Posted by anon on July 17, 2101 at 12:05:45:

I am wondering if anyone has thought about this topic. Has anyone thought about the authority vested in the Afnan and the Aghsan and would there be any circumstances in the future where they would have "authority" or "power" of any kind? For example, paragraph 42 in the Kitab-i-Aqdas:

Endowments dedicated to charity revert to God,
the Revealer of Signs. None hath the right to dispose of
them without leave from Him Who is the Dawning-place
of Revelation. After Him, this authority shall
pass to the Aghsan, and after them to the House of
Justice--should it be established in the world by
then--that they may use these endowments for the
benefit of the Places which have been exalted in this
Cause, and for whatsoever hath been enjoined upon
them by Him Who is the God of might and power.
Otherwise, the endowments shall revert to the people
of Baha who speak not except by His leave and judge
not save in accordance with what God hath decreed in
this Tablet--lo, they are the champions of victory
betwixt heaven and earth--that they may use them in
the manner that hath been laid down in the Book by
God, the Mighty, the Bountiful.
Bahá'u'lláh, Kitáb-i-Aqdas, page 34

This gives some authority to the Aghsan. But then it is also interesting to note in the Will and Testament of `Abdu'l-Baha that the Aghsan and the Afnan are mentioned together a few times. But in two passages the Afnan and not the Aghsan are mentioned. Does this document and the Aqdas foreshadow that the Aghsan would, after a time, always be unfaithful? I'm sure everyone has access to the Will and Testament to look over these passages.

These issues are interesting to me since I am compiling an electronic family tree of both the families of the Bab and Baha'u'llah. I would like to share this tree with anyone who is interested - it is very complex and only a computer could keep it all straight! Anyways, I was thinking if someone steps forward someday and says something about being an Aghsan, 1) could this claim be proved, and 2) could this person claim or have any position?

Just interested. The other thing is I would like to get in contact with anyone related to these Holy Families so I can add them and the information they know to my tree. Thanks!

-anon

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