Mírzá Muḥammad ‘Alíy-i-Nahrí was a Persian Bábí who helped establish the religion in Isfahan. He was the father of Munírih Khánum and great grandfather of Shoghi Effendi.[1]
Biography[edit]
Nahrí was born into a prominent and wealthy family in Isfahan. His father was named Sayyid Mahdi and was the son of a Persian merchant who moved to India and married a woman from a wealthy family. Mahdi returned to Iran settling in Najaf where he constructed a water canal, earning him the title Nahrí as a family name, and became a follower of the teachings of Shaykh Ahmad. Nahrí's mother was a relative of the wife of the most powerful cleric in Isfahan.[2] He had two brothers, Mírzá Hadi and Mírzá Ibrahim.[3]
In his youth Nahrí moved to Karbila with his brother, Hadi, and they joined the Shaykhí movement and studied religion under Siyyid Káẓim. They were both living in Karbila when the Báb resided in the city and associated with the Shaykhí's there between 1841 and 1842 and were impressed by Him.[4] Nahrí married his first wife while in Karbila.[5]
At some point after the Declaration of the Báb in 1844 Nahrí heard news of the declaration. At the time the Báb had instructed that His declaration be proclaimed without His identity being disclosed, however Nahrí and his brother Hadi deduced the Báb's identity due to remembering Him from Karbila. They traveled to Shiraz to meet with Him but arrived after He had departed for Arabia on pilgrimage.[6]
The Báb gave instructions for the brothers to move to Isfahan and while traveling to the city they met Mullá Ḥusayn who galvanized their faith.[5] Nahrí and Hadi visited Shiraz from Isfahan in 1845 at the time the Báb was under house arrest in the city and they were able to meet with Him in person. After returning to Isfahan from Shiraz Nahrí received news his wife, who had remained in Karbila, had passed away and he remarried in Isfahan.[5]
In 1846 the Báb moved to Isfahan and Nahrí's brother Ibrahim hosted Him at a dinner in his home despite not being a Bábí.[7] During the event the Báb was informed that ‘Alí wanted to have children but his wife had been unable to conceive, prompting the Báb to reportedly set aside some of His food, gave instructions for it to be delivered to Nahrí and his wife, and state that after eating it they would be able to have children. Nahrí's wife ultimately became pregnant with their daughter Fatimih who was later granted the name Munírih by Bahá’u’lláh.[8] They later had two other daughters, one of whom was named Gawhar and married Mírzá Asadu’llah Isfahani,[9] and a son named Siyyid Yahya Nahrí who married the daughter of Mírzá Muhammad-Hasan Nahrí.[10][11][12]
Nahrí attended the Conference of Badasht in 1848 but left the meeting when Ṭáhirih removed her veil as he took offense, however he was persuaded to return to the conference by Bahá’u’lláh. After the conference the Bábí's were attacked and Nahrí's brother Hadi passed to injuries he sustained but Nahrí survived and was able to return to Isfahan where he actively promoted the Bábí religion.[13]
In 1856 Nahrí visited Baghdad where he was able to meet with Bahá’u’lláh and he reportedly regarded Him as 'He whom God shall make manifest', the figure prophesized by the Báb, as a result.[14] In the 1860's he visited Bahá’u’lláh in Adrianople and his daughter married ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in 1873 by which time he had passed away.[13]
References[edit]
- ↑ Moojan Momen, The Baha'i Communities of Iran 1851-1921: Volume 2, George Ronald: Oxford, 2021, p 17]
- ↑ Moojan Momen, The Baha'i Communities of Iran 1851-1921: Volume 2, George Ronald: Oxford, 2021, p 17]
- ↑ Moojan Momen, The Baha'i Communities of Iran 1851-1921: Volume 2, George Ronald: Oxford, 2021, p 18]
- ↑ Adib Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Baha'u'llah: Volume 2, George Ronald: Oxford, 1974, p 202
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Adib Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Baha'u'llah: Volume 2, George Ronald: Oxford, 1974, p 203
- ↑ Moojan Momen, The Baha'i Communities of Iran 1851-1921: Volume 2, George Ronald: Oxford, 2021, p 17]
- ↑ Moojan Momen, The Baha'i Communities of Iran 1851-1921: Volume 2, George Ronald: Oxford, 2021, p 18]
- ↑ Adib Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Baha'u'llah: Volume 2, George Ronald: Oxford, 1974, p 204
- ↑ Moojan Momen, The Baha'i Communities of Iran 1851-1921: Volume 2, George Ronald: Oxford, 2021, p 7]
- ↑ Habibullah Afnan, tr. Ahang Rabbani, Memories of the Báb, Bahá’u’lláh and `Abdu’l-Bahá, Kalimat Press, 2005, p 72
- ↑ Baharieh Rouhani Ma'ani, Leaves of the Twin Divine Trees, George Ronald: Oxford, 2009, p 360
- ↑ Moojan Momen, The Baha'i Communities of Iran 1851-1921: Volume 2, George Ronald: Oxford, 2021, p 18]
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Adib Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Baha'u'llah: Volume 2, George Ronald: Oxford, 1974, p 205
- ↑ Moojan Momen, The Baha'i Communities of Iran 1851-1921: Volume 2, George Ronald: Oxford, 2021, p 18]
