Ustad ‘Ali Ashraf

Ustad ‘Ali Ashraf was a well-known architect, who designed and built most of the big governmental and national buildings (‘Qafqaziyyih’, 1867).

'Abdu'l-Bahá named one of the exterior doors to the Shrine of Bab after Ustad ‘Ali Ashraf. Named Bab-i-Ashraf.

** Ustad ‘Ali Ashraf**

Ustad ‘Ali Ashraf was a well-known architect, who designed and built most of the big governmental and national buildings (‘Qafqaziyyih’, 1867).

‘Abdu’l-Bahá named one of the exterior doors to the Shrine of the Báb after Ustad ‘Ali Ashraf. Named Báb-i-Ashraf. Two doors, one facing north towards ‘Akka and the other on the eastern side of the Shrine. They are named for Ustad Aqa ‘Ali-Ashraf and Ustad Aqa Bala , sons of Mulla Abu-Talib. These two brothers were master-masons who went on pilgrimage from their native town of Baku, Russia, and with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s permission remained for some time in the Holy Land. During this period, they devoted their efforts to the construction of the Shrine and offered financial contributions towards the project.

Source:

**Smith, Peter. *A Concise Encyclopedia of the Bahá’í Faith. Hands of the Cause residing in the Holy Land. *The Bahá’í Faith 1844-1963 Information and Comparative.

**Image:

**Baha’i World Centre Archives

Source: Bahá'í Chronicles (https://bahaichronicles.org/ustad-ali-ashraf/).

editors, B. C.. *Bahá'í Chronicles*. https://bahaichronicles.org/ustad-ali-ashraf/