Bahíyyih Khánum facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Bahíyyih Khánum
Bahíyyih Khánum in 1895
Religion	Baháʼí Faith
Personal
Nationality	Persian
Born	Fátimih Núrí Late 1846/early 1847 Tehran, Sublime State of Persia
Died	15 July 1932(1932-07-15) (aged 86) Haifa, Mandatory Palestine
Resting place	Monument Gardens 32°48′52.59″N 34°59′14.17″E / 32.8146083°N 34.9872694°E / 32.8146083; 34.9872694
Parents	Baháʼu'lláh (father) Ásíyih Khánum (mother)
Relatives	Shoghi Effendi (great-nephew)

Bahíyyih Khánum (born in 1846 – died July 15, 1932) was a very important person in the Baháʼí Faith. She was the only daughter of Baháʼu'lláh, who founded the Baháʼí Faith, and Ásíyih Khánum. Her birth name was Fatimih Sultan. She was also known as "Varaqiy-i-'Ulyá," which means "Greatest Holy Leaf."

Bahíyyih Khánum lived through many difficult times with her family. As an adult, she worked hard to help the Baháʼí Faith grow. Sometimes, she was even trusted to lead the religion. Baháʼu'lláh loved her very much. Baháʼís believe she was one of the greatest women in history. They see her as a special heroine for the Baháʼí time, just like the Virgin Mary was for Jesus's time or Fatima Zahra for Muhammad's time.

Her Early Life and Challenges
Her Important Role in the Faith
Her Passing and Legacy
Her Appearance and Personality
See also

Her Early Life and Challenges

Childhood in Tehran (1846–1852)

Bahíyyih Khánum was born into a wealthy family in Tehran. She remembered her parents being admired for helping people in need. She was born in late 1846 or early 1847.

Her early years were happy. She loved playing in beautiful gardens with her brother, `Abdu'l-Bahá. Her family lived a life of comfort and love. Their homes were beautiful and well-decorated. But this peaceful life changed when her father was arrested in 1852. He was put in a very harsh prison called the Síyáh-Chál.

When she was only five, Bahíyyih saw their family home taken away. All their furniture was stolen. She clearly remembered the loud shouts of angry crowds. This difficult time left a lasting mark on her.

Life in Baghdad (1852–1863)

In January 1853, Baháʼu'lláh was sent away to Baghdad. The journey from Tehran was very hard, crossing snowy mountains. When they arrived in Baghdad, Bahíyyih Khánum remembered her father helping with chores around the house.

While Baháʼu'lláh was away for a while, her uncle, Mirza Yahya, was in charge of the family. Bahíyyih Khánum said he was very strict with her. She was not allowed to play with other children. She also remembered the sadness when her baby brother died because he couldn't get medical help. She, her mother, and ʻAbdu'l-Bahá became very close during this sad time.

After almost two years, Baháʼu'lláh returned. The family was overjoyed. Bahíyyih Khánum felt very excited to see him again. In Baghdad, Bahíyyih grew into a young woman. She was known for being dignified, gentle, kind, and quiet in public. Shoghi Effendi, a later leader of the Faith, said she was given important tasks that most girls her age wouldn't do. She also shared that Baháʼu'lláh first told his son ʻAbdu'l-Bahá and a few others about his special mission in the Garden of Ridvan.

Exiles to Constantinople and Adrianople (1863–1868)

In May 1863, Baháʼu'lláh and his family were sent away again. This time, they went to Constantinople, the capital of the Ottoman Empire. After arriving, Bahíyyih Khánum decided she did not want to get married. This was unusual for a woman of her time and status. However, Baháʼu'lláh accepted her choice.

After a short time in Constantinople, the family was exiled again to Adrianople. Bahíyyih Khánum said she was a strong young woman until this journey. Adrianople was a very unhappy time for her. She was 20 years old when her father faced a serious illness. She knew they might be separated from him. She comforted her mother and brother when they heard the family might be exiled to different places. Shoghi Effendi noted that Bahíyyih Khánum was very active in encouraging people to accept her father's claims during a disagreement in 1868.

Prison in Acre (1868–1870)

Prison in Acre where Bahíyyih and her family were held

In July 1868, the Ottoman government sent Baháʼu'lláh and his family to the prison-city of Acre. Bahíyyih Khánum was 21 years old when she arrived as a prisoner. This was her fourth exile, and it would be her last. She was still determined not to marry.

When they arrived in Acre, the exiles felt lost and sad. Bahíyyih Khánum understood Arabic. She heard people mocking them, saying they would be thrown into the sea or chained. She later said this experience deeply affected her. It made her serious and different from other women of her country.

Food was scarce. Bahíyyih Khánum remembered Baháʼu'lláh giving his own food to feed the children in their group. The family was locked in small, dirty cells filled with sewage. Bahíyyih Khánum fainted many times. She described it as one of the most awful experiences of her life. This period was very distressing. Three Baháʼís died, and the local people were hostile. The death of her youngest brother, Mírzá Mihdí, in 1870 was especially heartbreaking. She carefully kept his clothes after he died.

Life in Acre (1870–1892)

The "Mansion" of Bahjí

After her brother's death in 1870, the people of Acre began to respect the Baháʼís. ʻAbdu'l-Bahá was able to arrange for houses to be rented for the family. Around 1879, they moved to the Mansion of Bahjí because of an epidemic. Bahíyyih was 23 when she left the harsh prison.

Despite the difficult start, Acre became a place of happier times for Bahíyyih Khánum. When ʻAbdu'l-Bahá married Munírih, Bahíyyih found a close friend her own age. The Baháʼís understood that Bahíyyih Khánum would likely never marry. They respected her choice. She helped her mother and father welcome pilgrims who came to visit the family. Bahíyyih was very close to her father. He wrote to her, "how sweet thy presence before Me; how sweet to gaze upon thy face."

One of the saddest moments for Bahíyyih Khánum was the death of her mother in 1886. She had been very close to her mother since childhood. Her mother's death left a big emptiness in her life. After her mother, Navváb, passed away, Baháʼu'lláh gave Bahíyyih the title "the Greatest Holy Leaf." She then took over running the household. She managed the home and hosted women pilgrims and other visitors. This continued even when ʻAbdu'l-Bahá became the head of the religion.

Six years later, in 1892, her father died. Bahíyyih was heartbroken. She was the only surviving family member who chose to support her brother when he became the head of the religion. She had to recover from deep sadness that made her weak for a time.

Her Important Role in the Faith

First Western Pilgrims

In 1898, the first Western pilgrims visited ʻAbdu'l-Bahá and Bahíyyih in Palestine. These visitors included Phoebe Hearst, Lua Getsinger, and the first African-American Baháʼí, Robert Turner. Even though Bahíyyih Khánum was not in good health, she welcomed these pilgrims. Their visit brought much happiness to ʻAbdu'l-Bahá's family in the prison colony.

Because of the customs in Acre, Bahíyyih spent more time with the female pilgrims. Lady Blomfield wrote that Bahíyyih Khánum was very devoted to her brother and cherished the memory of her parents. She described Bahíyyih as having a "sense of humour" and "remarkable" intelligence.

Freedom and Service

In 1908, the Young Turks movement freed all political prisoners under the Ottoman rule. Bahíyyih Khánum was finally free. She was 21 when she entered the prison city and was in her 60s when she was released.

ʻAbdu'l-Bahá trusted her with sacred items, including the remains of the Báb, when they arrived in Acre in 1899. She also kept portraits of Baháʼu'lláh and the Báb. ʻAbdu'l-Bahá also entrusted her with his last important document, his will and testament.

With her freedom, Bahíyyih began her charitable work. She opened an orphanage in her home for children, both Baháʼí and non-Baháʼí. She oversaw their education, teaching them prayers, reading, writing, and household skills like cooking and sewing. As the "head of the household," Bahíyyih was in charge of looking after many pilgrims from both the East and West. She also earned the respect of the local people. Women from the area would ask her to prepare their burial cloths, believing it would bring them peace. Margaret Randall, a pilgrim, wrote that "everyone turned [to her] for help and advice. She was gentle and loving, but strong, too."

When World War I began in 1914, it affected the Palestine area. Communication with the worldwide Baháʼí community almost stopped. Haifa faced severe food shortages. During this time, Bahíyyih continued her humanitarian work. She and her brother gave away their large store of grain to the poor and needy. People flocked to ʻAbdu'l-Bahá's house, where Bahíyyih cooked for them and gave them food. Their humanitarian efforts during the war earned them admiration from the British government. ʻAbdu'l-Bahá was even knighted for his service.

Leading the Faith

Bahíyyih Khánum was given the important role of acting head of the religion several times. She led when ʻAbdu'l-Bahá traveled to the West between 1910 and 1913, when she was in her 60s. She also led again when Shoghi Effendi was away between 1922 and 1924, when she was in her 70s. This leadership role was very rare for a woman in history.

In 1910, ʻAbdu'l-Bahá appointed her to lead the Faith while he was traveling. During this time, Bahíyyih Khánum managed the affairs of the Bahá'í World Centre. She met with important people, gave speeches for ʻAbdu'l-Bahá, and offered medical help to the sick. She also guided the worldwide Baháʼí community by writing encouraging letters. She stayed in close contact with her brother during this period.

In 1921, ʻAbdu'l-Bahá died. Bahíyyih Khánum sent telegrams to announce his passing. When Shoghi Effendi took over the leadership, he especially felt Bahíyyih Khánum's support during this difficult time. Again, Bahíyyih was named head of the Faith in 1922. She worked with a committee, but nothing could be done without her approval. She helped believers understand ʻAbdu'l-Bahá's will. She encouraged Baháʼí women, especially in Persia, to get involved in Baháʼí activities. Her letters brought comfort to the community who were mourning ʻAbdu'l-Bahá's death.

She was highly respected. She told all Baháʼís to follow Shoghi Effendi through telegrams she sent around the world. She saw some relatives act against the will, but she remained loyal to the Covenant of Baháʼu'lláh. She spent much of her life protecting the accepted leadership of the Baháʼí Faith. After Shoghi Effendi was appointed, there was little internal opposition until after her death.

Her Passing and Legacy

Her Final Years and Death

In the late 1920s, Bahíyyih Khánum's health became very poor. She suffered from illness and pain. Pilgrims noted that she found it hard to visit the graves of her father and the Báb. She needed help to stand and sit. She was known for spending hours in prayer and meditation.

Bahíyyih Khánum died on July 15, 1932. Shoghi Effendi said her death marked the end of the "Heroic Age" of the Baháʼí Faith. He sent a telegram expressing deep sorrow. He said that humanity would soon realize its great loss. He described her as the "last remnant of Baháʼu'lláh" and his "sole earthly sustainer." He asked Baháʼís worldwide to stop all religious celebrations for nine months. He also asked them to hold memorial gatherings to honor her life.

Her funeral was a large event, similar to ʻAbdu'l-Bahá's funeral. People from different religions and backgrounds gave speeches, prayers, and poems. A special luncheon was held in her honor in August 1932. Food was given to the poor and needy in her memory.

How She is Remembered

The grave of Bahíyyih Khánum within the Monument Gardens.

After her death, Shoghi Effendi wrote a 16-page tribute to Bahíyyih Khánum. Baháʼís living in the Holy Land were asked to hold nine days of prayer vigils at her temporary grave site. Nine months of official mourning were declared for Baháʼís. Personal celebrations were asked to be put on hold for a full year.

Shoghi Effendi acquired land on Mount Carmel near the Shrine of the Báb. Bahíyyih Khánum's remains were placed under the Monument of the Greatest Holy Leaf. Later, the remains of Mirza Mihdi and Navváb were also moved there. This location is now in the beautiful Baháʼí gardens on Mount Carmel. Shoghi Effendi also dedicated his translation of Nabil's Narrative: The Dawn-breakers to her in 1932. Bahíyyih Khánum spent much of her life protecting the accepted leadership of the Baháʼí Faith.

Commemorations and Books

A worldwide celebration was held for her in 1982. This was marked by a book of writings about her from the leaders of the Baháʼí Faith. In July 1982, a seminar about her life was held at the Seat of the Universal House of Justice. The architect confirmed that the dome of the Seat was designed to look like the dome on her monument. Five international conferences were held in her honor around the world in 1982. The children's book Stories of the Greatest Holy Leaf shares anecdotes about her life.

Her Appearance and Personality

As a teenager, Bahíyyih looked a lot like her mother, who was known for her beauty. Bahíyyih was described as having large grey eyes, a slender figure, golden-brown hair, and ivory skin. She had a graceful and noble way of moving. Ella Goodall Cooper, an early American Baháʼí, said Bahíyyih was "tall, slender and of noble bearing." She also said Bahíyyih's face was like ʻAbdu'l-Bahá's, with "understanding eyes."

The hardships and imprisonment affected Bahíyyih's health. She became frail and often suffered from illness. Margaret Randall, an American Baháʼí pilgrim, wrote in 1919 that Bahíyyih's "face looked dreadfully tired but her eyes were like the Master's, so alive and expressive."

Bahíyyih loved flowers and children. She paid great attention to cleanliness and making sure rooms were well-lit. Her letters show her encouraging women to get involved in Baháʼí service. Even though she was often described as quiet and gentle, Baháʼís say she proved to be a strong and effective leader when she led the religion in the 1910s and 1920s.

Bahíyyih held a special place in Baháʼu'lláh's heart. He supported her choice to remain single and turned down any marriage proposals for her. He said, "I know no man worthy to marry such purity as my daughter." When Bahíyyih visited Baháʼu'lláh, he would eagerly wait on his balcony to see her arrive. In her later years, when students visited her, Bahíyyih asked them to sing traditional Persian folk songs. These songs reminded her of her childhood in Tehran with Baháʼu'lláh. Her father lovingly called her Bahíyyih or Baháʼíyyih. Within the family, she was known as “Khánum,” meaning "the lady."

Baháʼís believe Bahíyyih had great inner strength. She entered prison as an inexperienced girl with little formal education. Yet, she overcame the difficulties of her life. Biographer Janet Khan described Bahíyyih as a model of strength in the face of personal sadness and suffering. She is seen as the most important woman in the religion, an example for everyone, and the "Liege lady" of the Baháʼís.