Elucidation
Infallibility of the Guardian of the Bahá'í FaithBy Research Department of the Bahá'í World Centre
Dear Bahá'í Friend,
We have received your letter stating you were disturbed by statements made in
your deepening class regarding the infallibility of the beloved Guardian and we
appreciate your concern.
According to your letter, this question arose in connection with Shoghi
Effendi's references in GOD PASSES BY to historical events, and his
descriptions of the characters of opponents of the Faith, particularly that of
Haji Mirza Aqasi. Letters written on behalf of the Guardian by his secretary to
individuals who asked similar questions clearly define the sphere of the
Guardian's infallibility. We quote from two of these, one written in 1944, and
the second in in 1956.
"The infallibility of the Guardian is confined to matters which are
related strictly to the Cause and interpretations of the Teachings; he is not
an infallible authority on other subjects, such as economics, science, etc."
"The Guardian's infallibility covers interpretation of the revealed word, and
its application. Likewise any instructions he may issue having to do with the
protection of the Faith, or its well-being must be closely obeyed, as he is
infallible in the protection of the Faith. He is assured the guidance of both
Bahá'u'lláh and the Bab, as the Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Bahá clearly
reveals."
Now, in the matter of the accuracy of historical fact, Shoghi Effendi had to
rely on available information. For example, on page 5 of GOD PASSES BY, he
refers to Haji Mirza Aqasi as ". . . the idolized tutor of Muhammad Shah, a
vulgar, false-hearted and fickleminded schemer . . ." An appropriate and
pertinent quotation supporting that characterization can be found in P. M.
Sykes's A HISTORY OF PERSIA, Volume 2, pages 439-440, which appears as a
footnote on page 233 of NABIL'S NARRATIVE:
"The state of Persia, however, was not satisfactory; for Haji Mirza
Aqasi, who had been its virtual ruler for thir- teen years, 'was utterly
ignorant of statesmanship or of military science, yet too vain to receive
instruction and too jealous to admit of a coadjutor; brutal in his language;
insolent in his demeanour; indolent in his habits; he brought the exchequer to
the verge of bankruptcy and the country to the brink of revolution . . ."
Such--to adopt the weighty words of Rawlinson--was the condition of Persia in
the middle of the nineteenth century."
The Guardian was meticulous about the authenticity of historical fact. One of
the friends in Yazd wrote to him stating that the account given by 'Abdu'l-Bahá
in one of His Tablets about events related to the martyrdom of some of the
believers in that place sas in conflict with known facts about these events.
Shoghi Effendi replied saying that the friends should investigate the facts
carefully and unhesitatingly register them in their historical records, since
'Abdu'l-Bahá Himself had prefaced His recording of the events in His Tablet
with a statement that it was based on news received from Yazd.
It is a great pity if some of the friends fail to recognize the matchless
prose to be found in the Guardian's writings. Shoghi Effendi's masterly use of
the English language makes the meaning abundantly clear, and that is an
essential quality of great works.
. . . (Personal greetings deleted.)
With warmest Bahá'í greetings,
THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE
cc:
National Spiritual Assembly of the United States
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