Haji Qalandar

Haji Qalandar

Haji Ghulam-Husayn (d. 1909), better known by the title Haji Qalandar, was a Persian Bahá’í who undertook extensive travel teaching trips in Iran and the Ottoman Empire.

Biography

Qalandar was a Muslim from Hamadan and he worked as a craftsman conducting inlaid work. He moved to India at some point where he lived for thirty-two years during which he studied Indian medicine. He supported himself financially through his craftsman work and practicing Indian medicine during his travels.

At some point prior to 1874 Qalandar became a Bahá’í and began travel teaching in towns across Iran and territories of the Ottoman Empire dressing as a Dervish while traveling. He was notable for his success in proclaiming the Faith to members of Sufi groups and also to Zoroastrians in the city of Yazd. He settled in Rasht in 1896 living in the city until 1898, the same year the Local Spiritual Assembly was established.

In the early 1900's Qalandar went on pilgrimage after spending time teaching in Egypt and he made a travel teaching trip to Bulgaria from the Holy Land. In later life he settled in Baku and resided in the cities Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds. He passed away in Baku in 1909.