In Memoriam 1992-1997/Vuthúqu’lláh Bulbul-i-Ma’ání

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VUmI’JQU’LLAH BULBUL—I—MA’ANI’ 1926—1995

O God, bestow healing through your generosity

On this faithful nightingale, a devoted Bahá’í.

O God, grant me a joyful heart,

Strength to serve your blessed Cause

To soar towards Kampala

To ofFer up my life in your path.

O ye nightingale of the garden of “Ma’ani”

Sing your song in an everlasting

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melody.

he late Vuglluqu’llah Bulbul—i—Ma’éni,

the son of Siyyid Badi’u’llah and the eldest grandson of Mulla Ahmadi—Mu’allim—i—Hisari, was born in 83 BE (1926). Mulla Ahmad had been one of the students of Siyyid Kazim—i—Rafiti and had also spent some time teaching Siyyid Kazim’s children. This was the reason Siyyid Kazim gave him the title “Mu’aIlim” [teacher]. He attained the presence of the Bab in Maku. Later he became a follower of Bahá’u’lláh and attained His presence in Baghdad.

In his memoirs, Mr. Ma’ani writes:

Both Jinab—i—Mu’allim and my father wrote poetry, and I inherited the bounty of [writing] poetry from those two great souls. We lived in @urésan until 102 BE [1945]. Then, we went to Ṭihrán, and this eager nightingale [Bulbul] began to sing in that rose—garden.

In the winter of 101 [at nineteen years of age], I wrote a letter to the beloved Guardian, in which I wrote a poem. I received a response as follows.

'54 A courtesy translation ofa poem written by Mr.

Ma'ani a few days before his passing.

[Mn Ma’ani shares the text of a letter dated July 1, 1945, written on behalfof Shoghi EI‘Iendi, in which his secretary expresses the Guardian’s hope that Mr. Ma’ani may always be engaged in uttering praise and thanksgiving to God, in the acquisition ofheavenly knowledge and the study of literature and Ianguages, and in serving and teaching the Faith. Shoghi Effendi also instructs Mr. Ma’ani to consult with and follow the advice of the Spiritual Assembly regarding his project to write a history of the Faith in verse]

While living in Mashhad, I benefited from participating in the study classes taught by scholars such as Mr. IQraq—K_havari, Mr. ‘Abbés ‘Alavi, and Mr. Nufiabadi. At one of these meetings, I recited for Mr. IQréq—Ehavari a poem I had composed about the advancement of‘women. He asked for a copy of it and submitted it to the National Spiritual Assembly ofIran, in response to which the Assembly sent me a kind letter that changed my life. This letter had a great influence on me, as I was at the height of youthful enthusiasm at that time, so that, when I went to Tihran, I began to warble melodies in that rose—garden and to serve in the gatherings of the youth by composing Bahá’í poems and songs.

In Tihran, I partook of the presence of great Bahá’í scholars who

were living there at the time. Among them I can mention Mr. ‘AIi—Akhar

Furutan, Mr. Kazim Kazimzadih, Fáḍili—Mézandarani, and Mt. Vahid Kaflfi. While working, I also continued my studies until I rose up to pioneer in 112 BE [1955]. I was working as a storekeeper for the Red Cross and had one more year to finish my studies in the literature department at the university,

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when a spiritual tempest transported me from one world to another.

Mr. Ma’ani continues in his diary:

On the ninth day of Riḍván [1955], a celebration in honor of the tenth year of the publication of/I/aang—i—Badz’took place in the presence of the delegates to the National Convention, the members of the National Spiritual Assembly and the Local Spiritual Assembly of Tihran, and a large number of the friends. One of the highlights of this meeting was an eloquent speech by the beloved Hand of the Cause ‘AIi-Akbar Furt’itan. I consider the fruit of this luminous gathering to be the reading of the translation of a most mighty telegram from Shoghi Effendi, sent in response to a letter from the gathering. Mr. Furt’ltan read [the text of the telegram, which says that the delegates and the friends have no alternative but to focus their attention on the fulfillment of the Ten Year Crusade and on pioneering, and that they must act immediately, for any negligence or delay will have serious repercussions].

Reading this telegram created great excitement and enthusiasm in me. I immediately decided to pioneer. Through a fortunate coincidence, I met and had some preliminary discussion with . Mr. Diya’u'lláh ‘Adlparvar, a pioneer to Kuwait, who urged me to go with him. Of course I had definitely decided to pioneer, and, unlike previous times when those around me dampened the flame of my enthusiasm, this time I persevered against all discouragement. The process took about three months, and I finally received credentials from the National Pioneer Committee and concluded my work at the Red Cross.

I?!

THE BAHA I WORLD

Vuiniqu 71d}; Bulbul—i—Mzz’a’m’

Since I had studied technical draftsmanship, my friends in Iran suggested that I work as a draftsman in Kuwait. However, when I consulted the Spiritual Assembly in Kuwait, it suggested to me that, in order to be a pioneer who could travel anywhere and have my own business, it would be better for me to learn radio repair. This suggestion seemed very strange to me. However, since I had learned, from the beginning of my life, to obey the Bahá’í institutions, I agreed to do so. I moved near Mr. Valiyyu’lláh D_hu’l—]aléli in Faha’hl’l, forty kilometers from [the city of] Kuwait, a place which needed a pioneer. I began to learn radio repair under his supervision. At that time, a year had passed since the formation of the Local Spiritual Assembly of Fahéhi’l, but some of the members were living in Kuwait and only came to take part in Assembly meetings and Nineteen Day Feasts. Therefore, when I settled there, one of these Assembly members resigned, and

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I had the honor ofbecoming a member of the Assembly. This was about three and a half months after my arrival at my pioneering post.

I entered Fahahil in the fall of1955. At that time there was no electricity there. In one of the notes written a year after my arrival, I read the following:

Yesterday, 4Asma’ 113 [August 25, 1956], marked a whole year since the day I entered Kuwait. I passed through such stages during this period that I was truly transported from one world to another. In Tihran, I considered it beneath my station to ride a bicycle; here, my bicycle is my best friend, without which I cannot live. In Ṭihrán, my face was always shaved and my clothes always pressed; here, I sometimes do not shave for a whole week and pay no attention to the pressing ofclothes. In Tlhran, I had no interest in food, except at Bahá’í gatherings; here, I have a healthy appetite and care nothing about what the Choice of food is. I get very tired and endure physical hardship, but I experience great spiritual joy because I see that I have attained my desire to pioneer. I am very happy. I hope that this endeavor will obtain for me His good—pleasure.

As the result ofa large number of friends pioneering to Kuwait, the Bahá’í community was consolidated. Four Local Spiritual Assemblies were formed, and some of the friends pioneered t0 Failaka Island.

Shoghi Effendi decided that the first National Spiritual Assembly of Arabia should be formed. He therefore instructed that the first National

Convention of Arabia be held in Manama, Bahrain, at Riḍván 114 BE [1957].

Because it was difficult for Iranians to enter Bahrain, Mr. @usraw flusravi, Mt. D_habihu’llah Gulmuhammadi, and I traveled by boat to Dubai in order to get Arab permits to go to Bahrain. From there, we went to Qatar, where the beloved Hand of the Cause Tarézu’llah Samandari, the Guardian’s representative, and General Hidayatu’llah Suhrab, the representative of the National Assembly oflran, were also waiting to obtain visas.

The Hand of the Cause Abu’l—Qásim Faizi was living in Bahrain at that time and was exerting great efforts to obtain visas for us with the help of Mr. Muhsini. He told us that he kept going to the Visa office to get Visas for Mr. Samandari and Mr. Suhrab until he finally obtained them on the last day at 9 AM. When he left the office, visas in hand, he heard the volley announcing Naw—Rt'lz.

Mr. Ma’ani further writes:

In addition to Mr. Samandari and General Suhrab, seventeen delegates from all over Arabia took part in the first National Convention ofAIabia on the tenth day oFRidvs’m 114 BE. Shoghi Effendi's message was read, the sessions continued until the twelfth day of Rid van, and the first National Spiritual Assembly of Arabia was elected.

This beloved poet, Bulbul—i—Ma’ani, took part in different conferences and also traveled to numerous countries to teach the Faith. Among them he attended the International Conference in Hong Kong and traveled to Thailand, Malaysia, Burma,

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India, and Pakistan; he went to the conference in Spain at which Amatu’l—Baha Rt'ihiyyih @énum and the members of the National Assemblies of the Arabian countries were present; and he traveled to Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Kyrgyzstan to teach and encourage the friends. In all he undertook more than nineteen spiritual trips during his life.

He had the honor of being a member of the National Assembly of Kuwait for twelve years, from the time ofits formation until his last days, and he served as its secretary for many years. He was also a member of. the Local Assemblies of Fahahil and Sélimiyyih for many years.

He is survived by five children—two sons and three daughters—who are all Bahá’í’s and are engaged in service to the Faith at different pioneering posts.

He ascended to the Abhá Kingdom on Thursday, October 12, 1995, from a heart attack. May his soul attain eternal happiness. On that day the Department of the Secretariat conveyed the message, which when translated From the Persian read:

'Ihe Universal House ofJustiee was grieved to hear the news of the passing to the Abhá Kingdom of the beloved pioneer and promoter of the Cause, Mashriqu’llah Bulbul Ma’ani.

We have been instructed to write that, praised be God, that precious being spent his entire life in the path of devotion to the Beloved Beauty. Kindly assure his friends and relatives of the prayers of the House of Justice in the Holy Shrines for the progress of his noble soul.

Some time later, on December 5, 1995, the Department of the Secretariat wrote to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Kuwait:

THE Bahá’í WORLD

The Universal House ofjustice has prayed in the Holy Shrines for the progress of the noble soul of the devoted servant of Baha Mr. Bulbul Ma’ani.

Mr. Ma’a’ni, who for many years was engaged in services to the Holy Threshold and persevered as a pioneer, was indeed blessed to be surrounded by infinite bounties until the very end, and will undoubtedly be rewarded immensely in the Abhá Kingdom for the services he rendered in this earthly life. Kindly convey the affection of the House of Justice to his friends and relatives.

From articlet translated from Persian