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SUHAYL AHMAD ‘ALA’I’
1927—1995
DEEPLY DISTRESSED NEWS PASSING SUHAYL ‘ALA’I’ WHO RENDERED EXEMPLARY SERVICES PIONEER SAMOA MORE THAN FOUR DECADES, PLAYED VITAL UNFORGETTABLE ROLE PROPAGATION FAITH CONSOLIDATION INSTITUTIONS ENTIRE PACIFIC REGION, SERVED MEMBER FIRST NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY SOUTH PACIFIC, AND LATER OVER TWO DECADES BOARD COUNSELLORS AUSTRALASIA. RECALL \X/ITH PROFOUND ADMIRATION HIS KINDNESS, LOVE PACIFIC PEOPLES, HIS SACRIFICIAL DEDICATION ADVANCEMENT THEIR INTERESTS, HIS ROLE CONSTRUCTION HOUSE OF WORSHIP SAMOA, HIS INVOLVEMENT WORK CAUSE TO LAST HOURS EARTHLY LIFE.
ADVISE HOLDING MEMORIAL SERVICES HOUSE WORSHIP, BAHA‘I‘ COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT SAMOA. ALSO REQUESTING NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF AUSTRALIA HOLD MEMORIAL GATHERING HOUSE OF WORSHIP.
OFFERING PRAYERS HOLY SHRINE PROGRESS HIS LUMINOUS SOUL ABHA KINGDOM. KINDLY CONVEY HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES HIS MOTHER, HIS WIFE, AND FAMILY‘
Universal House ofjustice August 16, 1995
S uhayl ‘Alé’l' was born on January 5, 1927, in Tihta’m, Iran. At birth, his mother named him after the early morning star she could see in the sky. Little did she know that he would grow into a brilliant star shining throughout the entire Australasian region, finally settling in the heart of the Pacific Ocean in the islands of Western Samoa.
Suhayl, a fourth generation Bahá’í from a family distinguished for their sacrificial services to the Cause, was the second child of Ni’mat’u’lláh”8 and Ghodsieh ‘Alé’l’, valiant pioneers in Afghanistan, Samoa, New Zealand, and Malta. His maternal grandparents were G_hulém—Radéy—iIsfahém', surnamed Amin-i—Amin, the third Trustee of the Huqt’lqu’lláh, and Masoud @énum, who was known for her selfless service, hospitality, and musical talent. His paternal grandparents were Siyyid Muhammad Nézimu’l—Hukamé, a physician attached to the court of the fléh, and K_hadijeh (known as ‘Bibi Jain), an educated and determined woman.
As a child and teenager, Suhayl had a curious and sharp mind and a playful, mischievous nature. He was very kind,
'48 See “In Memoriam", 7/13 Balm”! W/or/d, vol. XV,
PP- 448~49
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always wanting to share what he had with others. As a member of the Ṭihrán Bahá’í Youth Club, he organized sporting and social events for youth. Under the training and example of his parents and Bahá’í’ teachers, he developed a profound love for and knowledge of the Teachings. During his youth and early adulthood, he served on a number of national committees such as those for youth, library, and publications.
When he was nineteen, his family pioneered to Afghanistan. Because of their Faith, they were placed under armed police guard and exiled back to Iran after nine months.
In Ṭihrán, Suhayl graduated from Alborz High School in May 1947, and for the next two years he worked as a technician at the Ardakani Company, an irrigation and water supply firm.
In March 1950 Suhayl left Iran to undertake university studies in New Zealand where he attended Massey Agricultural College, graduating in October 1954 with a Diploma in Agriculture (specializing in sheep and dairy farming) and a Diploma in Wool and Wool Classing. He played in the All New Zealand Basketball Teams for two years, receiving College Blues and Honors for basketball and soccer. At the same time he actively participated in Bahá’í’ community life.
It was while attending summer school in Auckland, New Zealand, in December 1953 that Suhayl met Lilian Wyss, an Australian Bahá’í en route to Samoa where she would became a Knight of Bahá’u’llaih. In November 1954, East and West united in the Pacific when Suhayl and Lilian were married in Suva, Fiji. Theirs was the first Bahá’í marriage in the South Pacific. Returning with Lilian to Samoa, he became the third Bahá’í there. Their three children (Badi, Sitarih, and Riaz) were born and raised in Samoa.
511/14}! Ahmad ‘A/zi’i
Suhayl’s life manifested the Virtue of service: service to the Cause, to society, to family, and to friends. To him all acts of service were equally important. There are hundreds throughout Australasia who recall Suhayl in various service roles: as a speedy dishwasher at a conference; a diligent and compassionate Counsellor; a strong laborer on a building site of a center; a gourmet cook at a summer school; an eloquent speaker; a defender of the downtrodden; a radiant teacher at firesides; an upholder ofjustice on elected institutions; a warm and hospitable host; a quality printer of literature; a visionary businessman; a hilarious joke—teller; a trusted confidant; a loving husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, and friend; and a master organizer. Every talent, skill, and ability he possessed, he would offer in service. Never would he ask of others what he would not do himself.
To Suhayl teaching and consolidating the Bahá’í Faith were one and the same, and he participated in all aspects of community
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life. There were regular firesides, deepening classes, and dawn prayers at his home. He served on Local Spiritual Assemblies in Samoa, the United States, and Australia. In Samoa, he served on many regional and national committees and was a member of the National Spiritual Assembly in 1993 and 1995.
Suhayl was a key driver in obtaining formal recognition for the Bahá’í Faith and in the acquisition or building Oflocal and national centers. He played significant roles in the purchase of properties that now comprise the grounds of the House of Worship of Samoa and in the construction of the beautiful edifice that was dedicated in 1984.
The crowning achievement for the Samoan Bahá’í community occurred when His Highness Malietoa Tanumafili II hecame the first reigning monarch in the world to accept the Cause of Baha’u’llah. For nearly two decades Suhayl was the liaison between the Universal House of Justice and His Highness Malietoa. A close and loving relationship ensued over the years. A tribute to their relationship was given when His Highness attended Suhaylys funeral and openly wept over the loss of his dear friend.
Suhayl played a vital role in the development of the Faith throughout Australasia. He served on the first Regional Spiritual Assembly of the South Pacific (1959) that later became the National Spiritual Assembly of the South Pacific. In 1968, the first Continental Board of Counsellors was brought into being, and Suhayl was one of three Counsellors appointed by the Universal House ofjustice to serve Australasia. He was a Counsellor for twenty—two years and traveled that vast oceanic region on foot and by bus, canoe, boat, airplane, and seaplane, visiting and encouraging isolated believers, groups,
THE Bahá’í WORLD
Auxiliary Board members and their assistants, and Local and National Spiritual Assemblies. With the exception of French Polynesia, he made many visits to the nations ofAustralasia. Suhayl truly loved the peoples of the Pacific, and they loved him. An avid photographer, he captured on film the spirit of the people and left behind a photo collection depicting the growth and development of the Faith in Australasia.
Suhayl worked in a variety of management positions in the areas of trading and tuna production. In 1969, Suhayl and Lilian founded Pacific Services, which was Iater to grow into Pacific Products Inc. and Pacific Marketing Inc.—diversified import/ export companies trading throughout the Pacific. 'Ihey bore incredible stresses in their business in order to support their family and to enable other pioneers to work in Samoa. Businesses were established in several other Pacific nations so that pioneers could have access to earning a livelihood. Suhayl’s Samoan employees regarded him as “father.”
Instrumental in drafting its first constitution, he was a cofounder and treasurer of the American Samoa Chamber of Commerce. He was also a charter member of the Rotary Club and in later years the American Samoa representative for the Australian Executive Overseas Programme. He was active in the United Nations Organization in Samoa. At the time of his death, business colleagues described him as being a gentleman, possessing the qualities of honesty, integrity, inspiration, and humor.
Somehow, Suhayl found time for his hobbies, friends, and family. In addition to being an excellent photographer, he loved fishing and animals. He raised pigeons and had dogs, cats, and tropical fish as pets. He was an excellent handyman and
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cabinetmaker and wove his first child’s bassinet. An innovative chef, Suhayl created wonderful delicacies, incorporating the cuisine of the many countries he traveled to. But he never forgot his Persian roots; it was a common sight to see him dressed in an island lava—lava and thongs, farming the coals of the samovar, and preparing tea and Chelo kebab for guests.
Bahá’u’lláh says, “The goodliest vesture in the sight of God in this day is trustworthiness.””9 To many, Suhayl was their most trusted confidant. He had the ability to empathize with human suffering and with profound love, kindness, and compassion, to heal a broken heart.
His soul left this world unexpectedly at 8:45 PM on August 14, 1995. As he had not been feeling well, he had gone to the hospital that morning, still planning to catch the evening plane to Hawaii. The distressing news of his sudden passing reverberated around the world. Hundreds of messages poured into Samoa.
Suhayl was befittingly laid to rest on August 21, 1995, within the grounds of the Samoa Bahá’í House of Worship, next to the grave of the Hand of the Cause of God, Dr. Ugo Giachery. His funeral was attended by hundreds of people from all walks of life: the Head of State; government officials; business colleagues; representatives of national, continental, and international Bahá’í institutions; and many of his friends and global family. There was widespread coverage of his life by the media in both American and Western Samoa and in the official gazette of the Western Samoan Government.
Suhayl ‘Ala’i was a trailblazer, moving with insight, conviction, and practicality.
Bahá’u’lláh’s vision for humanity guided all
'49 777: Compilation of Compilations, Volume II (Ingleside, N.S.\W.: Bahá’í Publications Australia, 1991), passage 1013.
his actions, and ‘Abdul—Bahá’s words “Make me as dust in the pathway of Thy loved ones”ISO illumined his life of dedicated service. May there be others who will arise to follow his footsteps.
Simri/I AMY—Somya
