Ṭáhirih | |
|---|---|
 An artistic rendition of Ṭáhirih by Ivan Lloyd | |
| Born | Fátimih Baraghání 1817 |
| Declared | 1844 |
| Died | August 31, 1852 (aged 35) |
| Spouse(s) | Mullá Muhammad Baraghání (c.1830-1847) (divorced) |
| Children | Two sons, and one daughter |
| Parent(s) | Mullá Muhammad Sálih Baraghání |
Ṭáhirih (Arabic: طاهره "The Pure One") or Qurratu'l-`Ayn (Arabic: قرة العين "Comfort of the Eyes") are both titles of Fátimih Baraghání (1817 - 1852), an influential poet and theologian of the Bábí faith in Iran. Also known as Fátimih Umm-i-Salmih.[1] Full name: Fatima Begum Zarin Tajj Umm-i-Salmih Baraghani Qazvini.[2] As a prominent Bábí she is highly regarded by Bahá’ís, and often mentioned in Bahá’í literature as an example of courage in the struggle for women's rights. Ṭáhirih also holds a unique theological importance; as she is explained by the Báb to be the spiritual return of Fátimih, daughter of Prophet Muḥammad, and one of the fourteen Shi‘i infallibles. Her date of birth is uncertain, as birth records were destroyed at her execution.
Before becoming a Bábí[edit]
Fátimih Baraghání was born in Qazvín in 1817, the daughter of a powerful and influential cleric in Persia. Her father, Hájí Mullá Sálih Baraghání, emigrated from the small town of Baraghán near Qazvín and made his fortune in the city. The Baraghání family were known in Persia for their great influence, her uncle Hájí Mullá Taqí Baraghání was an adviser to the Sháh of Persia.
Aminih Khanum, the mother of Tahirih, was descended from some of the leading families of Qazvin. Her mother, Fatimih, was a member of a distinguished Qazvin family of Siyyids (descendants of the Prophet Muhammad) and ‘ulama. They trace their ancestors to the Imam Hussayn and from him to Fatimih, the Prophet Muhammad’s daughter, and Imam ‘Ali, and hence to the Prophet Muhammad himself.
Notwithstanding her gender, Mullá Sálih saw his daughter was unlike other girls. He educated her beyond the elementary level which was a novelty for women at the time. Fátimih was even allowed to participate in the male discussions, albeit behind a curtain. She was well versed in the Qur’án as well as classic Persian literature and scripture. Her brother once remarked how she surpassed all her siblings in intelligence and knowledge. Her father’s pupil wondered how a woman so beautiful could be so knowledgeable.
Although her father was open minded for his time, she could not escape obligations of women at the time. At the age of thirteen she was married to the son of Mullá Taqí; Mullá Muhammad her cousin. Mullá Muhammad later became a high-ranking mujtáhid in Persia. Despite the fact couple had three children, the marriage was plagued with squabbles. Her children were Ibráhim and Ismá’il did not turn Bábí or Bahá’í. Her daughter passed shortly after her mothers martyrdom. Mullá Muhammad was not pleased with Fátimih’s boldness and zeal. Though initially her beauty earned her renown in Qazvín, people began realising she was extremely well endowed with knowledge and charm.
Whilst in the home of her Shaykhí cousin Mullá Javád Valíyání she read some books on the movement. With help from Javád and her Shaykhí uncle Mullá ‘Alí she began a corrospondence with Siyyid Kázim. Pleased with her piety and fervour he named her Qurrát’ul-‘Ayn “Solace of the Eyes“. Her father, uncle and husband objected to this as they hated the movement. But gifted with eloquence she persuaded her family to allow to her go on pilgramige to Karbilá and Najaf. However, what she really wanted was to see Siyyid Kázim. With her sister Mardíyyih Khánum, she made a journey to the holy cities. But to her dismay on arriving Siyyid Kázim had died ten days eaerlier. She made a strong bond with his widow who allowed her to see some unpublished works of Siyyid Kázim.
As a Bábí[edit]
While in Karbala in Iraq, Ṭáhirih started teaching her new faith. After some of the Shi`ah clergy complained, the government moved her to Baghdad.[3] There she started giving public statements teaching the new faith, and challenging and debating issues with the Shi'a clergy. At this point the authorities in Baghdad argued with the Governor that since Ṭáhirih was Persian she should instead be arguing her case in Iran, and the authorities escorted Ṭáhirih and a number of other Bábís out of Baghdad to the Persian border.
During her journey back to Qazvin, she taught the Bábí Faith on stops in Kirand and Kermanshah, where she debated with the leading clergy of the town, Aqa `Abdu'llah-i-Bihbihani.[4] Aqa `Abdu'llah-i-Bihbihani, at this point, wrote to Ṭáhirih's father asking his relatives to remove her from Kermanshah. She then travelled to the small town of Sahneh and then to Hamedan, where she met her brothers who had been sent to ask for her return to Qazvin. She agreed to return with her brothers after making a public statement in Hamedan regarding the Báb.[4] Upon returning to Qazvin she separated informally (Enc. of Islam says "divorced") from her husband, whose family was hostile to the Báb and his mission, as well as her three children.
While she was in Qazvin, her uncle, Mulla Muhammad Taqi Baraghani, was murdered, and the blame for this placed on her;[4] Baraghani had been an inveterate enemy of Shaykh Ahmad.[5] During Ṭáhirih's stay in Qazvin, Baraghani had embarked on a series of sermons in which he attacked the Báb and his followers. There is no hard evidence as to the identity of the murderer. It was this event that led to her being taken to Tehran and placed there under house arrest.
Conference of Badasht[edit]
After the Báb's arrest in 1848, Bahá’u’lláh made arrangements for Ṭáhirih to leave Tehran and attend a conference of Bábí leaders in Badasht. She is perhaps best remembered for appearing in public without her veil in the course of this conference signalling that the Islamic Sharia law was abrogated and superseded by Bábí law. One of the conservative male Bábís is recorded to have ripped his own throat open at seeing her unveiled.[5] It was at the Badasht conference that she was given the title Ṭáhirih by Bahá’u’lláh which means "the Pure One".[6]
Death[edit]
After the Conference of Badasht, Táhirih was arrested by officials and imprisoned in Tihrán. Despite the fact that Táhirih had made herself great allies and a wave of followers, she had made many enemies particularly the clergy. Whilst in the house of Mahmúd Khán, the Kalántar she still earned respect from women around Tihrán who flocked to see her and even the kalántar himself.
In August 1852 two mentally unstable youths tried to assassinate the Sháh of Persia. Finally, the authorities had the perfect excuse to persecute the Bábís. A Bloodbath of believers were massacred around Persia. Táhirih was not spared. On hearing the news that she was to be killed, Táhirih was said to have been fearless. When the day came she washed, prayed, dressed herself in a white gown and adorned herself with expensive perfume.
Sources differ on what happened on that day, but ‘Abdu’l-Bahá gives the most accurate account. She was lead into a garden to be killed, but the men seemed to have been too scared to do so. Instead, they found a drunk who viciously strangled her with a scarf. Her body was thrown into a well and stones thrown on top of it. Before they martyred her she said “You can kill me as soon as you like, but you cannot stop the emancipation of women." The Sháh of Persia, who offered to marry her, was said to have experienced genuine grief over her death. She was thirty-five, and the mother of three children.
Notwithstanding her short life, Táhirih soon won renowned not only in Persia but outside too. Her legendary valour even reached Europe. Even today, her poems are widely read in Persia by non-Bahá’ís who deny her. She is often used in Persia as an example of female emancipation and feminism. Persian scholar Azar Nafisi said on PBS's NewsHour on October 10, 2003: "The first woman to unveil and to question both political and religious orthodoxy was a woman named Tahireh who lived in early 1800s... And we carry this tradition."
Notes[edit]
- ↑ John S. Hatcher & Amrollah Hemmat (2008). Adam's Wish- Unknown Poetry of Ṭáhirih (alk. paper ed.). Wilmette, Illinois, USA: Bahá’í Publishing Trust. pp. 1–2. ISBN 1-931847-61-4.
- ↑ "Tahirih the Pure". Geni. Retrieved 2017-07-27.
- ↑ Nabíl-i-Zarandí (1932). The Dawn-Breakers: Nabíl’s Narrative. Translated by Shoghi Effendi (Hardcover ed.). Wilmette, Illinois, USA: Bahá’í Publishing Trust. pp. 278–300. ISBN 0900125225.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Balyuzi, Hasan (1973). The Báb: The Herald of the Day of Days. Oxford, UK: George Ronald. pp. 163–171. ISBN 0853980489.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Maneck, Susan (1994). "Religion and Women". Albany: SUNY Press.
- ↑ ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (1997) [1915]. Memorials of the Faithful (Softcover ed.). Wilmette, Illinois, USA: Bahá'í Publishing Trust. ISBN 0877432422.
References[edit]
- Afaqi, Sabir (Ed.), ed. (2004). Tahirih in History, Studies in the Bábí and Bahá’í Religions, Vol. 16: Perspectives on Qurratu'l-'Ayn From East and West. Kalimat Press, Los Angeles, USA. ISBN 1890688355.
- Balyuzi, Hasan (1973). The Báb: The Herald of the Day of Days. Oxford, UK: George Ronald. ISBN 0853980489.
- Banani, Amin (Tr.) (2004). Tahirih: A Portrait in Poetry, Selected Poems of Qurratu'l-'Ayn. Kalimat Press, Los Angeles, USA. ISBN 1890688363.
- Effendi, Shoghi (1944). God Passes By. Wilmette, Illinois, USA: Bahá’í Publishing Trust. ISBN 0877430209.
- Nabíl-i-Zarandí (1932). The Dawn-Breakers: Nabíl’s Narrative. Translated by Shoghi Effendi (Hardcover ed.). Wilmette, Illinois, USA: Bahá’í Publishing Trust. ISBN 0900125225.
- Root, Martha L. (2000). Tahirih The Pure. Kalimat Press, Los Angeles, USA. ISBN 1890688045.
See also[edit]
External links[edit]
- Directory of Ṭáhirih's Arabic and Persian writings at h-net
- Translation of Ṭáhirih's poetry to English by Martha Root
- Ṭáhirih - Ṭáhirih's biographical entry from Memorials of the Faithful by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
