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Skandar Keynes the young actor, best known for his role as Edmund in the Chronicles of Narnia has some very famous ancestors.
Keynes was born in London to writer Randal Keynes and Zelfa Cecil Hourani. His maternal grandfather, Cecil Fadlo Hourani, is a famous writer of Lebanese descent, and the brother of Albert Hourani, also a well-known writer and professor. Through his father, Keynes is the great-great-great grandson of the famous scientist Charles Darwin and the great-great nephew of the economist John Maynard Keynes.
Skandar Keynes - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In 2006, Skandar, his mother, and his grandfather, were caught up in the Israel-Lebanon war.
"What's the Baha'i connection?", I hear you asking. Did you know that Skandar's great-great-great-grandfather might be Baha'u'llah?
We've already been introduced to Skandar's maternal grandfather, Cecil Faldo Hourani. Here's a photo of him with family and friends, supposedly in the 1930s:
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Left to Right
Back row: Leila May Partner (Salwa's daughter), Cecil, Peter Partner, Miss Ray "Fadlo's housekeeper", Emile Abu Fadil (Salwa's husband)
Sitting: Salwa with David Peter Partner on her lap, Fadlo with Zelfa Cecil Horany, Leila Fadlo Horany
Sitting on the floor: Michael Abu Fadil, Furugh Cecil's wife
Fadlo Horany and Family
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Somehow I doubt that the photo goes back to the 1930s, because there's Skandar's mother, Zelfa Cecil Hourani, as a young girl. We can also see Skandar's maternal grandparents in the picture - Cecil and Furugh. The main person of interest to us is Furugh. The reason for that interest will become clear later on.
OK, let's look at Baha'u'llah's ancestors and see whether they link up. Some documents, recently made available by Ahang Rabbani, are very helpful:
Baha'ullah's son-in-law:
"<28> Siyyid ‘Alí: A merchant in Yazd. On 13 Sha‘bán AH 1303 (17 May 1886), he married Furúghiyyih, a daughter of Bahá’u’lláh.[61 - Mázandarání, Táríkh Zuhúru’l-Haqq, vol. 5, p. 515.] After the ascension of the Blessed Perfection, Siyyid ‘Alí joined ranks with Mírzá Muhammad-‘Alí and rose in opposition to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. For this reason, the Master has referred to him as the ‘Siyyid Mutimarid’ [rebellious Siyyid].[62 - Fayzí, Khándán Afnán, p. 62.] He fought constantly with his brother Mírzá Muhsin<29> over a parcel of land, trying to defraud him of the proceeds. During this family feud, he made the most vulgar accusations against ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. For a period of time, he repented of his deeds but soon returned to his old comrades in opposition to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. He died in ‘Akká in 1916.[63 - Mázandarání, Táríkh Zuhúru’l-Haqq, vol. 5, p. 530, states that he died in Beirut.] His children eventually broke the Covenant as well."
The Afnán Family - Some Biographical Notes
Baha'u'llah's grandson:
<85> Husayn Afnán: Son of ‘Alí Afnán<28> and Furúghiyyih. He was married to Badí‘ah and they had one daughter, Furúghiyyih Afnán<175>. He was expelled from the Faith.
The Afnán Family - Some Biographical Notes
Baha'u'llah's great grand-daughter:
<175> Furúghiyyih: A namesake of her grandmother, a daughter of Bahá’u’lláh.
The Afnán Family - Some Biographical Notes
I reckon Furúghiyyih great grand-daughter of Baha'u'llah is Furugh, grandmother of Skandar.
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