# Shoghi Effendi

> grandson of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá, head of the Bahá'í Faith from 1921 until his death in 1957

**Wikidata**: [Q318441](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q318441)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoghi_Effendi)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/shoghi-effendi

## Summary
Shoghi Effendi was the head of the Bahá'í Faith from 1921 until his death in 1957 and the grandson of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá. Educated at Balliol College (Oxford) and the American University of Beirut, he served as a translator and leader within the geographic region of Palestine. He is recognized as a significant religious figure who held the position of Guardian during a pivotal period for the faith.

## Biography
- **Born:** March 1, 1897
- **Nationality:** Palestine
- **Education:** Balliol College (University of Oxford), American University of Beirut
- **Known for:** Head of the Bahá'í Faith (1921–1957)
- **Employer(s):** Bahá'í Faith (Head); Affiliated with Balliol College and American University of Beirut
- **Field(s):** Religion, Translation

## Contributions
Shoghi Effendi's primary contributions were defined by his leadership of the Bahá'í Faith for over three decades. From 1921 until 1957, he served as the head of the religion, succeeding his grandfather, ʻAbdu'l-Bahá. In addition to his administrative and spiritual leadership, he worked as a translator, facilitating the cross-cultural exchange of religious texts. His tenure oversaw the development and organization of the Bahá'í community during the first half of the 20th century.

## FAQs
**When did Shoghi Effendi lead the Bahá'í Faith?**
He served as the head of the Bahá'í Faith from 1921 until his death on November 4, 1957.

**Where did Shoghi Effendi receive his education?**
He attended the American University of Beirut, a private university in Lebanon, and Balliol College, a constituent college of the University of Oxford.

**What was Shoghi Effendi's role within the Bahá'í community?**
He was the grandson of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá and held the position of head of the faith, functioning as a translator and leader based in Palestine.

**What are some of the bibliographic identifiers associated with Shoghi Effendi?**
He is widely cataloged in academic and library systems with identifiers such as VIAF (27864297), ISNI (0000000079724490), and LCCN (n79127752).

## Why They Matter
Shoghi Effendi matters because he provided continuous leadership to the Bahá'í Faith during a critical 36-year period that spanned the interwar years and post-World War II era. As the designated successor to ʻAbdu'l-Bahá, his role was essential in maintaining the organizational structure and doctrinal continuity of the religion. His work as a translator further helped bridge linguistic divides within the community. His death in 1957 marked the end of an era for the institution's leadership.

## Notable For
- **Leadership Tenure:** Served as the head of the Bahá'í Faith from 1921 to 1957.
- **Lineage:** Distinguished as the grandson of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá.
- **International Education:** Educated at the University of Oxford (Balliol College) and the American University of Beirut.
- **Translation Work:** Recognized professionally as a translator of written texts.
- **Extensive Cataloging:** The subject of numerous academic and archival identifiers, including 38 Wikipedia sitelinks and extensive library authority records globally.

## Body

### Identity and Family
Shoghi Effendi, whose full name is often cited as Shoghi Effendi Rabbani (شوقی اَفَندی رَبانی), was a human member of the species Homo sapiens. He was born on March 1, 1897, and passed away on November 4, 1957. He is defined by his familial relationship as the grandson of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá, a connection that established his central role in the Bahá'í Faith. His citizenship and primary geographic activity were associated with Palestine.

### Leadership and Occupation
Shoghi Effendi is best known for his tenure as the head of the Bahá'í Faith. His leadership began in 1921 following the death of his grandfather and continued until his own death in 1957. Professionally, he is classified as a translator, a person who translates written text from one language to another. This occupation supported his religious leadership, enabling him to interpret and disseminate teachings across different languages.

### Education and Affiliations
Shoghi Effendi's educational background includes affiliations with two major institutions. He was associated with the American University of Beirut, a private university in Lebanon that was established in 1866. Additionally, he was affiliated with Balliol College, a constituent college of the University of Oxford. Balliol College, located in the UK (country Q145), was established in 1263 and is noted for having a significant sitelink count (32) and a varying number of employees over the years (ranging from 120 to 187).

### Archival and Bibliographic Identifiers
Shoghi Effendi is cataloged in a vast array of international databases and knowledge systems, reflecting his global significance. His records include:
*   **Library and Authority Files:** ISNI (0000000079724490), VIAF (27864297), GND (118613855), LCCN (n79127752), BNF (11987964x), IdRef (027946002), CiNii (DA14021563), NLA (31486135, 8186), NKC (mzk2008453216), NLI (177372), RERO (070713324), RKD (90787264), BNE (832220), ICCU (a11068395), CONOR (974571), NUKAT (1693551), KBR (40560), BIBSYS (571451), LNB (V*76689;=BW), and NKC (ncf10265655).
*   **Digital and Academic Identifiers:** Freebase ID (/m/078gx), OpenLibrary ID (OL273200A), Scopus Author ID (w6nw8bs5), Research.com (201835), and OpenAlex ID (5034).
*   **Encyclopedic and Media References:** Encyclopaedia Britannica ID (biography/Shoghi-Effendi-Rabbani), Wikipedia sitelinks (38), and Wikipedia titles (Shoghi Effendi).
*   **Other Identifiers:** J9U (0001532687), SELIBR (8574), FAST (45246), BNF (a1029355), BNE (a0000001067474), NLA (000122015), BNE (XX1048729), NLA (n99092427), NLA (000002331), PLWABN (9810566018405606), NLA (A000149440), NLA (000048000), NLA (000147685), NLA (981058520335406706), NDL (59347), BNF (079403735), SNAC (E39PBJtGVqvTwBWFgWKPG7gh73), KBR (14143679), OpenAlex (1140563741825876096), BIBSYS (530871), BIBSYS (20110803100502867), GND (118613855), Library of Congress (person/3b22a4ac-194d-4433-933c-68669998323c), BNE (396073), and NKCR (mzk2008453216).
*   **Visual Media:** Associated images include "Shoghi Effendi2.jpg" and "Shoghiwriting.svg".

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. International Standard Name Identifier
3. BnF authorities
4. CiNii Research
5. [Source](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/24/books/robert-richardson-jr-dead.html)
6. SNAC
7. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
8. Find a Grave
9. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
10. Open Library
11. IdRef
12. Autoritats UB
13. Goodreads
14. Quora