SHOGHI EFFENDI RABBANI

born March 1, 1897, Acre, Palestine [now 'Akko, Israel] died Nov. 4, 1957, London, Eng. leader of the international Baha'i faith, who held the title of Guardian of the Cause of God from 1921 until his death. Shoghi Effendi spent his early childhood in Acre. In 1918 he earned a B.A. from the American University in Beirut, Lebanon. His education was directed to serving as secretary and translator to his grandfather, Abd ol-Baha', then leader of the Baha'i faith and son of the faith's founder, Baha' Ullah. After further education at Balliol College, Oxford, he returned to Haifa (1921) to assume the office of the Guardian bestowed on him through the unexpected death of his grandfather, who had designated him as successor. His next year was spent in maintaining the organization and unifying its followers. Within the context of his office as Guardian, Shoghi Effendi wrote extensively as chief interpreter of the Baha'i teachings from his home and headquarters of the religion in Haifa, Israel. As a result of his travels in Africa, the membership in the Baha'i faith increased considerably on that continent. Although the office of Guardian had been envisioned as hereditary, it terminated with his death. The assistants appointed by Shoghi Effendi, known as the Hands of the Cause of God, currently serve under the Universal House of Justice, which is the supreme administrative body that assumed world leadership of the religion in 1963.