
QUOTES AND COMMENTS
ON THE
WILL & TESTAMENT OF `ABDU'L-BAHÁ.
THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE, in their book "Wellspring of Guidance" (Page 52) say: "The Guardian reveals what the Scripture means; his interpretation is a statement of truth which cannot be varied".
SHOGHI EFFENDI made the statement that a true believer should show "loyal and steadfast adherence to every clause of our Beloved's sacred Will".
He (Shoghi Effendi) also wrote in "The Dispensation of Bahá'u'lláh" (page 52): "The Will may thus be acclaimed as the inevitable offspring resulting from that mystic intercourse between Him (Bahá'u'lláh) Who communicated the generating influence of His divine Purpose and the One (`Abdu'l-Bahá) 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 and Testament of `Abdu'l-Bahá can no more be divorced from Him Who supplied the original and motivating impulse than from the One Who ultimately conceived it. Bahá'u'lláh's inscrutable purpose, we must ever bear in mind, has been so thoroughly infused into the conduct of `Abdu'l-Bahá, and their motives have been so closely wedded together, that the mere attempt to dissociate the teachings of the former from any system which the ideal Exemplar of those same teachings has established would amount to a repudiation of one of the most sacred and basic truths of the Faith".
Will & Testament (Page 11) says: ..."the guardian of the Cause of God as well as the Universal House of Justice,......are both under the care and protection of the Abha Beauty........." "Whatsoever they decide is of God." Page 11. You now have no guardian. As they is plural the equation that "Whatsoever they decide is of God" is not complete, and leaves one doubting whether any of the decisions the Universal House of Justice, without a guardian make is of God?
Will & Testament (Page 11) says: ..."The mighty stronghold shall remain impregnable and safe through obedience to him who is the guardian of the Cause of God". Therefore the "mighty stronghold" is no longer "impregnable and safe" without a guardian!
Will & Testament (Page 11) says: "It is incumbent upon the members of the House of Justice.............. to show their obedience , submissiveness and subordination unto the guardian of the Cause of God, .........." This important instruction of `Abdu'l-Bahá's is no longer possible as you do not have a guardian to Divinely Guide you.
Will & Testament (Page 11) says: "He that opposeth him (the guardian) 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". Following the passing of Shoghi Effendi this is exactly what the Hands of the Cause did by not understanding the writings, and not being prepared to listen to Mason Remey.
Will & Testament (Page 12) says: "It is incumbent upon the guardian of the Cause of God to appoint in his own life time him that shall become his successor,......." Shoghi Effendi did appoint Charles Mason Remey in his own life time as his successor, but the Hands of the Cause of God denied this, saying that God had changed His mind. (Bada). "In his own life time" does not mean by a Will after his death! But while he is still alive. This is why Shoghi Effendi did not leave a Will appointing his successor. It had to be done in his own life time in 1951.
Will & Testament (Page 12) says: "...........................then must he, (the guardian of the Cause of God), choose another branch to succeed him". The Hands of the Cause insist that "branch" means Aghsan, and Aghsan means descendants of Bahá'u'lláh. However, Bah´á'u'lláh gave His sons titles, such as "Most Great Branch" etc., always using branch with a capital "B". In all Shoghi Effendi's writings where he has interpreted the Holy Writings as "Branch" he puts in brackets "sons of Bahá'u'lláh". In "Some Answered Questions" written by `Abdu'l-Bahá (page 57) he writes: "Now, Muhammad was the root, and 'Ali the branch, like Moses and Joshua" Neither 'Ali or Joshua were lineal descendants of Muhammad or Moses, but they were "spiritual" descendants. From this can be determined that "to choose another branch" means to choose another spiritual descendant, which is precisely what Shoghi Effendi did.
Will & Testament (Page 12) it says: "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." There is no longer 9 Hands of the Cause living, and without a guardian you cannot appoint any!
Will & Testament (Page 12) says: The Hands of the Cause of God must be nominated and appointed by the guardian of the Cause of God". No guardian, no more Hands of the Cause!
Will & Testament (Page 13) continuing from above, it says: "All must be under his (the guardian) shadow and obey his command". This clearly shows that the guardian, the Center of the Cause of God, has the last word as commander of the Faith, and Center of the Cause.
Will & Testament (Page 13) says "This body of the Hands of the Cause of God is under the direction of the guardian of the Cause of God". The guardian is the Center of the Cause, and the center of authority. All others must "show their obedience, submissiveness and subordination unto the guardian of the Cause of God,.......... He that opposeth him hath opposed the True One,....." It is very clear that NOBODY has the authority, or can, usurp this line of authority without violating the Covenant!
Will & Testament (Page 13) continuing from above says: "To disregard, though it be for a moment, this absolute command which is binding upon everyone, is in no wise permitted, that the existent world may become even as the Abha Paradise..................."
This command is binding upon all! The Will and Testament of `Abdu'l-Bahá is part of the Explicit Holy Text, and therefore cannot be altered, modified or changed in any shape or form! This is why `Abdu'l-Bahá does not provide any alternatives in His Will and Testament.
Will & Testament (Page 13) says: "It is incumbent upon everyone to show the utmost love, rectitude of conduct, straight forwardness and sincere kindliness unto all the peoples and kindreds of the world, be they friends or strangers". What a beautiful command this is. We should all remember and practice this, and especially not judge others by what people say, but of our own knowledge.
Will & Testament (Page 14) says: "Wherefore, O my loving friends! Consort with all the peoples, kindreds and religions of the world with the utmost truthfulness, uprightness, faithfulness, kindliness, good-will and friendliness, that all the world may be filled with the holy ecstasy of the grace of Baha,.......................". `Abdu'l-Bahá's beautiful words and tablets provide us with an outstanding guide to life.
Will & Testament (Page 14) says: "And now concerning the House of Justice which God hath ordained as the source of all good and freed from all error,.......... Its members must be manifestations of the fear of God and daysprings of knowledge and understanding,........................... By this body all the difficult problems are to be resolved and the guardian of the Cause of God is its sacred head and the distinguished member for life of that body. Should he not attend in person its deliberations, he must appoint one to represent him". We are so blessed in this Dispensation to be offered the source of Divine Guidance "freed from error". However, it is clear that this Institution is not complete without its "sacred head", the guardian.
Will & Testament (Page 14) says: "Should any of the members commit a sin, injurious to the common weal, the guardian of the Cause of God hath at his own discretion the right to expel him,............." Again this shows the supreme authority of the guardian as only he has the right to expel a member of that supreme body!
Will & Testament (Page 15) says: "......................Give them Thy grace to withstand the onslaught of self and passion, to follow the light of Divine Guidance" The source of Divine Guidance is the guardian. Shoghi Effendi writes: "In this dispensation, divine guidance flows on to us in this world after the Prophet's ascension, through first the Master, and then the Guardians". (Directives from the Guardian, page 34).
Will & Testament (Page 15). Referring to the fixed money offering of Huquq, it says: "It is to be offered through the guardian of the Cause of God". Although this is a divine command, the U.H.J. now receives it.
END OF PART ONE.
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