To A Lost Father Love!

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And yet, for the first time, I share an anniversary celebration of my father’s aniverssary. Of course, this Thursday is Good Friday, and in Germany, it is also recognised as Father’s Day. Therefore, I shall seize this opportunity to share something about him.

I must admit that I have few memories of my father’s life, as I was only seven when he passed away. However, some scenes remain in my mindβ€”some joyful and a few burdensome. He was a dedicated writer who prioritised his work above all else, even above his love for family. I would say something between Charles Dickens and Dostoevsky!

Of course, I don’t want to say he didn’t love us. He was deeply in love with my mother and generally friendly toward his sons, although he was often preoccupied with work internally. Still, his books were the dearest things in his mind, and he enjoyed travelling extensively in Iran and Europe. Therefore, despite his fame and wealth, he was always broke! One of his colleagues at the newspaper where he worked told us that one day he came in and said he had sold his children! Of course, he meant he sold the rights to his best-selling books!!

I once lost his ID after I had it in my possession, and I don’t know where I left it. Therefore, I searched the Web and found something about him: he was famous then! Although I didn’t find his birthday, only his birth year, and he would be over a century old this year.

At his brother’s wedding.

Here we go:

FAZEL, Javad (MoαΈ₯ammad-Javād Fāżel Lārijāni; b. Lārijān, 1914; d. Tehran, August 19 1961), noted serial writer and a pioneering figure in simplifying and popularising religious texts. His father, Mirza Abu’l-αΈ€asan Fāżel Lārijāni, was an eminent preacher in Δ€mol (q.v.), in northern Iran, and died when Javad was nine years old. Javad was brought up in a religious environment. His father introduced him to religious studies while attending Pahlavi Primary School in Δ€mol. In 1932, after finishing secondary education in Tehran, Fazel pursued religious studies at Islamic seminaries under Sheikh MoαΈ₯ammad AΕ‘tiāni. He worked for the Ministry of Education in 1938, teaching literature and educational psychology at the Teachers’ Training School in Δ€mol for one year. Fazel graduated from Tehran University’s Faculty of Theology and Jurisprudence in 1945 and later became a translator at the Ministry of Agriculture until his death at 47 (M. Fāżel, p. 21). He also taught Persian literature in various secondary schools (M. Fāżel, p. 98).

In 1942, he joined Eṭṭelāʿāt-e Haftegi, a weekly journal of the oldest Tehran daily newspaper, Eṭṭelāʿāt, founded by ʿAbbās Masʿudi in 1923. He published most of his serialised stories there and also contributed to Badiʿ, a magazine established by Jamāl-al-Din Badiʿzāda in March 1943. That same year, Fazel became a member of the pro-German Paykār Party, founded by Ḵosrow Eqbāl, and wrote for its official publication, Nabard, edited by Jahāngir Tafażżoli. However, his affiliation with Paykār only lasted four months.

And here is something for my pride: Fazel’s straightforward literary style earned him a broad audience. His accessible translations of religious texts were utilised by politically active theologians and laypeople, such as Mortażā MoαΉ­ahari and ΚΏAli Ε ariΚΏati, who sought to engage Iranians with modern interpretations of Islamic teachings (SaΚΏid-Elāhi, p. 75). However, Fazel’s ‘free’ translations were criticised for lacking accuracy and fidelity to the original texts (Ε ahidi, p. 5).

Some are to be disappointed! But who cares? He wasn’t a devout Muslim, yet he believed in a mystical Islam. This perspective influenced his translations, incorporating his own thoughts and feelings.


With the advent of the Islamic Revolution in 1979, Fazel’s romantic stories were no longer in demand, but his religious texts gained vast popularity and were reprinted several times. Even his scattered articles were collected and published in quick succession, notable among them Zendegi-e por-mājarā-ye MoαΈ΅tār (Mokhtar’s adventurous life, 2000) and QeαΉ£aαΉ£-al anbiāʾ (Stories of the prophets, 2001).

Regrettably, my father has sold all or most of the rights to his best-selling books to publishers. Consequently, I have no claim to those rights.

His final hours at a cousin’s wedding, with Al beside him.

In addition to religious texts, Fazel also translated several European novels into Persian, notable among them Ḵun o Šaraf (Blood and Honour, 1949), by Maurice Dekobra (1885-1973), Yek qalb-e āőofta (A Broken Heart, 1956), by Stefan Zweig (1881-1942), and Jāsusa (Spy, 1958) by Paul Bourget (1852-1935).

Fazel married in 1950. His wife, Mozayyan (Mosstofi) Fazel, depicted their life story together in Dāstān-e yek zendegi (A life story, 1964), which includes several of Fazel’s love letters to her. (And here is what I once wrote about their love story!). They had two sons: ΚΏAlaΚΎ-al-Din and Abu’l-αΈ€asan. Javad Fazel died of cerebral thrombosis on August 19, 1961, and was buried in the Ebn Bābawayh (q.v.) cemetery near Tehran.

And yes, this passage is from the Encyclopaedia Iranica website, where you can read the full report. He passed away while Al and I were asleep. The next day, my mother made a mistake and lied to us, saying he had gone on a journey abroad. Alas, she ought to reveal the truth about his journey beyond the other side. It caused significant trauma for both of us in our lives of youth, but that is another story!

Here are some images of his Persian romans.

Nazanin
savage
Flame
Love and tears
Unique
In this world
Homeland
The lost ones
Memory

35 thoughts on “To A Lost Father Love!”

  1. Dear Aladin, thank you for sharing this deeply personal tribute to your father this week. His love and dedication to literature and the complexity of his legacy are both moving and inspiring to read, and it’s so obvious that his passion shaped many lives, including yours and Al’s.

    I hope that reflecting on his life, at this time, brings you a deeper sense of connection and pride in all the incredible ways his words and wisdom continue to live on.

    You have honoured him beautifully here, I can imagine him looking on with pride, knowing his beloved youngest son is keeping his legacy alive. Love and light, Deborah & Lin xx

    Liked by 2 people

    • Thank you so much, my dear angel, especially for taking a look at my post today. I truly appreciate your kind and inspiring words, which touch me deeply. Honestly, my father gave me a lot of love and attention, so I was finally able to give something back.
      Sending my best regards and immense gratitude. Blessing. πŸ™πŸ’–πŸŒΉπŸ™

      Liked by 2 people

  3. Dearest Aladin, thank you for sharing this precious tribute to your father.Even though you have already mentioned him several times, what I have read here is really interesting and fascinating

    I hope you are feeling well. I hug youπŸ€—

    Liked by 2 people

    • He really was, though not so clever not to waste his precious works and thought about his children!πŸ€ͺ However, so are the artists sometimes. πŸ˜…
      Thank you, lovely friend. πŸ™πŸ’–πŸŒΉ

      Liked by 1 person

  8. This is fascinating. Aladin. You must be very intrigued by your father, and proud.

    I do see the physical resemblance. You have spoken of your father before, but this is a lot more in depth.

    I wonder what he would have thought of what happened in 1979?

    Thank you for this, Aladin. Take care! How is recovery going?

    xoπŸŒŸπŸ’–πŸ€—πŸŒŸ

    Liked by 1 person

    • Thank you very much, dear Resa. My family says I have inherited much from his lips and chin, but his nose goes to Al! πŸ˜‰πŸ˜‚

      As for me, it points upwards (thank goodness!). I just need to regain my lost energy to manage my daily life. Being patient is the key phrase.
      Sending love and gratitude.

      πŸ™πŸ’–πŸ€—πŸ˜˜

      Liked by 1 person

      • Okay!
        Is Al the lucky one for getting the nose? πŸ˜‚

        Pointing up is great! Yes, energy is precious, especially as we age. Seems like you will be back un action soon.

        Sending love back!
        πŸŒŸπŸ§‘πŸŒΈβ˜€οΈ

        Like

  9. Wow, a fascinating story of a writer who left his mark on history. It is a wonderful tribute to your father, friend, the story is moving. Thank you for sharing it with us. May your weekend be filled with recovery from surgery, love and peace in your family.πŸ™‚πŸ™πŸ»βœ¨βœπŸ»πŸ“šπŸ§žβ€β™€οΈ

    Liked by 1 person

  13. Despite the tortured history, how wonderful to have such a rich history of your father to support you and your memories. (Too bad about the royalties!) Now we know where your writing prowess comes from! I have no information regarding my grandparents (who were all immigrants) and it’s one of the things that has vexed me my whole life.

    Liked by 2 people

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