Hají Shaykh Muhammad-‘Alí Qazvíní

Nabil-ibn-Nabil

Hají Shaykh Muhammad-‘Alí Qazvíní, also known as Nabil ibn Nabil, (August 11 1850 - March 1, 1890) was a Persian Bahá’í who established a trading business on the advice of Bahá’u’lláh and worked with the Afnán family. He was slandered by supporters of Mírzá Yaḥyá over an extended period and committed suicide as a result.

Biography

‘Alí was born into a Bábí family in 1850 and his father was Hají Shaykh Muhammad, who was a merchant. His family was from Qazvin and like his father he became a merchant in the region. In 1864 he moved to Lahijan and he went on pilgrimage in 1870, also visiting Istanbul, Alexandria, and Mecca during his journey.

In 1882 ‘Alí moved to Istanbul on the instructions of Bahá’u’lláh and established a trading house and at some point he became a business partner of the Afnán family, the extended family of the Báb. In addition to his business career he also served the Faith from Istanbul, meeting with and advising pilgrims who visited the city en route to the Holy Land and facilitating communication between ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and Ottoman officials.

Mirza Aqa Khan, whose father had been a supporter of Mírzá Yaḥyá but become a Bahá’í, contacted ‘Alí and began associating with him claiming that he was interested in also becoming a Bahá’í, however he later began spreading false rumors throughout Istanbul accusing ‘Alí of business corruption. In order to resolve the matter ‘Alí proposed that Khan become a business partner and they worked together for several years which became a profitable venture. Khan became an active supporter of Mírzá Yaḥyá in the late 1880's and resumed spreading accusations against ‘Alí and was successful in damaging his professional reputation as he had established a close relationship with a major newspaper.

Bahá’u’lláh sent Hájí Siyyid Javád-i-Yazdí to Istanbul to resolve the disunity and Yazdi concluded that there was no truth to the rumors being spread about ‘Alí however due to the pressures caused by them ‘Alí attempted suicide by drowning in 1889, but was rescued by some boatmen who saw him jump into the sea. Upon hearing of his suicide attempt Bahá’u’lláh summoned ‘Alí to the Holy Land and he moved to Akka in March, 1889. The supporters of Yaḥyá launched a formal court case accusing the Afnán business in Istanbul of corruption after his departure and Bahá’u’lláh asked him to return to Istanbul to resolve the matter briefly then to immediately travel to Iran. Utilizing ledgers and account books ‘Alí successfully disproved the accusations with the case being dismissed. Yaḥyá's supporters immediately spread new allegations and also claimed that the Ottoman government had destroyed the Mansion of Bahjí and due to the stress of the situation ‘Alí committed suicide in March, 1890.

After his passing a memorial meeting was held in Istanbul which was attended by the Persian Ambassador to the Ottomans who praised his integrity. He was survived by two sons, Shaykh Ahmad Nabili and Mirza Munir Nabilzadih.