The passing of our dearly loved co-worker, Adib Taherzadeh, has deepened our sorrows. We recall with admiration his devoted and unremitting services to the Cause of God for over half a century. His exemplary enthusiasm for the teaching work and his capacity to inspire the believers endeared him to all who knew him. As a self-sacrificing pioneer, as a champion of the Covenant, as a member of the National Spiritual Assemblies of the British Isles and of the Republic of Ireland, as a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors in Europe, and as a member of the Universal House of Justice, he evinced complete consecration, unshakeable faith, and unyielding resolve.

At an early point in his life he was seized by the desire to make available to his fellow believers in the West the riches of the history and teachings of the Faith. It was this longing that found expression in the body of writings that will remain forever associated with his memory.We extend our heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved family, most particularly to his dear wife and beloved children, and assure them of our fervent prayers in the Holy Shrines for bountiful rewards to be vouchsafed to him in the Abhá Kingdom. All National Assemblies are advised to hold memorial gatherings in his name, including devotional programmes in his honour in all Houses of Worship.

The Universal House of Justice

Mr Adib Taherzadeh was born in Yazd, Iran, and both he and his family were, during his childhood and youth, subject to extreme religious persecution there, in the course of which he lost a number of close family members. After obtaining a degree in engineering from the University of Tehran it was his greatest wish to assist with the development of Bahá’í institutions in the west and to this end he settled in Dublin in 1950. In spite of the immense difficulties which faced immigrants in securing employment here at that time, Adib found work with a small Irish engineering company which he served diligently till his retirement over thirty years later.

A friend of George Townshend, founder of the Irish Bahá’í community, Mr Taherzadeh himself played a signal role in the evolution of the community in this country. He was a founding member of the first national Bahá’í governing assembly here in 1972 to which he gave exemplary service before being appointed to continent-wide responsibilities several years later. In 1988 and again in 1992 he was elected to serve in Haifa, Israel, on the supreme Bahá’í international governing body where he was living at the time of his death.

Adib Taherzadeh was also a distinguished Bahá’í scholar who has published a number of extended studies on the Bahá’í scriptures, as well as other works. The vast majority of this scholarship was undertaken while he was resident in Ireland which he regarded with all the affection of a native as his home. Adib’s four children, Taher, Vida, Maryam and Bahhaj, were all brought up in this country and he is survived by them and by his Belfast-born wife, Lesley.

National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the Republic of Ireland

"For a number of years Huqúq was not accepted. How numerous the offerings that on reaching Our presence were returned to the donors, because they were not needed then. However, in recent years We have, in view of the exigencies of the times, accepted the payment of the Huqúq, but have forbidden solicitation thereof. Everyone must have the utmost regard for the dignity of the Word of God and for the exaltation of His Cause. Were a person to offer all the treasures of the earth at the cost of debasing the honour of the Cause of God, were it even less than a grain of mustard, such an offering would not be permissible. All the world hath belonged and will always belong to God. If one spontaneously offereth Huqúq with the utmost joy and radiance it will be acceptable, and not otherwise. The benefit of such deeds reverteth unto the individuals themselves. This measure hath been ordained in view of the necessity for material means, for ‘averse is God from putting aught into effect except through its means." Thus instructions were given to receive the Huqúq.’ (Bahá’u’lláh: Huqúqu’lláh Compilation. No 27, p9)

"What keeps us going is the warm and encouraging support from Bahá’ís around the world, and loving and inspiring words such as these from the Supreme Body: ‘... the entire Bahá’í World stands in admiration at the manner in which this monumental task is being executed through the selfless and consecrated labours of the dear friends serving in the Mount Carmel Projects Office.’

Taken from Vineyard of the Lord, Qudrat 156 BE/ November 1999 AD

With great pleasure we would like to share with you, that in 1999 (January November) the equivalent of almost 80,000 DM was donated by the Bahá’í Communities of Europe for the renovation and refurbishment of the European House of Worship. From 1998 to 1999 a total of 278,000 DM has been already received from our European sister communities. The total donations from within Germany and from abroad covered approximately 62% of the 1.2 million cost of the first phase of renovation. Our National Assembly would like to express its deep gratitude for the generous support. The second phase of the renovation, which includes the repairs of the natural slates both on the inside floor and on the outside grounds, is still being prepared and will be carried out over the next twelve months.

With warmest Bahá’í greetings, The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Germany

A few weeks before Christmas a Protestant minister from the small neighbouring town of Idstein, 20 km from Hofheim-Langenhain with 20,000 inhabitants, asked permission to come with members of his parish to visit the House of Worship. He intended to promote inter-religious dialogue and mentioned that he expected about thirty people to respond to his invitation. When the date drew near he announced that seventy people (a large number for such a small town) had registered. So two groups had to be formed. Our friends at the Visitors and Information Centre close to the Temple expected with excitement the first group and were surprised when a busload of sixty people arrived. They must have liked the visit because a week later another forty people came.

A prayer service was held, introductory slides were shown, and the get-together with coffee, tea and cookies gave occasion for an endless number of questions and answers. This first meeting passed in a very friendly and harmonious atmosphere, and all agreed to continue this kind of meeting. A week later the Bahá’í friends were delighted to see a very positive report by the minister himself in the local newspaper.

It is not just the European House of Worship that has been newly renovated there have also been changes in the basement, including a new artistic display. The writings of Bahá’u’lláh covering various themes on human existence are shown on posters with a background painted by Volker Hofmann. Texts and a slide show explain more about the Faith.