CELEBRATING THE LIFE
of
TAJ-MOMTAZ MOMTAZIAN
Our beloved Mother, Sister, Aunt, Grandmother and Friend.
FEBRUARY 1954 - FEBRUARY 2023
Memorial Service
Baha'i Prayer
Read by Momtaz's sister-in-law, Rakshi
Excerpt from Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh (English)
Read by Momtaz's son, Darioush
Bahá’í Prayer (Persian)
Read by Momtaz's brother, Kavous
Baha'i Prayer (English)
Read by Momtaz's niece, Diba
Baha'i Writing (English)
Read by Momtaz's nephew, Fahim
Baha'i Writing (English and Arabic)
Read by Momtaz's grandsons (Max and Paul), nephew
John, and niece Shabnam
Baha'i Writing (English)
Read by Momtaz's niece, Sara
Musical Prayer - Ghol Ala (God Is Sufficient)
Presentation on Taj-Momtaz's life.
Blessed the soul that hath been raised to life through My quickening breath and hath gained admittance into My heavenly Kingdom.
Blessed the man whom the sweet savors of reunion with Me have stirred and caused to draw nigh unto the Dayspring of My Revelation. Blessed the ear that hath heard and the tongue that hath borne witness and the eye that hath seen and recognized the Lord Himself, in His great glory and majesty, invested with grandeur and dominion.
Blessed are they that have attained His presence. Blessed the man who hath sought enlightenment from the Daystar of My Word. Blessed he who hath attired his head with the diadem of My love. Blessed is he who hath heard of My grief and hath arisen to aid Me among My people.
Blessed is he who hath laid down his life in My path and hath borne manifold hardships for the sake of My name. Blessed the man who, assured of My Word, hath arisen from among the dead to celebrate My praise.
- Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh
O Lord, O Thou Whose mercy hath encompassed all, Whose forgiveness is transcendent, Whose bounty is sublime, Whose pardon and generosity are all-embracing, and the lights of Whose forgiveness are diffused throughout the world!
O Lord of Glory! I entreat Thee, fervently and tearfully, to cast upon Thy handmaiden who hath ascended unto Thee the glances of the eye of Thy mercy. Robe her in the mantle of Thy grace, bright with the ornaments of the celestial Paradise, and, sheltering her beneath the tree of Thy oneness, illumine her face with the lights of Thy mercy and compassion.
Bestow upon Thy heavenly handmaiden, O God, the holy fragrances born of the spirit of Thy forgiveness. Cause her to dwell in a blissful abode, heal her griefs with the balm of Thy reunion, and, in accordance with Thy will, grant her admission to Thy holy Paradise.
Let the angels of Thy loving-kindness descend successively upon her, and shelter her beneath Thy blessed Tree. Thou art, verily, the EverForgiving, the Most Generous, the All-Bountiful.
- ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
Thou hast, moreover, asked Me concerning the state of the soul after its separation from the body. Know thou, of a truth, that if the soul of man hath walked in the ways of God, it will, assuredly, return and be gathered to the glory of the Beloved.
By the righteousness of God! It shall attain a station such as no pen can depict, or tongue describe. The soul that hath remained faithful to the Cause of God, and stood unwaveringly firm in His Path shall, after his ascension, be possessed of such power that all the worlds which the Almighty hath created can benefit through him.
Such a soul provideth, at the bidding of the Ideal King and Divine Educator, the pure leaven that leaveneth the world of being, and furnisheth the power through which the arts and wonders of the world are made manifest. Consider how meal needeth leaven to be leavened with.
Those souls that are the symbols of detachment are the leaven of the world. Meditate on this, and be of the thankful.
- Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh
O SON OF THE SUPREME!
I have made death a messenger of joy to thee. Wherefore dost thou grieve? I made the light to shed on thee its splendor. Why dost thou veil thyself therefrom? (32)
O SON OF SPIRIT!
With the joyful tidings of light I hail thee: rejoice! To the court of holiness I summon thee; abide therein that thou mayest live in peace forevermore. (33)
O SON OF SPIRIT!
The spirit of holiness beareth unto thee the joyful tidings of reunion; wherefore dost thou grieve? The spirit of power confirmeth thee in His cause; why dost thou veil thyself? The light of His countenance doth lead thee; how canst thou go astray? (34)
O SON OF MAN!
Sorrow not save that thou art far from Us. Rejoice not save that thou art drawing near and returning unto Us. (35) - Read in Arabic
O SON OF MAN!
Rejoice in the gladness of thine heart, that thou mayest be worthy to meet Me and to mirror forth My beauty. (36) - Read in Arabic
O SON OF MAN!
Ascend unto My heaven, that thou mayest obtain the joy of reunion, and from the chalice of imperishable glory quaff the peerless wine.
(61) - Read in Arabic
- The Hidden Words
Whenever the faithful hear the verses of this Book being recited, their eyes will overflow with tears and their hearts will be deeply touched by Him Who is the Most Great Remembrance for the love they cherish for God, the All-Praised.
He is God, the All-Knowing, the Eternal. They are indeed the inmates of the all-highest Paradise wherein they will abide forever. Verily they will see naught therein save that which hath proceeded from God, nothing that will lie beyond the compass of their understanding.
There they will meet the believers in Paradise, who will address them with the words “Peace, Peace” lingering on their lips.…
- Selections from the Writings of the Báb
Burial Service
Musical Prayer - Alluhumma Ya Subuhun
Persian Prayer
Prayer for the Dead
O my God!
This is Thy handmaiden and the daughter of Thy handmiden who hath believed in Thee and in Thy signs, and set her face towards Thee, wholly detached from all except Thee. Thou art, verily, of those who show mercy the most merciful. Deal with her, O Thou Who forgivest the sins of men and concealest their faults, as beseemeth the heaven of Thy bounty and the ocean of Thy grace. Grant her admission within the precincts of Thy transcendent mercy that was before the foundation of earth and heaven.
There is no God but Thee, the EverForgiving, the Most Generous.
“Alláh-u-Abhá,”
We all, verily, worship God.
“Alláh-u-Abhá,”
We all, verily, bow down before God.
“Alláh-u-Abhá,”
We all, verily, are devoted unto God.
“Alláh-u-Abhá,”
We all, verily, give praise unto God.
“Alláh-u-Abhá,”
We all, verily, yield thanks unto God.
“Alláh-u-Abhá,”
We all, verily, are patient in God.
Bahá’u’lláh
