April 15. On this date in 1945, Shoghi Effendi sent a cablegram announcing "Faithless brother Husayn, after long period of dishonourable conduct, has abandoned the Master's home to consort with his sister and other Covenant-breakers." Shoghi Effendi would later chide Husayn for marrying a "lowborn Christian girl."

Hossein Rabbani with his wife Gerda and daughter Zia 1958

Hossein Rabbani, brother of Shoghi Effendi

 

Hossein Rabbani and Bahiyeh Afnan Shahid, brother and niece of Shoghi Effendi 1964

 

Left to Right
Back Row: Maryam Jalal Shahid, Mehranguise Rabbani
Front Row: Ruhi Mohsen Afnan, Zahra Jalal Shahid, Hossein Rabbani

April 15. On this date in 1945, Shoghi Effendi sent a cablegram announcing "Faithless brother Husayn, after long period of dishonourable conduct, has abandoned the Master's home to consort with his sister and other Covenant-breakers." Shoghi Effendi would later chide Husayn for marrying a "lowborn Christian girl."

In March 1950, Shoghi Effendi would send a further cable: "Faithless brother Hussein, already abased through dishonorable conduct over period (of) years followed by association with Covenant-breakers (in) Holy Land and efforts (to) undermine Guardian's position, recently further demeaned himself through marriage under obscure circumstances with lowborn Christian girl (in) Europe." Shoghi Effendi would later defend the use of the term "lowborn Christian girl" as follows: "Regarding his cable concerning Hussein: he has been very surprised to note that the terms 'low-born Christian girl ' and 'disgraceful alliance' should arouse any question; it seems to him that the friends should realize it is not befitting for the Guardian's own brother, the grandchild of the Master, an Afnán and Aghsán mentioned in the Will and Testament of the Master, and of whom so much was expected because of his relation to the family of the Prophet, to marry an unknown girl, according to goodness knows what rite, who is not a believer at all."