The Guardianship

Monument over Shoghi Effendi's grave in London.

'Abdu'l-Bahá in His Will and Testament appointed His grandson, Shoghi Effendi Rabbani, Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith and interpreter of its teachings. Shoghi Effendi served until his death in 1957. During these thirty-six years the Guardian translated many of the writings of Bahá'u'lláh and `Abdu'l-Bahá into English, expounded their meanings, encouraged the establishment of local and national Bahá'í institutions, and guided a series of plans aimed at diffusing Bahá'í ideals throughout the world.

In the Holy Land, the Guardian's enduring memorial is the magnificent setting he created for the World Centre of the Bahá'í Faith. The completion of the Shrine of the Báb was his work as was the construction of the International Bahá'í Archives building. It was also Shoghi Effendi who designed and laid out the beautiful gardens at Bahji and on the slopes of Mount Carmel.

Archives building and gardens, Mount Carmel, Haifa, Israel.

The Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith