Chapter 1

The Light of Divine Guidance (Volume 2)

by Shoghi Effendi

Edition 1, (September 2006)

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CONTENTS

Baha’i Terms of Use Letter of 27 February (1922) Letter of 5 January 1923 Letter of 18 December 1925 Letter of 15 February 1926 Letter of 4 November 1926 Letter of 9 November 1926 Letter of 6 April 1928 Letter of 11 April 1929 Letter of 11 April 1929 Letter of 8 June 1929 Letter of 9 June 1929 Letter of 20 November 1929 Letter of 30 April 1930 Letter of 14 December 1930 Letter of 8 April 1931 Letter of 10 September 1931 Letter of 17 September 1931 Letter of 14 January 1932 Letter of 6 December 1932 Letter of 11 December 1932 Letter of 2 January 1933 Letter of 16 April 1933 Letter of 25 April 1934 Letter of 25 April 1934 Letter of 25 September 1934 Letter of 20 November 1934 Letter of 20 November 1934 Letter of 7 December 1934 Letter of 13 December 1934 Letter of 13 January 1935 Letter of 15 April 1935 Letter of 21 May 1935 Letter of 17 June 1935 Letter of 5 July 1935 Letter of 3 August 1935 Letter of 24 December 1935 Letter of 25 January 1936 Letter of 26 January 1936 Letter of 31 March 1936 Letter of 19 October 1936 Letter of 25 October 1936 Letter of 3 March 1937 Letter of 23 June 1937 Letter of 20 October 1937 Letter of 7 January 1938 Letter of 18 January 1938 Letter of 1 February 1938 Letter of 20 March 1938 Letter of 29 March 1938 Letter of 7 May 1939 Letter of 26 May 1946 Letter of 3 July 1946 Letter of 11 July 1946 Letter of 12 July 1946 Letter of 25 July 1946 Letter of 29 July 1946 Letter of 30 July 1946 Letter of 29 December 1946 Letter of 18 January 1947 Letter of 9 February 1947 Letter of 18 February 1947 Letter of 18 February 1947 Letter of 18 February 1947 Letter of 22 February 1947 Letter of 30 March 1947 Letter of 1 April 1947 Letter of 4 April 1947 Letter of 4 April 1947 Letter of 12 April 1947 Letter of 3 May 1947 Letter of 13 June 1947 Letter of 4 July 1947 Letter of 19 July 1947 Letter of 27 September 1947 Letter of 14 November 1947 Letter of 21 November 1947 Letter of 21 November 1947 Letter of 25 November 1947 Letter of 27 November 1947 Letter of 8 December 1947 Letter of 18 December 1947 Letter of 30 January 1948 Letter of 2 June 1948 Letter of 10 June 1948 Letter of 10 June 1948 Letter of 11 June 1948 Letter of 3 July 1948 Letter of 3 December 1948 Letter of 13 December 1948 Letter of 8 February 1949 Letter of 2 March 1949 Letter of 11 March 1949 Letter of 20 March 1949 Letter of 24 March 1949 Letter of 31 March 1949 Letter of 11 April 1949 Letter of 15 April 1949 Letter of 27 May 1949 Letter of 30 May 1949 Letter of 5 June 1949 Letter of 30 September 1949 Letter of 20 October 1949 Letter of 22 October 1949 Letter of 22 October 1949 Letter of 30 October 1949 Letter of 12 November (1949?) Letter of 18 December 1949 Letter of 28 March 1950 Letter of 30 September 1950 Letter of 2 October 1950 Letter of 6 October 1950 Letter of 26 October 1950 Letter of 26 October 1950 Letter of 10 February 1951 Letter of 10 February 1951 Letter of 5 April 1951 Letter of 22 April 1951 Letter of 31 May 1951 Letter of 19 September 1951 Letter of 30 October 1951 Letter of 6 December 1951 Letter of 20 January 1952 Letter of 14 March 1952 Letter of 12 April 1952 Letter of 7 May 1952 Letter of 23 May 1952 Letter of 25 May 1952 Letter of 30 August 1952 Letter of 29 November 1952 Letter of 13 March 1953 Letter of 13 May 1953 Letter of 16 March 1953 Letter of 16 March 1953 Letter of 19 April 1953 Letter of 7 May 1953 Letter of 16 May 1953 Letter of 1 November 1953 Letter of 8 February 1954 Letter of 11 May 1954 Letter of 2 June 1954 Letter of 5 September 1954 Letter of 4 October 1954 Letter of 12 December 1954 Letter of 30 September 1955 Facsimile of a letter found on page 118 Letter of 13 January 1956 Letter of 26 March 1956 Letter of 3 May 1956 Letter of 26 August 1956 Letter of 16 September 1956 Letter of 28 September 1956 Letter of 15 November 1956 Letter of 17 November 1956 Letter of 30 November 1956 Letter of 6 December 1956 Letter of 6 December 1956 Letter of 15 December 1956 Letter of 2 February 1957 Letter of 17 March 1957 Letter of 25 March 1957 Letter of 28 March 1957 Letter of 28 April 1957 Letter of 14 May 1957 Letter of 28 May 1957 Letter of 31 May 1957 Letter of 4 June 1957 Letter of 4 June 1957 Letter of 22 July 1957 Letter of 7 August 1957 Letter of 24 October 1957

LETTER OF 27 FEBRUARY (1922)(1)

27 February (1922)

Honoured Sir:

It is with regret and sorrow that I enclose at last the long-protracted translations of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s answer to your letter. His sudden passing to the Great Beyond has plunged us all in profound grief and added heavily to our preoccupations and responsibilities. Happily, however, the full answer to your epistle, had been written, and signed by him many days before his passing and were it not for the desire to have it adequately rendered into English and French, it would have reached you far sooner than now. As I am not certain of your address at the present moment, I am enclosing a copy of the original text which bears his signature, hoping to forward the text as soon as I am assured of your true address.

I am sending, too, a copy of the English version to Mr. A. Iṣfáhání, a Bahá’í friend of ours who, I understand, has had the pleasure and privilege of meeting you on more than one occasion, and who I am sure will submit it to you, should this letter fail to reach its destination.

The Bahá’ís the world over will be delighted to have copies of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s answer to your letter circulated amongst them, as it is unique in many respects and much appreciated in its nature and comprehensiveness. I have refrained from giving them copies until I hear of your desire to do so.

Being a personal letter I thought it incumbent upon me to inform you and request you on this point.

My very best wishes and kind regards and hoping to hear from you soon,

I am yours very sincerely Shoghi Rabbani (grandson of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá)

LETTER OF 5 JANUARY 1923

5 January 1923

The beloved of the Lord and the handmaids of the Merciful throughout Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland. The glory of the All-Glorious rest upon them! Beloved brethren and sisters in ‘Abdu’l-Bahá!

His honor, Jináb-i ‘Abdu’l-Ḥusayn-í Avárih, fired with the spirit of service and teaching which the passing of our beloved Master has kindled in every heart, is proceeding to Europe and will visit every Bahá’í centre in that great continent, that he may with the aid of the many friends in those regions raise the Call of Yá-Bahá’u’l-Abhá and stimulate interest in the Cause of God. He is indeed qualified for such an eminent noble task and I am confident that by the Grace of God and with the whole-hearted assistance of the loved ones of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, he may be enabled to promote far and wide the universal Teachings of Bahá’u’lláh.

His wide experience and familiarity with the various aspects of the Movement, his profound and extensive knowledge of its history; his association with some of the early believers, the pioneers and martyrs of the Cause will I am sure to appeal to every one of you and will serve to acquaint you still further with the more intimate and tragic side of this remarkable Movement.

May his sojourn in your country lend a fresh impetus to the onward march of the Cause in the West and arouse widespread interest in the history as well as the principles of the Bahá’í Movement!

LETTER OF 18 DECEMBER 1925(2)

18 December 1925

An die lieben Bahá’í Geschwister in Esslingen Meine geliebten Bahá’í Geschwister,

Euren schönen Brief vom 9. Kaul hat unser geliebter Hüter, Shoghi Effendi erhalten und grosse Freude dadurch bekommen. Damit strömt die Liebe Gottes und der süsse Duft Eurer Harmonie, Einigkeit, Aufrichtigkeit und Ergebenheit der Wohlfahrt der heiligen Sache.

Unser geliebter Hüter hat mich beauftragt, diese Zeilen an Euch zu schreiben und seine Liebe und herzliche Grússe euch zu übersenden. Er versichert Euch, dass er fúr Euch am heiligen Grabe Unsers Geliebten, ‘Abdu’l-Bahás mit ganzem Herzen betet. Er erwartet immer gute Nachrichten von Eurem Wohlsein und von dem Fortschritte der heiligen Sache in Eurem Land.

Liebe Geschwister, die Angelegenheiten in meiner Heimat haben mich gezwungen, eine Reise nach Persien zu machen. Der geliebte Hüter hat mir Urlaub dáfúr bewilligt. Ich verlasse Haifa binnen drei oder vier Tagen. Da während meiner Abwesenheit von Haifa niemand hier ist, der Deutsch kann, sollen alle die Briefe und Nachrichten, die dem lieben Shoghi Effendi geschickt werden werden, auf Englisch geschrieben werden. Die heilige Familie lassen Euch auch herzliche Grússe.

Mit treuer Liebe, verbleibe ich immer, Euer ergebener Bruder in Seinem heiligen Namen und Dienste unsers geliebten Hüter

[From the Guardian:]

My dearest friends:

This is to assure you personally of my continued and earnest prayers for your happiness, welfare and spiritual advancement. The Esslingen friends are near and dear to my heart. I have great admiration for their steadfastness, their love and devotion and cherish great hopes for their future. They are destined to achieve great things for our beloved Cause.

Always your true brother, Shoghi

LETTER OF 15 FEBRUARY 1926

15 February 1926

With regard to your first question on alcohol and drinking Bahá’u’lláh fully aware of the great misery that it brings about, prohibits it as He expressly states that everything that takes away the mind or in other words makes one drunk is forbidden. The Master has promoted the same idea.

In connection with spiritualism, although the Master says that there is some element of truth in what some teach under the subject of auto-suggestion and others, spiritualism as such is not taught by the Bahá’í religion. Our Master has said that religion and true science must go together and most of these things have not been proved by science.

As to your third question Shoghi Effendi would like you to understand that when one believes in one to be divinely inspired and when one is convinced that he has a great mission to the world in his teachings, he must very naturally be ready to accept all that that world-teacher that divinely-inspired man says. It is with this view that he feels that a real Bahá’í would be one who is convinced that Bahá’u’lláh was a world-teacher and a Messenger of God bearing to mankind a great Message, and would therefore be ready to accept all that Bahá’u’lláh has said and the same is true of the Master whom we believe to have been the great propounder of the Bahá’í teachings and the one through whom the Covenant of God was firmly established in the world.

With regard to the differentiation between Bahá’í and Bahá’í friend. This differentiation was not one which Bahá’u’lláh and the Master firmly established but because there are so many people who are attracted to the Bahá’í Cause just as they are attracted to some society and people who have not developed spiritually to look at the world and the spiritual elements of life in the proper light that a Bahá’í would look at it, it has become a habit of differentiating between what you might call beginners in the Bahá’í Movement and those who have studied the Movement thoroughly and who know its teachings exactly and who understand the real spirit that is back of it all. You should not think, however, that a Bahá’í is one who is superior to a Bahá’í friend, but only that he has studied the Movement better and realizes well the great and divine spirit that is at the root of all Bahá’í teachings.

I hope that in spite of the briefness that has been necessary in answering your interesting questions, I have been able to explain to you properly the meaning of each answer. It is always through questioning and mature thought that we can arrive at the root of everything and in the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh there are so many things which though at present seemingly unnecessary will be of great necessity in the future development of mankind.

LETTER OF 4 NOVEMBER 1926

4 November 1926

The wine mentioned in the Tablets has undoubtedly a spiritual meaning for in the book of Aqdas we are definitely forbidden to take not only wine, but every thing that deranges the mind. In poetry as a whole wine is taken to have a different connotation than the ordinary intoxicating liquid. We see it thus used by the Persian Poets such as Sa’dí and Umar _Kh_ayám and Háfiz to mean that element which nears man to his divine beloved, which makes him forget his material self so as better to seek his spiritual desires. It is very necessary to tell the children what this wine means so that they may not confuse it with the ordinary wine.

The books of laws or Aqdas has not yet been properly translated because as you mentioned we do not have any competent person for the work. When the Cause was first introduced to west one of the Arab friends made such an attempt but it was so misleading and confusing that the Master forbade any individual to make another trial. He said that it is the work of a group of competent translators and not of one person. Most of the important subjects mentioned there are, however, quite familiar to the friends through other tablets and there is no pressing need for such a work at present.

[From the Guardian:]

Your welcome letter, indicative of your perseverance in service, despite the great loss you have sustained, was a source of great comfort and strength to me. I hope and pray that your dear children will grow in spiritual understanding, wisdom and virtue and by their life, their conduct and future services to the Cause make the soul of their departed father radiant and joyous and prove a solace to your heart. Rest assured that you all occupy a warm and abiding place in my heart and are the object of my constant and fervent prayers at the holy Shrines.

LETTER OF 9 NOVEMBER 1926

9 November 1926

He has great hopes for Germany. That country forms the center of a politically and socially troubled country; many an individual are weary of mere palliative measures. They desire a complete reform beginning with the heart and branching into all the different branches of activity.

[From the Guardian:]

This is just a word that I wish to add in person, assuring you and the dear friends in Esslingen of my great love for you and my continued prayers for your welfare and spiritual advancement. I will tenderly remember you at the three holy Shrines and will supplicate for each of you Divine Guidance and Strength.

LETTER OF 6 APRIL 1928

6 April 1928

To the Friends gathered at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Renftle(3)

Dear Friends,

He thanks you very much for your kind Naw-Rúz greetings and he is highly pleased to receive such a sweet message from his friends in Karlsruhe. He hopes and prays that the new Bahá’í year may be full of happiness and prosperity for you all, and may witness a great progress in the spread of the Bahá’í teachings in Karlsruhe.

You will surely make your best effort in that connection and Shoghi Effendi will pray that our dear and departed Master may help you and strengthen you. He will be always glad to hear from you and of your doings there and you should be happy to hold your meetings in such a beautiful home, the photograph of which you had sent....

[From the Guardian:]

My dear co-workers:

I wish to add a few words in person and assure you of my keen pleasure in receiving your most welcome message, as well as of my prayers for your success and spiritual advancement. I trust that you may each grow to become a radiant star in the firmament of the Cause and exemplify in your life and conduct the radiant spirit that animates the Faith.

Your true brother, Shoghi

LETTER OF 11 APRIL 1929

11 April 1929

To the Bahá’ís in Karlsruhe.

Dear Bahá’í brothers and sisters:

Your kind words of New Year greetings to Shoghi Effendi has been received and it gave him much pleasure. He hopes that this coming year will bring to the Cause many spiritual victories, especially in Germany which stands as the heart of the present troubled Europe. If the banner of peace should not be raised in that continent, only God can foresee what will ensue, what calamities another war will bring, and what will happen to our present civilization.

Shoghi Effendi will remember you all in his prayers and ask for you divine guidance and help....

[From the Guardian:]

Dearly-beloved friends:

I am deeply touched by your message and I wish to add these words in person as a token of my affection and prayers for you. The beloved of the Lord in Karlsruhe are dear and near to my heart. I long to hear from them, and to learn of the progress of their activities. May the Almighty guide their steps, cheer their hearts, deepen their understanding and enable them to fulfil their heart’s desire.

Your true and loving brother, Shoghi

LETTER OF 11 APRIL 1929

11 April 1929

He hopes that your number may daily increase and include people of capacity and spiritual insight. It is true that the Cause in Germany has some difficult problems to solve and some differences to overcome, but these should merely arouse as to greater activity. The Cause ever since its inception has been confronting problems, but these have frozen to be a factor in strengthening our faith and adding to our energy.

It is very necessary that we should endeavour to strengthen the National Assembly. Without it no unity and cooperation could be obtained throughout the country.

As you say in your letter private, informal gatherings held in homes where different friendly individuals are invited often give better result for only those who are really interested are attracted and then once attracted they could be traced and kept in touch.

LETTER OF 8 JUNE 1929

8 June 1929

The beloved of the Lord and the handmaids of the Merciful throughout Europe.

Dearly-beloved friends:

Dr. Yúnís _Kh_án Afrú_kh_tih, an outstanding figure in the teaching and administrative activities of the believers in Persia, is proceeding to Europe in order to visit the Bahá’í centres and reinforce the bonds of Bahá’í fellowship that unite the East with the West. His mature experience, his wide knowledge of the state of affairs in Persia, his exemplary loyalty and devotion to the Cause, his ability and character eminently qualify him to undertake such a noble task, and I feel confident that his prolonged stay amongst you will prove of the utmost benefit to the interests of our beloved Cause.

I urge every individual believer, and particularly every local Assembly, to endeavour to get into close touch with him, to obtain an insight into the material and spiritual conditions now prevailing in Persia and to seek a clearer understanding of the animating purpose, the distinguishing features and the moving history of the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh.

May his deliberations and intimate companionship with you serve to draw closer the ties that bind the Eastern and Western sections of the Bahá’í World and prepare the way for the ultimate formation of that international body that must guard the unity, and reinforce the strength of the Bahá’í Faith.

Your true brother, Shoghi

LETTER OF 9 JUNE 1929

9 June 1929

Shoghi Effendi wishes me to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated January 23rd 1929 and the enclosed photos of the friends in Rostock. Though your number is still very small yet we hope that through the Master’s help and confirmation it will increase until it can in its turn radiate its light to regions around.

Shoghi Effendi will remember you in his prayers and ask for you divine guidance.

Yesterday one of our prominent Persian friends, Dr. Yúnís _Kh_án left for Europe. His main purpose is to visit the different centers in Germany and meet the friends. Through such travellers we hope the East and the West will become more closely united.

[From the Guardian:]

My dear co-worker:

I wish to assure you in person of my keen interest in your activities as well as of my fervent prayers for you, that the Beloved may guide your steps, cheer your heart and enable you to fulfil your most cherished desire.

Your true brother, Shoghi

LETTER OF 20 NOVEMBER 1929(4)

20 November 1929

Shoghi Effendi has been very glad to receive your letter of August and to learn of the visit of Dr. Yúnís _Kh_án and Mr. Fred. Kline. He is also very pleased to know that you have already chosen a plot of land for a Bahá’í home.

The Guardian has always wished to see Esslingen a great and flourishing Bahá’í center, just as our beloved Master always hoped that it may become. Of course you realize that perseverance, enthusiasm and a firm faith in the ultimate success of our Cause is necessary, and when we are assisted by the Almighty there can be no doubt that all our endeavours will be crowned with success.

Assuring you one and all of Shoghi Effendi’s warm regards and of his prayers for you,

[From the Guardian:]

With the assurance of my deep affection and fervent prayers at the holy Shrines for you,

Your true brother, Shoghi

LETTER OF 30 APRIL 1930

30 April 1930

To the Friends gathered at Esslingen

At this season of the year when Bahá’ís throughout the world are celebrating the Ridván festivities and are renewing their determination to work and live under the banner of Bahá’u’lláh, Shoghi Effendi is very glad indeed to receive your message.

He wishes me to take the opportunity and assure you of his affection and also of his wish and prayers that you may strive unitedly for the progress of the Faith and its establishment in your land. He hopes that you will stand firm, unaffected by the dark forces around us, and that you will help to carry the message of Bahá’u’lláh far and wide.

[From the Guardian:]

...I will continue to pray for you from the depths of my heart. The tests and trials, through which you are passing, are for the good of our beloved Cause. Be happy and hopeful. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá will bless you a hundredfold for your perseverance and devoted efforts.

Your true brother, Shoghi

LETTER OF 14 DECEMBER 1930

14 December 1930

Shoghi Effendi ... is extremely appreciative of your desire to serve the Cause and help to spread its message of peace throughout the world, and sincerely hopes that the time would come when you would realize this hope and attain your heart’s desire.

We are, however, told and urged by the Master to consult with our friends, especially the Assemblies, before we undertake any important decision in our life especially when the subject pertains to any plan of service we have in mind. There are always so many circumstances to take into consideration. Personally Shoghi Effendi has no objection to any such plan of service but would much prefer to have you consider, in consultation with the friends, the subject from all its aspects, among others its financial one.