In Memoriam 1992-1997/Fu’ad Ashraf
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FU’AD ASHRAF
1898—1997
DEEPLY SADDENED NEWS PASSING DEARLY LOVED HIGHLY DEDICATED PIONEER TEACHER FAITH, FU’AD ASHRAF. HIS DEVOTED SERVICES CRADLE FAITH AND PIONEER FIELD AFRICA FONDLY REMEMBERED. ASSURE LOVING PRAYERS HOLY SHRINES PROGRESS HIS RADIANT SOUL.
CONVEY RELATIVES HEARTFELT SYMPATHY.
Universal House ofjustice January 19, 1997
Fu’ad Ashraf belonged to an old and eminent Bahá’í family in Iran that had embraced the Faith at the dawn of the Babi dispensation. His father, Mitzé Fadlullah, was the son of Mirzzi Ashraf, brother of Mullá Béqir and Mullzi Mihcli from Kan, near Ṭihrán, who were martyred in the Tabarsi upheaval. His father was a very well—known and popular Bahá’í teacher.
Fu’ad Ashrafwas born in Tihrz’m, March 21, 1898. He completed his primary education in 1914 at the Tarbiyat School, a Bahá’í school. He then attended Darulfunun and received a high school diploma four years later. From 1918 to 1925 he taught science at the Tarbiyat and Elmiyeh Schools in Tihra’n.
Mr. Ashraf went to Marseilles, France, to be treated for his eyes in 1925. The following year he emigrated to the United
States. Taking up American citizenship, he proceeded to Detroit, Michigan, where in 1927 he Found employment with the Ford Motor Company. Meanwhile he continued his studies at Detroit College, and in 1932 he received a bachelor of science degree in Chemistry. He served on the Local Assembly of Detroit and was elected delegate to the National Convention of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada in 1930. Graduate studies followed at Oklahoma University, and he received a master’s degree in petroleum engineering in 1934.
During Mr. Ashraf’s time in the United States, he wrote to Shoghi Effendi asking for guidance. The Guardian assured him that he would soon be successful in rendering worthy services to the beloved Cause. Mr. Ashtaf made two visits to the Holy Land and met the Guardian on both occasions.
He returned to Iran, and from 1934 to 1956 he served as a senior engineer at the Aba’dan refinery of the Anglo—Iran Oil Company in fluzistén. At the same time he was active in the Bahá’í community of Abédz’m, serving as a member of the Local Assembly and as a member on various local committees. In 1942 Mr. Ashraf married Maqbouleh Arjomand, and they had three children.
Mr. Ashrafattended the Intercontinental Conference launching the Ten Year Crusade in 1953 and was so stirred that he resigned from his high position with the National Iranian Oil Company and left a rather comfortable life and good salary to enter the arena of international pioneering. In 1956 he and his family went to Ethiopia, settling in Addis Ababa where he took up work as a faculty member at the technical college. The Ashrafs joined the first group of pioneers in that country and stayed there until the end of the Crusade.
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On his return to Ṭihrán in 1963, Mr. Ashraf was invited to serve as the managing director of Esso, a privately owned motor oil company. In 1970 he left his job at E550 and proceeded to Nairobi, Kenya, to serve as an Auxiliary Board member and traveling teacher in East Africa. Ten years later, he went back to Iran and was appointed as an Auxiliary Board member for Protection. At the request of the Continental Board of Counsellors in Western Asia, he prepared a guidebook for the Auxiliary Board members and their assistants.
In 1977 Maqbouleh became ill, and Mr. Ashraf took her back to the United States. They settled in San Diego, California, where Mrs. Ashraf sought medical attention. Unfortunately the treatment was not successful, and she passed away in 1982.
Mr. Ashraf remained in San Diego and became a valuable collaborator to the Office of Persian—American Affairs at the US Bahá’í National Center where he was serving as a translator. His contributions included the preparation of the Persian translation of Synopsis zmd Codification of the Laws and Ordinances Oftbe Kim'b—i—Aqdm as well as the translation of the International Bahá’í News Bulletin. Mr. Ashtaf also produced a Persian translation of Citadel of Faith, Which was published after his death. He passed away on January 17, 1997.
Fu’ad Ashraf is remembered for his devotion and enthusiasm to serve the Cause of God, for his humility, and for his jovial and friendly manner.
From information provided by Hus/az'yar Ashrafama’ an article prepared [7} Iraj Ayman
THE BAHA’I’ WORLD