‘Andalíb
Áqá ‘Alí-Ashraf (d. 1920), better known by the title ‘Andalíb, was an early Persian Bahá’í who was well-known for his poetry.
Biography[edit]
‘Andalíb was from Lahijan.[1] His father passed when he was very young and he was raised by his mother, Khanum-Jan, alongside two sisters, Bilqis and Gawhar. He excelled in calligraphy as a teenager and was granted the sobriquet ‘Andalíb, which translates to Nightingale, by a tutor. He earned a living by producing calligraphy to illuminate manuscripts and producing pen-cases.[2]
At some point ‘Andalíb joined the Shaykhí movement,[2] and he became interested in the Bábí religion which he ultimately joined and he later became a Bahá’í.[3] After becoming a Bahá’í he was actively involved in teaching the Faith to others and moved to Rasht to teach for a period notably introducing the Baqiroff brothers, who adopted the surname Sadat-i-Khams, to the religion. He later returned to Lahijan and actively taught the Faith to students studying theology including Muhammad Nazimu’l-Hukama.[4] His sisters and mother also became Bahá’ís over time, although his mother was initially angry that his allegiance to the Faith had led to him becoming notorious in the city.[5]
Due to his reputation as an active Bahá’í clerics began to publicly denounce ‘Andalíb in Lahijan and a Dervish began to harass him by verbally abusing him and insulting his family. While ‘Andalíb initially ignored him when the Dervish insulted the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh he lost his temper and hit him with a metal yardstick.[5] A mob assembled intending to kill ‘Andalíb as a result,[6] however due to the actions of one of his Uncles ‘Andalíb was able to move to Qazvin.[7]
In 1882 ‘Andalíb returned to Lahijan. That year a period of persecution of Bahá’ís broke out and as ‘Andalíb was well-known as a Bahá’í he was arrested.[7] He submitted a request to debate members of the Islamic clergy if his arrest was religiously motivated which was granted. He debated several clerics and was declared a heretic deserving of execution by them. He was not executed instead being transferred to Rasht where he was kept in harsh conditions.[8]
‘Andalíb was released from imprisonment in approximately 1883 as his jailers had lost interest in keeping him imprisoned.[9] He initially returned to Lahijan but came to the conclusion his residence there was untenable and moved to Qazvin at the invitation of Shaykh Káẓim-i-Samandar remaining there for a year then moving on to Yazd. He met Edward Granville Browne in Yazd in 1888 with Browne writing highly of him in his record of his tour of Iran.[10]
By 1889 ‘Andalíb had settled in Shiraz which remained his home for the rest of his life. He established himself professionally and married shortly after moving to the city. He went on pilgrimage in 1892 and was in the Holy Land when the Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh took place and His Will and Testament was publicly read for the first time.[10] ‘Andalíb composed poetry praising ‘Abdu’l-Bahá supporting Him as the appointed successor of Bahá’u’lláh, however ‘Abdu’l-Bahá advised him that the language he used should be reserved for praising Bahá’u’lláh. After returning to Iran ‘Andalíb resumed actively teaching the Faith.[11]
In 1915 ‘Andalíb undertook a second pilgrimage to the Holy Land and returned to Iran through the Caucasus and visiting Rasht afterward. He then lived in Lahijan for a year and visited his sister in Qazvin before returning to Shiraz in 1917. Shortly after arriving in Shiraz his wife passed and he devoted his time to raising his children. His health began to fail and he passed in early 1920.[11][12]
‘Abdu’l-Bahá revealed a prayer of visitation for ‘Andalíb after His passing and also revealed the following words which He instructed were to be inscribed on his tombstone:
"Verily, life in the nest of this world was too confined for ‘Andalíb, the beloved. He winged his flight to the Supreme Concourse, to limitless heights, that he might rapturously sing melodious tunes on the branches of the blessed tree."[12]
Publications[edit]
- 2005 - An Eyewitness Account of Bahá'u'lláh's Ascension, translated by Ahang Rabbani.
References[edit]
- ↑ H. M. Balyuzi, Eminent Baha'is in the Time of Baha'u'llah, George Ronald: Oxford, 1985, p 61
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 H. M. Balyuzi, Eminent Baha'is in the Time of Baha'u'llah, George Ronald: Oxford, 1985, p 62
- ↑ H. M. Balyuzi, Eminent Baha'is in the Time of Baha'u'llah, George Ronald: Oxford, 1985, p 63
- ↑ H. M. Balyuzi, Eminent Baha'is in the Time of Baha'u'llah, George Ronald: Oxford, 1985, p 64
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 H. M. Balyuzi, Eminent Baha'is in the Time of Baha'u'llah, George Ronald: Oxford, 1985, p 67
- ↑ H. M. Balyuzi, Eminent Baha'is in the Time of Baha'u'llah, George Ronald: Oxford, 1985, p 68
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 H. M. Balyuzi, Eminent Baha'is in the Time of Baha'u'llah, George Ronald: Oxford, 1985, p 69
- ↑ H. M. Balyuzi, Eminent Baha'is in the Time of Baha'u'llah, George Ronald: Oxford, 1985, p 70
- ↑ H. M. Balyuzi, Eminent Baha'is in the Time of Baha'u'llah, George Ronald: Oxford, 1985, p 71
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 H. M. Balyuzi, Eminent Baha'is in the Time of Baha'u'llah, George Ronald: Oxford, 1985, p 72
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 H. M. Balyuzi, Eminent Baha'is in the Time of Baha'u'llah, George Ronald: Oxford, 1985, p 73
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 H. M. Balyuzi, Eminent Baha'is in the Time of Baha'u'llah, George Ronald: Oxford, 1985, p 74
