`Abdu'l-Baha is known by Baha'is to have been infallible, but
Baha'is don't all agree on the extent of that infallibility.
This issue has arisen in the wake of growing awareness that some
things `Abdu'l-Baha said about science, history, and the future
may have been incorrect.

To address this issue from a Baha'i perspective, let us consult
the Baha'i writings.

  * What did Baha'u'llah say about Abdu'l-Baha's infallability?
    I know that Baha'u'llah said something like "turn to the
    Most Great Branch", and he said something similar about the
    Agsan or the Afnan, but that doesn't seem like enough to base
    any doctrine of limitless infallibility on.

  * What did `Abdu'l-Baha claim regarding his own infallibility?
    Tip: I don't think that "be as I am" should be read as a
    command to be infallible.  If he was indeed the perfect example,
    would it have been appropriate for him to be infallible?  Isn't
    that almost like God saying "be as I am"?  I've had a tough time
    with this one since childhood!  :-)

  * What did Shoghi Effendi say about Abdu'l-Baha's infallability?

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First, let's look at what Baha'u'llah said.

In the Surah of the Branch, Baha'u'llah, speaking with the
voice of God, makes 'Abdu'l-Baha's greatness unquestionable
to Baha'is:

  ... for verily He is the most great Favor unto you,
  the most perfect bounty upon you; and through Him every
  mouldering bone is quickened. Whoso turneth towards Him
  hath turned towards God, and whoso turneth away from Him
  hath turned away from My beauty, hath repudiated My Proof,
  and transgressed against Me.

Lofty praise indeed.

Still, the infallibility seems to be implicit in Baha'u'llah's
directive to Baha'is that they accept 'Abdu'l-Baha
unhesitatingly as their leader and the authorized interpreter
of Baha'u'llah's writings.

Clearly, Baha'u'llah does not declare that 'Abdu'l-Baha is
infallible in matters of science, only that Baha'is should
follow him and his interpretation of scripture.

But that doesn't mean that Baha'u'llah didn't grant
unrestricted infallibility to 'Abdu'l-Baha.  He simply
wasn't very clear about it.

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As to what 'Abdu'l-Baha says that Baha'u'llah says about him
(as he roughly paraphrases the Kitab-i-'ahdi):

  All must turn to Him. Whatsoever He says is correct, for,
  verily, He knoweth the texts of My Book.  Other than He,
  no one doth know My Book.
      (The Promulgation of Universal Peace, pp. 322-323)

Although 'Abdu'l-Baha says that "Whatsoever He says is correct",
he is obviously speaking in terms of scriptural interpretation.
Since there is no other specification of infallibity in the Book
of Baha's Covenant, 'Abdu'l-Baha's infallibility is still
limited.

As we look through the further passages in Promulgation of
Universal Peace, we see that 'Abdu'l-Baha continually refers
to his station as an interpreter, not as an unrestricted source
of perfect knowledge.

  "I am," He, in this same
  connection, affirms, "according to the explicit texts of the
  Kitab-i-Aqdas and the Kitab-i-'Ahd the manifest Interpreter of
  the Word of God . . . Whoso deviates from my interpretation is a
  victim of his own fancy."
      (`Abdu'l-Baha, quoted in The World Order of Baha'u'llah, p. 138)

But we do have this from Baha'i World Faith:

  "... the Blessed Beauty (may my soul be a sacrifice unto Him),
  has through the Supreme Pen written the Covenant and the
  Testament; He appointed a Center, the Exponent of the Book and
  the annuller of disputes. Whatever is written or said by Him is
  conformable to the truth and under the protection of the Blessed
  Beauty. He is infallible."
      (Baha'i World Faith, p. 358)

Now, I must admit this one might have to close the case.  It's much
more explicit and unequivical than anything else I've seen.

Of course, it's not an authoritative translation, but then neither is
"Promulgation of Universal Peace".  Still, this passage may exist
with a similar meaning in a later publication.  Anyone have any idea?

I'm willing to accept that it is authoritative Baha'i doctrine that
'Abdu'l-Baha is infallible in all matters (notwithstanding any
conflicts with current science), but I am not yet convinced by these
references to scripture (so far).

What is compelling to me is that 'Abdu'l-Baha was perfectly confident
about everything he said, as though he believed that he was infallible.
Since his infallibility with respect to guidance cannot be questioned
by Baha'is, it seems clear to me that he was implicitly stating, "I am
infallible" in his own way.

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Now, as for what Shoghi Effendi said on the matter, no discussion is
necessary as far as I'm concerned, as Shoghi Effendi appeared to be a
true believer in 'Abdu'l-Baha's unrestricted infallibility.

Shoghi Effendi defended 'Abdu'l-Baha's every word, even 'Abdu'l-Baha's
statements about science, history, and the future.  The Guardian had
no doubt that 'Abdu'l-Baha was infallible regarding worldly matters,
not to mention matters of faith.

Therefore, Baha'is must regard 'Abdu'l-Baha's statements about science,
history, and the future as fact.