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The World Order of Bahá'u'lláh
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Pages 7-9
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The Institution of Guardianship
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It must be also clearly understood by every believer that the
institution of Guardianship does not under any circumstances abrogate,
or even in the slightest degree detract from, the powers granted
to the Universal House of Justice by Bahá'u'lláh in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas,
and repeatedly and solemnly confirmed by `Abdu'l-Bahá in
His Will. It does not constitute in any manner a contradiction to
the Will and Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, nor does it nullify any of
His revealed instructions. It enhances the prestige of that exalted
assembly, stabilizes its supreme position, safeguards its unity, assures
the continuity of its labors, without presuming in the slightest
to infringe upon the inviolability of its clearly-defined sphere of
jurisdiction. We stand indeed too close to so monumental a document
to claim for ourselves a complete understanding of all its
implications, or to presume to have grasped the manifold mysteries
it undoubtedly contains. Only future generations can comprehend
the value and the significance attached to this Divine Masterpiece,
which the hand of the Master-builder of the world has designed for
the unification and the triumph of the world-wide Faith of Bahá'u'lláh.
Only those who come after us will be in a position to realize
the value of the surprisingly strong emphasis that has been placed
on the institution of the House of Justice and of the Guardianship.
They only will appreciate the significance of the vigorous language
employed by `Abdu'l-Bahá with reference to the band of Covenant-breakers
that has opposed Him in His days. To them alone will
be revealed the suitability of the institutions initiated by `Abdu'l-Bahá
to the character of the future society which is to emerge out
of the chaos and confusion of the present age. In this connection,
I cannot but feel amused at the preposterous and fantastic idea that
Muhammad-`Alí, the prime mover and the focal center of unyielding
hostility to the person of `Abdu'l-Bahá, should have freely associated
himself with the members of the family of `Abdu'l-Bahá
in the forging of a will which in the words of the writer herself,
is but a "recital of the plottings" in which for thirty years Muhammad-`Alí
has been busily engaged. To such a hopeless victim of
confused ideas, I feel I can best reply by a genuine expression of
compassion and pity, mingled with my hopes for her deliverance
from so profound a delusion. It was in view of the aforesaid observations,
that I have, after the unfortunate and unavoidable delay
occasioned by my ill health and absence from the Holy Land during
the Master's passing, hesitated to resort to the indiscriminate circulation
of the Will, realizing full well that it was primarily directed
to the recognized believers, and only indirectly concerned the larger
body of the friends and sympathizers of the Cause.
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