Munib Jalal Shahid (1908-1973)
Abdul Baha, Munib’s grandfather, had encouraged the young Munib’s wishes to become a doctor by telling him that he would “not only cure people’s physical ailments but their spiritual ills as well.” As a result of hard work, diligence, and total dedication to his chosen profession, he ended up as a prominent doctor at the American University Hospital of Beirut (AUH), Lebanon, where he had originally trained and later taught. He became Chairman of hematology and oncology departments at the Faculty of Medicine. While at the AUH, and before his marriage, Munib was active in the promotion of the Baha’i Cause. His lineage, deep convictions, warmth and charm, made him ideally suited for the endeavour, but Shoghi Effendi put an end to that aspect of his life when he excommunicated him, his parents, and his siblings upon his marriage to a non-Baha’i lady.
Munib did not write books or articles about the Baha’i Cause – he lived it. He, like all the members of the family of Abdul Baha, had been deprived of participation in a community and a milieu to which he had naturally belonged, and longed to be a part of – a dream, a vision, an idea that was not to be realised in this world – maybe in the next. For his great-grandfather, Baha’u’llah, had declared, “I made death for you as tidings of good news.” I will never forget his great surprise when an elderly patient of his had shown great fear, realizing that he was at the door of bidding farewell to this world.
“Why?” asked Munib. “Why this fear?”
After Munib’s sudden death from a heart attack, in 1973, his wife, Sereen Hosseini, set up a memorial fund to help medical students from the AUB, who could not afford it, to specialise in different medical disciplines. The funds were for a five-year specialisation in US medical schools, after which, they would come back to work at the AUH in Beirut. Since 1975, the Munib Shahid Memorial Fund has allowed tens of doctors of all nationalities and social classes to do that, and today, many of the most prominent doctors at the AUH are beneficiaries of this Fund. Whenever Sereen happened to be at the Hospital, people would express their appreciation for what she had done, together with Munib’s family, friends, and colleagues, in the name of her husband. The Fund is still operational since it only uses the interest of the money invested rather than the capitol.
For her part, Sereen spent a great deal of her time in the projects set up for the development of palestinian camps in Lebanon. Palasteinia embroidery, in particular, used for generations by village women, was developed into a fine art and was encouraged to grow as a source of income for many women. Munib and Seeren’s three daughters, Maya, Laila, and Zeina, all helped, continuing the strong streak of selfless aid for those in need that permeated Rouha Khanum’s family.
Abdu'l-Baha's Family 