Editing ʻAbdu'l-Bahá (section)

===Legacy===

<!-- [[Disciples of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá]] redirects to this section. If you change the section's heading, please update the redirect. -->
ʻAbdu'l-Bahá left a ''[[Will and Testament of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá|Will and Testament]]'' that was originally written between 1901 and 1908 and addressed to Shoghi Effendi, who at that time was only 4–11 years old. The will appoints [[Shoghi Effendi]] as the first in a line of [[Guardian (Baháʼí Faith)|Guardians]] of the religion, a hereditary executive role that may provide authoritative interpretations of scripture. ʻAbdu'l-Bahá directed all Baháʼís to turn to him and obey him, and assured him of divine protection and guidance. The will also provided a formal reiteration of his teachings, such as the instructions to teach, manifest spiritual qualities, associate with all people, and shun [[Covenant-breaker]]s. Many obligations of the [[Universal House of Justice]] and the [[Hands of the Cause]] were also elaborated.{{sfn|Smith|2000|p=356-357}}{{sfn|Iranica|1989}} Shoghi Effendi later described the document as one of three "charters" of the Baháʼí Faith.

The authenticity and provisions of the will were almost universally accepted by Baháʼís around the world, with the exception of [[Ruth White (Baháʼí author)|Ruth White]] and a few other Americans who tried to protest Shoghi Effendi's leadership.

<!-- [[Disciples of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá]] redirects to this section. If moving this sentence, please update the redirect. -->In volumes of ''[[The Baháʼí World]]'' published in 1930 and 1933, Shoghi Effendi named nineteen Baháʼís as disciples of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá and heralds of the Covenant, including [[Thornton Chase]], {{Interlanguage link|Hippolyte Dreyfus-Barney|fr}}, [[John Esslemont]], [[Lua Getsinger]], and [[Robert Turner (Bahá'í)|Robert Turner]].<ref>''The Baháʼí World, vol. 3: 1928–30''. New York: Baháʼí Publishing Committee, 1930. pp.&nbsp;84–85.</ref><ref>''The Baháʼí World, vol. 4''. New York: Baháʼí Publishing Committee, 1933. pp.&nbsp;118–19.</ref>{{sfn|Smith|2000|loc=p. 122, ''Disciples of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá''}} No other statements about them have been found in Shoghi Effendi's writings.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |last= Troxel |first= Duane K. |encyclopedia= Baháʼí Encyclopedia Project |title= Augur, George Jacob (1853–1927) |year= 2009 |publisher= National Spiritual Assembly of the Baháʼís of the United States |location= Evanston, IL |url= http://www.bahai-encyclopedia-project.org/index.php?view=article&catid=37%3Abiography&id=170%3Aaugur-george-jacob&option=com_content&Itemid=74}}</ref>

During his lifetime there was some ambiguity among Baháʼís as to his station relative to Baháʼu'lláh, and later to Shoghi Effendi. Some American newspapers erroneously reported him to be a Baháʼí prophet or the [[Second Coming|return of Christ]]. Shoghi Effendi later formalized his legacy as the last of three "Central Figures" of the Baháʼí Faith and the "Perfect exemplar" of the teachings, also claiming that holding him on an equal status to Baháʼu'lláh or Jesus was heretical. Shoghi Effendi also wrote that during the anticipated Baháʼí dispensation of 1000 years there will be no equal to ʻAbdu'l-Bahá.{{sfn|Effendi|1938}}