Mírzá Hádí Shírází
Mírzá Hádí Shírází (1873 - 1955) was a Persian Bahá’í who married Ḍiyá'iyyih Khánum, the daughter of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. His eldest son Shoghi Effendi was the Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith.
Biography[edit]
Hádí was born in Shíráz in 1873. His father, Siyyid Muhammad-Husayn, was descended from the family of the Báb.[1] He became a successful merchant in his career and moved to Bombay, India, for work in his youth.[2]
In 1891 Hádí and his mother, Zivar-Sultan Khanum, attained the presence of Bahá’u’lláh on pilgrimage and lived in the Holy Land for a time.[3] Hádí wanted to marry into the family of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and Bahá’u’lláh granted His approval for a marriage.[4] After the Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh in 1892 Hádí and his mother departed the Holy Land and settled in Shíráz. Hádí maintained a correspondence with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Munírih Khánum, and Bahíyyih Khánum regarding his desire to marry a daughter of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and his mother wrote expressing her fondness for Ḍiyá'iyyih, the eldest daughter.[5]
In 1894 Hádí was granted permission to return to the Holy Land and he settled in ‘Akka.[4] Around 1895 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá departed ‘Akka for Tiberias in order to avoid conflict with His brother Mírzá Muhammad ‘Alí who was attempting to depose Him as leader of the Bahá’í community. In His absence the women of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá's family requested His consent for Ḍiyá'iyyih and Hádí to marry. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá approved of the marriage and advised that a simple ceremony should be held and they married in late 1895 or early 1896.[6][7]
‘Abdu’l-Bahá rented the House of ‘Abdu’lláh Páshá shortly after the wedding and Hádí and Ḍiyá'iyyih established their residence in the property.[6] On March 1, 1897, they had their first child Shoghi. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá addressed him as Shoghi Effendi and instructed Shírází that he should refer to his son as Shoghi Effendi and not merely Shoghi.[8] They had two more sons, Husayn and then Riaz, and two daughters, Rúhangiz and then Mehrangiz. All of his children other than Shoghi Effendi were expelled from the Bahá’í community as Covenant-breakers.[9]
In 1955 Hádí passed away in the Holy Land and was buried in the Bahá’í cemetery in Haifa.[2]
References[edit]
- ↑ H. M. Balyuzi, Baha'u'llah: The King of Glory, George Ronald: Oxford 1980, p 406
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Ahang Rabbani, The Afnán Family: Some Biographical Notes, 2007
- ↑ H. M. Balyuzi, Baha'u'llah: The King of Glory, George Ronald: Oxford 1980, p 406
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Baharieh Rouhani Ma’ani, Leaves of the Twin Divine Trees, George Ronald: Oxford, 2008, p 333
- ↑ Baharieh Rouhani Ma’ani, Leaves of the Twin Divine Trees, George Ronald: Oxford, 2008, p 332
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Baharieh Rouhani Ma’ani, Leaves of the Twin Divine Trees, George Ronald: Oxford, 2008, p 334
- ↑ Baharieh Rouhani Ma’ani, Leaves of the Twin Divine Trees, George Ronald: Oxford, 2008, p 333
- ↑ Rúḥíyyih Khánum, The Priceless Pearl, Baha'i Publishing Trust: London, 1969, p 2
- ↑ Adib Taherzadeh, The Covenant of Baha'u'llah, George Ronald: Oxford, 1972, p 358
