Gawhar Khánum

Gawhar Khánum

Gawhar Khánum was the third wife of Bahá’u’lláh. After the Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh she opposed his appointed successor ‘Abdu’l-Bahá breaking the Covenant.

Biography

Gawhar was born in Kashan in approximately 1847. She was the daughter of Mirza Ahmad-i-Radwihkhan and while her mothers name is unknown she was entitled Umm-i-Haram, meaning mother of the honoured wife, by Bahá’u’lláh. Her Aunt, Haj 'Ammih Khanum, was likely the first Bahá’í in her family and she had a sister and two brothers all of whom were Bahá’ís.

In approximately 1862 Gawhar accompanied her brother, named Mirza Mihdi, to Baghdad and they arrived shortly before Bahá’u’lláh was exiled to Istanbul. Her brother proposed to Bahá’u’lláh that Gawhar serve in His household and that they marry. They may have married around this time however Mihdi was instructed to remain in Baghdad to maintain the Bayt-i-Aʻzam with Gawhar being instructed to stay with him when Bahá’u’lláh was exiled from the city. In 1870 the Bahá’ís of Baghdad were arrested and exiled to Mosul, and Mihdi asked for permission to join Bahá’u’lláh in the Holy Land where He had been exiled and was granted permission.

Mihdi passed shortly after they arrived in the Holy Land and and Gawhar took up residence in the household of Bahá’u’lláh after He had been released from confinement in the barracks of 'Akka, marrying around this time if they had not already married in Baghdad. In approximately 1873 they had their only child, Furúghiyyih Khánum. Gawhar and her daughter lived with Bahá’u’lláh in Mazra'ih and the Mansion of Bahjí. After the Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh in 1892 Gawhar, her daughter, and her son-in-law, Siyyid ‘Alí Afnán, supported Mírzá Muhammad ‘Alí in his attempt to depose ‘Abdu’l-Bahá who had been appointed Head of the Bahá’í Faith by Bahá’u’lláh.

In 1903 Siyyid ‘Alí recanted his support for Mírzá Muhammad ‘Alí and he, Gawhar, and Furúghiyyih rejoined the Bahá’í community. While ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was touring the West in approximately 1912 he was informed that Gawhar was in ill-health due to conditions in Akka and arranged for a house to be rented for her in Haifa. As the house was in poor condition ‘Abdu’l-Bahá then had a house constructed for her.

During the period of reconciliation Siyyid ‘Alí covertly continued to support Mírzá Muhammad ‘Alí's campaign against ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and when he was confronted with evidence he, Gawhar and Furúghiyyih resumed open opposition to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and were expelled as Covenant-breakers.