This passage of the Aqdas, therefore, anticipates the succession of chosen Ag̱ẖsán and thus the institution of the Guardianship and envisages the possibility of a break in their line. The passing of Shoghi Effendi in 1957 precipitated the very situation provided for in this passage, in that the line of Ag̱ẖsán ended before the Universal House of Justice had been established (see note 67).
67. revert to the people of Bahá [#42]
Bahá’u’lláh provides for the possibility that the line of Ag̱ẖsán would terminate prior to the establishment of the Universal House of Justice. He designated that in such a situation "endowments shall revert to the people of Bahá". The term "people of Bahá" is used with a number of different meanings in the Bahá’í Writings. In this instance, they are described as those "who speak not except by His leave and judge not save in accordance with what God hath decreed in this Tablet". Following the passing of Shoghi Effendi in 1957, the Hands of the Cause of God directed the affairs of the Cause until the election of the Universal House of Justice in 1963 (see note 183).
68. Shave not your heads [#44]
In some religious traditions it is considered desirable to shave one’s head. The shaving of the head is forbidden by Bahá’u’lláh, and He makes it clear that the provision contained in His Súriy-i-Hájj requiring pilgrims to the Holy House in S̱ẖíráz to shave their heads has been superseded through this verse of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas (Q and A 10).
69. it is not seemly to let the hair pass beyond the limit of the ears [#44]
Shoghi Effendi has made clear that, unlike the prohibition on shaving the head, this law forbidding the growing of the hair beyond the lobe of the ear pertains only to men. The application of this law will require clarification by the Universal House of Justice.