What is the “Greater” Covenant?
“There is… the Greater Covenant which every Manifestation of God makes with His followers, promising that
in the fullness of time a new Manifestation will be sent, and taking from them the undertaking to accept Him when
this occurs.”
From a letter written by the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer, 23 March 1975, Covenant Compilation

“The Lord of the universe hath never raised up a prophet nor hath He sent down a Book unless He hath
established His covenant with all men, calling for their acceptance of the next Revelation and of the next Book;
inasmuch as the outpourings of His bounty are ceaseless and without limit.”
The Báb, Selections from the Writings of
the Báb, p. 87



“Abraham, on Him be peace, made a covenant concerning Moses and gave the glad-tidings of His coming. Moses
made a covenant concerning the promised Christ, and announced the good news of His advent to the world. Christ
made a covenant concerning the Paraclete and gave the tidings of His coming. The Prophet Muhammad made a covenant
concerning the Báb, and the Báb was the One promised by Muhammad, for Muhammad gave the tidings of His coming. The
Báb made a Covenant concerning the Blessed Beauty, Bahá’u'lláh, and gave the glad-tidings of His coming for
the Blessed Beauty was the One promised by the Báb. Bahá’u'lláh made a covenant concerning a Promised One
Who will become manifest after one thousand or thousands of years. That Manifestation is Bahá’u'lláh’s
Promised One, and will appear after a thousand or thousands of years. He, moreover, with His Supreme Pen, entered
into a great Covenant and Testament with all the Bahá’ís whereby they were all commanded to follow the
Centre of the Covenant after His ascension, and depart, not even to a hair’s breadth, from obeying
Him.”
‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Bahá’í
World Faith p. 358


The first duty prescribed by God for His servants is the recognition of Him Who is the Dayspring of His
Revelation and the Fountain of His laws, Who representeth the Godhead in both the Kingdom of His Cause and the
world of creation. Whoso achieveth this duty hath attained unto all good; and whoso is deprived thereof hath gone
astray, though he be the author of every righteous deed. It behoveth every one who reacheth this most sublime
station, this summit of transcendent glory, to observe every ordinance of Him Who is the Desire of the world.
These twin duties are inseparable. Neither is acceptable without the other. Thus hath it been decreed by Him Who
is the Source of Divine inspiration.
Baha’u’llah Kitab-i-Aqdas p.1