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Munírih K͟hánum (‎; 1847April 28, 1938) was the wife of
ʻAbdu'l-Bahá ʻAbdu'l-Bahá (; Persian: , ;, 23 May 1844 – 28 November 1921), born ʻAbbás (, ), was the eldest son of Baháʼu'lláh, founder of the Bahá’í Faith, who designated him to be his successor and head of the Baháʼí Faith from 1892 un ...
, a prominent figure in the
Baháʼí Faith The Baháʼí Faith is a religion founded in the 19th century that teaches the Baháʼí Faith and the unity of religion, essential worth of all religions and Baháʼí Faith and the unity of humanity, the unity of all people. Established by ...
. She was entitled the Holy Mother. Her memoirs, first published in 1924, are regarded as one of the first published memoirs by a Persian woman in the 20th century.


Childhood and early years

Munírih Khánum was born Fáṭimih Nahrí, the eldest child of Muhammad ʻAlí Nahrí and his wife, Zahrá of Isfahán in
Isfahan Isfahan or Esfahan ( ) is a city in the Central District (Isfahan County), Central District of Isfahan County, Isfahan province, Iran. It is the capital of the province, the county, and the district. It is located south of Tehran. The city ...
. The Nahrí family was a prominent family in the city, and her family were one of the first Bábís of Isfahan who later became eminent Baháʼís of Persia. The family were also highly connected with high-ranking nobles and clerics of the city. Her maternal uncle was killed at the age of fourteen in Persia because of his religion. Munírih's birth came as a surprise to her parents. Her father was previously married and had no children. Upon his wife's death, he remarried Zahrá Khánum. Munírih's birth in 1847 did not occur until some ten years after the parents marriage, when the couple had assumed they would never have children.


Education

Her father was one of the first Bábís in her city of birth, and Munírih was brought up as a devout Bábí and later Baháʼí under her parents' care. Though it was customary not to educate girls, even of noble birth, her father had his daughter educated and she was a fine writer and poet. Her poetry was reported to be beautiful and she wrote many poems during her marriage and later years. Munírih was fluent in her native
Persian Persian may refer to: * People and things from Iran, historically called ''Persia'' in the English language ** Persians, the majority ethnic group in Iran, not to be conflated with the Iranic peoples ** Persian language, an Iranian language of the ...
and also
Arabic Arabic (, , or , ) is a Central Semitic languages, Central Semitic language of the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family spoken primarily in the Arab world. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) assigns lang ...
and Turkish. She was also well-versed in Persian literature, in the works of
Rumi Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī (), or simply Rumi (30 September 1207 – 17 December 1273), was a 13th-century poet, Hanafi '' faqih'' (jurist), Maturidi theologian (''mutakallim''), and Sufi mystic born during the Khwarazmian Empire ...
and Nizami which she referred to in her later writings. According to her later memoirs, her father died shortly after her eleventh birthday and she was left in the care of both her maternal and paternal extended families.


First marriage

As a young woman, Munírih was regarded as a suitable match for marriage to Baháʼí families throughout Persia. However, in her infancy as was the Persian custom her parents had betrothed her to a young man. Some time after the death of her father, her family thought she had come of age for a marriage. They arranged that she be wedded to the young Mírzá Kázim, the youngest brother of the King and Beloved of Martyrs. Munírih was reluctant at first, but due to familiar pressure she begrudgingly consented to the marriage despite her misgivings. The two were married in an extravagant wedding with the crescendo being the young couple led to the bedchamber. However, Mírzá Kázim fell ill during the wedding ceremony and avoided his bride. The same night he left the house to the horror and consternation of his family. After six months his maid found him dead in the home of the young couple. Munírih was humiliated and overwhelmed. Perplexed, she resolved she would never marry again, instead she spent her days in prayer and meditation.


Marriage

In 1871,
Baháʼu'lláh Baháʼu'lláh (, born Ḥusayn-ʻAlí; 12 November 1817 – 29 May 1892) was an Iranian religious leader who founded the Baháʼí Faith. He was born to an aristocratic family in Iran and was exiled due to his adherence to the messianic Báb ...
and Navváb expressed interest in Munírih to become the wife of
ʻAbdu'l-Bahá ʻAbdu'l-Bahá (; Persian: , ;, 23 May 1844 – 28 November 1921), born ʻAbbás (, ), was the eldest son of Baháʼu'lláh, founder of the Bahá’í Faith, who designated him to be his successor and head of the Baháʼí Faith from 1892 un ...
and she made a wearisome journey to
Acre, Palestine Acre ( ), known in Hebrew as Akko (, ) and in Arabic as Akka (, ), is a city in the coastal plain region of the Northern District of Israel. The city occupies a strategic location, sitting in a natural harbour at the extremity of Haifa Bay on ...
. The sister of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá says that her parents wanted Munírih because she was "''very beautiful and amiable, and in every way a suitable match''". The parents of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá had believed that it was time for him to marry, and though several young women were thought of as potential brides ʻAbdu'l-Bahá explained that he did not want to marry. Munírih's journey began with the departure from
Isfahan Isfahan or Esfahan ( ) is a city in the Central District (Isfahan County), Central District of Isfahan County, Isfahan province, Iran. It is the capital of the province, the county, and the district. It is located south of Tehran. The city ...
with the company of her younger brother. She then went on pilgrimage to the house of the Báb and visited the wife of the Báb, Khadíjih-Bagum. Khadíjih related a great number of stories to Munírih about the life of the Báb. She became acquainted with the Báb's family members too (most of which were resentful or indifferent to his religion). The trip to Shiraz was a great delight to the young Munírih. She arrived in mid-1872 and lived in the house of
Mírzá Músá Mírzá Músá (‎; d. 1887) was the only full brother of Baháʼu'lláh, meaning that they shared the same mother and father. He was later named by Shoghi Effendi as one of the nineteen Apostles of Baháʼu'lláh. The life of Mírzá Músá w ...
for the time of the betrothal. Munírih later reminisced how she fell instantly in love with the young ʻAbdu'l-Bahá when they met one another. ʻAbdu'l-Bahá had shown little inclination of marriage until he met 24-year-old Munírih Khánum in 1872. After five months betrothal the couple were finally married. Baháʼu'lláh entitled Fáṭimih with the name ''Munírih'' (Illumined). The couple married on March 8, 1873 in the
house of ʻAbbúd A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air condit ...
. Munírih K͟hánum was twenty-five, ʻAbdu'l-Bahá was twenty-eight. The marriage was a happy union. They had nine children: Ḥusayn Effendi (d. 1305/1887, aged five), Mihdí (died aged two-and-a-half), Ṭúbá (died sometime in Akka), Fu'ádíyyih (died in infancy), and Ruḥangíz (died in 1893, she was the favorite grandchild of Baháʼu'lláh) "''five of my children died in the poisonous climate of 'Akká''" she later bitterly reflected. Four children survived to adulthood – all daughters; Ḍíyáʼíyyih K͟hánum (mother of
Shoghi Effendi Shoghí Effendi (; ;1896 or 1897 – 4 November 1957) was Guardian of the Baháʼí Faith from 1922 until his death in 1957. As the grandson and successor of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá, he was charged with guiding the development of the Baháʼí Faith, in ...
) (d. 1951) Túbá K͟hánum (1880–1959) Rúḥá K͟hánum and Munavvar K͟hánum (d. 1971). Munírih Khánum was very emotionally attached to her children and devoted to her husband.


Family

The oldest of these was Ḍíyáʼíyyih, who married Mírzá Hádí Shírází (1864–1955) in 1895; their children were
Shoghi Effendi Shoghí Effendi (; ;1896 or 1897 – 4 November 1957) was Guardian of the Baháʼí Faith from 1922 until his death in 1957. As the grandson and successor of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá, he was charged with guiding the development of the Baháʼí Faith, in ...
, Rúḥangíz, Mihrangíz, Ḥusayn, and Riyáḍ, who all took the surname Rabbání. The second daughter, Ṭúbá Khánum, married Mírzá Muḥsin Afnán (1863–1927); their children were Rúḥí (1899–1971), Thurayyá, Suhayl, and Fu'ád (d. 1943), who all took the surname Afnán. The third daughter of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá, Rúḥá, married Mírzá Jalál, the son of Mírzá Muḥammad Ḥasan, King of Martyrs; their children were Maryam (d.1933), Muníb, Zahrá and Ḥasan, who all took the surname Shahíd. The fourth daughter, Munavvar, married Mírzá Aḥmad, the son of Mírzá ʻAbdu'r-Raḥím Yazdí; they were childless. In the 1930s and 1940s a series of marriages linked the sons of Sayyid 'Alí Afnán and Furúghíyyih, who had been supporters of
Mírzá Muhammad ʻAlí Mírzá Muhammad ʻAlí ( 16 December 1853 – 10 December 1937) was the second surviving son of Baháʼu'lláh, the founder of the Baháʼí Faith, and the first from Baháʼu'lláh's second wife Fatimih. He is well-known for an attempted sc ...
, with the grandchildren of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá. As a result of these marriages, other inappropriate marriages, or refusal to break ties with
Covenant-breakers Covenant-breaker is a term used in the Baháʼí Faith to refer to a person who has been excommunicated from the Baháʼí community for breaking the Covenant of Baháʼu'lláh, meaning actively promoting schism in the religion or otherwise opp ...
in the family, Shoghi Effendi, in the 1940s and early 1950s, reluctantly declared all the surviving grandchildren of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá (except himself) Covenant-breakers.


Life in a prison city


During Baháʼu'lláh's lifetime

In the 1870s, Munírih and ʻAbdu'l-Bahá lived in the
House of ʻAbbúd A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air condit ...
in the prison city of
Akko Acre ( ), known in Hebrew as Akko (, ) and in Arabic as Akka (, ), is a city in the coastal plain region of the Northern District of Israel. The city occupies a strategic location, sitting in a natural harbour at the extremity of Haifa Bay on ...
as political prisoners. Though technically not a prisoner under the
Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire (), also called the Turkish Empire, was an empire, imperial realm that controlled much of Southeast Europe, West Asia, and North Africa from the 14th to early 20th centuries; it also controlled parts of southeastern Centr ...
, she nevertheless was married to one which put her safety in risk. She grew a close attachment with the mother of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá, Navváb and with his sister
Bahíyyih Khánum Bahíyyih Khánum (1846 – 15 July 1932) was the only daughter of Baháʼu'lláh, the founder of the Baháʼí Faith, and Ásíyih Khánum. She was born in 1846 with the given name Fatimih Sultan, and was entitled "Varaqiy-i-'Ulyá" or "Greates ...
who became her closest friend. The four, along with their brood of children all lived together in the house of ʻAbbúd. The imprisonment was trying times for Munírih Khánum. She witnessed the machinations of her husband's enemies and the death of five of her nine children. The death of her most beloved child, a son named Husayn, caused her unbearable grief and anguish. To console her
Baháʼu'lláh Baháʼu'lláh (, born Ḥusayn-ʻAlí; 12 November 1817 – 29 May 1892) was an Iranian religious leader who founded the Baháʼí Faith. He was born to an aristocratic family in Iran and was exiled due to his adherence to the messianic Báb ...
wrote a number of prayers for her to read in times of sadness. Husayn's death came at a bad time, as the previous year Navvab had died from a fall, and in 1888 Baháʼu'lláh's brother
Mírzá Músá Mírzá Músá (‎; d. 1887) was the only full brother of Baháʼu'lláh, meaning that they shared the same mother and father. He was later named by Shoghi Effendi as one of the nineteen Apostles of Baháʼu'lláh. The life of Mírzá Músá w ...
also died. The death of
Baháʼu'lláh Baháʼu'lláh (, born Ḥusayn-ʻAlí; 12 November 1817 – 29 May 1892) was an Iranian religious leader who founded the Baháʼí Faith. He was born to an aristocratic family in Iran and was exiled due to his adherence to the messianic Báb ...
in 1892 caused hardship for ʻAbdu'l-Bahá again and his family, after all of his half-siblings turned against him and Munírih too.


Appointment of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá as Head of the Faith

In the ''Kitáb-i-ʻAhd'' ("Book of the Covenant"), Baháʼu'lláh named ʻAbdu'l-Bahá as his successor and head of the Baháʼí Faith. However,
Mírzá Muhammad ʻAlí Mírzá Muhammad ʻAlí ( 16 December 1853 – 10 December 1937) was the second surviving son of Baháʼu'lláh, the founder of the Baháʼí Faith, and the first from Baháʼu'lláh's second wife Fatimih. He is well-known for an attempted sc ...
, the half brother of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá, was resentful at the authority of his brother. He began a secret correspondence with Baháʼís of Iran and Ottoman authorities allegedly stating that ʻAbdu'l-Bahá had claimed a station equal to a Manifestation of God and was conspiring with foreign authorities to overthrow the Ottoman Empire. Consequently, ʻAbdu'l-Bahá's whole family was in danger. ʻAbdu'l-Bahá quietly went for a short trip to the
Tiberias Tiberias ( ; , ; ) is a city on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee in northern Israel. A major Jewish center during Late Antiquity, it has been considered since the 16th century one of Judaism's Four Holy Cities, along with Jerusalem, Heb ...
leaving Munírih and her family in
Akko Acre ( ), known in Hebrew as Akko (, ) and in Arabic as Akka (, ), is a city in the coastal plain region of the Northern District of Israel. The city occupies a strategic location, sitting in a natural harbour at the extremity of Haifa Bay on ...
. Munírih mourned the separation from her husband. Furthermore, restrictions placed upon women added further hardship. ʻAbdu'l-Bahá wrote to his wife: The restrictions culminated in the family not able to attend affairs outside of the home. A male figure was needed. A member of the Afnan family of which Baháʼu'lláh had kept in high regard was proposed as a match for Munírih's eldest daughter was proposed. Therefore, her daughter Ḍíyáʼ Khánum was married to Hádí Shírází Afnán in 1895. The young couple were the parents of
Shoghi Effendi Shoghí Effendi (; ;1896 or 1897 – 4 November 1957) was Guardian of the Baháʼí Faith from 1922 until his death in 1957. As the grandson and successor of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá, he was charged with guiding the development of the Baháʼí Faith, in ...
. Munírih Khánum relied heavily on the support of her sister-in-law Bahíyyih Khánum and the two shared a deeply close friendship. The two also stood firmly beside ʻAbdu'l-Bahá in times of difficulty.


Western pilgrims

However, there were happy times for the family too. The birth of her first grandchild
Shoghi Effendi Shoghí Effendi (; ;1896 or 1897 – 4 November 1957) was Guardian of the Baháʼí Faith from 1922 until his death in 1957. As the grandson and successor of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá, he was charged with guiding the development of the Baháʼí Faith, in ...
in 1897 offered comfort for the family and he was doted on. In late 1898 the first pilgrims from the West arrived in Akko to visit ʻAbdu'l-Bahá. Munírih Khánum also became acquainted with them, and she mostly spent her time with the female pilgrims (though Baháʼí teachings emphasize the equality of the sexes, the Baháʼís of the time had to uphold local customs for the sake of harmony). The pilgrimage bought happiness into the family's life after the harsh previous years. The years followed with a flood of pilgrims from both the East and West, of which Munírih and
Bahíyyih Khánum Bahíyyih Khánum (1846 – 15 July 1932) was the only daughter of Baháʼu'lláh, the founder of the Baháʼí Faith, and Ásíyih Khánum. She was born in 1846 with the given name Fatimih Sultan, and was entitled "Varaqiy-i-'Ulyá" or "Greates ...
looked after.


Danger

The influx of Western pilgrims offered happiness for the family. However, with the outbreak of
World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
the family became almost severed from the world wide Baháʼí community. Trying times followed, especially with Jamal Pasha becoming an enemy of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá who promised to
crucify Crucifixion is a method of capital punishment in which the condemned is tied or nailed to a large wooden cross, beam or stake and left to hang until eventual death. It was used as a punishment by the Achaemenid Empire, Persians, Ancient Carthag ...
him on
Mount Carmel Mount Carmel (; ), also known in Arabic as Mount Mar Elias (; ), is a coastal mountain range in northern Israel stretching from the Mediterranean Sea towards the southeast. The range is a UNESCO biosphere reserve. A number of towns are situat ...
. The enemies of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá had united with Jamal Pasha to slay him. His family were all aware of the grim future, that Sultán ʻAbdu'l-Hamíd's desired to banish ʻAbdu'l-Bahá to the deserts of North Africa where he was expected to perish. Munírih Khánum suffered emotionally and physically from this news, and ʻAbdu'l-Bahá sent her outside of Akko for a break from the stress. News of these threats affected the prosecution of the war in the Palestine theatre (see
Battle of Megiddo (1918) The Battle of Megiddo was fought between 19 and 25 September 1918, on the Plain of Sharon, in front of Tulkarm, Tabsor and Arara in the Judean Hills as well as on the Esdralon Plain at Nazareth, Afulah, Beisan, Jenin and Samakh. Its name, ...
) and with the defeat of Jamal Pasha ʻAbdu'l-Bahá was safe as was his family.


Death of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá

In 1921, ʻAbdu'l-Bahá died unexpectedly. Munírih was devastated at the loss of her husband; they had been married for nearly 50 years. She poured her grief in several letters and poems which she composed. In one letter she wrote following the one-year anniversary of her husband's death she writes "should I wish to describe fully this miserable year...I would need seventy reams of paper, and seas of blood." She did console herself with Bahíyyih Khánum and the other mourners, such as
Lady Blomfield Sara Louisa Blomfield (; 1859 – 1939) was an Irish humanitarian and early member of the Baháʼí Faith in the British Isles, and a supporter of the rights of children and women.
, who records the aftermath of his death in her famous book ''The Chosen Highway''. Munírih also firmly backed Shoghi Effendi after he was named head of the religion following the death of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá. In a letter dated December 1924 Munírih, writes to her grandson calling him her "pearl" and beloved. She asks him to pray that she dies peacefully and in "absolute detachment and utter sincerity." Munírih was a passionate patroness in funding education for girls.
Lady Blomfield Sara Louisa Blomfield (; 1859 – 1939) was an Irish humanitarian and early member of the Baháʼí Faith in the British Isles, and a supporter of the rights of children and women.
described Munírih K͟hánum as "''a majestic woman, stately yet simple, with an innate dignity and strength of character''". Putting much of her energy towards women, she worked to try to open schools for girls and encouraged the Baháʼís of Persia to include women in Baháʼí activities. In one letter she wrote, "''thus the education of girls is a matter of the greatest importance and is regarded as an obligatory law. Hence, the friends of the All-Merciful, and the beloved maidservants of the Lord, in all cities and countries must take action and endeavor to their utmost capacity to carry out this weighty injunction''." The death of Munírih's confidante and closest friend
Bahíyyih Khánum Bahíyyih Khánum (1846 – 15 July 1932) was the only daughter of Baháʼu'lláh, the founder of the Baháʼí Faith, and Ásíyih Khánum. She was born in 1846 with the given name Fatimih Sultan, and was entitled "Varaqiy-i-'Ulyá" or "Greates ...
in 1932 was a further blow, after which she secluded herself from society. Describing her sorrow, she wrote in a poem, "I can endure no more. My patience is ended. My powers have declined. I live on Mount Carmel friendless and alone." She did, however, show great fondness and affection to her eldest grandson and head of the Baháʼí Faith, Shoghi Effendi, and remained faithful to the
Covenant of Baháʼu'lláh In the Baháʼí Faith there are two covenants, deemed the 'greater' and 'lesser'. The greater covenant refers to an agreement of progressive revelation: that God will send messengers about every thousand years, and it is humanity's duty to rec ...
despite years of infighting within Baháʼu'lláh's family that saw many of them expelled from the religion.


Death

Munírih K͟hánum died in April 1938 aged 91. Shoghi Effendi cabled the Baháʼís: She is buried near the vicinity of the
Shrine of the Báb The Shrine of the Báb is a structure on the slopes of Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel, where the remains of the Báb, founder of the Bábí Faith and forerunner of Baháʼu'lláh in the Baháʼí Faith, are buried; it is considered to be the sec ...
in the Monument Gardens at the
Baháʼí World Centre The Baháʼí World Centre is the name given to the spiritual and administrative centre of the Baháʼí Faith, representing sites in or near the cities of Acre and Haifa, Israel. Much of the international governance and coordination of the ...
.


Notes


References

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External links


A play about Munirih Khanum, includes her picture on this page
(1924, reprinted 2004). {{DEFAULTSORT:Khanum, Munirih Family of Baháʼu'lláh Palestinian Baha'is Burials at Monument Gardens, Haifa People from Acre, Israel Writers from Isfahan Iranian emigrants to the Ottoman Empire Iranian prisoners and detainees 1847 births 1938 deaths 19th-century Iranian women 20th-century Iranian women writers