March 13. On this date in 1945, Siyyid Mustafá Rúmí, posthumously named a Hand of the Cause of God by Shoghi Effendi, was killed by a mob in a village in the Kungyangon district of Burma.

 

March 13. On this date in 1945, Siyyid Mustafá Rúmí, posthumously named a Hand of the Cause of God by Shoghi Effendi, was killed by a mob in a village in the Kungyangon district of Burma.

Siyyid Mustafa was born in Baghdad, but his family moved to Madras, India while he was a child. He first encountered the Baha'i Faith in 1876 through Jamal Effendi, and became a Baha'i in Calcutta late in 1877. In May, 1878 he traveled to Burma with Jamal Effendi.

In the late 1800's the Burmese Baha'i community constructed a sarcophagus for the Báb, and in 1899 Siyyid Mustafa brought it to the Holy Land where he presented it to 'Abdu'l-Baha. The remains of the Báb were placed in the sarcophagus in 1909. He traveled to the Dutch East Indies with Jamal Effendi in the 1880's, and the two converted the King and Queen of Boné in Celebes on the journey. He was elected to the National Spiritual Assembly of India and Burma in the late 1930's. Siyyid Mustafa was invited to live in the village of Daidanaw by the headman of the village, who had learnt about the Faith from two Baha'is who had vouched for him in a legal dispute. He converted approximately 800 residents of Daidanaw to the Baha'i Faith and established a school there. In his later years he translated the Kitab-i-Iqan, The Hidden Words and Some Answered Questions into Burmese, and the Maoala-i-Sayyah into Urdu.

In 1945 a mob of 3000 nationalists attacked foreigners in Daidanaw, destroying many Baha'i properties and murdering eleven Baha'is including Siyyid Mustafa.

On July 14, 1945 Shoghi Effendi posthumously named him a Hand of the Cause sending the following cablegram:

“Hearts griefstricken passing Supreme Concourse distinguished pioneer Faith Baha’u’llah, dearly beloved staunch high minded noble soul Siyyid Mustafa. Long record his superb services (in) both teaching (and) administrative fields shed lustre on both heroic and formative ages (of) Baha’i Dispensation. His magnificent achievements fully entitle him join ranks (of the) Hands of (the) Cause (of) Baha’u’llah. His resting place should be regarded foremost shrine (in the) community of Burmese believers Advise holding (of) memorial gatherings throughout India (to) his imperishable memory. Urge Indian (and) Burmese Baba’is participate construction (of his) tomb. Cabling three hundred pounds (as) my personal contribution (for) so praiseworthy (a) purpose.”