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MAstH FARHANGt
1912—1981
Dr. Masr’h Farhangl’ was born in June 1912 in a village near fiahsavér in the province of Gflén, Iran. At age five he started attending a school established and directed by his father, a learned clergyman in the town of Langarfid. He was still a young boy when his father embraced the Bahá’í Faith, through contact with Mr. Tarazu‘llah of Qazvin (later known as the Hand of the Cause of God Tarazu’llah Samandarí’), changed his attire and started to spread the Bahá’í message to the extent that in the religious education classes at the school he mentioned the Bahá’í religion along with other religions of the world.
At home young Masih was encouraged by his father to read the Bible as well as the Qur’án, and he accompanied his father to Bahá’í meetings where he chanted prayers and passages from the Holy Writings. He attended high school first in Raflt and then in Tihran. ‘While in Tihran he associated with Bahá’í youth and received loving guidance from Saifu’lláh Majidi who used to take him to Bahá’í study classes. He gradually deepened his knowledge of the Faith and at age fifteen became a devoted Bahá’í youth. He continued to study the Bahá’í Writings both in Persian and Arabic.
He enrolled in the college of medicine of the University of Tihran and earned his living expenses by teaching science and French at the Bahá’í Tarbiyat School. His knowledge of the Faith was further enriched through association with such scholars as ‘Azizu’lláh Misbah and Fáḍil-i flu’razf. During summer vacations he used to go back to his home town where, at the home of his parents, he held firesides to which he invited his friends. He also taught classes for Bahá’í children; among those attending were his brothers and sisters. In addition, he used to travel to villages in the area where he met and held discussions with his father’s acquaintances, usually learned divines. After graduating in 1937 he married Qamaru’l-Mulfik, a graduate from medical college, who was not at that time a Bahá’í but who later embraced the Faith through association with the friends. Dr. Farhangl’ started his medical practice in Tihran and later, upon advice from Bahá’í'friends, transferred to Rasht.
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IN MEMORIAM
In June 1941 the Farhangi family, aware of the Guardian’s wish for Persian believers to pioneer in ‘Iráq, managed to gather together sufficient funds through the sale of their belongings to settle in that country. World War II was raging and it was not an easy task, with two small children, to function in a strange land where shortages of food and medicine were being experienced. Dr. Farhangi continued to be active as a travelling teacher between Baghdad and Karkt’ik, and was honoured by Hection t0 the National Spiritual Assembly of ‘Iráq. When, in 1943, the Persian Bahá’ís were forced to leave ‘Iráq and return to iran, Dr. Farhangi, who had spent all his savings, was advised by the National Spiritual Assembly to settle and practise in Raflt where, with the help of an old friend, he managed to procure the necessary equipment and open his office. Obstacles beyond his control prevented Dr. Farhangi from pioneering to Bahrein in 1944, as he had hoped he might, and he had to be content with going back to Gflan where he reopened his office and resumed his travels, teaching in the villages of Lahi’jan, journeying mostly on foot along mountain routes.
From 1949 through 1954 he served as a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of iran, and in June 1954 he had the privilege of making his pilgrimage to the Holy Shrines and attaining the presence of the beloved Guardian who inspired him with the determination to serve once again in the pioneering field. It was his wish to go to one of the foreign goals of the Ten Year Plan but could not readily find a means of doing so as he had limited resources and was responsible for the support of his wife and four children and his mother. In this period he frequently dreamed of Shoghi Effendi Awho would emphasize the necessity of pioneering abroad. Finally he wrote a letter to the Guardian, through Shoghi Effendi’s Persian secretary, Dr. Luṭfu’lláh Ḥakím, in which he implored the Guardian to pray at the Holy Shrines so that the object of his longing might be fulfilled and the means for his journey to foreign lands might be provided. A month later offers of employment for both Dr. Farhangi and his wife came from Indonesia. At the same time he received a visa for travelling to Turkey. After consultation about the matter at a session of the National
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Masih Farhangz’
Spiritual Assembly in which the latest letter from the Guardian asking the Persian believers to help strengthen, the Bahá’í community of Turkey was read, the decision of the National Spiritual Assembly was in favour of the Farhangi family pioneering to Turkey. Obedient to this decision, Dr. Farhangi’ and his family set out for Turkey in preference to Indonesia, in spite of the fact that there was no chance of employment and their savings were enough to maintain them for only three years. Both Dr. Farhangi and his wife registered as graduate students in a medical college and with divine assistance managed to stay in Turkey until the formation of the National Spiritual Assembly in 1959. Dr. Farhangi was elected secretary. Forced to return to him at the end of that year, he resumed his medical practice in Raflt and was again elected a member of the National Assembly. He served with distinction on the Auxiliary Board and, in 1968, was appointed a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors.
After participating in the Palermo Conference in 1968, Dr. Farhangi’ gave up his
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medical practice and devoted his full time to the service of the Faith in his new capacity. He and his wife travelled in India, from north to south, and in accordance with instructions from the Universal House of Justice they also visited Sri Lanka. In 1973 he was present in the Holy Land for the third International Convention and participated in the consultations of the Hands of the Cause and Continental Boards of Counsellors'following which he continued his travels to countries in central and western Asia. The method of teaching employing the especially prepared album which Dr. Farhangf introduced in Iran was of great assistance and inspiration to thousands of Bahá’ís, particularly the youth.
Dr. Farhangi’ was arrested on 6 February 1980, and after being imprisoned for a year and a half in Evin Prison he was executed on 24 June 1981. His funeral was attended by a large number of Bahá’í friends. His family received many expressions of sympathy from the many non-Bahá’ís who loved and admired him, including some who had been in prison with him but who were later released. They remarked on the calm and dignified way in which he accepted his fate, and described how he had won their hearts by serving as a physician in prison, tending the sick and offering solace and comfort to prisoners who were condemned to death. His death was deplored by his medical colleagues, and the Medical Association of Raflt made a written protest. Some twenty days before his martyrdom he met his family with a smile when they Visited him in prison. ‘My destiny is bright; don’t worry about me,’ he told his wife and sisters. ‘Since they have executed a few members of the Auxiliary Board, a Counsellor is also needed.’
Dr. Farhangi’s daughter in Canada explained in an interview published in the 1 July 1981 issue of the Dundas Star Journal that her father, a cardiologist, had been asked to treat patients in the prison when he was imprisoned himself. His treatment, she remarked, was not only physical, but mental and spiritual for those facing death and possible torture. ‘My father always served throughout his life, helping people—a true example of a good person.’ The letters she had received from her father the week before he was killed were inspiring. ‘I could see in his writing how happy
THE BAHA‘I’ WORLD
he was serving the people, and I realized that he was ready for what God wanted him to do. He prayed every day that all the problems of the world will one day end. And, he told us how to be happy and serve humanity.’ He was keenly interested in history and philosophy, was a writer and painter and spoke six languages.
His last letter written from prison was addressed to his wife. ‘At this last moment of my transitory life, when I am on my way to the realm of eternity, I bid you farewell. I beg you to accept, with great patience and forbearance, what God has willed. Be thankful; be patient!’ he admonished. ‘During our forty‘four years together I have felt nothing but tranquillity and comfort. I had no wish except companionship with you. I hope you are pleased with me and will not deny me your loving prayers . . . I am greatly relieved at this moment, content and pleased. I yield my thanks to God that He has vouchsafed to me this final overwhelming blessing. Praised be God, the Lord of all the worlds!’ With words Such as these Dr. Masfh Farhangi turned his gaze from the mortal world and with light step and joyous heart set out upon the crimson path of martyrdom.
(Translated from Persian by FU’AD AERAF)
