Hají Ákhúnd
Encyclopedia
Ḥají Mullá `Alí-Akbar Shahmírzádí , known as Ḥají Ákhúnd (1842-1910) was an eminent follower of Bahá'u'lláh
, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith
, a global religion of Persian origin. He was appointed a Hand of the Cause
, and identified as one of the nineteen Apostles of Bahá'u'lláh
.
. He was the son of a Mullá
, and after some preliminary studies, he went to Mashhad
to attend a religious college. In 1861, he encountered Bábís and converted to the Báb
's religion, which caused his immediate expulsion from the college and the city.
, where he accepted Bahá'u'lláh
and became a Bahá'í. It is recorded that when there was an outbust against the Bahá'ís in Tihrán, he would wrap his cloak around himself and sit waiting for the guards to come and arrest him.
He was arrested many times in Tihrán: in 1886 on the orders of Mulla ‘Ali Kani, in 1872 for seven months by Nayibu's-Saltanih, in 1882 for two years by Nayibu's-Saltanih, in 1887, and in 1891 for two years with Hájí Amín
.
, where Bahá'u'lláh and his family were prisoners, on three occasions: in 1873, 1888, and 1899. He was given the task of transferring the remains of the Báb
from various secret locations to ‘Akká, where they remained for several years until they were eventually entombed in the Shrine of the Báb
. He was one of the four Hands of the Cause
appointed by Bahá'u'lláh himself, and was responsible for much of the Bahá'í activity in Iran until his death on 4 March, 1910.
Bahá'u'lláh
Bahá'u'lláh , born ' , was the founder of the Bahá'í Faith. He claimed to be the prophetic fulfilment of Bábism, a 19th-century outgrowth of Shí‘ism, but in a broader sense claimed to be a messenger from God referring to the fulfilment of the eschatological expectations of Islam, Christianity, and...
, the founder 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....
, a global religion of Persian origin. He was appointed a Hand of the Cause
Hands of the Cause
The Hands of the Cause of God, Hands of the Cause, or Hands were a select group of Bahá'ís, appointed for life, whose main function was to propagate and protect the Bahá'í Faith...
, and identified as one of the nineteen Apostles of Bahá'u'lláh
Apostles of Bahá'u'lláh
The Apostles of Bahá'u'lláh were nineteen eminent early followers of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith. The apostles were designated as such by Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith, and the list was included in The Bahá'í World, Vol...
.
Background
Hají Ákhúnd was born in the village of Shahmírzád, IranIran
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...
. He was the son of a Mullá
Mullah
Mullah is generally used to refer to a Muslim man, educated in Islamic theology and sacred law. The title, given to some Islamic clergy, is derived from the Arabic word مَوْلَى mawlā , meaning "vicar", "master" and "guardian"...
, and after some preliminary studies, he went to Mashhad
Mashhad
Mashhad , is the second largest city in Iran and one of the holiest cities in the Shia Muslim world. It is also the only major Iranian city with an Arabic name. It is located east of Tehran, at the center of the Razavi Khorasan Province close to the borders of Afghanistan and Turkmenistan. Its...
to attend a religious college. In 1861, he encountered Bábís and converted to the Báb
Báb
Siyyid `Alí Muḥammad Shírází was the founder of Bábism, and one of three central figures of the Bahá'í Faith. He was a merchant from Shíráz, Persia, who at the age of twenty-four claimed to be the promised Qá'im . After his declaration he took the title of Báb meaning "Gate"...
's religion, which caused his immediate expulsion from the college and the city.
Imprisonment
Upon his return to his home village, he was also expelled and sent away by the local clergy. He settled in TihránTehran
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...
, where he accepted Bahá'u'lláh
Bahá'u'lláh
Bahá'u'lláh , born ' , was the founder of the Bahá'í Faith. He claimed to be the prophetic fulfilment of Bábism, a 19th-century outgrowth of Shí‘ism, but in a broader sense claimed to be a messenger from God referring to the fulfilment of the eschatological expectations of Islam, Christianity, and...
and became a Bahá'í. It is recorded that when there was an outbust against the Bahá'ís in Tihrán, he would wrap his cloak around himself and sit waiting for the guards to come and arrest him.
He was arrested many times in Tihrán: in 1886 on the orders of Mulla ‘Ali Kani, in 1872 for seven months by Nayibu's-Saltanih, in 1882 for two years by Nayibu's-Saltanih, in 1887, and in 1891 for two years with Hájí Amín
Hájí Amín
Mullá Abu'l-Hasan-i-Ardikání , surnamed Amín-i-Iláhí, better known as Hájí Amín was an eminent follower of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith, a global religion of Persian origin...
.
Travels
He visited ‘AkkáAcre, Israel
Acre , is a city in the Western Galilee region of northern Israel at the northern extremity of Haifa Bay. Acre is one of the oldest continuously inhabited sites in the country....
, where Bahá'u'lláh and his family were prisoners, on three occasions: in 1873, 1888, and 1899. He was given the task of transferring the remains of the Báb
Báb
Siyyid `Alí Muḥammad Shírází was the founder of Bábism, and one of three central figures of the Bahá'í Faith. He was a merchant from Shíráz, Persia, who at the age of twenty-four claimed to be the promised Qá'im . After his declaration he took the title of Báb meaning "Gate"...
from various secret locations to ‘Akká, where they remained for several years until they were eventually entombed in the Shrine of the Báb
Shrine of the Báb
The Shrine of the Báb is a structure in Haifa, Israel where the remains of the Báb, founder of Bábism and forerunner of Bahá'u'lláh in the Bahá'í Faith, have been laid to rest; it is considered to be the second holiest place on Earth for Bahá'ís, after the Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh in Acre...
. He was one of the four Hands of the Cause
Hands of the Cause
The Hands of the Cause of God, Hands of the Cause, or Hands were a select group of Bahá'ís, appointed for life, whose main function was to propagate and protect the Bahá'í Faith...
appointed by Bahá'u'lláh himself, and was responsible for much of the Bahá'í activity in Iran until his death on 4 March, 1910.
External links
- Biography - by Moojan Momen