This servant, after that grievous
event and great calamity, the ascension of His Holiness 'Abdu'l-Bahá to the
Abha Kingdom, has been so stricken with grief and pain and so entangled in the
troubles (created) by the enemies of the Cause of God, that I consider that my
presence here, at such a time and in such an atmosphere, is not in accordance
with the fulfilment of my important and sacred duties.
For this reason, unable to do otherwise, I have left for a time the affairs of the Cause both at home and abroad, under the supervision of the Holy Family and the headship of the Greatest Holy Leaf [Bahiyyih Khanum, sister of 'Abdu'l-Bahá] until, by the Grace of God, having gained health, strength, self-confidence and spiritual energy, and having taken into my hands, in accordance with my aim and desire, entirely and regularly the work of service I shall attain to my utmost spiritual hope and aspiration. (Shoghi Effendi, excerpt from a message dated May 1922; ‘Baha’i Administration’; To see the entire message please visit Messages tothe Baha'i World Community - by Shoghi Effendi)
