Why do Free Baha’is reject Shoghi Effendi’s Guardianship?

Email:

Hello and Allahuabha,

Why do you people not believe in Shoghi Effendi and also in the UHJ? Infact the UHJ as a system that was introduced by Baha’u’llah and even Abdu’l Baha spoke bout it?

Cheers,

Jon

Answer by Team Free Baha’is:

Hi Jon,

Allah’u’Abha! Thanks for writing to us with your query.

Firstly, the Free Baha’is do believe in Shoghi Effendi to be the rightful guardian as in his entire life span, the Master neither groomed nor declared him as his successor. His appointment as the successor was forged by his mother, after the death of The Master Abdu’l Baha. Free Baha’is believe that the Will and Testament of Abdu’l Baha is genuine, except the part of Shoghi Effendi where he has been declared as the Guardian of the faith.

If you read about the life of Abdu’l Baha, you will understand how he used to closely be with Baha’u’llah up to the extent that he was trained by Baha’u’llah. Refer the book Baha’u’llah and the New Era, page 54 (1923 Edition), the author has mentioned that Abdu’l Baha used to help Baha’u’llah in answering questions of the visitors while in his youthful age of 15-16 yrs. If a man wishes to know God, he must find Him in the perfect mirror in the face of Baha’u’llah or Abdu’l Baha. In either of these mirrors he will see reflected the Sun of Divinity.

Regarding your query about the UHJ, the Free Baha’is certainly believe in the concept of Universal House of Justice, but not the current established Universal House of Justice, whose members are appointed and not elected. Free Baha’is believe in the true Universal House of Justice which will be established only when the Baha’is are free from the shackles of administration.

Abdu’l Baha has said, “There are no officers in this Cause. I do not and have not appointed anyone to perform any special service, but I encourage everyone to engage in the service of the Kingdom. The foundation of this cause is pure spiritual democracy and not a theocracy.”  (Reference: Star of the West, Vol. 8, pg. 116)

Baha’u’llah says, “Deliver your souls, O people, from the bondage of self, and purify them from all attachment to anything besides Me.”

When we go through the teachings of Baha’u’llah and the Master, we understand how the current form of UHJ is not in alignment with the Baha’i principles and teachings, and hence we do not believe in it.

Do write back if you have any more questions.

Thanks,

Team Free Baha’i

Source: The Caravan, Vol. 4, Edition 5

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