As regards the meaning of the Baha’i Covenant: The Guardian
considers the existence of two forms of Covenant both of which are explicitly
mentioned in the literature of the Cause. First is the Covenant that every
prophet makes with humanity or, more definitely, with His people that they will
accept and follow the coming Manifestation who will be the reappearance of His
reality. The second form of Covenant is such as the one Baha’u’llah made with
His people that they should accept the Master. This is merely to establish and
strengthen the succession of the series of Lights that appear after every
Manifestation. Under the same category falls the Covenant the Master made with
the Baha’is that they should accept His administration after Him. …
- Shoghi Effendi (From a
letter dated October 21, 1932, written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an
individual believer; Baha’i News, no. 80, January 1934)
