Ali Nakhjavani
Encyclopedia
Alí-Yulláh Nakhjavání served as a member of the Universal House of Justice
, the supreme governing body of the Bahá'í Faith
, between 1963 and 2003.
Ali Nakhjavani was born in 1919 in Baku
, Azerbaijan
to Ali-Akbar Nakhjavani and Fatimih Khanum, both Bahá'ís. After his father's death circa 1921, when he was two, his family was advised by `Abdu'l-Bahá
to move to Haifa
, where he grew up. In 1939 he received the Bachelor of Arts
degree with distinction from the American University of Beirut
, and then in the early 1940s he returned to Iran, residing first in Tehran
, then Tabriz
and finally in Shiraz
. In 1950 he was elected to the Bahá'í National Spiritual Assembly of Iran
, the governing body of the Bahá'ís in that country, where he served until the following year.
In 1951, Ali Nakhjavání and his family moved to Uganda
to assist with the development of the Bahá'í community in that country
; while he was there he worked as a teacher and lecturer. During his early years there, Enoch Olinga
joined the religion, and in 1953 Nakhjavání, and his wife along with Olinga and two other Bahá'ís travelled from Uganda to Cameroon
to help spread the Bahá'í Faith in Cameroon
. From 1954-61 he was a member of the Auxiliary Board for the spread of the religion in Africa
, and later from 1956 to 1961 he was elected to the Bahá'í National Spiritual Assembly of Central and East Africa, the Bahá'í governing body for the region.
In 1961, Nakhjavání was elected to the International Bahá'í Council
— the forerunner to the Universal House of Justice
, the worldwide governing body of the Bahá'ís — and thus moved to Haifa. In 1963 he was elected to the Universal House of Justice during its inaugural convention, and served as a member of that body until 2003. Ali Nakhjavání is married to Violette Nakhjavání (née Banani) and they have one daughter, Bahiyyih
, and one son, Mehran; they currently reside in France
.
Universal House of Justice
The Universal House of Justice is the supreme governing institution of the Bahá'í Faith. It is a legislative institution with the authority to supplement and apply the laws of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith, and exercises a judicial function as the highest appellate institution in the...
, the supreme governing body of the Bahá'í Faith
Bahá'í Faith
The Bahá'í Faith is a monotheistic religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in 19th-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind. There are an estimated five to six million Bahá'ís around the world in more than 200 countries and territories....
, between 1963 and 2003.
Ali Nakhjavani was born in 1919 in Baku
Baku
Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal...
, Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
to Ali-Akbar Nakhjavani and Fatimih Khanum, both Bahá'ís. After his father's death circa 1921, when he was two, his family was advised by `Abdu'l-Bahá
`Abdu'l-Bahá
‘Abdu’l-Bahá , born ‘Abbás Effendí, was the eldest son of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith. In 1892, `Abdu'l-Bahá was appointed in his father's will to be his successor and head of the Bahá'í Faith. `Abdu'l-Bahá was born in Tehran to an aristocratic family of the realm...
to move to Haifa
Haifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
, where he grew up. In 1939 he received the Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree with distinction from the American University of Beirut
American University of Beirut
The American University of Beirut is a private, independent university in Beirut, Lebanon. It was founded as the Syrian Protestant College by American missionaries in 1866...
, and then in the early 1940s he returned to Iran, residing first in Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
, then Tabriz
Tabriz
Tabriz is the fourth largest city and one of the historical capitals of Iran and the capital of East Azerbaijan Province. Situated at an altitude of 1,350 meters at the junction of the Quri River and Aji River, it was the second largest city in Iran until the late 1960s, one of its former...
and finally in Shiraz
Shiraz
Shiraz may refer to:* Shiraz, Iran, a city in Iran* Shiraz County, an administrative subdivision of Iran* Vosketap, Armenia, formerly called ShirazPeople:* Hovhannes Shiraz, Armenian poet* Ara Shiraz, Armenian sculptor...
. In 1950 he was elected to the Bahá'í National Spiritual Assembly of Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, the governing body of the Bahá'ís in that country, where he served until the following year.
In 1951, Ali Nakhjavání and his family moved to Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
to assist with the development of the Bahá'í community in that country
Bahá'í Faith in Uganda
The Bahá'í Faith in Uganda started to grow in 1951 and in four years time there were 500 Bahá'ís in 80 localities, including 13 Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assemblies, representing 30 tribes, and had dispatched 9 pioneers to other African locations...
; while he was there he worked as a teacher and lecturer. During his early years there, Enoch Olinga
Enoch Olinga
Enoch Olinga was born to an Anglican family of the Iteso ethnic group in Uganda. He became a Bahá'í, earned the title Knight of Bahá'u'lláh and was appointed as the youngest Hand of the Cause, the highest appointed position in the religion. He served the interests of the religion widely and...
joined the religion, and in 1953 Nakhjavání, and his wife along with Olinga and two other Bahá'ís travelled from Uganda to Cameroon
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
to help spread the Bahá'í Faith in Cameroon
Bahá'í Faith in Cameroon
The Bahá'í Faith in Cameroon was established when the country was separated into two colonies - British and French Cameroon. The first Bahá'í in Cameroon was Enoch Olinga, who had left his homeland of Uganda to bring the religion to British Cameroon in 1953...
. From 1954-61 he was a member of the Auxiliary Board for the spread of the religion in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, and later from 1956 to 1961 he was elected to the Bahá'í National Spiritual Assembly of Central and East Africa, the Bahá'í governing body for the region.
In 1961, Nakhjavání was elected to the International Bahá'í Council
International Bahá'í Council
The International Bahá'í Council was an administrative institution of the Bahá'í Faith, first created in 1951 as a precursor to the Universal House of Justice, which replaced it in 1963.-Formation:...
— the forerunner to the Universal House of Justice
Universal House of Justice
The Universal House of Justice is the supreme governing institution of the Bahá'í Faith. It is a legislative institution with the authority to supplement and apply the laws of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith, and exercises a judicial function as the highest appellate institution in the...
, the worldwide governing body of the Bahá'ís — and thus moved to Haifa. In 1963 he was elected to the Universal House of Justice during its inaugural convention, and served as a member of that body until 2003. Ali Nakhjavání is married to Violette Nakhjavání (née Banani) and they have one daughter, Bahiyyih
Bahiyyih Nakhjavani
Bahiyyih Nakhjavani is a Persian writer who grew up in Uganda and was educated in the United Kingdom and the United States. She now lives in France where she teaches. She taught European and American literature in Belgium....
, and one son, Mehran; they currently reside in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.