Taj-i-Vahhaj : Memoirs of Jinab-i-Aziz’u’llah Azizi

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":

"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

New York,

18 December, 1986.

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)

In one of the Tablets revealed by 'Abdu'l-Baha, He honours Jinab-i-Azizi thus:

In one of His Tablets, His Holiness 'Abdu'l-Baha, responding to correspondence from one of the friends, opens with the salutation: "O Herald of the Covenant! Thy letter dated the 19th of Muharam was received."
 

Further on the Master states:
 

"Impart heartfelt regards and special Baha'i greetings to Jinab-i-Aziz'u'llah Khan Khayyat ("the (Jewish-Baha'i) Tailor"), and to Jinab-i-Aziz'u'llah Khan, teacher at Tarbiyat School, on behalf of  Abdu'l-Baha."
 

"Both are dear, respected, close companions at the sacred Threshold..."

Marriage of Abdullah Borumand and Touba Borumand - Sabeti (1934) in Tehran

Huschang Sabet, Farzaneh Sabet, Farhang Sabet, Huschmand Sabet, Moussa Sabet, Masih Sabet, Elias Sabet, Asher (Hashem) Sabeti, Habib Sabeti, Borumand, Solayman Sabet, Khurshid Boroukhim, Neysan Boroukhim, Touba Borumand - Sabeti, Abdullah Borumand, Mansoor Sabet Omidvar, Saltanat Omidvar, Touba Sabet

Descendants of most of these people have accepted the Baha'i Faith.

Mirza Aqa Jan-i-Majzub

It is recounted that, according to Jewish prophecy, the seventh son in a father-to-son line of Rabbis, Mirza Aqa Jan-i-Majzub who was to become the next Rabbi, would be in the time of the Lord of Hosts. Other Jewish Baha'is knew this and introduced him to great teachers of the Faith. The Majzoub family reports Mirza Reyhan-i-Reyhani, whose son married Sabeteh Khanum, as the person who made the introductions. He was to take the title "Mulla Parthiel" after his father died but he had already become a Baha'i by then. He was the one who chose the last name Majzub.

The story of Mirza Aghajan's acceptence of the Baha'i faith, and eventual role as one of the earliest proselytizers of the faith among Tehran's Jewish community is recounted in Azizollah Azizi's memoirs. According to Azizi, Aghajan's cousin, a Haji Elyahou, returned from the holy land where he began teaching the tenants of the new faith. Seeking refuge in his cousin's home, he also became acquainted with Aghajan's landlord, Mirza Aghajan Bolbol Eshraghian. These three, along with a fourth friend, Mirza Ebrahim Khayat (Khojasteh), eventually accepted Mohammad as the messenger of God (as further referenced in Amanat 2011), before embracing the Baha'i Faith.

Jewish ancestors of many of the prominent Persian Baha'is

Haji Lalezar Elazar Lalezari, Yahya Yohana Hafezi, Haji Soleyman Lalezari, Ezra Lalezari, Hakim Taher Yari Baher, Mehdi Mashiah Lalezari, Dr. Mousa Yehouda Tabibzadeh, Roben Lalezari, Hakim Musa Mosheh, Meir Kimiabakhsh, Davoud Ehtesham al-Hokama, Yousef Seraj, Nourollah Ehteshamzadeh, Haroun Tabibzadeh, Ataollah Hafezi, Nosratollah Baher

Mehdi Mashiah Lalezari

Mashiah Lalezari was a member of a large Jewish family in Hamadan, Iran. In his memoirs, Yohana Hafezi lists Lalezari as a group of Jews who barricaded themselves in Hamadan's telegraph office in an effort to send messages to the capital in protest of a boycott and other restrictions placed against Jewish businesses by Hamadan's influential Mollah Abdollah. When Mollah Abdollah's supporters breached the telegraph office, Lalezari and other members of the group were taken to the house of Mollah Abdollah, where they converted to Islam under duress.This incident has been recorded in Yohana Hafezi's memoirs, diplomatic cables of the Alliance organization in Iran, and Habib Levy's "History of Iranian Jews."

Many of those who converted to Islam after the telegraph incident returned to Judaism after the central government in Tehran intervened. Many others embraced the burgeoning Baha'i faith, including Lalezari. His hundreds of descendants include Jews, Baha'is, and Christians of Iranian heritage.

Jewish Baha'i produces a film on the life of "The Bab"

Shrine of 'The Bab', a silent teacher in the Holy Land

Steve Sarowitz is Founder and Chairman of Paylocity (Nasdaq: PCTY), a leading U.S. provider of payroll and HR solutions. In addition, Steve also serves as CEO of Blue Marble, an international payroll provider, and as Director of Payescape, a UK payroll provider. He is also an international philanthropist with an interest in promoting unity and promoting universal education and advocating for the elimination of racism, sexism, nationalism and religious prejudice. He also serves on the board of NCAT, an organization that builds state-of-the art training centers in urban areas. He and his wife have a family foundation which supports over 50 worthy causes worldwide, including programs helping orphans, foster children, refugees and many other people in need.

Steve graduated from the University of Illinois in 1987 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics. While at the U of I, he often ran barefoot through campus. He is still an avid runner, a member of the Chicago Area Runners Association Hall of Fame and a 3-time winner of the MSE Division of the Chicago Chase Corporate Challenge. Steve was raised Jewish and first heard of the Baha’i Faith at the Jewish Student Center while a student at U of I. Many years later, he began studying the Baha’i Faith and declared as a Baha’i in February 2015. Three days after declaring as a Baha’i, a friend recommended that Steve make a film about the Baha’i Faith. Steve immediately began a new career in the film industry. He helped fund and promote the documentaries He Named Me Malala and Rosenwald. He served as Executive Producer for the award-winning documentary Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise. Steve is currently producing ‘The Gate’, a groundbreaking documentary about the founding of the Baha’i Faith.

Steve lives in Highland Park, Illinois with his wife, 2 children, 2 dogs and a turtle named Duchess. When he is not working or doing philanthropy, you can often find him guiding at the Baha’i Temple in nearby Wilmette, Illinois.

Beloved Guardian has forecasted the “Rise of House of Worship in the Holy Land.”

This is the place where Israeli Baha'i Temple is going to be constructed sooner.

Baha'is very well know that whatever Shoghi Effendi has foretold will surely happen; it is just a question of time. The Beloved Guardian in the 25th para of Advent of Divine Justice wrote that there will be "Rise of House of Worship in the Holy Land." This seems to be a real possibility in near future as one can see the things moving in that direction.

At present our Beloved Universal House of Justice has three young Persian Members, i.e. Dr. Payman Mohajer, Dr. Ayman Rowhani and Mr. Shariyar Razavi. These members always advocated to start teaching activities in the Holy Land. Formation of Local Spiritual Assemblies in every city and also to introduce Ruhi Curriculum in every school of Israel.

Their efforts will be supplemented by new UHJ member Mr. Praveen Mallik from India, who has the same idea about commencing of Teaching activities in Israel. Mr. Praveen Mallik was groomed by Dr. Mohajer to take up that responsibility in future. They both once stayed in India, and with his election to the UHJ it seems the day has come.

The appointment of Mr. Navid Serrano, another faithful Persian believer on the International Teaching Centre is a good move, as he will become a member of UHJ in near future. Then with 4 Persian members on the UHJ and with active support of Mr. Praveen Mallik there will be a quorum of five members to support and start teaching activities in the Holy Land.

Recently the visit of Israeli Prime Minister, Mr. Netanyahu, to the World Centre, along with his wife, has given impetus to this movement.

No doubt the Baha’is should prepare to take the precautionary and defensive steps to counteract the full force of attacks, which the organized group will progressively launch and relentlessly pursue of “not teaching the Faith in Israel”.

Statement, made by 'Abdu'l-Baha to a Baha'i of Jewish Background - Jinab-i-Azizi in Paris:

"Inscribe in the margin of your book: All the forces of the world are being defeated. Have patience for a few years. The light of the Revelation of Baha'u'llah will envelop the whole world."

From Memoirs of Jinab-i-Aziz'u'llah Azizi

The Three False Gods - Nationalism, Racialism and Communism

Shoghi Effendi said :

God Himself has indeed been dethroned from the hearts of men, and an idolatrous world passionately and clamorously hails and worships the false gods which its own idle fancies have fatuously created, and its misguided hands so impiously exalted. The chief idols in the desecrated temple of mankind are none other than the triple gods of Nationalism, Racialism and Communism, at whose altars governments and peoples, whether democratic or totalitarian, at peace or at war, of the East or of the West, Christian or Islamic, are, in various forms and in different degrees, now worshiping. Their high priests are the politicians and the worldly-wise, the so-called sages of the age; their sacrifice, the flesh and blood of the slaughtered multitudes; their incantations outworn shibboleths and insidious and irreverent formulas; their incense, the smoke of anguish that ascends from the lacerated hearts of the bereaved, the maimed, and the homeless. 

The theories and policies, so unsound, so pernicious, which deify the state and exalt the nation above mankind, which seek to subordinate the sister races of the world to one single race, which discriminate between the black and the white, and which tolerate the dominance of one privileged class over all others—these are the dark, the false, and crooked doctrines for which any man or people who believes in them, or acts upon them, must, sooner or later, incur the wrath and chastisement of God.