Bahá’u’lláh, ever mindful of the schisms that afflicted Christianity and Islam immediately after the passing of Christ and Muhammad, named His eldest son, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (a title which means ‘the Servant of the Glory’, which in turn is a reference to Bahá’u’lláh) as the Center of His Covenant, and the only Interpreter of His Writings.

Concerning this Covenant, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá wrote, "In former cycles no distinct Covenant was made in writing by the Supreme Pen (a reference to the Author’s of previous Dispensations – Moses, Christ, Muhammad); no distinct personage was appointed to be the Standard differentiating falsehood from truth, so that whatsoever he said was to stand as truth and that which he repudiated was to be known as falsehood. At most His Holiness Jesus Christ gave only an intimation, a symbol, and that was but an indication of the solidity of Peter’s faith. When He mentioned his faith, His Holiness said, "Thou art Peter," which means rock, "and upon this rock will I build My church. This was a sanction of Peter’s faith; it was not indicative of his (Peter’s) being the Expounder of the Book – but was a confirmation of Peter’s faith.

"But in this Dispensation of the Blessed Beauty (Bahá’u’lláh) among its distinctions is that He did not leave people in perplexity. He entered into a Covenant and Testament with the people. He appointed a Centre of the Covenant, He wrote with His own Pen and revealed it in the Kitab-I-Aqdas (Book of Laws). . . . You must ask Him (‘Abdu’l-Bahá) regarding the meanings of the texts and verses. Whatever He says is correct." In another Tablet, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá wrote, "The Blessed Beauty is the Sun of Truth, and His light the light of truth . . . My station is the station of servitude – a servitude which is complete, pure and real, firmly established, enduring, obvious, explicitly revealed and subject to no interpretation whatever . . . I am the Interpreter of the Word of God; such is my interpretation."

With these words, Bahá’u’lláh assured that His Faith, whose purpose and intent was to bring about the spiritual regeneration of the planet and the creation of a world embracing civilization, would remain intact and fulfill its great purpose.

In 1892, Bahá’u’lláh passed away and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá assumed His responsibilities. Still a prisoner of the Turkish and Persian governments, He was constantly in danger of harsher confinement and death. In 1907, the Young Turk rebellion brought down the Turkish government and gave Him the freedom He had not experienced since early childhood. In 1910 He traveled to Egypt, and the following year, He set out for the west. He visited Europe, staying in Paris and London, and in early 1912, set out for America, where He traveled extensively for eight months. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá visited California, and gave lectures at Stanford University, as well as churches and synagogues. Leland Stanford said of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, "He walks the spiritual path with practical feet". He was showered with love and adoration; newspapers called him "The Baha’i Prophet", a Title He continuously renounced. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá came to southern California and visited the gravesite of Thornton Chase, in Inglewood. Mr. Chase was the first recognized Bahá'í in America.

Shortly after returning to the Holy Land, World War I broke out, and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was once again a prisoner. The British government sent a special expeditionary force to Palestine specifically to secure His release. Upon the conclusion of the war, the British Knighted Him for His role in feeding the population of the area during the famine that had arisen during the war years. The next few years were spent in relative peace. The nascent Bahá'í community in America repeatedly requested that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá return. He reassured the Americans of His love for them and His desire to fulfill their wish, but was never to leave the Holy Land again. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá passed away in 1921.

During His ministry, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá expounded at length on the vast sea of the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh, adding understanding and answering the constant stream of questions posed by both new and old Bahá'ís alike. He wrote hundreds upon hundreds of letters to individuals and groups, encouraging and guiding their progress. He wrote the Tablets of the Divine Plan, which comprise a blueprint for bringing to the entire world the Healing Message of Bahá’u’lláh. He received a constant stream of pilgrims from west and east, and to each He showered love and wisdom. He labored constantly to preserve the unity, purity and wholeness of the Bahá'í Faith, and protected It from Its many enemies.

Today, over 75 years after His passing, His enormous outpouring of letters, Tablets, Interpretations and books comprise an integral part of the sacred text of the Bahá'í Faith. His pictures grace virtually every Bahá'í home, serving as a reminder of the life He lived, and of the love He held for all of mankind.

In His last Tablet to America, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá wrote: "O ye friends of God! ‘Abdu’l-Bahá is day and night thinking of you and mentioning you, for the friends of God are dear to Him. Every morning at dawn I supplicate the Kingdom of God and ask that you may be filled with the breath of the Holy Spirit, and that you may become brilliant candles, shine with the light of guidance and dispel the darkness of error. Rest assured that the confirmations of the Abhá Kingdom will continuously reach you".

"Through the power of the divine springtime, the downpour of the celestial clouds and the heat of the Sun of Reality the tree of life is just beginning to grow. Before long, it will produce buds, bring forth leaves and fruits, and cast shade over the East and the West. This Tree of Life is the Book of the Covenant".

Today, He is buried within the Shrine of the Báb, on the slopes of Mount Carmel, the Mountain of God. In His life He perfectly exemplified the Teachings of Bahá’u’lláh, and in His words He brought clarity and understanding to a perplexed world.