Hájí Muhammad-Táhir-i-Málmírí
Hájí Muhammad-Táhir-i-Málmírí (1852 - June 4, 1953) was a Persian Bahá’í who was a prominent member of the Yazd community, wrote historical works on the Faith, and received Tablets from Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
Biography[edit]
Málmírí was born in Yazd in approximately 1852 into a Bábí family with his mother, Ma‘sumih, having become the first Bábí in the family.[1] When he was a child Mirza Husayn Yazdi brought a copy of the Hidden Words to Yazd after meeting with Bahá’u’lláh in Baghdad,[2] and advised Málmírí's father that he felt Bahá’u’lláh was the Manifestation of God foretold by the Báb. When Bahá’u’lláh's Declaration to be a Manifestation of God became known in Yazd in the 1860's Málmírí and his family became Bahá’ís.[3] At some point he married Legha'iyyih and they had at least seven children.[4][5]
In his professional career Málmírí became a hand weaver and earnt a modest living,[6] and actively taught the Faith becoming widely known as a Bahá’í in Yazd forcing him to go into hiding or leave the city during periods of hostility towards the Faith.[1] He was noted as a successful teacher as he was skilled in religious debate, having memorized almost half of the Qur'an and studied the Bible and other texts. He gave talks and held firesides to teach the Faith, at one point on almost every night of the week. Sometimes people hostile to the Faith attended his firesides however through discussion he was able to reduce their hostility and some became Bahá’ís as a result.[6]
In 1878 Málmírí went on pilgrimage to Akka for nine months during which he met Bahá’u’lláh Who revealed Tablets honoring him.[4] In 1886 he was appointed as an agent of the Afnán family trading business living in Bavanat, Khurrami, Bayan, and Ábádih to serve in the role. He worked for the Afnán until 1901 then returned to Yazd.[1]
In 1903 there was a period of persecution in Yazd which led to many Bahá’ís being murdered or dying due to exposure and malnutrition after fleeing the city, including three of Málmírí's children,[4] and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá appointed him to oversee efforts to assist the survivors. An example of his assistance was that he provided food to the widows and children of the martyrs as well as the poor of Yazd in general.[7] Two of Málmírí's children also passed before 1908,[4] and his sons Adib and Habib Taherzadeh were born after 1908.[4][8]
Málmírí made a second pilgrimage in 1914 during which he spent time with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.[7]
In later life Málmírí served on the Local Spiritual Assembly of Yazd and in the 1940's he wrote his memoirs which included accounts of his pilgrimages.[9] He passed away in his home in 1953 and Shoghi Effendi conveyed the following in a message after his passing:
"Grieve passing Muhammad Táhir Málmírí long record services unforgettable praying progress soul kingdom."[9]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Moojan Momen, The Baha'i Communities of Iran 1851-1921, Volume 2, George Ronald: Oxford, 2022, p 360
- ↑ Moojan Momen, Iran: Province of Yazd, 1994 at Baha'i Library Online
- ↑ Moojan Momen, The Baha'i Communities of Iran 1851-1921, Volume 2, George Ronald: Oxford, 2022, p 350
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Baha'i World: In Memoriam 1996-1997, p 237
- ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (2001). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 28 (1999-2000), Pg(s) 311. View as PDF.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1956). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada. Wilmette, Ill. Volume 12 (1950-1954), Pg(s) 692. View as PDF.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1956). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada. Wilmette, Ill. Volume 12 (1950-1954), Pg(s) 693. View as PDF.
- ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (2001). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 28 (1999-2000), Pg(s) 311. View as PDF.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1956). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada. Wilmette, Ill. Volume 12 (1950-1954), Pg(s) 694. View as PDF.
