In the Muhammadan Revelation, however, although His Faith as
compared with that of Christ was, so far as the administration of His
Dispensation is concerned, more complete and more specific in its provisions,
yet in the matter of succession, it gave no written, no binding and conclusive
instructions to those whose mission was to propagate His Cause. For the text of
the Qur’án, the ordinances of which regarding prayer, fasting, marriage,
divorce, inheritance, pilgrimage, and the like, have after the revolution of
thirteen hundred years remained intact and operative, gives no definite
guidance regarding the Law of Succession, the source of all the dissensions,
the controversies, and schisms which have dismembered and discredited Islám.
- Shoghi Effendi (From a letter dated 21 March, 1930, printed in ‘The World
Order of Baha’u’llah)
