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FU’AD AHMADPUR
(FU’AD AHMADPUR MiLANi) 1922—1979
Fu’ad Ahmadpfir Mflani (known as Fu’ad Ahmadpour) was born in 1922 in Tabríz, iran. He was the eldest son of ‘Inéyat’u’llah Ahmadpur Mflani. The family, which was devoted, steadfast, deeply—rooted in the Bahá’í Cause and of distinguished lineage, moved to Tihran while Fu’ad was still in his childhood.
Fu’ad’s paternal grandfather, Haji Ahmad Mflani, was one of the early believers who recognized the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh. Following the martyrdom of the Báb, His remains were taken to Milan and kept for a time in the silk mill of Haji’ Ahmad.l Fu’ad’s maternal grandfather, Ibrahim Agar Mum’r, was an outstanding Bahá’í teacher who, for a while, served ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as a scribe.
From childhood Fu’ad Ahmadpur manifested courage, pioneering while still a youth to the remote town of Mahallat where he bravely proclaimed the Faith publicly from
I See Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, p. 54.
THE BAHA’I’ WORLD
Fu’dd Ahmadpzir
inside a mosque. As he left the building he was attacked by fanatics who beat him with sticks and chains until he fell wounded and unconscious and was believed to be dead. He was taken to a hospital in Tihran where his recovery was effected, though traces of his injuries remained on his face throughout his life. He studied at Tihran University and completed his education in Paris and Geneva, receiving a Ph.D. in Law. He made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and would often repeat what the Guardian said to him about his having followed in his father’s footsteps in serving the Faith.
Fu’ad Ahmadpur’s service to the Cause was characterized by fearless courage. He pioneered to Morocco in 1955, setting an example of sacrifice and self—denial. He opened his home to the friends and tirelessly travelled to visit the believers in every corner of the country. Not satisfied with ordinary feats or small achievements, he always sought perfection and excellence. He was determined to win important goals in the administrative
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affairs of the Faith. His fame grew: Bahá’ís and non-Bahá’ís, the élite and layman alike, would go to him for solutions to'their problems. He dealt with ease with people from all walks of life both within and without the Bahá’í community. The services of the friends aroused his deep admiration: a poor Bahá’í giving a contribution or an illiterate friend teaching the Faith successfully would inspire him. Nothing was capable of frightening him for he knew that all was worthless compared with the Cause, and in the light of its greatness he did not consider himself or his services of any significance.
He served on the National Spiritual Assembly for almost twenty years and as an officer for many of these and, with his vast personal ability, carried the great responsibility of serving as liaison between the National Spiritual Assembly and those who wished to contact it from inside or outside. He arranged the meetings and carried out the decisions. In the incident of al—Nadur, when several Bahá’ís were imprisoned, he did everything in his power to exonerate them.
The name of Fu’ad Ahmadpur, whose services are an integral part of the achievements in Morocco, will be recorded in letters of light in the history of the Faith in that region. It is sufficient here to quote a passage from a letter written by Counsellor Muhammad Kebdani to commemorate the passing of Mr. Ahmadpur:
‘To my dear servant-friend, the lion of God, Mr. Fu’ad Ahmadpur: God’s decree is that he be unexpectedly hidden from the eyes of the Bahá’í friends in Morocco, the friends who loved him wholeheartedly. He ascended to the Kingdom of God following a heart attack suffered on 2 August 1979 in London, and was buried close to the grave of his beloved Guardian whom he would frequently mention with tearful eyes.’
The following cablegram was received from the Universal House of Justice praising his glorious services:
DEEPLY GRIEVED UNTIMELY PASSING FUAD AHMADPOUR HIS DEVOTED PIONEER SERVICES EXTENDING OVER PERIOD SEVERAL DECADES HIS SPIRIT DEDICATION COURAGE IN PROMOTING VITAL INTERESTS FAITH WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED. ASSURE MEMBERS BEREAVED
FAMILY LOVING PRAYERS HOLY SHRINES PROGRESS HIS SOUL ABHA KINGDOM.
