# Ali Akbar Furutan, In Memoriam

*Exported from [Holy-Writings.com](https://www.holy-writings.com/) on 2026-06-19 — 1 clipping.*

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> Source: Bahá'í Library Online (bahai-library.com), curated by Jonah Winters. Used by permission of the curator. Original citation: Universal House of Justice, Ali Akbar Furutan, In Memoriam, bahai-library.com.
> ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
> 
> Ali Akbar Furutan, In Memoriam
> 
> Universal House of Justice
> 
> 2003-11-27
> 
> To the Bahá'ís of the World
> 
> With profound feelings of loss, we announce the passing, yesterday
> evening, on the Day of the Covenant, of the dearly loved Hand of the
> Cause of God 'Ali Akbar Furutan. Having addressed the assembled pilgrims
> as was his practice, he paused to exchange a few words with some of the
> Russian-speaking friends; then, as he was leaving the room, his heart
> failed. He had fulfilled his longing to serve the Cause to his last
> breath.
> 
> Born in Sabzivar, Iran, on 29 April 1905, 'Ali Akbar Furutan moved with
> his family to 'Ishqabad in what was then Russian Turkestan, and, through
> his years of school and university, he took an active part in the work of
> the Bahá'í communities of 'Ishqabad, Baku, Moscow and other parts of
> Russia. In 1930 he was expelled from the Soviet Union for his involvement
> in Bahá'í activities and, from that time on, played an ever more
> significant role in the work and administration of the Iranian Bahá'í
> community. In December 1951 he was among the first to be appointed by
> Shoghi Effendi as Hands of the Cause of God. Following the passing of
> the Guardian, he was one of the nine Hands of the Cause selected, at
> their first Conclave, to serve as Custodians in the Holy Land. For the
> remaining forty-six years of his life he laboured strenuously at the
> World Centre, undertaking journeys throughout the world, assisting,
> advising and enthusing the friends and their national and local
> institutions. These journeys culminated in 1990 and 1991 with visits to
> the newly re-emerging Bahá'í communities of the countries of the Soviet
> Union.
> 
> 'Ali Akbar Furutan's single-minded devotion to the Faith and its
> Guardian, the vital role he played in the establishment of the
> Administrative Order in Iran, his contribution to the spiritual and
> material education of children, his services as a Hand of the Cause of
> God, and his unswerving support of the Universal House of Justice
> together constitute an imperishable record of service in the annals of
> the Cause. His penetrating mind, his loving concern and his sparkling
> humour are ineffaceable memories in the hearts of the thousands of
> believers with whom he spoke.
> 
> While praying in the Holy Shrines for the progress of 'Ali Akbar
> Furutan's illumined soul in the Abha Kingdom, we supplicate Bahá'u'lláh
> to bless likewise the fruition of the seeds he sowed in this world.
> 
> We extend our loving sympathy to his daughters, Iran Muhajir and Parvin
> Furutan, to his granddaughters and to all other members of his family.
> 
> We advise friends in all lands to commemorate his passing and to hold
> memorial services in his honour in all Mashriqu'l-Adhkars.
> 
> The Universal House of Justice
> 
> METADATA
> 
> Views13940 views since posted 2003-11-27; last edit 2015-11-13 22:31 UTC;
> 
> previous at archive.org.../uhj_memoriam_furutan;
> URLs changed in 2010, see archive.org.../bahai-library.org
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> Shortlink: bahai-library.com/2346
> Citation: ris/2346
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> — *Ali Akbar Furutan, In Memoriam (Used by permission of the curator)*