Sultanu’sh-Shuhadá’
Mírzá Muhammad-Hasan Nahrí | |
|---|---|
 King of Martyrs. | |
| Born | 1836 Isfahan, Iran |
| Died | March 17, 1879 Isfahan, Iran |
| Children | Mírzá Jalál Shahid |
| Parent(s) | Mírzá Ibrahim Nahrí |
Mírzá Muhammad-Hasan Nahrí (1836 - March 17, 1879), granted the title Sultanu’sh-Shuhadá’ meaning King of Martyrs by Bahá’u’lláh, was a prominent Persian Bahá’í who was martyred in 1879. He was also entitled Núrayn-i-Nayyirayn, meaning Twin Shining Lights, alongside his older brother Mírzá Muhammad Husayn and named an Apostle of Bahá’u’lláh by Shoghi Effendi.
Biography[edit]
Nahrí was born in 1836 and was the son of Mírzá Ibrahim Nahrí, a Muslim who established a successful career ultimately working for Mir Muhammad Sultan ul-‘Ulama who was the Imam-Jum‘ih of Isfahan. In approximately 1846 the Báb moved to Isfahan and Nahrí met Him when his father hosted Him at a dinner in his home at the request of the Imam-Jum‘ih.[1] Nahrí's uncle Mírzá Muḥammad ‘Alíy-i-Nahrí was a Bábí and Nahrí and his brother Muhammad Husayn joined the religion through him at some point and accompanied him to Baghdad in 1856 where they met Bahá’u’lláh. They later became Bahá’í's after Bahá’u’lláh's Declaration in 1863.[1]
After his fathers passing Nahrí was appointed to succeed his father as the commercial agent of the Imam-Jum‘ih of Isfahan and he and his brother Husayn both became highly successful businessmen establishing a large fortune and trading with the Afnán family.[2] They were also open about their religious beliefs, becoming well-known as Bahá’í's, and were instrumental to the functioning of the Isfahan Bahá’í community hosting meetings in their homes. They were notably the first Bahá’ís to establish contact with Bahá’u’lláh after His exile to Akka using telegrams and immediately provided funds to alleviate some of the harsh conditions experienced by the exiles after doing so. They also engaged in philanthropic work for the city of Isfahan such as alleviating a famine in 1871 by purchasing and distributing food.[2][3]
A prominent mujtahid of Isfahan, Shaykh Muhammad-Baqir, was highly prejudiced against the Bahá’í Faith and hostile towards the brothers but Mir Muhammad Sultan ul-‘Ulama protected Nahrí and his brother from persecution. In 1874 Mir Muhammad Sultan ul-‘Ulama passed away and Nahrí successfully assisted the late Imam's brother, Mir Muhammad Husayn, in his campaign to succeed him despite opposition from Shaykh Muhammad-Baqir. The new Imam-Jum‘ih incurred significant debt to secure the position and he retained Nahrí as a commercial officer authorizing him to make payments from his own resources on his behalf which would then be owed to Nahrí.[4] He gradually built up a debt of 18,000 tumans to Nahrí and decided to have him killed to avoid having to pay back the sum.[5]
On March 11, 1879, Nahrí was arrested while visiting a cleric and detained in the House of the Governor of Isfahan. His older brother Mírzá Muhammad Husayn and younger brother Mírzá Isma‘il were arrested the same day. His home was looted on the instructions of Mir Muhammad Husayn and the Governor pressured him and his brothers to recant their Faith so they could be released which they refused to do. Isma‘il was released after a short time however Mir Muhammad Husayn sent a request to Tehran for permission to execute the older brothers. The request was not granted with Mir Muhammad Husayn instead being instructed to send the brothers to Tehran to stand trial. Upon receiving these instructions the Imam closed down the Bazaar of Isfahan, secured a fatwa signed by sixty clerics for the execution of the brothers, and raised a mob to storm the house of the Governor with the assistance of Shaykh Muhammad-Baqir.[6]
On March 17, 1879, the brothers were executed by beheading with Hasan being the first to be executed. Their executioner had received assistance from the brothers and expressed regret at being responsible for executing them but they reassured him that he was forgiven and Hasan gifted him a ring. After their execution their bodies were dragged through the streets of Isfahan although their brother Isma‘il was ultimately able to secure their remains for burial.[7] Bahá’u’lláh revealed approximately one hundred Tablets condemning and lamenting the brothers executions and both Mir Muhammad Husayn and Shaykh Muhammad-Baqir were exiled from Isfahan due to conflict over dividing the seized assets of Hasan and his brother, ultimately dying of natural causes a short time after the Martyrdoms.[8]
Family[edit]
Nahrí married Fatimih who was daughter of his uncle Mírzá Hadi Nahrí.[9] He was survived by his wife and children who emigrated to Akka in approximately 1885 at the request of Bahá’u’lláh.[10] His cousin, Munírih Khánum, married ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, his son, Mírzá Jalal, married one of their daughters, Ruha, and his daughter married one of Munírih's brothers.[11][12][13]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Moojan Momen, The Baha'i Communities of Iran 1851-1921: Volume 2, George Ronald: Oxford, 2021, p 18
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Moojan Momen, The Baha'i Communities of Iran 1851-1921: Volume 2, George Ronald: Oxford, 2021, p 20
- ↑ Adib Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Baha'u'llah: Volume 4, George Ronald: Oxford, 1987, p 80
- ↑ Moojan Momen, The Baha'i Communities of Iran 1851-1921: Volume 2, George Ronald: Oxford, 2021, p 20
- ↑ Adib Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Baha'u'llah: Volume 4, George Ronald: Oxford, 1987, p 75
- ↑ Moojan Momen, The Baha'i Communities of Iran 1851-1921: Volume 2, George Ronald: Oxford, 2021, p 21
- ↑ Adib Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Baha'u'llah: Volume 4, George Ronald: Oxford, 1987, p 80
- ↑ Moojan Momen, The Baha'i Communities of Iran 1851-1921: Volume 2, George Ronald: Oxford, 2021, pp 22-23
- ↑ Moojan Momen, The Baha'i Communities of Iran 1851-1921: Volume 2, George Ronald: Oxford, 2021, p 19]
- ↑ Baharieh Rouhani Ma'ani, Leaves of the Twin Divine Trees, George Ronald: Oxford, 2009, p 360
- ↑ Baharieh Rouhani Ma'ani, Leaves of the Twin Divine Trees, George Ronald: Oxford, 2009, p 360
- ↑ Adib Taherzadeh, The Covenant of Baha'u'llah, George Ronald: Oxford, 1992, p 358
- ↑ Moojan Momen, The Baha'i Communities of Iran 1851-1921: Volume 2, George Ronald: Oxford, 2021, pp 24
