Bahá’í World/Volume 18/‘Iṣmát Vaḥdat
‘Iṣmat Vaḥdat
‘IṢMAT (ESMAT) VAḤDAT
1900—1980
Mrs. ‘Iṣmat Vaḥdat, who was born and raised in Írán, was an example of devotion in her Bahá’í life. Her faith radiated from her face. She was always cheerful, confident and a source of comfort to the friends.
When, in 1943—1944, the beloved Guardian called for Iranian pioneers, she volunteered to go to ‘Iráq, although she was a single woman, having been widowed at an early age. When the government of ‘Iráq required the pioneers to leave that country she went to Ṭihrán to serve in the Education Centre, an institution that catered for Bahá’í orphans and needy children. Under her management the children had a very happy home. However, the Guardian’s call for pioneers during the Ten Year Crusade again stirred her heart. She left Ṭihrán in 1955 or 1956 and after a brief visit to India pioneered to Indonesia where she moved from place to place as the need arose in order to be of use to the Bahá’í community.
From 1970 until her life ended on 9 December 1980 she served in the hostel for Bahá’í
children in Mentawai in Padang. This institute was created in 1970 by the Hand of the Cause of God Raḥmatu’lláh Muhájir who had advised Mr. Manúchihr Ṭahmásibiyán, a young Persian pioneer in Thailand, to re-establish himself in Padang to manage the hostel. Mrs. Vaḥdat, who at that time lived in Java, was requested to settle in Padang in order to assist in developing the project. Her passion for the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh, her deep love of children and her experience in the Education Centre in Ṭihrán made her service in the hostel a blessing. Scores of the children of Mentawai and of other parts of Indonesia consider ‘Iṣmat Vaḥdat as their mother. When the news of her death reached the World Centre, the Universal House of Justice cabled on 22 December:
SADDENED NEWS PASSING STAUNCH STEADFAST DEVOTED PIONEER ESMAT VAHDAT. HER SACRIFICES PATH PIONEERING SERVICE FAITH OVER THREE DECADES HER MOTHERLY LOVE CARE BAHAI CHILDREN HOSTEL PADANG UNFORGETTABLE. OFFER ARDENT PRAYERS HOLY SHRINES PROGRESS HER SOUL.