Husnieh Bahá’í
Husnieh Bahá’í | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1908 Tiberias, Palestine |
| Died | November 18, 2000 Oshawa, Ontario, Canada |
| Other names | Mama Bahá’í |
Husnieh Zikru’lláh Bahá’í born Tehrani (1908 - November 18, 2000) was a Persian Bahá’í who assisted Shoghi Effendi with construction projects in the Holy Land and later pioneered to Canada, Guadeloupe, and St. Lucia.
Biography[edit]
Husnieh was born into a Bahá’í family in Tiberias, Palestine, in 1908. Her father was Mirzá Zikru’lláh, son of Mírzá Muḥammad-Quli who was a a half-brother of Bahá’u’lláh who accompanied Bahá’u’lláh on His exiles.[1] Her father and grandfather were imprisoned in the Citadel of Akka alongside Bahá’u’lláh when they were exiled to the Holy Land.[2]
The year Husnieh was born the family of Bahá’u’lláh were released from being confined to the city of Akka and her grandfather Mírzá Muḥammad-Quli established a farm along the coast near Akka which the family helped him operate.[3] Her mother passed when she was very young and she was raised by her father and an Aunt. She was able to meet frequently with Bahíyyih Khánum and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and was the last member of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá's extended family to see Him before His Ascension in 1921.[1] In her youth she married Muhammad Bahá’í and they had six children. She undertook training in nursing and worked as a nurse in the Holy Land and she was able to serve many communities as she was fluent in Arabic, English, Hebrew, and Persian.[2]
In 1948 war broke out in the Holy Land and Husnieh's husband was abducted during the conflict. Husnieh and her children were invited to reside with Shoghi Effendi and lived with him throughout the war. After the end of the war her husband was released and the family settled in Nazareth. Throughout the 1950's Husnieh assisted Shoghi Effendi with the construction of the superstructure of the Shrine of the Báb and the construction of the International Archives Building. She also assisted Shoghi Effendi with acquiring land near the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh which was used to further expand the property.[2]
In 1966 Husnieh's husband passed away and she pioneered to Oakville, Canada, after consulting with the Universal House of Justice and Rúḥíyyih Khánum. She entrusted all properties she owned in the Holy Land to the Universal House of Justice upon departing.[1] She was appointed the hostess of the National Bahá’í Center of Canada in 1968 and served in the role until 1974. She pioneered to the Caribbean in the 1980's serving at posts in Guadeloupe an St. Lucia, but returned to Canada when her health began to fail.[2] She passed away in Oshawa, Ontario, in 2000 and the Universal House of Justice conveyed the following message after her passing:
We are grieved at the passing of the steadfast and devoted promoter of the Cause of God, Mrs. Husnieh Bahá’í. A descendant of one of the faithful brothers of Baha’u’llah, together with her husband she served the beloved Guardian in the Holy Land with distinction. Her characteristic generosity, kindness and hospitality set a shining example of the Bahá’í spirit, and her loyalty to the Covenant and years of faithful service in Canada and the Caribbean are especially remembered.
Kindly assure her relatives and friends of our fervent prayers in the Holy Shrines for the progress of her radiant soul in the Abha Kingdom.[1]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Baha'i Canada, Vol. 13(9), p 46
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (2002). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 29 (2000-2001), Pg(s) 268. View as PDF.
- ↑ Baha'i News (1986). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 658, Pg(s) 1. View as PDF.
