While the Baha'i Faith stresses personal interpretation of scripture, Baha'i scripture was produced by four people whose works are the cornerstone of the Baha'i Faith.
Sayyid Ali Mohammed, later known as the Bab, is considered the forerunner to Baha'u'llah. Raised as a Shia Muslim, the Bab started a new movement known as the Babi's which recognized the Bab as a modern prophet.
Miraa Husayn Ali, later known as Baha'u'llah, converted to the Babi Faith and came to understand that he was the next prophet foretold of by the Bab. He declared a new set of religious rules, goals and guidelines, creating the Baha'i Faith.
Abdu'l-Baha was the eldest son of Baha'u'llah, who decreed that his son should be his successor. Known as the Center of the Covenant, Abdu'l-Baha took on many of the roles and responsibilities of his father while avoiding claims that he was a Manifestation of God, as his father was.
Shoghi Effendi is the grandson of Abdu'l-Baha and great-grandson of Baha'u'llah. He became known as the First Guardian, as per the wishes of his grandfather. However, because Effendi never named a successor before his sudden and unexpected death, he is also the last guardian, as there is no one alive with the authority to declare another guardian.
