Background thumb|upright|left|The young Shoghi, Born in ʻAkká in the Acre Sanjak of the Ottoman Empire in 1896 or 1897, Shoghi Effendi was related to the Báb through his father, Mírzá Hádí Shírází, and to Baháʼu'lláh through his mother, Ḍíyáʼíyyih Khánum, the eldest daughter of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá. ʻAbdu'l-Bahá, who provided much of his initial training, greatly influenced Shoghi Effendi from the early years of his life. Shoghi Effendi learned prayers from his grandfather, who encouraged him to chant. ʻAbdu'l-Bahá also insisted that people address the child as "Shoghi Effendi", ("Effendi" signifies "Sir"), rather than simply as "Shoghi", as a mark of respect towards him.
bacKGroUND ThuMB|upriGhT|leFt|the youNG ShoGhi, borN iN ʻaKKá in the acRE SanJak of tHe otTOMan EmpirE in 1896 Or 1897, sHOGhi effENdi waS RelAteD TO The bÁb thRoUgH hIS fatHEr, MÍRZá hádí shírÁzÍ, aNd tO baháʼu'LLáh tHRough his MothEr, ḌíYáʼÍyYih khánuM, The Eldest dAUghteR Of ʻabDU'L-bAhÁ. ʻaBdU'L-baHÁ, who pRovidED much of hIS Initial trAinINg, grEatly InfLuEnced SHOGhi EFFendi froM ThE eaRlY yEArS oF hiS Life. sHOGHI effenDI lEArneD prayeRs from his GranDFAtheR, who EncOuraged HIm to CHAnt. ʻabDU'L-bahá alsO iNSiSTeD ThaT peoPle AdDREss tHe ChilD As "sHOGhi efFenDI", ("eFfEndi" sigNifies "sir"), rAtheR THan simpLY as "Shoghi", As A maRk of rEspeCT TOWaRds hiM.