Aqa Husayn-i-Ashchi

Aqa Husayn-i-Áshchí.

Aqa Husayn-i-Áshchí (c. 1844 - 1927/8) was an early Bahá’í who served in the household of Bahá’u’lláh.

Background

Husayn was born in Kashan in approximately 1844. He was the son of Aqa Muhammad-Javad-i-Kashani who became a Bábí in 1847. His father moved to Baghdad in the 1850's to live near Bahá’u’lláh and he was raised there first meeting Bahá’u’lláh when he was about thirteen. His father passed away in Baghdad when he was a child and he was raised for a time by his maternal uncle Ustad Isma’il.

In 1863 Bahá’u’lláh was exiled from Baghdad to Constantinople and Husayn was recruited as a servant of His household accompanying them on their exile to Constantinople, then to Adrianople, and finally to the Holy Land. He was initially an attendant to the women of the family, but while in Adrianople he became a cook for the household.

In 1872 Husayn and six other Bahá’ís were involved in the murder of Siyyid Muhammad-i-Isfahání and two other Azalis who had been exiled to Akka along with the Bahá’ís. He was imprisoned for his crime which was also strongly condemned by Bahá’u’lláh and resulted in the reputation of the Faith being tarnished in the Holy Land for a considerable time.

After being released from prison in 1879 Husayn opened a small store in Akka. As of December 1924 he was infirm and bedridden and Shoghi Effendi instructed a Bahá’í to visit him and record his memories of Bahá’í history. He passed away in approximately 1927 or 1928.