Supreme body mourns passing of ‘our dearly loved brother’
The Universal House of Justice sent the following message to all National Spiritual Assemblies on 26 September 2020. Beneath, a message from the National Spiritual Assembly echoes the Supreme Body’s profound gratitude for Dr Arbab’s lasting legacy.
“… the investment of his whole being in this great enterprise was complete and constant.”
With grief-stricken hearts we mourn the sudden passing of our former colleague, our dearly loved brother Farzam Arbab, news of which has brought us fresh sorrow. His brilliant mind, loving heart, and vibrant spirit were ever turned towards the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh, seeking to draw from it insights that, through the process of education, could build spiritual and intellectual capacity within entire populations. Born in Iran, he studied in the United States before settling in Colombia as a pioneer. His outstanding gifts fitted him, it seemed, for a distinguished career in the physical sciences—but Providence had determined otherwise. His rigorous scientific training was instead applied to the work of the Faith. He recognized that the verities contained in the Bahá’í writings concerning spiritual and social transformation and the entry into the Faith of the masses of humanity demanded persistent effort to learn how to bring them about; the investment of his whole being in this great enterprise was complete and constant. Throughout his time as a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of Colombia, as a Continental Counsellor, as a member of the International Teaching Centre, and finally as a member of the Universal House of Justice for two decades, his unshakeable belief in the capacity of all of God’s children, especially of young people, was the hallmark of his service to the Cause. Always insightful, always discerning, always attuned to spiritual reality, this man of exceptional vision lived a life shaped by the harmony between scientific truth and true religion.
To Sona, his beloved wife, and to Paul, his cherished son, as well as to other family members, we extend our heartfelt condolences at this unexpected loss. We supplicate in the Sacred Shrines for the progress of his illumined soul as it commences its journey into the eternal realms of God. May it be lovingly welcomed to its heavenly home. All Bahá’í communities are urged to arrange memorials, as circumstances permit, including in all Houses of Worship, to mark the passing of much-loved, illustrious Farzam Arbab.
The Universal House of Justice
Letter from the National Spiritual Assembly
This letter was sent to Local Spiritual Assemblies and Bahá'í groups on 27 September 2020.
Dearly loved Friends, tēnā koutou
Passing of Dr Farzam Arbab
We received with much sadness the news of the passing of Dr Farzam Arbab, a spiritual and intellectual giant of the Bahá’í World. The Universal House of Justice, which he served as a member for 20 years, has written a beautiful tribute letter which we ask you to please share with all the friends in your community. You will, of course, heed the request of the Supreme Institution to hold memorial gatherings in his honour in each community as circumstances permit.
Many members of our community will have been edified and inspired by the articles, talks and personal interactions with Dr Arbab, who reflected Bahá'u'lláh's injunction to “Be an ornament to the countenance of truth, a crown to the brow of fidelity, a pillar of the temple of righteousness, a breath of life to the body of mankind, an ensign of the hosts of justice, a luminary above the horizon of virtue, a dew to the soil of the human heart, an ark on the ocean of knowledge, a sun in the heaven of bounty, a gem on the diadem of wisdom, a shining light in the firmament of thy generation...”
Dr Arbab has left a lasting legacy for the benefit of the entire world.
Arohanui,
National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of New Zealand
