This love the Guardian had for the Greatest Holy Leaf, who
had watched over him for thirty-five years as far more than a mother, continued
to be demonstrated for the remainder of his life. When the news of her death
[15 July 1932 at the age of 86] reached him in Switzerland his first act was to
plan for her grave a suitable memorial which he hastened to Italy to order. No
one could possibly call this exquisitely proportioned monument, built of
shining white Carrara marble, anything but what it appears - a love temple, the
embodiment of Shoghi Effendi's love, he had undoubtedly conceived its design
from buildings of a similar style and, under his supervision, an artist now
incorporated his concept in the monument he planned to erect on her
resting-place. Shoghi Effendi used to compare the stages in the Administrative
Order of the Faith to this monument, saying the platform of three steps was
like the local Assemblies, the pillars like the National Assemblies, and the
dome that crowned them and held them together like the Universal House of
Justice, which could not be placed in position until the foundations and
pillars were first firmly erected. After the Greatest Holy Leaf's monument had
been completed in all its beauty he had a photograph of it sent to many different
Assemblies, as well as to a special list of individuals to whom he wished to
present so tender a memento.
- Ruhiyyih
Khanum ('The Priceless Pearl')
