Ali Akbar Furutan, In Memoriam
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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.
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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

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Citation: ris/2346

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-- Ali Akbar Furutan, In Memoriam (Used by permission of the curator)