From Faraz Maani

Hedi in Hong Kong, China

During his stay with us in Hong Kong, he also took time to cross into China and get a feeling of the people and their culture. He was very much attracted to the Chinese and expressed his desire to have had an opportunity to teach the Faith there.

Hedi’s kindness towards children was palpable. Samandar and Anisa had chickenpox and had to stay home during Hedi’s stay with us. They took to him like bees to honey. Being pure at heart they felt Hedi’s genuine love and affection for them as you may gather from this picture below...

 On another occasion, during his stay with us he attended a fireside that was regularly held at the Baha’i center in HK where many Chinese friends attracted to the Faith would attend. However, for several weeks prior to Hedi’s stay a Christian man would come and try to plant doubts and confusion in the minds of the participants and seekers by asking questions with premeditated explanations to cast doubt about Baha’u’llah’s Revelation. Well, I asked if Hedi would attend knowing his extensive knowledge of the Bible and Christian teachings. Needless to say, during the Q&A section, amu Hedi was able to kindly yet systematically explain every question or comments this gentleman threw at the participants. Slowing yet surely amu Hedi reversed any doubts the Chinese friends may have had, induced in the weeks of distortion this gentleman’s intentions may have produced. As a result, this man never showed up again, The kindness amu Hedi showed to the friends left an indelible mark (during such a brief encounter) on their hearts, and when about a month later they found out that he was killed in NZ, they all had tears in their eyes and recalled that they had felt a love they seldom felt from his presence - a testimony to the effect Hedi’s quality of spirit he showed as a teacher of the Faith. This same quality is so aptly indicated on the bluestone at his resting place.

 Father always lauds Hedi as a great teacher of the Faith. Similarly, amu Dariush’s knowledgeable and undaunted talks about the Faith. As a matter of fact, he recounts each uncle’s contribution to the success of the family, starting with amu Misagh as my second father helping and guiding each to an area of study, amu Faizi as being a financial supporter during the family’s needs during the period they were undergoing education, amu Manuchehr’s saintly and angelic influence, etc. etc., .... It all brings to mind our conjugated surname Maani-Entessari (victorious, from a tablet amu Misagh may have possessed) and is a precious gift all generations must be made aware of, that as long as the Maani family stay true to their faith and engage actively in teaching the Faith, they will always be successful in all aspects of life and victorious in their Baha’i activities.

Faraz Maani

Dalian, China
2020