Mírzá Mihdí
Encyclopedia
Mírzá Mihdí (1848-June 23, 1870), given the title Ghusn-i-Athar (the Purest Branch). Mírzá Mihdí was born Mihdí Núrí in Tehran
, and named after a deceased brother of his father.
. He was the favourite child of his mother. Mihdí did not remember his once luxurious life as at the age of four his father was arrested and imprisoned on account of his faith. The family were left in penury and his sister
later recollected how the siblings would hold each other and weep. When his family were exiled to Baghdad
the family thought it necessary to leave Mírzá Mihdí in Persia as a result of his health. He was left to the care of his maternal great-grandmother and his paternal aunt. The separation was hard for his family, especially his mother.
At the age of twelve he rejoined his family in Baghdad. There he accompanied his father through all his exiles and grew very close to him. He later became the amanuenses of Bahá’u’lláh and a staunch companion. He was beloved by the Bahá’ís ; revered in a similar sense to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and was noted for his meekness, piety, purity and sincerity. Whilst rapped in prayer chanting the Ode of the Dove (a prayer revealed by his father during the period in Kurdistan) and pacing on the rooftop, Mírzá Mihdí fell through a sky-light which pierced his lungs. Bahá’u’lláh was horrified and asked for a physician to attend his son. However, by this time it was too late. His mother was especially hurt and poignantly caressed her blood soaked son shortly before his death. Bahá’u’lláh was heard lamenting “Mihdí! O Mihdí!” as his son was dying. His companions surrounding him on his death-bed remember his courtesy despite his pain, and even apologizing at the fact he was laying before their presence.
He died on June 23, 1870 at the age of just twenty-two. His dying wish was that the believers would attain the presence of Bahá’u’lláh, a wish which the broken-hearted Bahá’u’lláh accepted. His body was taken away and buried in a Muslim cemetery. His sister
collected the blood-soaked clothes of Mihdí and other relics. These are seen in the National Bahá'í Archives in Israel
. Bahá’u’lláh eulogized his son and connected the subsequent easing of restrictions and pilgrims ability to visit him to his dying prayer. He wrote that his death caused “the Concourse on high
to lament”. He also exalted his death, comparing it to the intended sacrifice of Abraham
’s son, the crucifixion of Christ
and the martyrdom of the Imam Husayn. Bahá’u’lláh also named him the Purest Branch. The exiles and companions commented that he had been a "pillar of strength" amongst the exiles and adored for his gentleness and patience.
Shoghi Effendi
later removed the body of Mírzá Mihdí and reinterred it alongside his mother Navváb
in the gardens below the Arc on Mount Carmel in Haifa
in an area now called the Monument Gardens.
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...
, and named after a deceased brother of his father.
Biography
He was the youngest child of Bahá’u’lláh and NavvábNavvab
Navvab may refer to:Places*Navvab , a locality in Tehran, Iran* Navvab Expressway, a highway in Tehran, IranPeople*Ásíyih Khánum , Bahá'u'lláh's first wife*Mir Mohsun Navvab , Azeri poet and artist...
. He was the favourite child of his mother. Mihdí did not remember his once luxurious life as at the age of four his father was arrested and imprisoned on account of his faith. The family were left in penury and his sister
Bahiyyih Khánum
Bahíyyih Khánum the only daughter of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith, and Ásíyih Khánum. She was born in 1846 with the given name Fatimih Sultan, and was entitled "Varaqiy-i-'Ulyá" or "Greatest Holy Leaf"...
later recollected how the siblings would hold each other and weep. When his family were exiled to Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
the family thought it necessary to leave Mírzá Mihdí in Persia as a result of his health. He was left to the care of his maternal great-grandmother and his paternal aunt. The separation was hard for his family, especially his mother.
At the age of twelve he rejoined his family in Baghdad. There he accompanied his father through all his exiles and grew very close to him. He later became the amanuenses of Bahá’u’lláh and a staunch companion. He was beloved by the Bahá’ís ; revered in a similar sense to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and was noted for his meekness, piety, purity and sincerity. Whilst rapped in prayer chanting the Ode of the Dove (a prayer revealed by his father during the period in Kurdistan) and pacing on the rooftop, Mírzá Mihdí fell through a sky-light which pierced his lungs. Bahá’u’lláh was horrified and asked for a physician to attend his son. However, by this time it was too late. His mother was especially hurt and poignantly caressed her blood soaked son shortly before his death. Bahá’u’lláh was heard lamenting “Mihdí! O Mihdí!” as his son was dying. His companions surrounding him on his death-bed remember his courtesy despite his pain, and even apologizing at the fact he was laying before their presence.
He died on June 23, 1870 at the age of just twenty-two. His dying wish was that the believers would attain the presence of Bahá’u’lláh, a wish which the broken-hearted Bahá’u’lláh accepted. His body was taken away and buried in a Muslim cemetery. His sister
Bahiyyih Khánum
Bahíyyih Khánum the only daughter of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith, and Ásíyih Khánum. She was born in 1846 with the given name Fatimih Sultan, and was entitled "Varaqiy-i-'Ulyá" or "Greatest Holy Leaf"...
collected the blood-soaked clothes of Mihdí and other relics. These are seen in the National Bahá'í Archives in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. Bahá’u’lláh eulogized his son and connected the subsequent easing of restrictions and pilgrims ability to visit him to his dying prayer. He wrote that his death caused “the Concourse on high
Concourse on High
The Concourse on High is a Bahá'í term for the gathering of God’s prophets, and His holy and chosen souls....
to lament”. He also exalted his death, comparing it to the intended sacrifice of Abraham
Abraham
Abraham , whose birth name was Abram, is the eponym of the Abrahamic religions, among which are Judaism, Christianity and Islam...
’s son, the crucifixion of Christ
Christ
Christ is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
and the martyrdom of the Imam Husayn. Bahá’u’lláh also named him the Purest Branch. The exiles and companions commented that he had been a "pillar of strength" amongst the exiles and adored for his gentleness and patience.
Shoghi Effendi
Shoghi Effendi
Shoghí Effendí Rabbání , better known as Shoghi Effendi, was the Guardian and appointed head of the Bahá'í Faith from 1921 until his death in 1957...
later removed the body of Mírzá Mihdí and reinterred it alongside his mother Navváb
Ásíyih Khánum
Ásíyih Khánum was the wife of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith. She is viewed by Bahá’ís as the paragon of a devoted mother and wife. She is also known by her titles of Navváb, the Most Exalted Leaf, Búyúk Khánum or Hadrat-i-Khánum. Khánum, is a title usually given to a Persian lady...
in the gardens below the Arc on Mount Carmel in 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...
in an area now called the Monument Gardens.
See also
Others buried in the Monument Gardens:- Ásiyih KhánumÁsíyih KhánumÁsíyih Khánum was the wife of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith. She is viewed by Bahá’ís as the paragon of a devoted mother and wife. She is also known by her titles of Navváb, the Most Exalted Leaf, Búyúk Khánum or Hadrat-i-Khánum. Khánum, is a title usually given to a Persian lady...
— Bahá'u'lláh's first wife, Mirzá Mihdí's mother (Also called Nawab)
- Bahíyyih KhánumBahiyyih KhánumBahíyyih Khánum the only daughter of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith, and Ásíyih Khánum. She was born in 1846 with the given name Fatimih Sultan, and was entitled "Varaqiy-i-'Ulyá" or "Greatest Holy Leaf"...
— Mirzá Mihdí's elder sister - Munirih KhánumMunirih KhánumMunírih Khánum was the wife of `Abdu'l-Bahá, the son of the founder of the Bahá'í Faith, Bahá'u'lláh. She was entitled the Holy Mother...
— wife of `Abdu'l-Bahá, Mirzá Mihdí's elder brother