Bahá’í World/Volume 20/Habib Sabet
HABIB SABET
(Ḥabíb Thábit)
1903—1990
Ḥabíb Thábit was a distinguished Íránian Bahá’í, an entrepreneur and an industrialist. He was born in a modest family in Ṭihrán in 1903 and passed away in Los Angeles, California, U.S.A., on 20 February 1990.
The more successful he was in material gain and fame, the more enthusiastic he was in his service to the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh, especially to fulfil the wishes and plans of his beloved Guardian, Shoghi Effendi. Therefore, to describe the life of Ḥabíb Thábit, one should write about the parallel progress of the material and spiritual.
A self—made man, Ḥabíb only had the privilege of a few years of education, first at the Tarbíyat Bahá’í School, and then at the Saint Louis French School in Ṭihrán which he attended while receiving payment as a private tutor of affluent children. Therefore, it was neither his education, nor his family background which brought him to the highest position of entrepreneurship, nor
distinguished him in his personal, social, and spiritual life.
As a child his parents, especially his mother who was from the renowned religious family of Arjumand, had inculcated in him love and respect for the Faith and he was always filled with devotion. When he obtained his first automobile and worked as a taxi driver, on any trip when he took passengers to ‘Iráq or Lebanon, he would take the opportunity to visit the Holy Places of the Bahá’í Faith as a pilgrim and had the privilege of many meetings with the beloved Guardian.
Ḥabíb married Bahereh (Báhirih) Khamsí of Rasht, the daughter of Siyyid Ahmad Khamsí Báqiraf, a prominent Bahá’í and a companion of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in Paris, Germany, Austria and Budapest. Her grandfather was Sádát Khamsí, a title given by the Blessed Beauty. Ḥabíb and Báhirih had two sons, Iradj (Íraj) and Hormoz (Hurmuz).
Ḥabíb began his career in a bicycle repair shop, subsequently becoming the founder of a woodworking factory and over 40 companies, amongst which are Television of Írán, the Pepsi Cola subsidiary in Írán, General Tire, and Írán Volkswagen. He was a member of the Board of Directors of Íránians’ Bank, the Industrial Mining and Development Bank, and the Bank of Írán. He was at the same time Board member of many other companies and prestigious banks of Írán as well as the Bahá’í Children’s Saving Company of Nawnáhálán.
When the Sháh closed the Bahá’í schools in Persia in 1934 and communication with the Bahá’í World Centre was cut off, Ḥabíb and Báhirih, on instruction of the National Spiritual Assembly of Persia, immediately departed from Ṭihrán and reached the Holy Land within 48 hours. They presented the plea of the National Spiritual Assembly and received the answer and guidance for them. On this occasion the beloved Guardian showered love and bounty on the couple and told them that they were the first to reach the World Centre so quickly. He said that soon they would be able to have breakfast in
Habib Sabet
Ṭihrán and lunch at the World Centre. This was realized within a few years when the air service was established between Persia and the Holy Land.
While expanding his commercial activities, Ḥabíb was proud that thousands of Bahá’ís, who were not able to work as civil servants or at private jobs, could make their living by working in his companies and factories. This was a great service in those days of bitter animosity toward the Bahá’ís.
Ḥabíb’s wealth and wise behaviour towards prominent people allowed him to befriend them, socially or officia11y, including the highest government officials. This helped him to protect the Bahá’í friends and to accomplish the most difficult goal Shoghi Effendi assigned to Persia during the Ten Year Plan. He managed by long, wise, and careful planning to purchase the Síyáh-Chál, the dungeon in Ṭihrán. The Guardian, in a message to the Bahá’í world on 6 April 1954, stated:
On the eve of this Riḍván Festival marking
the opening of the second decade of
the second Bahá’í century, and coinciding
with the termination of the first year of the World Spiritual Crusade... The site of the Síyáh—Chál-that pestilential subterranean Pit, the scene of the birth of Bahá’u’lláh’s prophetic Mission, and the holiest place in the capital city of His native land–has been recently purchased, together with the surrounding area, involving an expenditure of approximately four hundred thousand dollars contributed by a Persian follower of the Faith...
For over 20 years, Ḥabíb Thábit served as a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of Persia, often using his good relationship with the authorities or friends to protect the Bahá’ís from persecution. In 1955, the Bahá’ís of Persia were endangered when Shaykh Muḥammad Taqí Falsafí made false accusations against the Bahá’í Faith on the government radio and incited the people to massacre the Bahá’ís and confiscate their precious centres and properties, a plan in which the Sháh, the government, and the clergy became involved.
Mr. Thábit, under the guidance of the Guardian, and without regard for the danger and risk to his life, met with the authorities, including the Sháh, government ministers, and influential friends. Consequently, along With other measures taken at the instruction of the Guardian, such as appeals to the Sháh, Parliament, and the United Nations by all Bahá’í localities in the world, the situation changed and instead of massacre, the army received orders to protect the Bahá’ís.
On that occasion, Shoghi Effendi sent to Mr. Thábit the following cable:
DEEPLY APPRECIATE OUTSTANDING SERVICES.
On the eve of the last day of Mr. Thábit’s last pilgrimage, on 17 December 1956, the beloved Guardian, in the presence of other pilgrims, stated: “He is the standard bearer of the oppressed, defender and helper of the Faith.” Then turning to Mr. Thábit, the Guardian said, “Your title will be Náṣiri’d-Dín” (Defender of the Faith).
Mr. Thábit resided in the United States for some years before the Islamic revolution and never returned to Írán after 1978. The new government confiscated all his assets, companies, factories, properties and private residences, and so on, which he had acquired over 70 years of struggle and personal initiative. Consequently all the Bahá’ís working in these establishments were discharged, without compensation for their many years of labor and without pensions, and several were subsequently executed.
When Mr. Thábit passed away, the Universal House of Justice sent the following message to his widow on 22 February 1990:
Share your grief passing veteran servant
Cause Habib Sabet. His steadfastness in devotion Beloved Guardian, his courageous efforts in defense community cradle Faith, his unique role in acquisition vital sacred site Teheran lovingly remembered.
Offer heartfelt condolences to you and through you to entire family. Praying Holy Shrine progress his soul Abha Kingdom.
At his funeral at the Los Angeles Bahá’í Center, over 3,000 people, including the Bahá’í friends of California and nearby states and a great number of non—Bahá’ís, were present and witnessed the simplicity and dignity of a Bahá’í ceremony. Mr. Thábit was buried at the Inglewood Cemetery near Thornton Chase’s grave.
Newspapers, including the New York Times of 24 February 1990, radio and television broadcasters announced his death and praised his life. In New York, the Canadian Ambassador to Írán, a former Prime Minister, and prominent personalities spoke at a Bahá’í commemoration service attended by over 1,000 persons.