Influence of Abd al-Hossein Aiti and Final Years
Sobhi’s religious journey took another turn when he came under the influence of Abd al-Hossein Aiti, a former Baha’i who had reverted to Shiism. Aiti’s influence deepened Sobhi’s disillusionment with the Baha’i faith and reinforced his commitment to opposing its teachings. This association further estranged Sobhi from the Baha’i community and solidified his stance as a critic of the faith.
Throughout his life, Sobhi sought to return to the Baha’i community, but his requests were consistently denied due to his refusal to comply with the conditions set by the Baha’i institutions. This ongoing struggle reflected Sobhi’s complex relationship with his faith and his community.
Death and Legacy
Fazlullah Mehtadi Sobhi passed away on November 17, 1341, in Capital due to laryngeal cancer. He was buried in the Zahir al-Doula cemetery in Tehran, with an epitaph that honored his contributions as a storyteller. The inscription on his tombstone reads: “O Ali, the storyteller of your city, listen to Ni as he tells, complains about separations, the eternal grave of the happy Fazlullah Mehtadi Sobhi, the famous storyteller, whose life story ended at the dawn of an autumn day.”