The World Order of Bahá'u'lláh

"The World Order of Bahá'u'lláh" by Shoghi Effendi is a religious and philosophical text written in the early 20th century. The book explores the structure and ideals of the Bahá'í Faith as articulated by its founder, Bahá'u'lláh, and emphasizes the importance of unity among mankind as a foundation for a new world order. It systematically addresses both the administrative order of the Bahá'í community and its spiritual principles, appealing for a perspective that transcends contemporary societal divisions and conflicts. The opening of the work presents a letter addressed to the members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States and Canada. Shoghi Effendi responds to doubts expressed within the community regarding the validity of Bahá'í institutions, asserting their integral role in the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh and his successor, 'Abdu'l-Bahá. He emphasizes the necessity of understanding the administrative structure as a divine framework meant to uphold the spirit of the Faith and guide its evolution, indicating that what some view as challenges to unity are, in fact, opportunities for deeper understanding and commitment. Effendi expresses gratitude for phenomena that may seem disruptive but ultimately serve to reinforce the foundations of the Bahá'í community. This strong thematic introduction sets the stage for a detailed discourse on the principles and functions of Bahá'í institutions, providing a clear insight into the author's intention to solidify the teachings and aims of the Faith. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Shoghí Effendi (; Persian: شوقی افندی; 1 March 1897 – 4 November 1957) was an Ottoman-born Iranian religious figure and the Guardian of the Baháʼí Faith from 1921 to 1957. As the grandson and successor of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá, he was responsible for creating a series of teaching plans that oversaw the expansion of the Baháʼí Faith to a number of new countries, and also translated many of the written works of crucial Baháʼí leaders. Upon his death in 1957, the Hands of the Cause, which included his Canadian wife Rúhíyyih Khánum, took on the role of overseeing the transfer of the religion's supreme legal authority to the Universal House of Justice, which has held elections every five years since 1963.