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THE COVENANT:
In this Revelation the Covenant has two forms: "First is the Covenant that every prophet makes with humanity or, more definitely, with His people that they will accept and follow the coming Manifestation who will be the reappearance of His reality. The second form of Covenant is such as the one Baha'u'llah made with His people that they should accept the Master ['Abdu'l-Baha]. . . . Under the same category falls the Covenant the Master made with the Baha'fs that they should accept His administration after Him. » « a" Shoghi Effendi (through his secretary), quoted in
Baha'i News, no. 80 (January 1934), p. 5
. . . Bahé'u'llah, we should readily recognize, has not only imbued mankind with a new and regenerating Spirit. He has not merely enunciated certain universal principles, or propounded a particular philosophy, however potent, sound and universal these may be. In addition to these He, as well as 'Abdu'l-Baha after Him, has, unlike the Dispensations
of the past, clearly and specifically laid down a set of Laws, established
definite institutions, and provided for the essentials of a Divine
Economy. .. .
They have also, in unequivocal and emphatic language, appointed those twin institutions of the House of Justice and of the Guardianship
as their chosen Successors. ...
Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Baha'u'114h, pp. 19-20
[Page 27]
Inasmuch as great differences and divergences of denominational
belief had arisen throughout the past, every man with a new idea
attributing it to God, His Holiness Baha'u'llah desired that
there should not be any ground or reason for disagreement among
the Baha'is. Therefore with His Own Pen He wrote the Book of
His Covenant, addressing His relations and all people of the
world, saying,
"Verily, I have appointed One Who is the Center
of My Covenant. All must obey Him; all must turn
to Him; He is the expounder of My Book and He is
informed of My purpose. All must turn to Him.
Whatsoever He says is correct, for verily He
knoweth the texts of My Book. Other than He,
no one doth know My Book."
The purpose of this statement is that there should never be discord
and divergence among the Baha'fs but that they should always be
unified and agreed. . . . Therefore whosoever obeys the Center of
the Covenant appointed by Bah&'u'1l&h has obeyed Baha'u'llah, and
whosoever disobeys him has disobeyed Baha'u'llah. ...
Beware! Beware! lest anyone should speak from the authority of his own thoughts or create a new thing out of himself. .. . His Holi-
ness Baha'u'llah shuns such souls. "Abdu'1-Baha,
The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 317
27
To insure unity and agreement He has
entered into a Covenant with all the
people of the world including the
Interpreter and Explainer of His
teachings so that no one may inter-
pret or explain the religion of God
according to his own view or opinion
and thus create a sect founded
upon his individual understanding
of the divine words. The Book of
the Covenant or Testament of Baha'
is the means of preventing such a
possibility. ...
u'11ah
"Abdu'1-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace,
p- 451
[Page 29]
The first condition [necessary for Baha'fs to become the Apostles of
Baha'u'llah] is firmness in the Covenant of God. For the power of
the Covenant will protect the Cause of Baha'u'11ah from the doubts of
the people of error. It is the fortified fortress of the Cause of
God and the firm pillar of the religion of God. Today no power can
conserve the oneness of the Baha'f world save the Covenant of God;
otherwise differences like unto a most great tempest will encompass
the Baha'f world. It is evident that the axis of the oneness of the
world of humanity is the power of the Covenant and nothing else. Had
the Covenant not come to pass, had it not been revealed from the
Supreme Pen.and had not the Book of the Covenant, like unto the ray
of the Sun of Reality, illuminated the world, the forces of the Cause
of God would have been utterly scattered. ...
"Abdu'1-Baha, Tablets of the Divine Plan, p. 18
as ie
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29
[Page 30]
The sacred and youthful branch, the
guardian of the Cause of God as well as the
Universal House of Justice . .. are both
under the care and protection of the Abha
Sr
Beauty, under the shelter and unerring
guidance of His Holiness, the Exalted One [the Bab].
Whatsoever they decide is of God.
Whoso obeyeth him not, neither obeyeth then,
hath not obeyed God; whoso rebelleth
against him and against them hath rebelled
against God; whoso opposeth him hath
opposed God; whoso contendeth with them hath contended with God; whoso disputeth with him hath disputed with God; whoso denieth him hath denied God; whoso dis- believeth in him hath disbelieved in God; whoso deviateth, separateth himself
and turneth aside from him hath in truth deviated, separated himself and turned aside from God. May the wrath, the fierce
indignation, the vengence of God rest
upon him!
"Abdu'1-Baha, Will and Testament of "Abdu'1-Baha, p. 11
A
THE COVENANT:
What does the word 'Covenant' mean?
Can you explain what the Covenant is? Why is it important? } ; Why does 'Abdu'l-Baha say that without the Covenant the "forces of the Cause of God would have been utterly scattered'? What does the Covenant have to do with the Administrative Order? [ What does it mean to break the Covenant? What does it mean to be firm in the Covenant? | "Abdu'l-Bah& is the Center of the Covenant. What does this mean? \ How is this relevant to you? Why is He called this? ( 31
