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AZIZOLLAH NAVIDI
(‘Azizu’lláh Navidi) Knight of Bahá’u’lláh 1913—1987
GRIEVED PASSING DEVOTED DEDICATED SERVANT CAUSE KNIGHT BAHA’U’LLAH AZIZ NAVIDI, HIS FEARLESS DEFENCE OPPRESSED BAHA’IS CRADLE FAITH HIGHLY PRAISED BY BELOVED GUARDIAN. HIS CONTINUOUS SERVICES PIONEERING FIELD CROWNED BY OUTSTANDING SUCCESSES GAIN RECOGNITION FAITH BY MANY AFRICAN COUNTRIES OBTAINED THROUGH HIS UTTER RELIANCE BAHA’U’LLAH AND HIS INDEFATIGABLE RESOURCEFULNESS SACRIFICIAL EFFORTS. ALL SHED LUSTRE UPON HIS LOVING MEMORY. REQUESTING NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY UGANDA HOLD MEMORIAL SERVICE MOTHER TEMPLE AFRICA RECOGNITION UNIQUE SERVICES THAT CONTINENT. ASSURE ARDENT PRAYERS PROGRESS SOUL ABHA KINGDOM. ADVISE HOLD MEMORIAL GATHERING LONDON.
Universal House of Justice 2 July 1987
‘Azizu’llah Navidi was born on 9 September 1913 into a Bahá’í family in Ramadan, Persia. His maternal grandfather was Mirza Mihdi Arjumand, an illustrious teacher at the time of the beloved Master. His parents were Mihdi and Badi‘ih Arjumand Navidi. Even as a youth ‘Aziz displayed qualities of resourcefulness and perseverance, and
THE Bahá’í WORLD
he showed a logical mind and a gift of eloquence which in the future served him well in the courtroom in the defense of the oppressed. Following his innate talents, he studied the law, and at the age of 24 began a law practice which flourished with time.
As the years passed, the National Spiritual Assembly of Persia asked him to defend the oppressed Bahá’ís of Shahn'1d, where, on 8 August 1944, three friends had been martyred and 17 Bahá’í homes had been plundered and set on fire. ‘Aziz defended them with great eloquence and undaunted courage, braving the Vicious opposition of the clergy. His uneeasing endeavours won him the praise of the beloved Guardian.
From then on, he tirelessly defended the rights of the innocent, be they Muslim or Bahá’í, rich or poor. The doors to his office were always open to the innocent, the poor, and the downtrodden, whom he defended with zeal and passion, free of charge.
Never did he agree to defend a guilty client. Only once in his life was he deceived by a client, whom he turned back to the judge upon finding out that the client had been guilty.
Soon, the government chose him as legal adviser to the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Defense. As he made more valuable contacts, the National Spiritual Assembly of Persia assigned him the task of alleviating the injustices perpetrated against the oppressed Bahá’ís by the Persian government. It was his task to approach high officials and make a plea for the innocent Bahá’ís.
‘Aziz and his wife, Shamsi, were among the first groups of Persian pilgrims to Visit the beloved Guardian and the Holy Places in Haifa when pilgrimages were resumed in 1952 following their ten—year hiatus due to war.
Great was the pilgrims’ awe as they beheld for the first time the countenance of their Beloved and laid their eyes upon the Holy Shrines. It was during this pilgrimage that the beloved Guardian received ‘Aziz
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Navidi in his office. For an hour, they discussed the situation of the Bahá’ís in Persia and the Guardian told him that he had been chosen to safeguard the security of that country, that he was the shield of the Cause, and that in the future he would defend the Bahá’ís internationally. The Guardian also announced to those first pilgrims his intention of elaborating a ten year plan, and that the Bahá’ís should spread to the four corners of the world. He particularly asked those present to pioneer in Africa, but asked Dr. Navidi to remain in Persia and continue there to defend the rights of the oppressed Bahá’ís.
Upon his return from this historic pilgrimage, ‘Aziz Navidi continued to serve the National Spiritual Assembly of Persia with renewed devotion, in the capacity of legal advisor, and to defend the innocent Bahá’ís of Yazd who had unjustly been condemned to imprisonment and death.
In 1953, the Ten Year Crusade was unveiled to the Bahá’ís, who initially found it hard to fully comprehend the scope of the Vision of the beloved Guardian, and who stood in awe at the ingenuity of its author.
‘Aziz and §__hamsi attended the Stockholm Conference in 1953 and, seeing the immediate need for pioneers and wanting with all their heart to obey their beloved Guardian and make him happy, asked if they could be of service in his Ten Year Plan. His reply was that at the completion of the case of the Bahá’ís of Yazd, they could go either to Africa or to the Pacific as pioneers. Shortly thereafter, they sold their house and began preparations for pioneering.
About this time, the Hand of the Cause of God Dr. Ugo Giachery came to the cradle of the Faith to encourage the Persian Bahá’ís to spread to the four corners of the earth, and thus participate in laying the comerstones of the edifice of the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh, and to fulfil the goals of the Ten Year Plan.
Nellie Stevison French, who had worked for the Faith in Monaco, had just passed
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away, and Dr. Giachery suggested that ‘Aziz and his wife go there. The beloved Guardian approved of the suggestion, but since ‘Aziz had still not finished the defence of the Bahá’ís of Yazd, Sharnsi and their two daughters, Vida and Gilda, left before him, in March 1953. Nine months later, ‘Aziz j oined them, and he and his wife became Knights of Baha’u’llah.
When ‘Aziz went to Monaco, he embarked upon studies that led to a degree in International Law from the University of Paris. Through Dr. Giachery, Who was then on pilgrimage, the beloved Guardian let ‘Aziz know that he was very pleased with these studies which would enable him to further serve the Cause internationally.
During this time, ‘Aziz was appointed by the Hands of the Cause in Europe to their Auxiliary Board for Protection, and in this capacity he helped many National Spiritual Assemblies with their legal difficulties.
In 1955, after severe persecutions which climaxed in the destruction of the Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds of Tihran, the beloved Guardian appointed Dr. Navidi as a member of the commission that appealed to the United Nations in New York and Geneva. The Persian government had planned to exterminate the Bahá’í community in its country, but because of this intervention the government momentarily halted its cruel plan.
In 1957, with the tragic passing of Shoghi Effendi, ‘Aziz Navidi transferred his loyalty to the Hands of the Cause-——“the stewards of the embryonic World Order of Baha’u’lla ”. He was called to the Holy Land at this difficult period and helped, with ardent devotion, to resolve the many legal problems that had been created by the sudden passing of the beloved Guardian.
It was about this time, with the trials of the Bahá’ís in Morocco, that Dr. Navidi’s long association with the African continent began. During the course of many years he travelled to Algeria and Morocco, remaining in close association with the Bahá’ís in these countries, helping to solve numerous legal
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Azizollah Navidi
problems, and obtaining legal residencies for Bahá’í pioneers. He was intimately linked to the cause of the Moroccan prisoners, and did everything in his power to alleviate their distress. The Universal House of Justice recognized in him a loyal and faithful servant who was capable of putting the Cause of Baha’u’llah above everything else in his life, and who was able, through the strength of his faith, to draw enormous power and assistance from the bestowals of the Blessed Beauty.
In 1968, with the encouragement of Amatu’l—B aha Rúḥíyyih Khánum, ‘Aziz and Shamsi resolved to take part in the Nine Year Plan of the Universal House of Justice and left for the Mauritius Islands. In this way, Dr. Navidi took part in the formation of several National Assemblies in the Indian Ocean and contributed to their legal recognition.
During this time, the Universal House of Justice gave him additional responsibilities on the African continent, and appointed him the representative of the Bahá’í International Community in Africa. The numerous cables
THE Bahá’í WORLD
received from Africa on his passing attest to the degree of his involvement in the development of the Cause in that continent.
It is easy to say that he received recognition of the Faith in Africa, but every case has its special history. Each case represented many months of anguish, of solitude, of disappointments in a difficult and often inhospitable environment, and sleepless nights, beseeehing Bahá’u’lláh for assistance and strength.
In the path of his Beloved, he gave liberally of himself, of his material possessions, and of his spiritual talents. Even his human frailties were transformed into a source of strength for service. He displayed extraordinary resourcefuhiess, courage, love and distinction in his encounters with high officials, be they presidents, judges, or administrative officers. He never took “no” for an answer, persevering until victory was obtained.
His days in the service of the Cause in Africa tell the tale of an absolute devotion to the Universal House of Justice and of his desire to alleviate its burden as much as he could. The Cause was his own, and he always felt complete responsibility for it. His family remember him saying, frequently, “but the Universal House of Justice has no one else to do the job, and I shall not fail them”. He constantly sought the Supreme Body’s advice and as he relied on its prayers and guidance, the result was Victory upon Victory.
The volumes of memoirs he has left behind are part of the history of the Cause in many countries. They recount his anguish, his hopes and his complete reliance on prayer and on the never-failing assistance of Baha’u’llah. They tell of his dauntless spirit, of his immense love and courage, and of his relentless efforts in the path of the Cause of God. They will, no doubt, be a source of inspiration for future generations.
At the funeral service in London, members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the United Kingdom bore ‘Aziz Navidi’s coffin
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to its resting place in the Greater London Cemetery. The Bahá’ís of lrén, despite their own current difficulties, made a very poignant contribution by sending a cable and a floral tribute to the man who had served them so well.
§gAMsiNAviDI’
