August 10. On this date in 1968, Universal House of Justice member Luṭfu’lláh Ḥakím died in Haifa, Israel. He had served on the International Bahá’í Council from 1951 until 1963, and on the Universal House of Justice from 1963 until his death.

 

August 10. On this date in 1968, Universal House of Justice member Luṭfu’lláh Ḥakím died in Haifa, Israel. He had served on the International Bahá’í Council from 1951 until 1963, and on the Universal House of Justice from 1963 until his death.

Luṭfu’lláh Ḥakím was born in 1888 in Iran to a prominent Bahá'í family. His paternal grandfather, Hakím Masíh, was the court physician for the Qajar dynasty and the first Jewish convert to the Bahá'í Faith. When Luṭfu’lláh Ḥakím's father, Hakim Sulayman, died, Lutfu'llah was placed under the care of his elder brother, Dr. Arastu Khan.

On September 4, 1911, while studying physiotherapy in London, Ḥakím was among the Bahá'ís who greeted 'Abdu'l-Bahá during his visit to Great Britain. During this period, Hakím was close friends with John Esslemont, who would go on to become a Bahá'í in 1915. 'Abdu'l-Bahá would dedicate several Tablets to Ḥakím and eventually summoned him to Haifa to serve there. In 1920, 'Abdu'l-Bahá sent Ḥakím to England with Shoghi Effendi to accompany him on his journey. By the time of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's death on November 28, 1921, Ḥakím had returned to Haifa. In 1924 he went to Iran to work in Susan Moody's clinic.

In 1951, Shoghi Effendi called him to Haifa and appointed him to the International Bahá'í Council. In 1963 Luṭfu’lláh Ḥakím was elected as an inaugural member of the Universal House of Justice, on which body he served until asking to retire in 1967 due to ill health. He died in 1968.

On his death, the Universal House of Justice sent the following cablegram:

To all National Spiritual AssembliesDear Bahá’í Friends,We share with you the following cable which we have just sent to the National Spiritual Assembly of Persia:GRIEVE ANNOUNCE PASSING LUṬFU’LLÁH ḤAKÍM DEDICATED SERVANT CAUSE GOD. SPECIAL MISSIONS ENTRUSTED HIM FULL CONFIDENCE REPOSED IN HIM BY MASTER AND GUARDIAN HIS CLOSE ASSOCIATION WITH EARLY DISTINGUISHED BELIEVERS EAST WEST INCLUDING HIS COLLABORATION ESSLEMONT HIS SERVICES PERSIA BRITISH ISLES HOLY LAND HIS MEMBERSHIP APPOINTED AND ELECTED INTERNATIONAL BAHÁ’Í COUNCIL HIS ELECTION UNIVERSAL HOUSE JUSTICE WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED IMMORTAL ANNALS FAITH BAHÁ’U’LLÁH. INFORM BELIEVERS HOLD BEFITTING MEMORIAL MEETINGS ALL CENTERS. CONVEY ALL MEMBERS HIS FAMILY EXPRESSIONS LOVING SYMPATHY ASSURANCE PRAYERS PROGRESS HIS RADIANT SOUL ABHÁ KINGDOM.In view of Dr Ḥakím's long and devoted record of services to the Faith other National Spiritual Assemblies are requested to hold memorial gatherings. Special commemorative services should also be held in the four Mother Temples of the Bahá’í World.With loving Bahá’í greetings,THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE

On January 6, 1957, Luṭfu’lláh Ḥakím sent a cable to the National Spiritual Assembly of Iran, advising pioneers to "scatter to make new centers" and "not to gather in one place but to scatter in different places."

To the National Spiritual Assembly of Iran

Letter of January 6, 1957

Regarding pioneers#) going to Japan, Brazil … and other places, the beloved Guardian states that they must not gather in one place but scatter to make new centers, e.g., Mr. Assassi and his wife, and Mr. Labib who travelled to Japan must not stay in Tokyo but should go to places where there are no Bahá’ís, or very few Bahá’ís to make new centers. Furthermore (he) says that the National Spiritual Assembly of Iran must write to all pioneers that have left Iran for other parts of the world and instruct them not to gather in one place but to scatter in different places. He says that the matter stated above is very important… (translated from the original Persian)

(signed by Dr. Hakim)