| Institution created by ‘Abdu'l-Bahá in His Will and Testament to carry on into the future the function of authoritative interpretation of the Sacred Writings and the care and protection of the Bahá'í Faith provided by ‘Abdu'l-Bahá. The Guardian is the ‘sacred head and the distinguished member for life' of the Universal House of Justice. The Guardian and the Universal House of Justice are ‘under the care and protection of the Abhá Beauty, under the shelter and unerring guidance of His Holiness, the Exalted One . . . ‘15 |
| ‘Abdu'l-Bahá appointed his grandson Shoghi Effendi as the first Guardian. He provided that ‘after him will succeed the first-born of his lineal descendants' or, if his child should not manifest the necessary characteristics, that the Guardian would ‘choose another branch to succeed him'.16 Shoghi Effendi had no children nor did he appoint a successor from among the family of Bahá'u'lláh and therefore no further Guardians can be appointed. The institution of the Guardianship, however, continues. |
| The Universal House of Justice wrote in 1977: ‘. . . the word "guardianship"; is used with various meanings in different contexts. In certain contexts it indicates the office and function of the Guardian himself, in others it refers to the line of Guardians, in still others it bears a more extended meaning embracing the Guardian and his attendant institutions. . . In the specific sense of referring to the office and function of the Guardian himself, the House of Justice finds that the prerogatives and duties vested in him are of three kinds. First there are a number of functions and objects which the Guardianship shares with the Universal House of Justice and which the House of Justice must continue to pursue. Secondly, there are functions of the Guardianship which, in the absence of a Guardian devolve upon the Universal House of Justice, for example the Headship of the Faith, the responsibility for directing the work of the Institution of the Hands of the Cause and of ensuring the continuing discharge of the functions of protection and propagation vested in that Institution, and the right to administer the Huqúqu'lláh. Thirdly, there are those prerogatives and duties which lie exclusively within the sphere of the Guardian himself and, therefore, in the absence of a Guardian, are inoperative except insofar as the monumental work already performed by Shoghi Effendi continues to be of enduring benefit to the Faith. Such a function is that of authoritative interpretation of the Teachings.'17 |
| [BD 92-93] |
 |
| See also: |
|
|
