Kázim-i-Samandar
Encyclopedia
Shaykh Káẓim-i-Samandar known as Samandar was an eminent follower of Bahá'u'lláh
, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith
, a global religion of Persian origin. He was born to a prominent Bahá'í family of Qazvin
of Bábí
and Shaykhi background. He was identified as one of the nineteen Apostles of Bahá'u'lláh
, and was favored by Bahá'u'lláh.
, the eldest surviving son of Shaykh Muhammad Qazvíní. Shaykh Muhammad was an early Bábí
and later Bahá’í. His father was bastioned in Qazvín and attained the presence of the Báb
who was then imprisoned in Máh-Kú. Later Shaykh Muhammad was entitled Nabil by Bahá’u’lláh. He was named after Siyyid Kázim whom his family had close connections with. His mother was a disciple of Táhirih
. Samandar was of a wealthy mercantile family, and Shaykh Muhammad Qazvini had made a success of the business. From an early age he was a devout Bahá’í, and clearly remembered the days of persecution as a little boy.
Bahá’u’lláh then renamed Muhammad Kázim Qazvíní as Samandar a Persian
word meaning phoenix. Bahá’u’lláh also sent Samandar numerous tablets and prayers in his honour, much of which is still extant. The most famous is perhaps Lawh-i-Fu'ád (tablet of Fu’ád) which was addressed to Samandar. He worked tirelessly teaching the faith in Persia. He traveled all around Iran teaching people of the Bahá’í Faith and its principles. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá also kept in regular correspondence with him.
He had many children; a mixture of boys and girls of whom all married into prominent Bahá’í families of Persia. His most famous child is possibly Taráz’u’lláh Samandarí, a Hand of the Cause of God. In Acre
Samandar’s daughter Thurayyá Khánum was married to Bahá’u’lláh’s younger son Mírzá Díyá’u’lláh. She later became a covenant breaker devastating Samandar. He made two pilgrimages to ‘Akká to visit Bahá’u’lláh and the Bahá’í holy family (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Ásíyih Khánum
, Bahíyyih Khánum
and Munírih Khánum
).
described him a “flame of the love of God” and identified him as one of the Apostles of Bahá'u'lláh
. His memoirs Tárikh-i-Samandar was regularly referred to and seen a source of valuable Bahá’í history. His relatives are known by the surname Samandarí.
Bahá'u'lláh
Bahá'u'lláh , born ' , was the founder of the Bahá'í Faith. He claimed to be the prophetic fulfilment of Bábism, a 19th-century outgrowth of Shí‘ism, but in a broader sense claimed to be a messenger from God referring to the fulfilment of the eschatological expectations of Islam, Christianity, and...
, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith
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....
, a global religion of Persian origin. He was born to a prominent Bahá'í family of Qazvin
Qazvin
Qazvin is the largest city and capital of the Province of Qazvin in Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 349,821, in 96,420 families....
of Bábí
Babi
Babi may refer to:* Babı, a municipality in Azerbaijan* Babi Dynasty, founded in 1735 by Muhammed Sher Khan Babi , Nawabs of this dynasty went on to rule over Junagadh in Gujarat, from the 18th to the 20th century....
and Shaykhi background. He was identified as one of the nineteen Apostles of Bahá'u'lláh
Apostles of Bahá'u'lláh
The Apostles of Bahá'u'lláh were nineteen eminent early followers of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith. The apostles were designated as such by Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith, and the list was included in The Bahá'í World, Vol...
, and was favored by Bahá'u'lláh.
Early life
Samandar was born Muhammad Kázim Qazvíní on February 1844 in QazvinQazvin
Qazvin is the largest city and capital of the Province of Qazvin in Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 349,821, in 96,420 families....
, the eldest surviving son of Shaykh Muhammad Qazvíní. Shaykh Muhammad was an early Bábí
Babi
Babi may refer to:* Babı, a municipality in Azerbaijan* Babi Dynasty, founded in 1735 by Muhammed Sher Khan Babi , Nawabs of this dynasty went on to rule over Junagadh in Gujarat, from the 18th to the 20th century....
and later Bahá’í. His father was bastioned in Qazvín and attained the presence of the Báb
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"...
who was then imprisoned in Máh-Kú. Later Shaykh Muhammad was entitled Nabil by Bahá’u’lláh. He was named after Siyyid Kázim whom his family had close connections with. His mother was a disciple of Táhirih
Táhirih
Táhirih or Qurratu'l-`Ayn are both titles of Fátimih Baraghání , an influential poet and theologian of the Bábí Faith in Iran. Her life, influence and execution made her a key figure of the religion...
. Samandar was of a wealthy mercantile family, and Shaykh Muhammad Qazvini had made a success of the business. From an early age he was a devout Bahá’í, and clearly remembered the days of persecution as a little boy.
Prominence
Samandar was living in Qazvin when a group of very active Azali’s begun disputing Bahá’u’lláh and his claims. Samandar studied the writings of both Azali and Bahá’u’lláh. He subsequently became a staunch believer in Bahá’u’lláh, and wrote a pamphlet denouncing the Azali’s and stating they based their claims on nothing. The document was read widely, and reduced influence of the Azali's in Qazvin.Bahá’u’lláh then renamed Muhammad Kázim Qazvíní as Samandar a Persian
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
word meaning phoenix. Bahá’u’lláh also sent Samandar numerous tablets and prayers in his honour, much of which is still extant. The most famous is perhaps Lawh-i-Fu'ád (tablet of Fu’ád) which was addressed to Samandar. He worked tirelessly teaching the faith in Persia. He traveled all around Iran teaching people of the Bahá’í Faith and its principles. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá also kept in regular correspondence with him.
He had many children; a mixture of boys and girls of whom all married into prominent Bahá’í families of Persia. His most famous child is possibly Taráz’u’lláh Samandarí, a Hand of the Cause of God. In Acre
Acre
The acre is a unit of area in a number of different systems, including the imperial and U.S. customary systems. The most commonly used acres today are the international acre and, in the United States, the survey acre. The most common use of the acre is to measure tracts of land.The acre is related...
Samandar’s daughter Thurayyá Khánum was married to Bahá’u’lláh’s younger son Mírzá Díyá’u’lláh. She later became a covenant breaker devastating Samandar. He made two pilgrimages to ‘Akká to visit Bahá’u’lláh and the Bahá’í holy family (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Ásíyih Khánum
Ásíyih Khánum
Ásíyih Khánum was the wife of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith. She is viewed by Bahá’ís as the paragon of a devoted mother and wife. She is also known by her titles of Navváb, the Most Exalted Leaf, Búyúk Khánum or Hadrat-i-Khánum. Khánum, is a title usually given to a Persian lady...
, Bahíyyih Khánum
Bahiyyih Khánum
Bahíyyih Khánum the only daughter of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith, and Ásíyih Khánum. She was born in 1846 with the given name Fatimih Sultan, and was entitled "Varaqiy-i-'Ulyá" or "Greatest Holy Leaf"...
and Munírih Khánum
Munirih Khánum
Munírih Khánum was the wife of `Abdu'l-Bahá, the son of the founder of the Bahá'í Faith, Bahá'u'lláh. She was entitled the Holy Mother...
).
Death
Samanadar died February 5th, 1918. Shoghi EffendiShoghi 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...
described him a “flame of the love of God” and identified him as one of the Apostles of Bahá'u'lláh
Apostles of Bahá'u'lláh
The Apostles of Bahá'u'lláh were nineteen eminent early followers of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith. The apostles were designated as such by Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith, and the list was included in The Bahá'í World, Vol...
. His memoirs Tárikh-i-Samandar was regularly referred to and seen a source of valuable Bahá’í history. His relatives are known by the surname Samandarí.