Mullá ‘Alí-Akbar-i-Ardistání

Mullá ‘Alí-Akbar-i-Ardistání

Mullá ‘Alí-Akbar-i-Ardistání was an early Bábí who was expelled from Shiraz in 1845 alongside Ismu'llahu'l-Asdaq and Quddús in the first event of persecution of the Bábí community in Iran. He became an active Bahá’í before his passing.

Background

‘Alí-Akbar was a Shaykhí and he was descended from the prominent Islamic theologians Fadlulah Ahmad Pir Jamali, founder of a Sufi order, and Mulla Muhammad Sadiq Ardistani who was a renowned mystic philosopher. He was originally from Zavarih.

‘Alí-Akbar studied religion under Ismu'llahu'l-Asdaq in Isfahan in approximately 1843 and he became a Bábí in 1844 immediately after Asdaq. In June 1845 ‘Alí-Akbar accompanied Asdaq to Shiraz where Asdaq altered the Muslim call to prayer while speaking at a Mosque in accordance with instructions from the Báb. This resulted in Asdaq, ‘Alí-Akbar, and another Bábí, Quddús, being violently persecuted and expelled from the city.

Later in 1845 ‘Alí-Akbar visited Ardistán with Asdaq and they taught the Bábí Faith with Mírzá Fath-‘Alí Fath-i-A’zam becoming a Bábí through their efforts. He then returned to Shiraz where he lived in some abandoned ruins outside of the city. After the Martyrdom of the Báb he lived in Tabriz from approximately 1858 to 1860 where Kázim-i-Samandar came under his care in order to study under him. He moved to Qazvin and then to Ardistán with Samandar.

When Bahá’u’lláh declared Himself to be the Manifestation of God foretold by the Báb in the 1860's ‘Alí-Akbar was unsure of whether to accept His claims. Bahá’u’lláh directed Kázim-i-Samandar to teach him and after a period of deep investigation ‘Alí-Akbar became a Bahá’í and began actively teaching the new religion up until his passing.

Family

‘Alí-Akbar had a daughter who married Áqá Siyyid Shahab, the son of Mírzá Fath-‘Alí Fath-i-A’zam making him the maternal grandfather of Núri’d-Dín and Rúhangíz Fath-‘Azam and the great grandfather of Hushmand Fatheazam and Shidan Fat'he-Aazam.