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Hi again
I hope you want to know more about Tahirih
So...
"They came and carried her away to the city prison."
In a spirit of revenge, although well aware of her innocence, Tahirih's husband persuaded the governor to put her on trial for the murder of her uncle, Taqi. Her father refused to let her leave his house, but she was taken from him by force and brought to the government house. They also arrested her servant Kafiyih whem they hoped to testify against her.
Hour after hour they questioned them, trying to get them to confess to the murder. To each question, Tahirih replied calmly: "We know nothing of this deed. It was done without our knowledge-"
Her husband, seething with hatred, fearful she would go free, kept pleading with the governor to inflict some harsh punishment upon Tahirih. "Something severe, " he said, "something very severe."
Acting on this hint, the governor gave the executioner orders to bring in the irons for branding.
In order to terrorize Tahirih and perhaps secure a false confession by torture, they placed the hands of Kafiyih under a sliding door, intending to brand her hands from the other side.
Tahirih knew that she was helpless. Her only refuge was Almighty God. She uncovered her face and turned to the prison of the Bab at Mah Ku and began to pray. The hot irons were put forward and the hands of Kafiyih were prepared for the burning. At that terrifying moment, a town crier's voice could be heard shouting in the street outside:"The murderer is found! The murderer is found!"
The murderer had confessed. He came by himself to government house, rather than let innocent people suffer. Tahirih and Kafiyih were freed. Tahirih was turned to her fathers house, still a prisoner. Her husband made another unsuccessful attempt on her life by trying to poison her, but in spite of all this opposition Tahirih continued to teach many people.
She profoundly affected the city of Qazvin. Although it prided itself that no fewer than a hundred of the highest religious leaders of Islam dwelt within its gates, though she was a prisoner for much of her stay, Tahirih's triumphs were greater in Qazvin than any she had yet won.
The Journal Asiatique in a study of the period frankly asks the question:"How...in a city like Qazvin, where the clergy possessed such great an influence, ...how could it be there...a woman could have organized so strong a group of heretics?" This study concludes:"There lies a question which puzzles even the Persian historian ,Siphir, for such an occurrence was without precedent."
The Prime minister, Mirza Taqi Khan, took no action against those who without reason had plundered and killed the followers of the Bab in Qazvin. He closed his eyes to the mistake, secretely pleased. This encouraged the clergy and people of Qazvin to turn once more against Tahirih. They were determined that she should be slain, quietely if necessary, but as quickly as possible. She must never leave Qazvin alive.
When word of a new plot reached her, she was unafraid. She wrote a bold letter to her former husband, now the chief priest of Qazvin. She dared him to take her life, saying: "If my Cause is the Cause of Truth, the Lord will deliver me from the yoke of your tyranny before nine days have passed. Should He fail to rescue me, you are free to do with me as you wish."
From that moment on Tahirih was watched more closely than ever, but in spite of all their efforts, on the ninth day she escaped quietely in the night. Her sudden and mysterious removal filled her foes with fear and her friends with concern. The authorities immediately entered every house in Qazvin and searched all night for her. They were both angered and baffled by her disappearance, and the fulfillment of the prediction she had uttered.
Meanwhile Tahirih was in the capital, Tihran. She spent many happy days there, teaching and meeting the followers of the Bab from other parts of Persia. These carefree days ended when word came that the Bab's followers were gathering at the village of Badasht in Khurasan. Tahirih left at once to join the group. Her enemies were still on the watch for her everywhere along the road but she escaped from Tihran in disguise and journeyd to Badasht-. It was early summer 1848.
Eightyone of the leading followers of the Bab gathered at that village to meet in consultation.... The purpose of the gathering was two-fold. First, to decide upon the steps to be taken so that the Faith of the Bab would no longer be looked upon as a sect of Islam, but rather a new, independent Faith with its own Prophet and Writings. Second, to consider the means of freeing the Bab from His cruel imprisonment in Chiriq(to which He had been transferred). The gathering succeeded in the first goal, but failed in the second. (I have already told you how Bab was slain in Tabriz 1850, remember those miraculus happenings?)
The followers of the Bab were eager to make a complete break from the outmooded religious laws, priesthood, traditions and ritual of the past. Tahirih herself, was an instrument of that separation. She became its outward symbol, when one day she appeared without her veil. She had cast aside this emblem of women's inferior station.
The effect was electric. Even her fellow-believers were shocked. They stood aghast at this unexpected and unprecedented sight. Happiness and triumph shone from her face. Dignified and confident that a new day had dawned, Tahirih arose from her seat. She was completely indifferent to the tumult which her unveiled appearance had caused. It was (considered)indecent for men to look upon her uncovered face.
Tahirih was universal in her vision. She knew that the Bab's teaching had wiped out all the limiting traditions of the past. The injustice and slavery practiced against both men and women were soon to be ended. She stood before them radiantr with an inward and an outward beauty.
"I am the blast of the trumpet!" she cried out. "I am the call of the bugle!"
Gone are the days of dread and subjection for any of the creatures of God, her words called out. Exultant with joy, she then delivered a fervent and eloquent appeal to that assembly. Some on that day recalled the words of the prophecy which foretold that in the day of the Promised One,(according to the Islamic traditions) Fatimih (The daughter of Muhammad)herself, would appear unveiled before them. Others may have remembered the sound of the "bugle" and the "Stunning trumpet blast" promised in their own holy Book for the "last days." (=in Christendom=the latter days)
Tahirih finished her appeal by inviting all who were present to celebrate this great occasion befittingly
"This is the day of festivity and of universal rejoicing," she said. "The day on which the fetters of the past are burst asunder. Let those who have shared in this great achievement arise and embrace each other."
The conference ended after several days and the followers of the Bab scattered in all directions to announce the NEW DAY. Each carried with him to his own area the exiting news of these momentous happenings at badasht.
Tahirih was on her way back to Tihran when she was intercepted by a party of searchers. Her captors sent her under escort to the capital where she was brought into the presence of the king. He commented upon seing her,"I like her looks. Leave her, and let her be."
She was then taken a prisoner to the home of the mayor of Tihran, Mahmud Khan. The king sent a letter to Tahirih at the mayor's house. He urged her to deny the Bab and again become a true muslim. He promised her that if she would do this, he would give her an exalted position as the guardian of the ladies of his household, he would even make her his bride. She replied on the back of his letter in verse, saying that "the kingdom and crown were for him, but wandering and calamity was for her." The king, reading the reply, was deeply moved. He spoke of her spirit and courage. He said, "so far, history has not shown such a woman to us."
Tahirih was given considerable freedom during her imprisonment in the mayor's house, and she was able to continue her teaching. She was still alive with the fire and fervor of Badasht.
It was during this period of her life that Tahirih reached the height of her popularity and fame. She openly denounced polygamy, the veil and all the restraints which had so unjustly shackled her sex for so many centuries in the East. She aroused the women by pointing out to them the abject roles they had been given by their past beliefs, and she won them over by showing them the freedom, respect and dignity which the Faith of the Bab would bestow upon them.
Sir Francis Younghusband who wrote of Tahirih's life, says: "So strong in her faith did she become that although she was both rich and noble, she gave up wealth, child, name and position for her Master's service and set herself to proclaim and establish his doctrine." He adds in yet another place: "The beauty of her speech was such as to draw guests away from a marriage feast rather than listen to music provided by the host."
Comte de Gobineau writes about her: "Many who have known her and heard her at different times have stated that, for a person so learned and so well read, the outstanding characteristic of her discourse was an amazing simplicity, and still, when she spoke, her audience was deeply stirred and filled with admiration, often in tears."
Tahirih stirred up the entire capital city to such an extent that finally the authorities took action against her.
Would you like to know more about Tahirih.
Bye for a while
Kind regards from
Laila
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