A heavenly candle

God has created man in order that he may be a dove of the Kingdom, a heavenly candle, a recipient of eternal life. God has created man in order that he may be resuscitated through the breaths of the Holy Spirit and become the light of the world . . . How glorious the station of man who has partaken of the heavenly food and built the temple of his everlasting residence in the world of heaven! `--Bahá’í writings- Abdu’l-Bahá,
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Born in 1912 while his father Valíyu’lláh accompanied `Abdu’l-Bahá on His visit to America, he was given the name `Alí Muhammad by `Abdu’l-Bahá, who, seeing a photograph of the infant, wrote on the child’s arms `Yad-i-Mu’ayyad’ (Confirmed Hand) and named the infant after his martyred grandfather, Mírzá `Alí Muhammad Varqá.
In 1955 he was appointed by Shoghi Effendi one of the Hands of the Cause, special individuals given the particular task of protecting and promulgating the Bahá’í religion. Dr Varqá was also the Trustee of Huququ’llah, the Right of God.
With the passing of Shoghi Effendi in 1957, no more Hands of the Cause could be appointed. One by one the Hands passed away until there was but one left, Dr Varqá.

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Words are powerless to describe this loss. I had the honor and privilege of being in his presence almost every day while serving at the Baha’i World Centre. In Dr. Varqa’s eyes, you could see a depthless ocean of love and kindness. He was my dearest friend and confidante. I remember that every time I would visit him, he would joke that the storm (toofan) had arrived. My heart would fill with joy when he showered me with his love. Dr. Varqa truly had an immense sense of humor, a benevolent and generous heart, and a glorious spirit. He will be greatly missed--Gloria Mogharabi-posted with permission

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Light and glory, greeting and praise be upon the Hands of His Cause, through whom the light of fortitude hath shone forth and the truth hath been established that the authority to choose rests with God, the Powerful, the Mighty, the Unconstrained, through whom the ocean of bounty hath surged and the fragrance of the gracious favors of God, the Lord of mankind, hath been diffused. We beseech Him—exalted is He—to shield them through the power of His hosts, to protect them through the potency of His dominion, and to aid them through His indomitable strength which prevaileth over all created things. Sovereignty is God's, the Creator of the heavens and the Lord of the Kingdom of Names.

Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh, pg. 83, Lawh-I-Dunyá (Tablet of the World)
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Baha'i world loses most distinguished member
HAIFA, Israel
24 September 2007 (BWNS)
The worldwide Baha'i community has lost its most distinguished member with the death of Dr. Ali-Muhammad Varqa.
He passed away on the evening of 22 September 2007 at his home in Haifa.
In 1955, Dr. Varqa was appointed to the high rank of "Hand of the Cause" by Shoghi Effendi, Guardian of the Baha'i Faith. Dr. Varqa served in that capacity, on the international level, for 52 years until his passing. He was the last survivor of the 27 Hands of the Cause who were alive when Shoghi Effendi passed away in 1957.
Dr. Varqa came from a well-known Iranian family that has served the Baha'i Faith with distinction for generations. After obtaining a doctorate from the Sorbonne in Paris in 1950, he taught in Iran at the universities of Tabriz and Tehran and served the Baha'i community there in various administrative capacities. In 1979 he moved to Canada, and later established his residence in Haifa to serve at the Baha'i World Center.
He was born in 1912 in Tehran, Iran, and received his name from 'Abdu'l-Baha in memory of his grandfather, who had been killed for being a follower of Baha'u'llah.
Dr. Varqa traveled to many countries as a representative first of Shoghi Effendi, then of the Universal House of Justice, the international governing council of the Baha'i Faith. In that capacity, Dr. Varqa attended the first national conventions held in Belgium, Luxembourg, the Congo, Mauritania, Central Africa Republic, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Czechoslovakia and Greenland.
Dr. Varqa is survived by three daughters and six siblings. His funeral was to take place the morning of 24 September, with burial in the Baha'i cemetery in Haifa.

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