Suleiman Suleimani
Suleiman Suleimani | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1901 Milan, Iran |
| Died | July 6, 1987 Tainan, Taiwan |
| NSA member | Taiwan 1967 - 1978 |
Suleiman A. Suleimani-Milani (c. 1901 - July 6, 1987) was a Persian Bahá’í who pioneered to China and Taiwan notably assisting with the establishment and consolidation of the Bahá’í community of Taiwan.
Biography[edit]
Suleimani was born to ‘Ali-Muhammad and Zahra in Milan in approximately 1901. His parents were not Bahá’ís but were friendly with the community. In 1911 his family moved to Ishqabad with his father passing in a train accident during the journey. After arriving he studied at the Bahá’í school of Ishqabad and became a Bahá’í during his studies. After graduating he worked with his brothers as a cloth merchant in a family owned shop.[1]
In 1922 Suleimani married Riḍvániyyih Ouskouli and in 1923 they began preparations to pioneer to Shanghai with Ridvaniyyih's father, brother, and grandmother, arriving in 1924. He was an active Bahá’í in Shanghai and in 1930 he accompanied Martha Root on her visit to Nanking and also assisted her when she visited China in 1937.[1]
In 1950 the Suleimani's returned to Iran due to the political situation in China. In 1952 the Suleimani's went on pilgrimage where they met with Shoghi Effendi who encouraged them to attend the Intercontinental Conference to be held in New Delhi, India, in 1953. They attended the conference and were inspired to pioneer to Taiwan.[1] After settling their personal affairs in Iran they sailed to Hong Kong then to Keelung on Taiwan arriving on October 22, 1954,[2] and deciding to settle in Tainan.[3] They established a Chinese language study class and on Naw-Ruz in 1955 four people declared who had been attending the class for several months,[4] and in 1956 the Local Spiritual Assembly of Tainan was established with Suleimani being elected as an inaugural member.[5]
In 1957 Suleimani attended the first Convention for the Bahá’ís of North East Asia as a delegate of the Tainan Assembly,[6] and from 1957 to 1958 he made forty teaching trips to Taipei, Tosying, and Chia-yi accompanied by his wife.[7] During 1957 he also made initial attempts to secure official recognition of the Faith in Taiwan accompanied by Jalál Kháḍih although they were ultimately unsuccessful.[8] In 1958 he and his wife bought land on which they constructed a Bahá’í Center for Tainan and they served as caretakers of the property after it was dedicated in 1959.[9]
In 1966 ‘Alí-Muḥammad Varqá appointed Suleimani as the deputy of the Trustee for the Huqúqu'lláh in the Far East and the Pacific,[10] and in 1967 he was elected to the inaugural National Spiritual Assembly of Taiwan.[11] He served on the National Spiritual Assembly until 1978 and as deputy Trustee of Huqúqu'lláh until the early 1980's.[12] In 1982 he was given an award by the Governor of Taiwan for contributions made to the religious welfare of the people of Taiwan.[13]
In 1987 Suleimani passed away in the Tainan Bahá’í Center. The Universal House of Justice conveyed the following message after his passing:
SADDENED LEARN PASSING DEVOTED SERVANT BAHA'U'LLAH SULEIMAN SULEIMANI. HIS DEVOTED LABOURS AS PIONEER WITH HIS LATE WIFE TO CHINA IN 1923 AND IN 1954 AS FIRST PIONEERS TO TAIWAN LOVINGLY REMEMBERED. ASSURE ARDENT PRAYERS HOLY SHRINES PROGRESS HIS IMMORTAL SOUL ALL WORLDS GOD.[14]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1998). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 20 (1986-1992), Pg(s) 889. View as PDF.
- ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1998). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 20 (1986-1992), Pg(s) 890. View as PDF.
- ↑ Barbara Sims, Taiwan Bahá'í Chronicle: An Historical Record of the Early Days of the Bahá'í Faith in Taiwan, Baha'i Publishing Trust of Taiwan, 1994, p 5
- ↑ Barbara Sims, Taiwan Bahá'í Chronicle: An Historical Record of the Early Days of the Bahá'í Faith in Taiwan, Baha'i Publishing Trust of Taiwan, 1994, p 9
- ↑ Barbara Sims, Taiwan Bahá'í Chronicle: An Historical Record of the Early Days of the Bahá'í Faith in Taiwan, Baha'i Publishing Trust of Taiwan, 1994, p 14
- ↑ Barbara Sims, Taiwan Bahá'í Chronicle: An Historical Record of the Early Days of the Bahá'í Faith in Taiwan, Baha'i Publishing Trust of Taiwan, 1994, p 18
- ↑ Barbara Sims, Taiwan Bahá'í Chronicle: An Historical Record of the Early Days of the Bahá'í Faith in Taiwan, Baha'i Publishing Trust of Taiwan, 1994, p 20
- ↑ Barbara Sims, Taiwan Bahá'í Chronicle: An Historical Record of the Early Days of the Bahá'í Faith in Taiwan, Baha'i Publishing Trust of Taiwan, 1994, p 24
- ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1986). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 18 (1979-1983), Pg(s) 753. View as PDF.
- ↑ Barbara Sims, Taiwan Bahá'í Chronicle: An Historical Record of the Early Days of the Bahá'í Faith in Taiwan, Baha'i Publishing Trust of Taiwan, 1994, p 44
- ↑ Barbara Sims, Taiwan Bahá'í Chronicle: An Historical Record of the Early Days of the Bahá'í Faith in Taiwan, Baha'i Publishing Trust of Taiwan, 1994, p 51
- ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1998). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 20 (1986-1992), Pg(s) 890. View as PDF.
- ↑ Barbara Sims, Taiwan Bahá'í Chronicle: An Historical Record of the Early Days of the Bahá'í Faith in Taiwan, Baha'i Publishing Trust of Taiwan, 1994, p 58
- ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1998). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 20 (1986-1992), Pg(s) 891. View as PDF.
