In Memoriam 1992-1997/Chahabeddine ‘Alá’í

CHAHABEDDINE ‘ALA’I’

1911-1996

The Universal House of Justice is moved to convey to you, at this time of your grief, its loving condolences on the passing of your beloved father. His nobility of Character coupled with his intense love for the Blessed Beauty, his steadfastness in the Cause and the devoted services he rendered to the communities of Iran and France are fondly remembered.

Department of the Secretariat November 8, 1996

long—standing pioneer, a scholar, a

teacher, a man of aristocratic allure, yet humble, welcoming, and accessible, Chahabeddine (Alzi’i was a meteor of the Faith. A man of science, he was literate in Persian, Arabic, and French. He was the ninth child of Siyyid Muhammad ‘Ala’i, Na’zz’mu’l—Hu/eamzi—a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad and an eminent Babi, blessed to have recognized the Blessed Beauty. The last son of Mohtaram thinum—the youngest of the Siyyid’s three wives—“Chahab” was one of the last survivors to have a special place in the genealogy of an original Bahá’í family. The younger brother of the Hand of the Cause of God flu'a’u’lláh ‘Alé.’1',2'8 he was one of the last “living encyclopedias” of the Heroic Age of our Faith. Chahab entered the hospital in Saint—Julien—en—Genevois, France, on Sunday, November 3, 1996, and attained the abode of the Beloved twenty—four hours later, on the anniversary of the ascension of the beloved Guardian.

2'8 See “In Memoriam”, 7712 Bahá’í World, vol. XIX, PP- 593—95 [Page 364]364

Chahab was born in 1911 in Ṭihrán, and after completing secondary school, he made his way to France, encouraged by the Guardian. He earned diplomas in Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Industry Engineering, and Sugar Refinery Engineering in 1933, 1934, and 1935 respectively. He returned to Iran where he eventually became the director general of all the sugar factories in the country. During this time, he used his material resources to establish a school (Madrese Chahab). He returned to France in 1952 to study toward diplomas in sericulture (silkworm breeding).

In 1958, he was elected to the National Spiritual Assembly of France. That same year, he wed Arlette Barbanson, and from their marriage a daughter, Diane, was born. About this time, Chahab installed another sugar factory in Iṣfahán.

Chahab was again a member of the National Assembly of France from 1967 to 1970. He was proud to have attended the elections of the Universal House ofjustice three times and to have been asked by it to be a Chief teller in 1968. He was also asked by the House ofjustice to collaborate with Salim Nounou in acquiring the archives of the French orientalist and scholar of the Babf dispensation, A. L, M. Nicolas. With Colonel John McHenry 11219 he was asked by the National Assembly to find a suitable location for the Mashriqu’l-Aflkén He was also known to have aided Madame Laura Dreyfus—Barney in the organization of her documents and to have assisted Mademoiselle Lucienne Migette in her translations.

Settling in Paris in 1966, he assumed the position of director of the prestigious Maison de l’Irzm—a display case oflranian art and gastronomy on the Champs-Elysées.

2'9 See John McHenry II, pp. 170—73.

THE BAHA’I’ WORLD

He was awarded the Medal of the Legion of Honor of the Iranian Empire in 1975 and carried on this work until 1980. In the last years of his life, he and Arlette had moved to Le Cannet to reestablish the Local Assembly.

A friend recalls,

I have encountered few men possessed ofsuch tranquility and childlike enthusiasm, combined with a skeptical realism. Characterized by a deep and unwavering faith, he was especially uplifted and vibrant when it came to the aHairs of the community, whether regarding the remembrance of the Guardian, a decision of the Assembly, a message of the Universal House of Justice or a mission assigned to him by it. In consequence, he was never afflicted by disenchantment, even less by doubt. With regards to the affairs of the century, he demonstrated the greatest indifference to the tinkerings and approximations of our secular contemporaries.

Another remembers how Chahab was a delegate at the election of the first International Convention and how he described to the Friends the solemn and emotional moment when the names were called and the members of the Universal House of Justice, the hope of the entire Bahá’í world for which the Guardian had, for decades, cultivated anticipation, respect, and love, rose and assembled to face the delegates:

His eyes gleaming with happiness, Mr. ‘Alzi’i recalled,

At that moment, I considered the Hands of the Cause gathered for this occasion, from whom the Bahá’í world community had taken its direction since the passing of the Guardian six

[Page 365]IN MEMORIAM 1992—1 997 365

years earlier. These Hands of the Cause, transported by joy, applauded with an energy and intensity surpassing the others, their faces beaming like that of a father who has seen his child take his first steps, but also with the joy of one relieved to pass on a precious, sacred and formidable responsibility that had been ever—present in their minds. At that moment, I reflected that in no part of the world, no one would have dared believe in a day when the powerfiJl governments would pass, with such joy, happiness, and sincerity, the reins of power to an institution to which they themselves, with all wisdom, would defer.

Many of the friends remember with fondness and appreciation the weekly study groups he led for more than ten years on Friday evenings at 11 rue de la Pompe. One of them remembers the effect Chahab had on his development as a Bahá’í and gives tribute:

Mr. ‘Ala’i had acquired a certain special quality that acted upon me and that I saw acting upon others. His words had influence, bringing to mind a key passage of Bahá’u’lláh: “Utterance must needs possess penetrating power. For if bereft of this quality it would fail to exert . . . And this penetrating influence dependeth on the spirit being pure and the heart stainless. Likewise it needeth moderation, without which the heater would be unable to bear it . . . Thus when the essence of one’s utterance is endowed with these two requisites it will prove highly effective and will be the prime factor in transforming the souls ofmen. This is the station of supreme victory and celestial dominion. Whoso attaineth thereto is invested with the power to teach the Cause of

God and to prevail over the hearts and

”220

minds of men,

Such was the quality of the words of

Chahab ‘Ala’i. Such was his influence.

N

o

Adapted in pm‘tfi‘om translation: ofmemorz'al articles by Fond Sabe’rzzn, Hozzc/Jim' Djonez‘di, Said Roulmni, jeanFrzzzzg'ois Bourque, am! 7772 National Spiritual Assemély Ofthe [34/7475 omence