What can I say of a person that I have known ever since we were small children, toddlers even, having only been born six months after Amin was born – from our times as young boys wrestling in the basement, playing Nintendo, and throwing a Frisbee around in the park to our times as teenagers hanging around at the mall and eating at Red Robin. One of my recollections of Amin from the time we were adolescents and onwards was that he was always very smooth. Smooth in the sense of the way he dressed and how he always looked good, how he was always very articulate and refined in his speech, and that he always had many friends and everybody loved to be around him.
During our college days and Amin’s law school days I remember Amin being very serious when it came to his studies. He would always work hard and excel in his studies, as well as make time to exercise regularly. Even though he took his studies seriously, he never lost sight of what was most important. He would always be involved in serving the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh, whether it was attending meetings or participating in deepenings or other study gatherings, and he always made time for family and friends.
These last couple of years that I knew Amin, which was during his time in China, I got to know him as the perpetual servant and ever ready to serve. During these past two summers I got the opportunity to go to China for family weddings and got to spend some time with Amin. He was always being of service whether it was being the English speaking master of ceremony for one wedding, talking on the phone for more than an hour with the manager of a restaurant for a pre-wedding dinner for the other wedding, or taking me and some other family members sightseeing around Beijing, which included taking me to the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, the Great Wall, twice to the Summer Palace in Beijing, a few markets, and numerous Chinese restaurants. It was not only the mere act of being of service, but that he also did it with utter humility, always saying that ”it is not a problem” or ”no need to worry.”
As this year is also the centenary of `Abdu’l-Bahá’s travels to America, I am reminded of what `Abdu’l-Bahá said during one of his last few talks before he departed from America:
“In brief, let each one of you be as a lamp shining forth with the light of the virtues of the world of humanity. Be trustworthy, sincere, affectionate and replete with chastity. Be illumined, be spiritual, be divine, be glorious, be quickened of God, be a Bahá’í.”
These words describe perfectly the character and person of Amin. If there is anything that I have learned from Amin, it is that he never tried to be what others wanted him to be or even what he wanted himself to be. He was what God wanted him to be, a pure and holy soul always being of service and considering others before himself.
Dayee Shidfar and Farzaneh Khanum. I cannot imagine the loss and sorrow you both must be enduring with losing a son, but always remember that Amin’s passing was not in vain. He was serving the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh and humanity, and helping family and friends until the very end. God sends us to this world so that we may grow and develop spiritually to acquire virtues and spiritual capacities for the next. I believe that Amin excelled in his spiritual development as he did in all other facets of life and acquired all the virtues and capabilities one could gain from this world, and as such God wanted his service in the next world.
Laila and Ashkon, and Vafa. Be proud that you have a brother like Amin, and always know that he will be there to assist you.
Armon and Ava. I hope you will grow up to learn of your Uncle Amin, and use his life as an inspiration for the service you will render the Faith and the world.
To all of the family and friends of Amin around the world. Pray for the progress of Amin’s soul in the next world, and be assured that he will pray for you.
Basir van de Fliert
Rockville, Maryland, U.S.A.