Hasan M. Balyuzi
Encyclopedia
Hasan M. Balyuzi was a prominent Iranian Bahá'í
. He was born in Iran
, but he spent most of his life in Britain
. Balyuzi was an Afnán
, a descendant of the Báb's
family, on both sides of his family. His father was governor of the Persian Gulf
ports and later minister of the interior of Iran.
In 1925 he met Shoghi Effendi
after which he became a Bahá'í. In 1932 he went to Britain where he studied diplomatic history at the London School of Economics
. In 1933 was elected as a member of the National Spiritual Assembly
of Great Britain, which he stayed until he retired in 1960. In October 1957 he was appointed a Hand of the Cause of God
by Shoghi Effendi.
Bahá'í Faith
The Bahá'í Faith is a monotheistic religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in 19th-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind. There are an estimated five to six million Bahá'ís around the world in more than 200 countries and territories....
. He was born in Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, but he spent most of his life in Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Balyuzi was an Afnán
Afnán
Afnan , is a term in literature of the Bahá'í Faith referring to maternal relatives of the Báb, and is used as a surname by their descendants. This name is also mentioned in the Quran....
, a descendant of the Báb's
Báb
Siyyid `Alí Muḥammad Shírází was the founder of Bábism, and one of three central figures of the Bahá'í Faith. He was a merchant from Shíráz, Persia, who at the age of twenty-four claimed to be the promised Qá'im . After his declaration he took the title of Báb meaning "Gate"...
family, on both sides of his family. His father was governor of the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
ports and later minister of the interior of Iran.
In 1925 he met Shoghi Effendi
Shoghi Effendi
Shoghí Effendí Rabbání , better known as Shoghi Effendi, was the Guardian and appointed head of the Bahá'í Faith from 1921 until his death in 1957...
after which he became a Bahá'í. In 1932 he went to Britain where he studied diplomatic history at the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
. In 1933 was elected as a member of the National Spiritual Assembly
Spiritual Assembly
Spiritual Assembly is a term given by `Abdu'l-Bahá to refer to elected councils that govern the Bahá'í Faith. Because the Bahá'í Faith has no clergy, they carry out the affairs of the community...
of Great Britain, which he stayed until he retired in 1960. In October 1957 he was appointed a Hand of the Cause of God
Hands of the Cause
The Hands of the Cause of God, Hands of the Cause, or Hands were a select group of Bahá'ís, appointed for life, whose main function was to propagate and protect the Bahá'í Faith...
by Shoghi Effendi.
External links
- Hasan M. Balyuzi, Hand of the Cause of God - the Treasure of All Humanity by Richard Francis