Kázim-i-Samandar

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S͟hayk͟h Káẓim-i-Samandar (Persian: کاظم سمندر; died 1918), known as Samandar, was an eminent follower of Baháʼu'lláh, the founder of the Baháʼí Faith. He was born to a prominent Baháʼí family of Qazvin of Bábí and Shaykhi background. Favored by Baháʼu'lláh, he was identified as one of his nineteen Apostles.

Early life[edit]

Samandar was born Muhammad Kázim Qazvíní in February 1844 in Qazvin, the eldest surviving son of Shaykh Muhammad Qazvíní.[1] Shaykh Muhammad was an early Bábí and later accepted the Baháʼí Faith.[2] 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 Baháʼu'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.[3] From an early age he was a devout Baháʼí, and clearly remembered the days of persecution as a little boy.

Prominence[edit]

Samandar was living in Qazvin when a group of very active Azalis begun disputing Baháʼu'lláh and his claims.[4] Samandar studied the writings of both Azali and Baháʼu'lláh. He subsequently became a staunch believer in Baháʼu'lláh, and wrote a pamphlet denouncing the Azali's and stating they based their claims on nothing.[5] The document was read widely, and reduced influence of the Azali's in Qazvin.

Baháʼu'lláh then renamed Muhammad Kázim Qazvíní as Samandar a Persian word meaning phoenix.[6] Baháʼu'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 Fuʼád) which was addressed to Samandar. He worked tirelessly teaching the faith in Persia.[7] He traveled all around Iran teaching people of the Baháʼí Faith and its principles. ʻAbdu'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 Baháʼí families of Persia.[8] His most famous child is possibly Tarázʼu'lláh Samandarí, a Hand of the Cause of God. In Acre Samandar's daughter Thurayyá Khánum was married to Baháʼu'lláh's younger son Mírzá Ḍíyáʼu'lláh. She later became a covenant breaker devastating Samandar. He made two pilgrimages to ʻAkká to visit Baháʼu'lláh and the Baháʼí holy family (ʻAbdu'l-Bahá, Ásíyih Khánum, Bahíyyih Khánum and Munírih).

Death[edit]

Samanadar died February 5, 1918. Shoghi Effendi described him a “flame of the love of God” and identified him as one of the Apostles of Baháʼu'lláh. His memoirs Tárikh-i-Samandar was regularly referred to and seen a source of valuable Baháʼí history. His relatives are known by the surname Samandarí.

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Adib Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Baha'u'llah v 3, p. 87
  2. ^ H.M. Balyuzi, Baha'u'llah — The King of Glory, p. 214
  3. ^ H.M. Balyuzi, Eminent Baháʼís in the time of Baháʼu'lláh p. 192
  4. ^ Taherzadeh p. 88
  5. ^ Peter Smith, A Concise Encyclopedia of the Bahaʼí Faith p. 303
  6. ^ Adib Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Baha'u'llah v 3, p. 89
  7. ^ Amanat, Resurrection and Renewal p. 130
  8. ^ Samandar, Tárikh-i-Samandar

References[edit]

  • Balyuzi, H.M. (1985). Eminent Baháʼís in the time of Baháʼu'lláh. The Camelot Press Ltd, Southampton. ISBN 0-85398-152-3.
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