The disciples of Christ forgot themselves and all earthy things, forsook all their cares and belongings, purged themselves of self and passion and with absolute detachment scattered far and wide and engaged in calling the peoples of the world to the Divine Guidance, till at last they made the world another world, illumined the surface of the earth and even to their last hour proved self-sacrificing in the pathway of that Beloved One of God. Finally in various lands they suffered glorious martyrdom. Let them that are men of action follow in their footsteps! (165:1)

O God, my God! I call Thee, Thy Prophets and Thy Messengers, Thy Saints and Thy Holy Ones, to witness that I have declared conclusively Thy Proofs unto Thy loved ones and set forth clearly all things unto them, that they may watch over Thy Faith, guard Thy Straight Path and protect Thy Resplendent Law. Thou art, verily, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise! (165:2)

With 'Abdu'l-Baha's passing, the time had come to establish the administrative order which has been termed the pattern and nucleus of the world order which it is the special mission of the religion of Baha'u'llah to establish. The Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Baha consequently marks a turning point in Baha'i history, dividing the era of immaturity and irresponsibility from that era in which the Baha'is themselves are destined to fulfill their spirituality by enlarging its scope from the realm of personal experience to that of social unity and cooperation. The three principal elements in the administrative plan left by 'Abdu'l-Baha are: (165:3)

1. "The Guardian of the Cause of God,"
2. "The Hands of the Cause of God," and
3. "The Houses of Justice, Local, National and International." (165:4)

The Guardian of the Cause of God
'Abdu'l-Baha appointed His eldest grandson, Shoghi Effendi, to the responsible position of "Guardian of the Cause" (Valiyy-i-Amru'llah). Shoghi Effendi is the eldest son of Diya'iyyih Khanum, the eldest daughter of 'Abdu'l-Baha. His father, Mirza Hadi, is a relative of the Bab (although not a direct descendant, as the Bab's only child died in infancy). Shoghi Effendi was twenty-five years of age, and was studying at Balliol College, Oxford, at the time of his grandfather's passing. The announcement of his appointment is made in 'Abdu'l-Baha's Will as follows: (165:5)

O my loving friends! After the passing away of this wronged one, it is incumbent upon the Aghsan (Branches), the Afnan (Twigs) of the Sacred Lote-Tree, the Hands (pillars) of the Cause of God and the loved ones of the Abha Beauty to turn unto Shoghi Effendi - the youthful branch branched from the two hallowed and sacred Lote-Trees and the fruit grown from the union of the two offshoots of the Tree of Holiness, - as he is the sign of God, the chosen branch, the Guardian of the Cause of God, he unto whom all the Aghsan, the Afnan, the Hands of the Cause of God and His loved ones must turn. He is the expounder of the words of God and after him will succeed the first-born of his lineal descendants. (165:6)

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