In Memoriam 1992-1997/Ḥabíbollah Ma’naví
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HABfBOLLAH MA’NAVf 1915—1993
TARABANGI’Z SAMANDARi-MA’NAVI' 1921—1 9 95
SADDENED NEWS PASSING MAID-SERVANT BAHA’U’LLAH, TARABANGI’Z SAMANDARiMA’NAVI‘. HER DEVOTED SERVICES FAITH TURKEY, UNITED KINGDOM LOVINGLY REMEMBERED. HER PASSIONATE LOVE FOR BLESSED BEAUTY SUSTAINED HER THROUGHOUT LIFE. PRAYING HOLY SHRINES PROGRESS HER NOBLE SOUL ABHA KINGDOM. CONVEY OUR LOVING SYMPATHY MEMBERS FAMILY.
Universal House ofjustice February 27, 1995
arabangiz (Tarab) Samandari—Ma’navi was born in 1921 in the city onasvin, Iran. Her great—grandfather, who was named Samandar by Bahá’u’lláh, was one of the Apostles of Bahá’u’lláh. Her father, Agamirza Mohammed, was a devoted believer and teacher of the Faith, as a consequence of which he was imprisoned for a period whence, because of his frailness, he was taken ill. Following his release he never fully recovered and passed to the Abhá Kingdom at a young age. Her mother, Lega Khandum Andalibi,
n;
was from a distinguished Bahai family. She was a teacher in a school for Bahá’í children in Qazvin and was left to bring up six Children. Their grandfather, the Hand of the Cause of God Mr. Tarazu’llah Samandari was their spiritual father. Although travel kept him away for long periods, nevertheless Mr. Samandari had a profound influence on his grandchildren, making them ardent followers and servants of the
Faith who spent their lives pioneering in diflrerent parts of the globe.
Having completed her secondary education in Qasvin, Tarab moved to Tihtan to obtain employment so that she could assist her mother financially. It was during this period that Lega Khandum was taken setiousiy ill and passed away. Tatab stayed in Tihran until the start of the Guardian’s Ten Year Crusade in 1953. She communicated with her grandfather, Mt. Samandari, and informed him of her desire to pioneer. He invited her to join him in §hiréz. She spent two years with him there under his loving influence, and in 1955 she pioneered to Turkey. There she met and wed her husband, Habiboilah (Habib) Ma’navi, who had been pioneering in Istanbul since the beginning of the Crusade.
Habib was born in Ṭihrán in 1915. His father, Davoud, was ofjewish background. Habih embraced the Faith at the age of fifteen and was disowned by his family. He was a keen student, applying himself
In
to a study of the Bahal writings from an
??zmbzmgz’z Szzmzmdarf—Mtz’mzzrz’
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IN MEMORIAM 1992—1997 195
early age. He shone academically at school and at university, where he studied law and economics. Having obtained his doctorate from Tihran University, he practiced law there until 1953 when he moved to Turkey.
Pioneering and teaching the Faith in Turkey were never easy. The Turkish government was suspicious of the Iranian friends, who they put under continuous and close surveillance. The Bahá’í’s often had difficulty in securing visas and work permits, and many Iranian pioneers were asked to return to Iran. Habib, through his tactfulness, wisdom, and honesty in the Grand Bazaar where he was engaged in business, succeeded in obtaining a residence visa for his family, and he spent the next forty years serving the Faith there.
Tarab and Habib’s home was an open house for meetings, for teaching, and for hospitality extended to friends visiting from other parts of the world. They both had a pure and unconditional love for all, irrespective of race, religion, nationality,
Haéz’ballah Ma’rmvz’
or class Tarab’s smile emanated this love, conveying a warmth that was in her heart.
Habib’s priority in life was serving the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh and its believers. He served on the National Spiritual Assembly of Turkey and on Local Spiritual Assemblies for many years. In 1963 he was one of the delegates who had the honor ofelecting the first Universal House ofjustice in Haifa.
Tarab’s warm and loving personality and her famous hospitality easily won her friends with the locals, many of whom became lifetime friends. When Tarab spoke to them about the Faith, she emphasized Bahá’u’lláh’s mission to unite the world and to bring love and harmony to its citizens. Many of her friends accepted the Faith, but the influence of the Islamic culture and fear of family reprisals prevented many others from declaring their belief in Bahá’u’lláh. Those who did declare brought their families into the Faith and are still amongst the most ardent servants of Baha’u’llah in Turkey.
This was the fulfillment of Tarab’s wish. During her pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 1956, she confided to the beloved Guardian that her only wish was to overcome her shyness so that she could befriend people easily and teach them the Faith. For the rest of her life she never had difficulty in approaching others and in communicating a sincere love and ready kindness.
During their pioneering years Tarab and Habib had the privilege ofhaving the Hand of the Cause of God Mr. Tarazu’llah Samandari stay at their home during the summer months. Mr. Samandari, then in his nineties, needed to recuperate from his travels. His presence in Turkey was received as a great bestowal from the Kingdom of Abhá by the friends there. Many meetings were held at Tarab and Habib’s house, during which the friends enjoyed the fruits of his deep knowledge. Many contacts
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196 THE BAHA’I’ WORLD
were brought to meet this man who had attained the presence of Baha’u’llah at the age of fifteen. These occasions filled Tarab’s heart with happiness, and nothing gave IanbI'b more pleasure than accompanying Mr. Samandari on travel teaching trips to different parts of Turkey. Many accepted the Faith and became great servants as a result of these trips.
However, there were times when the growth of the Faith in Turkey was slow. The friends worked with wisdom and caution, but on more than one occasion Bahá’í meetings were raided by the police, and the friends were arrested in numbers. They were released after harsh interrogations. Many were the seeds planted then, the fruits of which can now be observed.
Tarab served on the Local Spiritual Assembly of Kadikoy and on the teaching committee. In 1965 she pioneered with her four—year—old son to the island of Imbros (Gokeeada) in the northern Aegean Sea. Imbros was inhabited by a Greek majority and had a very small population. Life was simple, and almost everyone on the island relied on their own resources to make a living. The Greeks were adamant in refusing to have contact with the Turkish, but Tarab befriended many and spread the Faith among them. This raised the suspicion ofTurkish officials, and she was asked to leave the island six months later.
The passing of Mr. Tarazu’llah Samandari in 1968 brought great sorrow. Tarab dearly loved and revered her grandfather, often reminisced about the times they spent together in Turkey, and missed him greatly until the end of her life.
In 1972 Tarab moved to Sheffield, England, to supervise the education of her two sons who were then in their teens. The social and political upheavals in Turkey were a cause ofserious concern for many parents whose children could not attend schools
and universities in safety. Her house became the venue for many meetings and firesides, and now that she was in a country where one had the freedom to propagate the Faith, her enthusiasm for teaching intensified. In 1981 she established “Peace Guest House.” Literature was readily available to her guests, and she gave the Message of Baha’u’llah to many willing ears. Many wrote to her later thanking her for her kindness. During these years Tatab served as a member of the Local Spiritual Assembly.
In the meantime, Habib continued serving in Turkey. The revolution in Iran in 1980 and the subsequent persecutions Forced many of the friends to cross the mountains into Turkey, leaving Iran without travel documents. During this difficult period Habib helped these friends to secure refugee status in welcoming countries around the globe. He helped them with travel arrangements and regularly liaised with the Universal House of Justice to ensure the protection of the Faith. Much of his time was taken up with the varied circumstances of. the refugees and with difficult negotiations with Turkish authorities. Habib was drained emotionally as day after day he listened to the hearttending, firsthand stories of the persecutions. Yeats afterward the refugees continued to remember his selfless assistance.
In early 1993 his health declined, and he was flown to Sheffield in the United Kingdom. He passed to the Abhá Kingdom in March, and on the 10th of that month the Universal House of Justice sent this message to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United Kingdom:
Our hearts are saddened by the news of the passing of Habib Manavi, stalwart upholder Faith Baha’u’llah. His long years devoted service extending several decades fondly remembered.
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IN MEMORIAM I 992—1 997
In the Cradle Faith he ably defended interests Bahá’í community. In Turkey where he pioneered early years Ten Year Crusade, he served with unfailing steadfastness in teaching and administrative fields.
Tarab pioneered to Gibraltar for a brief period in 1992. She attended the centenary of Bahá’u’lláh’s Ascension in the Holy Land as a member of the delegation from that country. Ill health prevented her from staying, and she returned to Sheffield to spend the last years of her life running her guest house. Following an unfortunate accident she passed away February 23, 1995.
Samana’m Ma’mzw’
