The National Spiritual Assembly of Iran at the recommendation of its Board of Review, gave its approval for the publication of this book, on the condition that certain sections of the narrative (around one-third of the text) be edited out due to the sensitive nature of the material, considering the prevailing state of affairs between the government of Iran and the Faith.
Publication of the text in its entirety was left for a more favourable time in the future. Meanwhile, the passages in question were kept in archives. One may wonder about the state of these archives considering the excesses of the Revolution in Iran. Since the personal effects of the present writer and his brothers were ransacked during the Revolution, we expect nothing less of the fate of the archives of any Baha'i Assembly.
When this book was approved for publication, certain esteemed members of both the National Spiritual Assembly and its Board of Review personally sent letters of endorsement and encouragement to me, including Jinab-i-Dr. Barafrukhtih.
Dr. Barafrukhtih's letter concerned a particular statement Abdu'l-Baha had made to Jinab-i-Azizi in Paris, in regard to the importance of recording the events to which he was an immediate eyewitness. We therefore quote the kind doctor's letter as follows: "I came across the following statement by 'Abdu'l-Baha to Jinab-i-Azizi, as found in the memoirs of Mon. Dreyfus in Paris, in which he wrote":
Publication of the text in its entirety was left for a more favourable time in the future. Meanwhile, the passages in question were kept in archives. One may wonder about the state of these archives considering the excesses of the Revolution in Iran. Since the personal effects of the present writer and his brothers were ransacked during the Revolution, we expect nothing less of the fate of the archives of any Baha'i Assembly.
When this book was approved for publication, certain esteemed members of both the National Spiritual Assembly and its Board of Review personally sent letters of endorsement and encouragement to me, including Jinab-i-Dr. Barafrukhtih.
Dr. Barafrukhtih's letter concerned a particular statement Abdu'l-Baha had made to Jinab-i-Azizi in Paris, in regard to the importance of recording the events to which he was an immediate eyewitness. We therefore quote the kind doctor's letter as follows: "I came across the following statement by 'Abdu'l-Baha to Jinab-i-Azizi, as found in the memoirs of Mon. Dreyfus in Paris, in which he wrote":
"Ecrivez dans le coin de votre canot tous les partis politique seront aneantis, attendez quelques annees vous verrez que la lumiere de la Foi de Baha'u'llah enveloppera le Monde entier."
Preface to the Second Revised Edition
The writing of Taj-i-Vahhaj: Memoirs of Jinab-i-Aziz’u’llah Azizi was originally intended for the benefit of his children and for posterity, so that his descendants might follow in the spiritual footsteps of their beloved forebear.
The sale of this volume experienced such a level of interest outside the family, quite unexpected by the writer, that all copies of the volume in its first edition sold out within a relatively short period of time.
Following the Revolution in Iran (1979) and the upheaval in Tehran, the resulting dispersal of the Persian Baha'i friends abroad created an even greater need for more literature on the Faith. There was also more opportunity to reflect and deepen on the Faith under these new circumstances.
Within the Azizi family itself, the martyrdom of three of its most distinguished members Iskandar Azizi, Jalal Azizi and Habib'u'llah Azizi intensified interest in preserving the spiritual legacy of the family to such extent that I received an increasing number of requests to reprint my father's memoirs, Taj-i-Vahaj. Interest in these memoirs was by no means confined to the family itself. Letters from as far away as Malta and the Philippines, the United States and Canada--and other places-requested copies of the memoirs.
Unfortunately, due to the adverse circumstances of the Revolution, there was no copy of the publication at hand with which to oblige these requests. However, it happened that one or two copies of the work had inadvertently been brought to the United States prior to the Revolution. Evidently, the photocopies of the book were being passed along to interested individuals, and in this manner the book was being circulated beyond the finite limited edition itself. I had heard that a few copies were made by hand, in order both to save money and ensure accuracy.
This being the case, I decided to reprint the volume in a new edition. I was convinced that I should do so when Moslem Persian expatriates reported to me that a number of the Moslem friends who came from Iran to the States were circulating the book among themselves (unaware that I was its author!) and there was a definite demand among them for more copies!
Having made the decision to reprint this book, it was necessary that the text should undergo re-editing in order to restore it to its full original length, and, at the same time, correct errors in the previous edition.
The present writer makes full admission to his limited knowledge of the Torah and the sacred traditions of Judaism. Efforts have been made to keep editorial notes referencing allusions to Jewish traditions in the text to a minimum, lest the edition become a target for critics. I only refer to what my father has explicitly mentioned with respect to Jewish traditions, as my own study of the tradition permits.
Dr. Zabih'u'llah Azizi
The sale of this volume experienced such a level of interest outside the family, quite unexpected by the writer, that all copies of the volume in its first edition sold out within a relatively short period of time.
Following the Revolution in Iran (1979) and the upheaval in Tehran, the resulting dispersal of the Persian Baha'i friends abroad created an even greater need for more literature on the Faith. There was also more opportunity to reflect and deepen on the Faith under these new circumstances.
Within the Azizi family itself, the martyrdom of three of its most distinguished members Iskandar Azizi, Jalal Azizi and Habib'u'llah Azizi intensified interest in preserving the spiritual legacy of the family to such extent that I received an increasing number of requests to reprint my father's memoirs, Taj-i-Vahaj. Interest in these memoirs was by no means confined to the family itself. Letters from as far away as Malta and the Philippines, the United States and Canada--and other places-requested copies of the memoirs.
Unfortunately, due to the adverse circumstances of the Revolution, there was no copy of the publication at hand with which to oblige these requests. However, it happened that one or two copies of the work had inadvertently been brought to the United States prior to the Revolution. Evidently, the photocopies of the book were being passed along to interested individuals, and in this manner the book was being circulated beyond the finite limited edition itself. I had heard that a few copies were made by hand, in order both to save money and ensure accuracy.
This being the case, I decided to reprint the volume in a new edition. I was convinced that I should do so when Moslem Persian expatriates reported to me that a number of the Moslem friends who came from Iran to the States were circulating the book among themselves (unaware that I was its author!) and there was a definite demand among them for more copies!
Having made the decision to reprint this book, it was necessary that the text should undergo re-editing in order to restore it to its full original length, and, at the same time, correct errors in the previous edition.
The present writer makes full admission to his limited knowledge of the Torah and the sacred traditions of Judaism. Efforts have been made to keep editorial notes referencing allusions to Jewish traditions in the text to a minimum, lest the edition become a target for critics. I only refer to what my father has explicitly mentioned with respect to Jewish traditions, as my own study of the tradition permits.
Dr. Zabih'u'llah Azizi
New York,
18 December, 1986.
Because the book, The Memoirs of Jinab-i-Azizi, got lost in the turmoil of the revolution in Iran, members of the family found it necessary to arrange for a new publication and a translation into English so that their children would know how their grandfather had become a believer. For this purpose, one of the grandchildren, Hamid Azizi, with the help of his wife Sandra--who are both knowledgeable in English and Persian--took the initiative and with the help of Christopher and Nahzy Buck translated the book, taking care to safeguard the original meaning.
Therefore it is my duty to thank Christopher and Nahzy Buck for the first translation and Hamid and Sandra Azizi for the editing of the text. Thanks go also to many others who in one way or another have contributed to the production of this volume.
It is my hope that this story will inspire future generations to follow in the footsteps of their grandfather, Jinab-i-Azizi.
Dr. Zabih'u'llah Azizi
The English edition is lovingly dedicated to the memory of my grandfather, Jinab-i-Aziz’u’llah Azizi, who brought the blessings of our Beloved Faith to the family.
Hamid Azizi
Vancouver, B. C.
Naw-Ruz 149 B. E. (1992)
Preface to the English Edition
Because the book, The Memoirs of Jinab-i-Azizi, got lost in the turmoil of the revolution in Iran, members of the family found it necessary to arrange for a new publication and a translation into English so that their children would know how their grandfather had become a believer. For this purpose, one of the grandchildren, Hamid Azizi, with the help of his wife Sandra--who are both knowledgeable in English and Persian--took the initiative and with the help of Christopher and Nahzy Buck translated the book, taking care to safeguard the original meaning.
Therefore it is my duty to thank Christopher and Nahzy Buck for the first translation and Hamid and Sandra Azizi for the editing of the text. Thanks go also to many others who in one way or another have contributed to the production of this volume.
It is my hope that this story will inspire future generations to follow in the footsteps of their grandfather, Jinab-i-Azizi.
Dr. Zabih'u'llah Azizi
The English edition is lovingly dedicated to the memory of my grandfather, Jinab-i-Aziz’u’llah Azizi, who brought the blessings of our Beloved Faith to the family.
Hamid Azizi
Vancouver, B. C.
Naw-Ruz 149 B. E. (1992)
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