A Tutorial on the Dispensation of Baha'u'llah

Exploring the Fundamental Verities of the Bahá'í Faith.

Shoghi Effendi stated that the first duty, and the focus of sustained efforts, of every faithful follower of the Bahá'í Faith is to strive to acquire a more adequate understanding of the Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh. Although a full comprehension of such a Revelation is beyond the limits of our understanding, a clearer understanding of its basic truths will empower us to derive fresh inspiration and to gain further spiritual nourishment, which in turn will support and maintain our services to the Cause (Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 100).

Shoghi Effendi wrote "The Dispensation of Bahá'u'lláh" in 1934 in the form of a letter addressed to the Bahá'ís of the West to assist them to fulfil the obligation of deepening their understanding. The letter was published together with a selection of his other letters in 1938 in the book entitled The World Order of Bahá'u'lláh. "The Dispensation of Bahá'u'lláh" provides an accurate and clear description of the fundamental verities of the Bahá'í Faith concerning the station of its Central Figures as well as the twin crowning institutions of the Guardianship and the Universal House of Justice. Grasping and upholding these verities will enrich the spiritual life of the individual. This tutorial is designed to assist you in studying and assimilating the content of "The Dispensation of Bahá'u'lláh". It is called a tutorial to emphasize the concept underlying its development. In a tutorial, a tutor facilitates learning for an individual or a small group.

This book has been designed and developed to simulate, as much as possible, the tutor-tutored relationship in a self-paced personal study. The tutorial identifies the main themes covered in Shoghi Effendi's letter and splits related paragraphs into chapters. Hence, the 130 paragraphs of "The Dispensation of Bahá'u'lláh" are apportioned for study across 27 chapters. The size and complexity of each chapter reflects the content and intricacy of the issues addressed in the paragraphs included therein. The title chosen for each chapter reflects the main theme covered in the paragraphs.

In addition, two extra chapters address those questions that arose following the sudden passing of Shoghi Effendi and the lack of any lineal descendant to succeed him as the next Guardian. The first chapter explores the possible reasons that Shoghi Effendi did not leave a will nor appoint a successor. The second chapter examines the defection of Charles Mason Remey after the passing of Shoghi Effendi, and his unsubstantiated claim to the Guardianship.