A Leading Iranian Migrant in Hyderabad, India

Compiled by: Fatima Zabeth Beenesh
When Agha Hussain Zabeth's, (the Founder and President of the All-India Nahjul Balagha Society, Hyderabad, India) mother was expecting him her father died so he was a born as an orphan. He was born on 21 March 1920 in the village called Khairabad now a part of the Yazd city in Central Iran. On account of death of her husband the depressed mother did not care her new-born baby so his elder sister named Sughra took care of him. She herself was young but took care of her brother and she used to feed him with soup.
As the baby boy grew up he used to herd the sheep and cattle for grazing. At the age of 11 he migrated to India along with other natives of Khairabad village and reached Bombay, India in 1931.
On his arrival in Bombay which is now known as Mumbai, he worked for a short period of time in one of the cafes of his relatives and soon established his cafe in Bombay as he never liked being in the service of others. When he migrated to Bombay, India he was uneducated but he educated himself whenever he got the time in his tight schedule of work. He used to read, write and speak Engish, Urdu and Farsi languages.Due to his regular company and association with the Ulama from Iran and India he had deep knowledge of Islam. He was a self made man, very confident, brave, tolerant, generous and had multi-talented personality.
At the age of 14 he met a train accident in Bombay which affected both his legs for a period of 48 years of his age. His legs were seriously wounded so one of his leg was amputated after 48 years when he was 62 years old. During these 48 years he never complained to anyone about his pain in his legs. He with that wounded feet did business and spent his earnings to help the poor and needy in Hyderabad, India.
From 1931 till 1947 he carried his restaurant and general store business in Bombay. During the period of Second World War, when food became scarce and expensive in Bombay he sold the milk powder in his general store for the babies at cheaper rate as he was very much humble and soft hearted.
He was a sincere host for his guests. He taught his family and relatives that guests are a blessing from Allah. Most of his guests were poor people, learned Ulama (religious scholars) from Iran and India, his relatives from Yazd, Iran and the people of many other religions as well were his regular guests.
Allama Amini, the author of the famous book "Al-Ghadeer", the sons of Ayatullah al-Uzma Khoee, Ayatullah al-Uzma Gulpayegani and Ayatullah al-Uzma Marashi Najafi stayed in Agha Hussain Zabeth's house during their stay in Hyderabad.
In 1947, he migrated to Hyderabad, India where he married the daughter of the leading Alim of Hyderabad, Maulana Syed Shah Abbas Mansuri Khurasani, who was exiled from Mashhad, Iran to Hyderabad Deccan, India by the Iranian despot King Reza Shah because Maulana Syed Shah Abbas Mansuri Khurasani opposed the ban on Iranian women wearing Hijab by Reza Shah.
In 1948 in Hyderabad, India he established the famous Madina Hotel which became renowned for Irani Biryani, Irani Chai(tea) and Irani Haleem.He established a chain of Iranian restaurants in Hyderabad where he made his relatives from Yazd, Iran as his partners in the business.He also played a leading role in the renovation of the tombs of Qutb Shahi kings of Hyderabad Deccan and the four centuries old historical graveyard of Qutb Shahi period in Hyderabad famous as Dairah Mir Momin.
He also worked hard to buy the land for constructing the Masjid and Husainiyah for Iranian residents in Hyderabad which is famous as "Darbar-e-Husaini" and is located in Purani Haveli locality in Hyderabad, India. He regularly conducted majaalis of Imam Husain alaihis salam and also is the fouding member of the Anjuman-e- Ittehad Iranian-e-Deccan, which since 1950's act as the consultative and representative body of the Iranians residing in Hyderabad, India.
He was a very much loving and a caring husband. He was the father of eleven children icluding six sons and five daughters.His wife adores him and after his heavenly departure on 28 April 1998, every morning she recites a chapter of Holy Quran for his soul. She continues helping those poor people whom her husband used to help in his life time and the poor people still receive the help from her.
Agha Hussain Zabeth was a very generous,broad minded, loving, kind father, teacher, guide and a philosopher for his eleven children and grand children. He was very much fond of knowledge, gave his children the best education, made them learn the arts of living and always gave them awareness about Islam. He taught his children to live with confidence by thanking and being grateful to Allah Almighty. He had great love for Fourteen Masoomeen (A.S.) and Hazrat Abul Fazl al-Abbas (A.S.).
Apart from his family he loved and helped his relatives and friends as well. He loved each and everyone from depth of his heart and spent all his earning on his family, relatives, needy and the poor.In Hyderabad, he worked for amity and friendship between Muslims and Hindus and conducted joint meetings of Sunni and Shia Ulama for the unity among Muslims.
He was very fond of education and an ardent lover of Imam Ali (alaihis salaam). Once in his childhood he asked his mother: Where is my father? She replied: Imaam Ali alaihis salam is your father.According to the belief of Shia Muslims, Imam Ali (A.S.) is considered as the protector of all orphan children. Since then he decided to dedicate his life in cause of propagating the teachings of Imam Ali (A.S.) and throughout his life he propagated the teachings of Imam Ali (A.S.) as mentioned in the noble book Nahjul Balagha.
He founded the Seerat-uz-Zahra (A.S.) Committee in 1960 and All-India Nahjul Balagha Society in 1971 and other religious associations to meet the needs of the people and solve their problems. He was loved very much by the people of every religion and sect and even now people remember him, give love and respect to his family and relatives.
He published many Islamic books and calenders and distributed it freely among the people. He worked day and night for the propagation of Nahjul Balagha, ‘the book of speeches, letters and sayings of Imam Ali alaihis salam’ and introduced this book to the people of Hyderabad and India by establishing the Seerat-uz-Zahra (A.S.) Committee in 1960 and All-India Nahjul Balagha Society in 1971.He completely paid the expenses and published the first ever English translation of Nahjul Balagha in 1962 in Hyderabad, India which was translated into English by late Allama Syed Muhammad Askari Jafferi. He posted first ever English translation of Nahjul Balagha to all the Heads of States throughout the world.He used to present the English translation of Nahjul Balagha to all the Presidents and Prime Ministers of India who visited Hyderabad between 1962 till 1998.
Every year on the occasion of his death anniversary (28 April 1998) the orators of the Majalis always remembers’s his contribution for the propagation of Nahjul Balagha. Every year on 13th Rajab, he used to celebrate the birthday of Imam Ali alaihis salaam and invited people of all the sects and religions. And every year until now his companions and friends celebrates the occasion the same way he did.
He intensely loved his homeland Yazd, Iran until his last breath loved and remembered his relatives who were left behind in his homeland Yazd,Iran.