Muhammad ‘Alí Jalálí
Muhammad ‘Alí Jalálí (c. 1900's - 2006) was a Persian Bahá’í who was an Islamic cleric before becoming a Bahá’í. He pioneered to Morocco in 1953 for which he was named a Knight of Bahá’u’lláh.
Biography[edit]
Before becoming a Bahá’í Jalálí was a prominent Islamic cleric in Iran. He was opposed to the Faith and used his sermons to criticize the religion and discourage people from attending Bahá’í events. After one of his sermons a Bahá’í invited Jalálí to their home, discussed the Faith, and gifted him a book of the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh which resulted in him becoming a Bahá’í. He began travel teaching after declaring visiting India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.[1]
In 1953 the Ten Year Crusade was launched with a major goal for the community being to establish the Faith in territories with no Bahá’í presence. One of these goal territories was Morocco and Jalálí moved to Tangier in 1953 for which he was named a Knight of Bahá’u’lláh. Due to his fluency in Arabic and knowledge of the Qur’án and he was able to teach the Arabic speaking population of the country.[2]
Jalálí later moved from Morocco to Algeria, the Canary Islands, and then finally settled in Spain. He continued travel teaching across Africa into his old age and when religious restrictions began to relax in Soviet territories in the early 1990's he conducted travel teaching trips through Tajikistan and Uzbekistan despite his advanced age at the time.[2]
