Covenant-breaking in Shoghi Effendi.27s immediate family Covenant-breaker

1 covenant-breaking in shoghi effendi s immediate family

1.1 ruhi afnan
1.2 munib shahid
1.3 husayn ali
1.4 riaz
1.5 mehrangiz

covenant-breaking in shoghi effendi s immediate family

through influence of bahiyyih khanum, eldest daughter of bahá u lláh, in household rallied around shoghi effendi after death of `abdu l-bahá. several years brother husayn , several cousins served him secretaries. ones publicly opposing him mírzá muhammad `alí , followers, declared covenant-breakers `abdu l-bahá. contrary `abdu l-bahá s specific instruction, family members established illicit links whom `abdu l-bahá had declared covenant-breakers. after bahiyyih khanum died in 1932, shoghi effendi s eldest sister – ruhangiz – married son of siyyid ali afnan. bahá u lláh s son-in-law was, thus, long-standing enemy of `abdu l-bahá (who had declared him covenant-breaker.) through ruhangiz s efforts, shoghi effendi s other sister , cousin thurayya married sons of siyyid ali afnan. presumably being faced choice between shunning disobedient family members , being disobedient `abdu l-bahá , shoghi effendi, cousins, aunts , uncles chose latter.

ruhi afnan

after years of silence on these developments, cables sent shoghi effendi on november 2, 1941 provide background developments among family members. ruhi afnan, shoghi effendi s cousin through `abdu l-bahá s daughter tuba:

ruhi s sister married covenant-breaker faydi mother joined , supported arch-enemy muhammad-`ali , father `abdu l-bahá denounced openly , repeatedly deadly enemy. ruhi s family concurred. inform believers manner communication excommunicated family forbidden.

faydi son of furughiyyih khanum, daughter of bahá u lláh third wife gawhar. furughiyyih , children supported mírzá muhammad `alí. faydi had 2 elder brothers. hussein effendi afnan aide-de-camp faisal ii of iraq , nayyer effendi afnan commissioner of parks in cairo, egypt. entire bahá í family stigmatized shoghi effendi covenant-breakers displeased marriages.

then in 1950 cable:

inform friends ruhi, mother, ruha, aunt, , families, not content years of disobedience , unworthy conduct, showing open defiance. (citadel of faith, p. 87)

and in 1953:

treacherous ruhi afnan, not content previous disobedience, correspondence mirza ahmad sohrab, contact old covenant-breakers, sale, in conjunction other members of family, of sacred property purchased founder of faith, , allowing sister marry son of `abdu l-bahá s enemy, openly lecturing on bahá í movement, claiming exponent , misrepresenting teachings , deliberately causing confusion in minds of authorities , local population. inform national assemblies. (messages bahá í world – 1950–1957, p. 48)

later, ruhi presented copy of sohrab s book excommunication:

… under ordinary circumstances have been elated, , therefore thankful see make such records of services cause, references guardian , administration changed attitude completely. did not wish defended; felt must suffer in silence , true master’s last , testament. ruhi effendi referred ahmad being in same plight himself, reacting differently. thought regrettable. [p. 281]

munib shahid

concerning munib shahid, shoghi effendi s cousin through `abdu l-bahá s daughter ruha, shoghi effendi sent following cable bahá í world in november 1944:

monib shahid, grandson of both `abdu l-bahá , king of martyrs, married according moslem rites daughter of political exile nephew of grand mufti of jerusalem. treacherous act of alliance enemies of faith merits condemnation of entire bahá í world. (bahá í news, no. 172)

husayn ali

husayn ali shoghi effendi s brother. in april 1945, shoghi effendi sent following cable bahá í world: faithless brother husayn, after long period of dishonourable conduct, has abandoned master s home consort sister , other covenant-breakers (bahá í news, no. 174, p.2). in march 1950, shoghi effendi send further cable: faithless brother hussein, abased through dishonorable conduct on period (of) years followed association covenant-breakers (in) holy land , efforts (to) undermine guardian s position, further demeaned himself through marriage under obscure circumstances lowborn christian girl (in) europe (bahá í news, no. 229, p.1). shoghi effendi later defend use of term lowborn christian girl follows: regarding cable concerning hussein: has been surprised note terms low-born christian girl , disgraceful alliance should arouse question; seems him friends should realize not befitting guardian s own brother, grandchild of master, afnán , aghsán mentioned in , testament of master, , of whom expected because of relation family of prophet, marry unknown girl, according goodness knows rite, not believer @ (bahá í news, no. 236, p.4).

riaz

concerning own brother riaz, following cable sent in december 1951:

feeling profound concern, grief, indignation, compelled disclose bahá í world recent developments holy land furnishing further incontestable proof relationship established old , new covenant-breakers demonstrating increasing boldness, marked, tragic decline in character , spiritual condition grandchildren `abdu l-bahá. shameful attitude , conduct receiving approbation elders. evidences multiplying attesting ruhi s increasing rebelliousness, efforts exerted eldest sister pave way fourth alliance members family siyyid ali involving marriage granddaughter ruha s son , personal contact established own treacherous, despicable brother riaz majdi d-din, redoubtable enemy faith, former henchman muhammad- ali, archbreaker bahá u lláh s covenant. convey information national assemblies. (messages bahá í world – 1950–1957, p. 16)

mehrangiz

he dispatched cable concerning younger sister in december 1941:

sister mehrangis [mehrangiz] followed example ruhi s [ruhi] sister justice demands announce believers expulsion. .(unfolding destiny, p. 149)

the reason being declared covenant-breaker followed example of ruhi s sister marrying 1 of cousins without guardian s consent. mehrangiz married hassan afnan, son of furughiyyih khanum, daughter of bahá u lláh third wife gawhar.