Was Shoghi Effendi murdered? I believe he was murdered. One reason is that Our Lord would have been certain to bless Shoghi Effendi with a son or other family member to carry on the leadership. The transition is too important for the Lord to neglect providing a successor. Effendi's family was hostile due to the appointment of Abdul Baha. Muhammad Ali was angry about Abdul Baha's appointment. That anger grew and a plot to kill Effendi was begun. His death conveniently gave control of the Bahai religion to an easily manipulated group.