Abu'l Qásim Faizí was born in the city of Qúm,
Irán, 1909 [sic — other sources give 1906. -J.W.]. This town is famous for its theological institutions, the
best known being the "Faizí School of Theology" where thousands study
and live expecting to be great religious leaders in Iran. His maternal uncle
was the head of this institution and well known throughout Persia and Iraq as
one of the few leaders of the Shi'ih sect of Islám.
At the age of eight or nine he left his birthplace for Tihrán. As he
went to Tarbíyat School (a Bahá'í School) for his
elernentary education. He went to the classes on the Bahá'í
Faith as well, and gradually became an adherent of the Faith.
When he was 19 years old, he went to the American University of Beirut.
Because of its closeness to Haifa, Mr. Faizí had the honor of meeting
Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith, several times.
During these visits he heard from the Guardian that youths' ideal in life
should be the consecration of their lives for the service of the
Bahá'í Cause; that is to say, to spread the healing message of
Bahá'u'lláh, God's latest Messenger - the Message of Love,
Justice, the Oneness of Mankind. Mr. Faizí determined to follow this
guidance and after graduation from the University, with a degree in English
Literature and Education, he went to Persia. Here he spent five years in a
village educating 600 Bahá'í children who had no means of
education. He went to Qazvín where more than 30 youth were trained in
one year to be scattered throughout the world as Bahá'í pioneers
and teachers. Following this, he spent one year in Baghdád where
he helped the Bahá'í National Spiritual Assembly of Iraq and the
pioneers. Fifteen years were spent in Arabia where he lived as a pioneer
himself.
In 1957 he was designated by the Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith a
"Hand of the Cause of God"-- an appointment of honor and
responsibility. Since the passing of the Head of the Faith, Mr. Faizí
has lived in Haifa, as one of the "Hands of the Cause residing in the Holy
Land."
By profession he is a writer, earning his living by writing novels, short
stories and drama, as well as translating books and teaching languages.
Examples of some of his writing, with which the English-speaking friends are
familiar, are:
Flame of Fire, The Prince of Martyrs, From Adrianople to `Akká
Stories from the Delight of Hearts, an abridged translation of The
Memoirs of Hájí
Mírzá Haydar-`Alí (Kalimat Press, 1980)
Meditations on the Eve of November 4th
Explanations of the Symbol of the Greatest Name
Some of his original
works in Persian are Zamana--Collection of Essays, and
Zonnar--Collection of Short Stories.
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