This Commentary on the Will and Testament of Abdu'l-Baha is an authoritative interpretation of what is a vital part of the Holy Text of the Baha'i Faith. The Commentary includes a critical examination of the tragic, historic events aimed at destroying the meaning and significance of this Sacred Document. For the novice to follow this commentary, it is helpful to see the Covenant of Baha'u'llah—of which the Will and Testament of Abdu'l-Baha comprises one of its most important written documents—in light of the greater Covenant of God in its biblical and prophetic meaning.
A covenant is an agreement between two parties, and the Covenant of God contains a promise of Divine Guidance from God and an obligation of recognition and obedience from the people. The Covenant of God with Abraham is also known as the Greater Covenant. This Covenant contains the promise that great nations would come from Abraham's seed. His lineal offspring through Sarah include Moses and Christ, and his lineal offspring through Hagar and Keturah include the founders of other great world religions. They include Buddha, Zoroaster, Mohammed and, in the mid nineteenth century, the twin Prophet Founders of the Baha'i Faith, the Bab and Baha'u'llah. These founders of the great religions of the world are the fulfillment of God's promise, or Covenant. Their lives, as well as the book that each brings, such as the Bible and the Koran, give divine guidance to mankind. The word 'nation' in the promise God made with Abraham can clearly be seen to mean a great religion, such as “the nation of Islam,” which means the followers of Mohammed, not a geographical location.
The special Covenant of Baha'u'llah, the Lesser Covenant, is essentially a continuation of the Greater Covenant of God. It, too, is a promise of continued Divine Guidance to mankind and is the fulfillment of the biblical prophecy that tells us that this is “the day that shall not be followed by night.” Religions of the past have divided over interpretation and over who has the authority to interpret the scriptures. The Covenant of Baha'u'llah established the means for protecting His teachings and religion from schism by clearly appointing, in His own hand, His successor, the one He called “the Center of the Covenant,” the one invested with the power to infallibly interpret the Holy Text, His eldest son, Abdu'l-Baha.
But the guidance and protection does not end with Abdu'l-Baha. In His turn, Abdu'l-Baha set in writing the means for safeguarding the Faith of Baha'u'llah, the Baha'i Faith, from schism and misinterpretation. He did this in His most important document, His Will and Testament, which establishes the institution of the Guardianship, appoints Shoghi Effendi as the first Guardian, and explains how each guardian appoints his successor. The Orthodox Baha'i Faith recognizes Joel B. Marangella* as the third Guardian of the Baha'i Faith.
Joel B. Marangella's commentary on Abdu'l-Baha's Will and Testament enables the reader to clearly understand important passages within it that have been misunderstood, overlooked or intentionally distorted as well as to examine the tragic recent history surrounding this sacred document. In the end, Mr. Marangella's commentary enables us to discover the true sign of God on earth in our own lifetime.
National Baha'i Council of the Orthodox Baha'is of the United States
*The current Guardian of the Baha'i Faith is Nosrat'u'llah Bahremand.
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