# Twin Covenants of the Baha'i Faith

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> Source: Bahá'í Library Online (bahai-library.com), curated by Jonah Winters. Used by permission of the curator. Original citation: Brent Poirier, Twin Covenants of the Baha'i Faith, bahai-library.com.
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> 
> Twin Covenants of the Bahá'í Faith
> 
> Brent Poirier
> 
> 1998
> 
> What does Shoghi Effendi mean when he refers to the "twin Covenants" in
> the Bahá'í Faith? These are the Covenant of Bahá'u'lláh, and the Covenant
> of `Abdu'l-Bahá. They are part of the same Covenant, the Lesser Covenant
> Bahá'u'lláh has made with His believers. He has covenanted with us that He
> will guide the Institutions of the Cause until the appearance of the next
> Manifestation of God, and has taken from us a Covenant to turn to them.
> 
> Shoghi Effendi refers to the "twin Covenants" in one of his letters to
> America:
> 
> "Above all, the paramount duty of deepening the spiritual
> life of these newly fledged, these precious and highly esteemed
> co-workers, and of enlightening their minds regarding the essential
> verities enshrined in their Faith, its fundamental institutions, its
> history and genesis -- the twin Covenants of Bahá'u'lláh and of
> `Abdu'l-Bahá ... must continue to constitute the most vital aspect of the
> great spiritual Crusade ..." [1]
> 
> We do not often speak of the Covenant of `Abdu'l-Bahá, but it is often
> referred to by the Guardian, and in letters written on his behalf, he
> emphasizes how important it is to understand and follow its provisions. In
> each of the following quotes, Shoghi Effendi refers to the Covenant of
> `Abdu'l-Bahá:
> 
> "... the believers need to be deepened in their knowledge and
> appreciation of the Covenants of both Bahá'u'lláh and 'Abdu'l-Bahá."
> [2]
> 
> "The Youth must ponder deeply over the significance and implications of
> the Covenants of Bahá'u'lláh and 'Abdu'l-Bahá, for these form the hub of
> the Bahá'í wheel, so to speak, the point of unity and strength for all the
> believers all over the world. Without these Covenants the Divine
> Protection of God over this new world Faith would not exist. Obedience to
> these Covenants is the stronghold of all the Bahá'ís, everywhere. The
> Youth must grasp this fundamental truth, for this will strengthen them in
> their service to the Cause, as nothing else can or will." [3]
> 
> The Guardian emphasized the importance of strengthening the
> new Bahá'ís in the Covenant of `Abdu'l-Bahá as well as the Covenant of
> Bahá'u'lláh:
> 
> "Above all, the utmost endeavour should be exerted by your
> Assembly to familiarize the newly enrolled believers with the fundamental
> and spiritual verities of the Faith, ... to instil in them a deeper
> understanding of the Covenants of both Bahá'u'lláh and 'Abdu'l-Bahá ... "
> [4]
> 
> "The unity and solidarity of its constituent members must be simultaneously reinforced, its
> roots permanently planted in the soil of the Covenants of both Bahá'u'lláh and `Abdu'l-Bahá ... "
> [5]
> 
> "The deepening and enrichment of the spiritual life of the individual believer, ... his
> understanding of the fundamentals of the Covenants established by its Author and the authorised
> Interpreter of its teachings..." [6]
> 
> Shoghi Effendi stated through his secretary that firmness in the twin Covenants is
> the very foundation of a Bahá'í's spiritual life:
> 
> "The thing the German believers must do is to deepen themselves in the Covenants
> of Bahá'u'lláh and `Abdu'l- Bahá. Mere intellectual understanding of the teachings is not
> enough. Deep spirituality is essential, and the foundation of true spirituality is steadfastness in
> the Covenant." [7] The Master promised us "mental tests" and the Guardian promised that these
> intellectual tests would be safely met by greater knowledge of the Covenant of `Abdu'l-Bahá as
> well as that of Bahá'u'lláh, and in particular, by studying the Will and Testament of `Abdu'l-
> Bahá, which is the repository of His Covenant:
> 
> " ... the believers need to be deepened in their knowledge and appreciation of the Covenants of
> both Bahá'u'lláh and 'Abdu'l-Bahá. This is the stronghold of the Faith of every Bahá'í, and that
> which enables him to withstand every test and the attacks of the enemies outside the Faith, and
> the far more dangerous, insidious, lukewarm people inside the Faith who have no real
> attachment to the Covenant, and consequently uphold the intellectual aspect of the teachings
> while at the same time undermining the spiritual foundation upon which the whole Cause of God
> rests. He feels you and your dear family should do all you can to teach the believers the Will
> and Testament to strengthen their understanding of its important provisions; for all the
> authority of the administrative bodies, as well as of the Guardian himself, is mainly derived
> from this tremendous document." [8] The Guardian stated through his secretary that what the
> believers must have "more than anything else in the world" is a deeper understanding of the
> Master's and Bahá'u'lláh's Covenants, and that without this the teaching work would not
> "accomplish anything:"
> 
> "The Guardian has been considerably disturbed by the inharmony that has arisen in Germany.
> He feels that what the German Bahá'ís need -- and must have -- more than anything else in the
> world is a far deeper understanding of the Covenants of both Bahá'u'lláh and the Master. This is
> the rock foundation without which no sound super-structure can be built. Neither the
> administration, nor the general teaching work of the Cause in Germany, will progress, or be
> able to accomplish anything, unless the believers are truly firm, deep, spiritually convinced
> Bahá'ís. An intellectual grasp of the teachings is purely superficial; with the first real test
> such believers are shaken from the bough! But once a Bahá'í has the profound conviction of the
> authority from God, nested in the Prophet, passed on to the Master, and by Him, to the
> Guardians, and which flows out through the assemblies and creates order based on obedience --
> once a Bahá'í has this, nothing can shake him. He, therefore, urges you, and the other members
> of the N.G.R., to devote as much time as you possibly can, to educating the believers in the
> Covenant." [9] Since the beginning of the Guardian's ministry, the people who
> have broken the Covenant have actually broken the Covenant of `Abdu'l-Bahá. Shoghi Effendi
> referred to "the breakers of Bahá'u'lláh's and `Abdu'l-Bahá's Covenants" on page 58 of
> "Messages to America," and in a similar vein he wrote of those who have broken the Covenant of
> `Abdu'l-Bahá:
> 
> "It is a pity that some of the Western friends, with remarkable naivete, do not
> grasp the fact that there is absolutely nothing keeping those who have broken the Covenant,
> whether Bahá'u'lláh's or the Master's out of the Cause of God except their own inner spiritually
> sick condition.... Unfortunately a man who is ill is not made well just by asserting there is
> nothing wrong with him!" [10]
> 
> It lends a whole new dimension to the concept of Covenant- breaking, to realize
> that in this Day to be declared a Covenant- breaker is to have broken the very Covenant of
> `Abdu'l-Bahá.
> 
> I believe that this is the Covenant of `Abdu'l-Bahá, the appointment of His twin Successors, to
> whom all must turn:
> 
> "The sacred and youthful branch, the guardian of the Cause of God as well as the
> Universal House of Justice, to be universally elected and established, are both under the care
> and protection of the Abha Beauty, under the shelter and unerring guidance of His Holiness, the
> Exalted One (may my life be offered up for them both). Whatsoever they decide is of God. Whoso
> obeyeth him not, neither obeyeth them, 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 disbelieveth 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 vengeance of God
> rest upon him! [11]
> 
> And again, the closing words of His Last Will and Testament, and thus His last
> guidance to the human race:
> 
> "O ye the faithful loved ones of 'Abdu'l-Bahá! It is incumbent upon you to take the
> greatest care of Shoghi Effendi, the twig that hath branched from and the fruit given forth by
> the two hallowed and Divine Lote-Trees, that no dust of despondency and sorrow may stain his
> radiant nature, that day by day he may wax greater in happiness, in joy and spirituality, and
> may grow to become even as a fruitful tree. For he is, after 'Abdu'l-Bahá, the guardian of the
> Cause of God, the Afnan, the Hands (pillars) of the Cause and the beloved of the Lord must obey
> him and turn unto him. He that obeyeth him not, hath not obeyed God; he that turneth away
> from him, hath turned away from God and he that denieth him, hath denied the True One. Beware
> lest anyone falsely interpret these words, and like unto them that have broken the Covenant
> after the Day of Ascension (of Bahá'u'lláh) advance a pretext, raise the standard of revolt, wax
> stubborn and open wide the door of false interpretation. To none is given the right to put forth
> his own opinion or express his particular conviction. All must seek guidance and turn unto the
> Center of the Cause and the House of Justice. And he that turneth unto whatsoever else is indeed
> in grievous error." [12]
> 
> The Greatest Holy Leaf spoke eloquently of turning to the Master's Covenant:
> 
> "Although the towering citadel of God's Cause is upraised on foundations of iron,
> and His Word is founded on authority and power, and the loyal and firm in His Covenant,
> through the blessings of the Abha Paradise, stand immovable as the mountains, and are fast-
> rooted in their love - still, the hurricanes of tests are mighty as well, and from every side
> comes the thundering roar of violent commotions and bitter trials. From these, at every
> moment each one of us should beg of God to defend and protect us. "Let us call to mind the clear
> statements and the warnings revealed by the Blessed Beauty, and the explanations and
> commentaries of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, particularly as found in His Will and Testament. This
> Testament was the last song of that Dove of the Rose- garden of Eternity, and He sang it on the
> branch of the Tree of bestowal and grace. It was His principal gift, indeed the greatest of all
> splendours that radiated forth from that Day-Star of bounty, out of the firmament of His
> bestowals. This Testament was the strong barricade built by the blessed hands of that wronged,
> that peerless One, to protect the garden of God's Faith. It was the mighty stronghold circling the
> edifice of the Law of God. This was an overflowing treasure which the Beloved freely gave, a
> goodly and precious legacy, left by Him to the people of Bahá. In all the world, no gift could
> equal this; no dazzling gem could rival such a precious pearl. "With His own pen, He designated
> as Guardian of the Cause of God, Shoghi Effendi Rabbani, the Chosen Branch, and made him the
> 'blest and sacred bough that hath branched out from the Twin Holy Trees,' to be the one to whom
> all must turn, the centre and focus of all on earth. "In unmistakable terms did He set forth the
> obligations and elucidated the nature of the institutions of God's Holy Faith. He laid hold of
> discord's tree and brought it down. He for ever shut the door on conflicting interpretations and
> views. With every breath ought we to offer praise and thanks to the God of Grace for this
> bestowal. It is incumbent upon us to read and meditate on the contents of the Will and Testament
> at all times, and implore God at His Holy Threshold that He will aid us to carry out whatsoever
> it ordains." [13]
> 
> NOTES
> 
> Shoghi Effendi, "This Hour, Crowded With Destiny," letter dated August 18, 1949, "Citadel
> of Faith," p. 76.
> 
> From a letter of the Guardian's secretary on his behalf to an individual Bahá'í in Germany,
> The Light of Divine Guidance, Volume 2, page 84.
> 
> From a letter of Shoghi Effendi to the National Youth Committee of the Bahá'ís of Germany
> and Austria dated 20 October 1949, "The Light of Divine Guidance," Volume 2, page 89.
> 
> Shoghi Effendi, Messages to Canada, pp. 61-62.
> 
> Shoghi Effendi, Letters to Australia and New Zealand 1923- 1957, p. 80.
> 
> Shoghi Effendi, Letters to Australia and New Zealand 1923- 1957, p. 93.
> 
> From a letter of the Guardian's secretary on his behalf to an individual Bahá'í in Germany,
> "The Light of Divine Guidance," Volume 2, page 83.
> 
> From a letter of the Guardian's secretary on his behalf to Mrs. Anna Grossman, "The Light
> of Divine Guidance," Volume 2, page 84.
> 
> From a letter of the Guardian's secretary on his behalf to Hermann Grossman, "The Light of
> Divine Guidance," Volume 2, pp. 83-84.
> 
> From a letter on behalf of the Guardian to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United
> States dated April 11, 1949, Lights of Guidance, Second Edition, Page 188, #618.
> 
> Will and Testament of `Abdu'l-Bahá, p. 11.
> 
> Will and Testament of `Abdu'l-Bahá, pp. 25-26.
> 
> From a letter of the Greatest Holy Leaf, "Bahiyyih Khanum," pp. 209-211.
> 
> METADATA
> 
> Views12018 views since posted 1998; last edit 2022-03-22 11:08 UTC;
> 
> previous at archive.org.../poirier_twin_covenants;
> URLs changed in 2010, see archive.org.../bahai-library.org
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> — *Twin Covenants of the Baha'i Faith (Used by permission of the curator)*