In November 1957 when Shoghi Effendi, the first Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith passed to the Abha kingdom all the Bahá'ís of the World knew that he did not have a child and that he did not have any faithful family members or blood relatives of Baha’u’llah around. At that time every body knew that he was over 61 years old. At least the former Hands of the Cause were aware of these obvious facts.
In 1957 Bahá'ís knew that according to the Will and Testament of Abdu’l Baha Shoghi Effendi had the obligation “to appoint in his own life-time him that shall become his successor.” Shoghi Effendi first knew this was his responsibility, 36 years previously when the sacred Will and Testament was read for the first time. At least the former Hands of the Cause should have known this.
At the time of his passing all Bahá'ís knew that the first Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith, Shoghi Effendi, during and until the end of his 36-year ministry, had always made it quite clear that the line of Guardians would continue to the end of the Bahá'í Dispensation and had made many references in his writings to future Guardians. At least the former Hands of the Cause should not have overlooked this.
Bahá'ís knew that during Abdu’l Baha’s ministry some local Houses of Justice in their embryonic form, i.e. Local Spiritual Assemblies, were established and during Shoghi Effendi’s ministry embryonic National Houses of Justice (i.e. NSAs) came into existence and all these National and Local Spiritual Assemblies, although unable to perform all the duties and responsibilities that will be exercised by future Houses of Justice, were still actively functioning bodies. Then, on 9 January 1951, the first Guardian issued the only proclamation in his lifetime in which he established the embryonic Universal House of Justice and subsequently appointed Charles Mason Remey as the President of this International Bahá'í Council, but the Bahá'ís may not know that this body had been necessarily retained in an inactive status during the remaining years of Shoghi Effendi's ministry because its head was the next Guardian and not the first Guardian himself.
The International Bahá'í Council, the embryonic Universal House of Justice, was the highest Organ of the Bahá'í Administrative Order, after the first Guardian, whose establishment had been announced by Shoghi- Effendi, as follows:
"Hail with thankful, joyous heart at long last the constitution of International Council which history will acclaim as the greatest event shedding luster upon second epoch of Formative Age of Bahá'í Dispensation potentially unsurpassed by any enterprise undertaken since inception of Administrative Order of Faith on morrow of 'Abdu'l-Baha's Ascension, ranking second only to glorious immortal events associated with Ministries of the Three Central Figures of Faith in course of First Age of most glorious Dispensation of the five thousand century Bahá'í Cycle”
Also he stated: “…weighty epoch-making decision of formation of first International Bahá'í Council, forerunner of supreme administrative institution”
“Fulfillment of prophecies uttered by Founder of Faith and Center of His Covenant”
“…historic decision marking most significant milestone in evolution of Administrative Order of the Faith of Baha'u'llah in course of last thirty years.”
The first Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith was appointed by Abdu’l Baha and during his Ministry remained as the first Guardian.
“It was also during practically the babyhood of *our first Guardian* that the Master revealed that highly significant Tablet about a child having been born who would do great things in the future” (Ruhiyyih Khanum, Twenty-Five Years of the Guardianship, p. 4)
And when he passed to Abha Kingdom In 1957 his body was laid to rest as the first Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith
“The flowers were removed from the casket, revealing an engraved tablet on which was written:
Shoghi Effendi Rabbani
*First Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith*
March 3rd, 1896-November 4th, 1957” (Ruhiyyih Khanum, The Passing of Shoghi Effendi, p. 22)
At that time the question was: Who is the second Guardian? Not, had the first Guardian appointed his successor? Because faithful believers never entertained any doubt or question that Shoghi Effendi would fail to faithfully fulfill his most important obligation, under the terms of the Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Baha. But obviously one person was determined to adopt and nourish this inappropriate question and project a negative conclusion, and hatched a plot to draw the attention of the Bahá'ís away from the proper recognition of the International Bahá'í Council and attract their attention instead to the Hands of the Cause, so Ruhiyyih Khanum sent the following cablegrams:
“…URGE BELIEVERS REMAIN STEADFAST *CLING INSTITUTION HANDS LOVINGLY* REARED RECENTLY REINFORCED EMPHASIZED BY BELOVED GUARDIAN…”
(Ruhiyyih Khanum, The Passing of Shoghi Effendi, p. 11)
“…FUNERAL OUR BELOVED GUARDIAN SATURDAY LONDON HANDS ASSEMBLY BOARD MEMBERS INVITED ATTEND ANY PRESS RELEASE SHOULD STATE MEETING *HANDS SHORTLY HAIFA WILL MAKE ARRANGEMENT TO BAHAI WORLD REGARDING FUTURE PLANS* STOP URGE HOLD MEMORIAL MEETINGS SATURDAY.” (Ruhiyyih Khanum, The Passing of Shoghi Effendi, p. 13)
(In the Ministry of the Custodians, instead of “ARRANGEMENT” is written “ANNOUNCEMENT”)
Nosrat