Khál A’zam
Hájí Mírzá Siyyid ‘Alí (c. 1800 - 1850), better known by the title Khál A’zam meaning Most Great Uncle, was a member of the Afnán family and the second eldest maternal uncle of the Báb. He was directly responsible for raising the Báb after the passing of His father and became one of the Seven Martyrs of Tihrán during persecution of the Bábí community.
Biography[edit]
‘Alí was born in approximately 1800, his father was Mírzá Muhammad-Husayn. He had a successful career as a merchant and was involved in importing and exporting from India in business with his brothers. At some point he married Hájíyyih Bíbí Ján-Ján, also known as 'Ammih Hájí (d. 1889), and they had at least one son named Mírzá Javád.[1]
In 1828 Siyyid Muhammad Ridá, the father of the Báb, passed away and his widow Fátimih Bagum was taken in by ‘Alí who was her brother and he also provided for her son the Báb who began working for his business in Shiraz in 1829.[2] In approximately 1834 he sent his nephew to help his brother Khál Akbar with his business interests in Bushihr.[3] In 1840 he withdrew from his business career and he began preparing for the appearance of the Qá'im.[1]
By 1841 the Báb was managing the Bushihr offices personally but that year he left Bushihr to visit Karbala and Najaf in Iraq which resulted in Khal Akbar becoming concerned the business would be left in disarray. ‘Alí assured his brother that the Báb would not leave the business damaged,[4] and Akbar found that the businesses accounts were all settled when he visited Bushihr. ‘Alí traveled to Iraq to request that the Báb return to Iran in approximately 1842.[1]
In December 1844 the Báb declared Himself to be the promised Qá'im while on Pilgrimage in Mecca and in June 1845 ‘Alí accepted his nephews claims after meeting with His disciple Quddús who visited Shiraz. When the Báb arrived in Shiraz after His pilgrimage He stayed in ‘Alí's house occasionally and in October 1846 when He was arrested ‘Alí was severely beaten by the authorities which caused severe injuries leaving him bedridden for three months. When the Báb departed Shiraz ‘Alí cared for His mother and wife in His absence.[1]
In 1848 ‘Alí left Shiraz travelling to Yazd where he settled his business affairs with his brother Khál Asghar and he then traveled to Chihríq where the Báb was imprisoned and was able to stay with Him for a time before being forced to leave. He went to Qazvin and then attempted to join the Bábís at Shaykh Tabarsí but he was unable to reach them before the Battle of Shaykh Tabarsí took place which ended with a massacre of the Bábís in May 1849. He instead moved to Tihran where he stayed with Muhammad Big Chápárchí who was a Bábí and he was an active member of the Bábí community. Mírzá Músá advised him to flee the capital however he remained and in February 1850 he was arrested due to his religion.[1]
After being arrested ‘Alí was pressured to recant his Faith and offered a pardon if he did so however he refused and was publicly beheaded. He was the first of seven Bábís to be executed at the time and they came to be collectively referred to as the Seven Martyrs of Tihran. At some point ‘Abdu’l-Bahá classified the House of Khál A’zam in Shiraz as a Mashriqu’l-Adhkár and it was a Bahá’í owned property until being confiscated after the 1979 Iranian Revolution.[1]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Ahang Rabbani, The Afnán Family: Some Biographical Notes, 2007
- ↑ Ahang Rabbani, The Genesis of the Babi-Baha'i Faiths in Shiraz and Fars, Brill: Leiden/Boston, 2008, p 11
- ↑ Ahang Rabbani, The Genesis of the Babi-Baha'i Faiths in Shiraz and Fars, Brill: Leiden/Boston, 2008, p 14
- ↑ H.M. Balyuzi, The Bab: The Herald of the Day of Days, George Ronald: Oxford, 1973, p 41
