Page "Shoghi Effendi" Paragraph 10

The issue of successorship to ` Abdu ' l Bahá was in the minds of early Bahá ' ís, and although the Universal House of Justice was an institution mentioned by Bahá ' u ' lláh, the institution of the Guardianship was not introduced until the Will and Testament of ` Abdu ' l-Bahá was publicly read after his death.

Bahá ' u ' lláh's own will mentions Mírzá Muhammad ` Alí as following ` Abdu ' l Bahá in leadership, but he was excommunicated as a covenant-breaker and shunned by Bahá ' ís.