(4 October 1994 to a National Spiritual Assembly) [71] 3.5 THE COVENANT From Letters Written by or on Behalf of Shoghi Effendi 72: “Concerning the course of study you may follow:.... The Cause is...” Concerning the course of study you may follow:.... The Cause is such that we can serve it no matter what our profession may be. The only necessity is that we be spiritually minded and not be guided by purely material considerations. We should also not let our studies detain us from deepening our knowledge of the literature of the Cause. (9 November 1931 on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer) [72] In their efforts to achieve this purpose they must study for themselves, conscientiously and painstakingly, the literature of their Faith, delve into its teachings, assimilate its laws and principles, ponder its admonitions, tenets and purposes, commit to memory certain of its exhortations and prayers, master the essentials of its administration, and keep abreast of its current affairs and latest developments. They must strive to obtain, from sources that are authoritative and unbiased, a sound knowledge of the history and tenets of Islám—the source and background of their Faith—and approach reverently and with a mind purged from preconceived ideas the study of the Qur’án which, apart from the sacred scriptures of the Bábí and Bahá’í Revelations, constitutes the only Book which can be regarded as an absolutely authenticated Repository of the Word of God. They must devote special attention to the investigation of those institutions and circumstances that are directly connected with the origin and birth of their Faith, with the station claimed by its Forerunner, and with the laws revealed by its Author. (25 December 1938 by Shoghi Effendi to the Bahá’ís of the West, published in “The Advent of Divine Justice” (Wilmette: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1990), p. 49) [73] 73: “The Guardian feels that a sound knowledge of history, including religious...” The Guardian feels that a sound knowledge of history, including religious history, and also of social and economic subjects, is of great help in teaching the Cause to intelligent people; as to what subjects within the Faith you should concentrate on he feels that the young Bahá’ís should gain a mastery of such books as the “Gleanings”, “The Dawn-Breakers”, “God Passes By”, the “Íqán”, “Some Answered Questions” and the more important Tablets. All aspects of the Faith should be deeply studied—and ... they need to know more about the Administration. (4 May 1946 on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer) [74] 75: “It seems what we need now is a more profound and co-ordinated Bahá’í...”