ from Whom all receive their spiritual force ­ he ceases to be a living and active member of the body; and, again, if he be not working and performing his function in the Kingdom, the supply of spiritual sustenance flowing to him from the Center of the Covenant will be diminished in proportion as he fails to perform his work."

Mason Remey, article approved by `Abdu'l-Bahá, Star of West, Vol. IV, p. 242

"...These agitations of the violators are no more than the foam of the ocean, which is one of its inseparable features, but the ocean of the Covenant shall surge and

shall cast ashore those dead bodies for it cannot contain them. Thus it is seen that the ocean of the Covenant has surged and surged until it has thrown out the dead

bodies ­ the souls that are deprived of the Spirit of God and are lost in passion and self and are seeking leadership. In fine, this froth of the ocean shall not endure

and shall soon disappear and vanish, while on the other hand the ocean of the Covenant shall eternally surge and roar."

`Abdu'l-Bahá, from Tablet, Star of West, Vol. X, p. 265

"...Today every wise, vigilant and foresighted person is awakened, and to him are unveiled the mysteries of the future, that nothing save the power of the Covenant is able to stir and move the hearts of humanity...The Covenant of God is like a vast and fathomless ocean. A billow shall rise and surge therefrom and shall cast ashore all accumulated foam..."

`Abdu'l-Bahá, from Tablet, Star of West, Vol. X, p. 153

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1. Covenant-Breakers Cut Themselves Off From the Cause of God

"His Holiness Christ did not exercise despotism in the case of Judas Iscariot and His own brothers, - but they separated themselves."

`Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablet, Bahá'í World Faith, p. 438

"Jude, servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James...: For there are certain men crept in unawares...denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not...Woe unto them! For they have gone in the way of Cain...and perished in the gainsaying of Core [Korah]...clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead...Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever."

Jude, verses 1, 4-5, 11-13

2. Expulsions and Reinstatement of Covenant-Breakers

The believers are requested to study the following statement by the Guardian, and grasp its meaning. By our understanding of it we can avoid confusion and division of opinion in any future cases that may arise. The passage is taken from the Guardian's letter of April 11, 1949, written through his secretary to the NSA:

"The Guardian, like the Master before him, has not considered it advisable to as yet permit any person or Assembly to put another person out of the Cause of God. There is sharp distinction between depriving a believer of his voting rights, which is severe disciplinary measure and not a spiritual sanction, and pronouncing a former believer to be a truly spiritually diseased soul, a soul in the condition the Master referred to when, in His last cable to America before His ascension, He said: ' he who sitteth with a leper catcheth leprosy'. The Guardian has, within the last few years, considered the National Assemblies strong enough to wield the instrument of sanction in the sense of depriving a Bahá'í of his voting rights. But no one but himself can pronounce a person to be in the diseased condition we call 'Covenant-breaking', and no one but he can reinstate a Covenant-breaker. No National Assembly has been given this right and cannot, therefore, review the question or reinstate any one. All any National Assembly can do is to report to the Guardian if they are approached by a Covenant-breaker, and then the Guardian will take action. It is a pity that some of the Western friends, with remarkable naiveté, do not grasp the fact that there is absolutely nothing keeping those who have broken the Covenant, whether Bahá'u'lláh's or the Master's, out of the Cause of God except their own inner spiritually sick condition. If they were sound, instead of diseased, and wanted to enter the service of the Faith, they would apply direct to the Guardian and he would be able to judge of their sincerity and, if sincere, would welcome them into the ranks of the faithful as he did with Sydney Sprague. Unfortunately, a man who is ill is not made

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well just by asserting there is nothing wrong with him! Fact, actual states, are what count. Probably no group of people in the world have softer tongues, or proclaim more loudly their innocence, than those who in their heart of hearts, and by every act, are enemies of the Center of the Covenant. The Master well knew this and that is why He said we must shun their company, but pray for them. If you put a leper in a room with healthy people, he cannot catch their health; they are very likely to catch his horrible ailment."

Bahá'í News, No. 220 (June, 1949), p. 2

B. NECESSITY OF SHUNNING COVENANT-BREAKERS

"And now, one of the greatest and most fundamental principles of the Cause of God is to shun and avoid entirely the Covenant-breakers, for they will utterly destroy the Cause of God, exterminate His law and render of no account all efforts exerted in the past. O friends! It behooveth you to call to mind with tenderness the trials of His Holiness, the Exalted One, and show your fidelity to the Ever-Blest Beauty. The utmost endeavor must be exerted lest all these woes, trials and afflictions, all this pure and sacred blood that hath been shed so profusely in the Path of God, may prove to be in vain."

-- `Abdu'l-Bahá, Will and Testament., Complete text, p. 20

"O thou dear maid-servant of God!

"Thy letter was received and the contents became know...Thou hadst asked some questions; that why the blessed and spiritual souls, who are firm and steadfast, shun the company of degenerate persons. This is because, that just as bodily diseases like consumption and cancer are contagious, likewise the spiritual diseases are also infectious. If a consumptive should associate with a thousand safe and healthy persons, the safety and health of these thousand persons would not affect the consumptive and would not cure him of his consumption. But when this consumptive associates with those thousand souls, in a short time the disease of consumption will infect a number of those healthy persons. This is a clear and self-evident question.

"Likewise, if a thousand magnanimous persons associate with a degraded one, the perfection of those souls will not affect this debased person. On the contrary, this means person will become the cause of their going astray..."

`Abdu'l-Bahá, from Tablet, Star of West, Vol. XII, p. 233

"...In short the point is this: `Abdu'l-Bahá is extremely kind, but when the disease of leprosy, what am I to do? ... one must protect and safeguard the blessed souls from the breaths and fatal spiritual diseases, otherwise violation, like the plague, will become a contagion and all will perish..."

`Abdu'l-Bahá, from Tablet, Star of West, Vol. XIII, p. 25; also Bahá'í World Faith, p. 438

"O ye beloved of the Lord! Strive with all your heart to shield the Cause of God from the onslaught of the insincere, for souls such as these cause the straight to become crooked and all benevolent efforts to produce contrary results."

-- `Abdu'l-Bahá, Will and Testament., (Complete Text) pp. 21-22 (Bahá'í Administration., p. 11)

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" The foundation of the Kingdom of God is laid upon justice, fairness, mercy, sympathy and kindness to every soul. Then strive ye with heart and soul to practice love and kindness to the world of humanity at large, except to those souls who are selfish and insincere. It is not advisable to show kindness to a person who is a tyrant, a traitor or a thief because kindness encourages him to become worse and does not awaken him. The more kindness you show to a liar the more he is apt to lie, for he thinks that you know not, while you do know, but extreme kindness keeps you from revealing your knowledge."

`Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablet (Archives), Bahá'í World Faith, p. 412

"Endeavor to your utmost to protect yourselves, because Satan appears in different robes and appeals to everyone according to each person's own way, until he becomes like unto him (Satan), then he will leave him alone...Be informed by these utterances and shun the manifestations of the people of hell...

"The greatest of degradation is to leave the Shadow of God and enter the shadow of Satan."

Star of West, Vol. XIII, pp. 20, 22; also Bahá'í World Faith, pp. 431, 434

"...This is a hidden information of which we have informed the chosen ones lest they may be deprived of their praiseworthy station by associating with the embodiments of hatred. Therefore, it is incumbent upon all the friends of God to shun any person in whom they perceive the emanation of hatred for the glorious Beauty of Abhá, though he may quote all the heavenly utterances and cling to all the Books...Protect yourselves with the utmost vigilance, lest you be entrapped in the snare of deception and fraud."

Star of West, Vol. XIII, pp. 20; also Bahá'í World Faith, pp. 430-431

"O God, my God! Shield thy trusted servants from the evils of self and passion, protect them with the watchful eye of Thy loving kindness from all rancor, hate and envy, shelter them in the impregnable stronghold of Thy Cause and, safe from the darts of doubtfulness, make them the manifestations of Thy glorious signs, illumine their faces with the effulgent rays shed from the Dayspring of Thy Divine Unity, gladden their hearts with the verses revealed from Thy Holy Kingdom, strengthen their loins by Thy all-swaying power that cometh from Thy Realm of Glory. Thou art the All-Bountiful, the Protector, the Almighty, the Gracious!"

-- Will and Testament., (Complete Text) p. 9 (Bahá'í Administration., p. 5); also, Bahá'í Prayers (1949), p. 62 [Ed. - p. 135 in online version].

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V. PROTECTION OF THE COVENANT

"The Covenant is an Orb which shines and gleams forth unto the universe. Verily, its lights will dispel darkness, its sea will cast out the froth of suspicion upon the shores of perdition. Verily, naught in the world can resist the power of the Kingdom. Should all mankind assemble, could they prevent the sun from giving its light, the winds from their blowing, the clouds from their showers, the mountains from their firmness or the stars from their beaming? No! by the Lord, the Clement. Everything (in the world) is subject to corruption, but the Covenant of thy Lord shall continue to pervade all regions."

`Abdu'l-Bahá, Star of West, Vol. VI, p. 107

"...Thou hast written that in view of the questions of violation thou art perturbed. There is no occasion for perturbation for the Blessed Beauty [Bahá'u'lláh] has closed all doors of error and doubt and has entered with all the friends into a Covenant and a Testament..."

`Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablet, Star of West, Vol. X, pp. 233-234

"...the power of the Covenant will protect the Cause of Bahá'u'lláh from the doubts of the people of error. It is the fortified fortress of the Cause of God and is the firm pillar of the religion of God. Today no power can conserve the oneness of the Bahá'í world save the Covenant of God; otherwise differences like unto a most great tempest will encompass the Bahá'í world. It is evident that the axis of the oneness of the world of humanity is the power of the Covenant and nothing else."

`Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablet, America's Spiritual Mission, "Divine Plan" Teaching Tablets of `Abdu'l-Bahá 1916-1917., p.23 [Ed. - p. 51 in online version]; Bahá'í World Faith, p. 425

"Iscariot must not be forgotten; the Divine sheep must constantly be guarded against devouring wolves; the light of the Cause of God must be protected from contrary winds by means of a chimney; the oppressed fowls must be shielded against the birds of prey; blooming roses should be saved from the outstretched hands of injustice and the lambs of God must be fortified against the fierce claws of ravenous animals.

"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."

`Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablet (Archives), Bahá'í World Faith, pp. 357-358

"...And this Covenant is the Ancient Covenant, the Illuminator of the horizons...It is the Testament and the Covenant and it is mentioned in...all the early Books and

in the later Tablets...It is the holy fragrance of His Holiness, the Creator, and the Breaths of Life of the garden of the Creator. It is the strong fortress; therefore it is a

sure shelter for all created beings, and in brief, it is the sum of all sacred writings, ancient and modern!"

`Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablet, Star of West, Vol. VIII, pp. 213-214

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"O Thou My Greatest Branch! ... Verily, we have ordained Thee the Guardian of all the creatures, and a Protection to all those in the heavens and earths, and a Fortress to those who believe in God, the One, the Omniscient! ... I beg of Him to water the earth and all that is in it by Thee..."

Star of West, Vol. IV, pp. 239

VI. POWER OF THE COVENANT

"The power of the Covenant is as the heat of the sun which quickeneth and promoteth the development of all created things on earth. The light of the Covenant, in like manner, is the educator of the minds, the spirits, the hearts and souls of men."

-- `Abdu'l-Bahá, cited in God Passes By, p. 239

"Verily, God effecteth that which He pleaseth; naught can annul His Covenant; naught can obstruct His favor nor oppose His Cause! He doeth with all His will that which pleaseth Him and He is powerful over all things!"

Tablets of `Abdu'l-Bahá, Vol. III, p. 598.

"It is indubitably clear that the pivot of the oneness of mankind is nothing else but the power of the Covenant."

-- `Abdu'l-Bahá, cited in God Passes By, p. 238

"Know this for a certainty that today the penetrative power in the arteries and nerves of the world of humanity is the power of the Covenant...There is no other power like unto this. Consider what a transformation has been effected since my first visit [to New York 1912]. This has been made possible through the power of the Covenant."

`Abdu'l-Bahá, Star of West, Vol. XI, p. 121

"Although in the body of the universe there are innumerable nerves, yet the main artery, which pulsates, energizes and invigorates all beings, is the power of the Covenant. All else is secondary to this. Nobody is assisted and confirmed save that soul who is firm. Consider it well that every soul who is firm in the Covenant is luminous, like unto a candle which emanates its light on those around it. While every wavering soul is an utter failure, frozen lifeless, dead yet moving. This one proof is sufficient..."

`Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablet, Star of West, Vol. XI, p. 308

"...Today the stirring power that exhibits itself throughout all regions is the power of the Covenant which, like unto the artery, beats and pulsates in the body of the world. He who is firmer in the Covenant is more assisted, just as ye are manifestly witnessing how firm souls are enkindled, attracted and confirmed..."

`Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablet, Star of West, Vol. X, p. 233

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"Today, the Lord of Hosts is the defender of the Covenant, the forces of the Kingdom protect it, heavenly souls tender their services, and heavenly angels promulgate and spread it broadcast. If it is considered with insight, it will be seen that all the forces of the Universe in the last analysis serve the Covenant."

`Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablet, Star of West, Vol. XI, p. 242

"For this divine Covenant is an institution of the Lord. The Blessed Perfection, in all the tablets, books, epistles and supplications, has begged confirmation for and praised and commended those who are firm in this Covenant and Testament, and has asked the wrath of God and woe and desolation unto the violators.

"For firmness in the Covenant will preserve the unity of the religion of God and the foundation of the religion of God will not be shaken."

`Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablet, Star of West, Vol. VIII, p. 223

"So firm and mighty is this Covenant that from the beginning of time until the present day no religious Dispensation hath produced its like." "It is indubitably clear, that the pivot of the oneness of mankind is nothing else but the power of the Covenant." "Know thou, that the 'Sure Handle' mentioned from the foundation of the world in the Books, the Tablets and the Scriptures of old is naught else but the Covenant ." "The lamp of the Covenant is the light of the world, and the words traced by the Pen of the Most High a limitless ocean."

-- `Abdu'l-Bahá, cited in God Passes By, p. 238.

"The confirmation of the Kingdom of Abhá shall descend uninterruptedly upon those souls who are firm in the Covenant. Thou hast well observed that every firm one is assisted and aided and every violator is degraded, humiliated and lost...This Covenant is the Covenant of His Holiness Bahá'u'lláh. Now its importance is not known befittingly, but in the future it shall attain to such a degree of importance that if a king violates to the extent of one atom he shall be cut off immediately."

`Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablet, Star of West, Vol. IV, p. 240

"Take the cup of the Testament in thy hand; leap and dance with ecstacy in the triumphal procession of the Covenant! Lay your confidence in the everlasting bounty, turn to the prescence of the generous God; ask assistance from the Kingdom of Abhá; seek confirmation from the Supreme World; turn thy vision toward the horizon of eternal wealth; and pray for help from the Source of Mercy!"

Tablets of `Abdu'l-Bahá, Vol. III, p. 642.

"O ye beloved of God! Repose not yourselves on your couches, nay bestir yourselves as soon as ye recognize your Lord, the Creator, and hear of the things which have befallen Him, and hasten to His assistance. Unloose your tongues, and proclaim unceasingly His Cause. This shall be better for you than all the treasures of the past and of the future, if ye be of them that comprehend the truth."

Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 330

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"O ye friends of God! `Abdu'l-Bahá is day and night thinking of you and mentioning you, for the friends of God are dear to Him. Every morning at dawn I supplicate the Kingdom of God and ask that you may be filled with the breath of the Holy Spirit, so that you may become brilliant candles, shine with the light of guidance and dispel the darkness of error. Rest assured that the confirmations of the Abhá Kingdom will continuously reach you.

"Through the power of the divine springtime, the downpour of the celestial clouds and the heat of the Sun of Reality, the Tree of Life is just beginning to grow. Before long it will produce buds, bring forth leaves and fruits and cast its shade over the East and the West. This Tree of Life is the Book of the Covenant."

`Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablet, Star of West, Vol. XIII, p. 19; Bahá'í World Faith, p. 429

"Although the hearts of the people of Bahá are intensely burning on account of the great calamity (of the ascension of `Abdu'l-Bahá), and the sobbing and sighing of the friends have reached the ears of the Supreme Concourse and the Hosts of Holiness in the Abhá (Most Glorious) Paradise, yet, because this day is the day of service and this hour is the hour of diffusing the fragrances, the friends of God must, like a bright flame, arise in service to the Cause of God and surpass one another (in service). They should be like penetrating meteors, expelling every disloyal Covenant-breaker, in order that in the Preserved Tablet of God, that they may be recorded with the group who has fulfilled the Covenant and Testament of God."

Star of West, Vol. XIII, p. 82

"O God! Assist me with the hosts of the Supreme Concourse and make me firm and steadfast in the Covenant and Testament. I am weak in the Covenant and Testament; confer upon me strength. I am poor; bestow upon me wealth from the treasures of the Kingdom. I am ignorant; open before my face the doors of knowledge. I am dead; breathe into me the Breath of Life. I am dumb; grant me an eloquent tongue, so that with fluent _expression I may raise the Call of Thy Kingdom and quicken all of them in firmness to the Covenant. Thou art the Generous, the Giver and the Mighty."

`Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablet, Star of West, Vol. X, p. 272

"...We are called upon by our beloved Master in His Will and Testament not only to adopt it [New World Order] unreservedly, but to unveil its merit to the world. To attempt to estimate its full value, and grasp its exact significance after so short a time since its inception would be premature and presumptuous on our part. We must trust to time, and the guidance of

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God's Universal House of Justice, to obtain a clearer and fuller understanding of its provisions and implications. But one word of warning must be uttered in this connection. Let us be on our guard lest we measure too strictly the Divine Plan with the standard of men. I am not prepared to state that it agrees in principle or in method with the prevailing notions now uppermost in men's minds, nor that it should conform with those imperfect, precarious, and expedient measures feverishly resorted to by agitated humanity. Are we to doubt that the ways of God are not necessarily the ways of man? Is not faith but another word for implicit obedience, whole-hearted allegiance, uncompromising adherence to that which we believe is the revealed and expressed will of God, however perplexing it might first appear, however at variance with the shadowy views, the impotent doctrines, the cruse theories, the idle imaginings, the fashionable conceptions of a transient and troublous age? If we are to falter or hesitate, if our love for Him should fail to direct us and keep us within His path, if we desert Divine and emphatic principles, what hope can we any more cherish for healing the ills and sicknesses of this world?"

Bahá'í Administration., pp. 62-63

"For such benefits, for such an arresting and majestic vindication of the undefeatable powers inherent in our precious Faith, we can but bow our heads in humility, awe and thanksgiving, renew our pledge of fealty to it, and, each covenanting in his own heart, resolve to prove faithful to that pledge and persevere to the very end, until our earthly share of servitude to so transcendent and priceless a Cause has been totally and completely fulfilled."

Shoghi Effendi, end of "A God-Given Mandate," in "Messages to America," p. 104

"That the Cause associated with the name of Bahá'u'lláh feeds itself upon those hidden springs of celestial strength which no force of human personality, whatever its glamour, can replace; that its reliance is solely upon that mystic Source with which no worldly advantage, be it wealth, fame, or learning, can compare; that it propagates itself by ways mysteriously and utterly at variance with the standards accepted by the generality of mankind, will... become increasingly manifest as it forges ahead towards fresh conquests in its struggle for the spiritual regeneration of mankind."

-- Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Baha'u'llah, p. 51

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"All praise, O my God, be to Thee Who Art the Source of all glory and majesty, of greatness and honor, of sovereignty and dominion, of loftiness and grace, of awe and power. Whomsoever Thou willest Thou causest to draw nigh unto the Most Great Ocean, and on whomsoever Thou desirest Thou conferrest the honor of recognizing Thy Most Ancient Name. Of all who are in heaven and on earth, none can withstand the operation of Thy sovereign will. From all eternity Thou didst rule the entire creation, and Thou wilt continue forevermore to exercise Thy dominion over all created things. There is none other God but Thee, the Almighty, the Most Exalted, the All-Powerful, the All-Wise.

"Illumine, O Lord, the faces of Thy servants, that they may behold Thee; and cleanse their hearts that they may turn unto the court of Thy heavenly favors, and recognize Him Who is the Manifestation of Thy Self and the Day-Spring of Thine Essence. Verily, Thou art the Lord of the worlds. There is no God but Thee, the Unconstrained, the All Subduing!"

Prayers and Meditations., pp. 94-95

"O our God! We beg of Thee by the King of Names, and Maker of heaven and earth, by the rustling of the leaves of the tree of Life, and by Thine utterances, through which the realities of things are drawn unto us, to grant that unity in the love of God may be speedily established throughout the world; that Thou wilt guide us always and unmistakably to whatever Thou wouldst have us to do, and that we may ever be strong and fully prepared to render instant, exact and complete obedience."

Bahá'í Prayers (1929), p. 33 [Ed. - mentioned here as unauthenticated].

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THE WILL AND TESTAMENT

OF

`ABDUL-BAHA

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The Will and Testament `Abdu'l-Bahá "extols thee virtues of the indestructible Covenant established by Baha'u'llah....summons the Afnán (the Báb's kindred), the Hands of the Cause and the entire company of the followers of Baha'u'llah to arise unitedly to propagate His Faith, to disperse far and wide, to labor tirelessly and to follow the heroic example of the Apostles of Jesus Christ; warns them against the dangers of association with Covenant-breakers, and bids them shield the Cause from the assaults of the insincere and the hypocrite; and counsels them to demonstrate by their conduct the universality of the Faith they have espoused, and vindicate its high principles..."

-- Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, p. 328

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THE WILL AND TESTAMENT OF `ABDUL-BAHA

"It was `Abdu'l-Bahá Who, through the provisions of His weighty Will and Testament, has forged the vital link which must for ever connect the age that has just expired with the one we now live in - The Transitional and Formative period of the Faith - a stage that must in the fullness of time reach its blossom and yield its fruit in the exploits and triumphs that are to herald the Golden Age of the Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh."

-- Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Baha'u'llah, p. 98

"...The Charter which called into being, outlined the features and set in motion the processes of, this Administrative Order is none other than the Will and Testament of `Abdu'l-Bahá, His greatest legacy to posterity, the brightest emanation of His mind and the mightiest instrument forged to insure the continuity of the three ages which constitute the component parts of His Father's Dispensation."

-- Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, p. 325

"...he who reads the Aqdas with care and diligence will not find it hard to discover that the Most Holy Book itself anticipates in a number of passages the institutions which `Abdu'l-Bahá ordains in His Will. By leaving certain matters unspecified and unregulated in His Book of Laws, Bahá'u'lláh seems to have deliberately left a gap in the general scheme of Bahá'í Dispensation, which the unequivocal provisions of the Master's was filled..."

-- Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Baha'u'llah, p. 4

"...The Will may thus be acclaimed as the inevitable offspring resulting from that mystic intercourse between Him Who communicated the generating influence of His divine Purpose and the One Who was its vehicle and chosen recipient. Being the Child of the Covenant - the Heir of both the Originator and the Interpreter of the Law of God - the Will