Though the topic is somewhat mythical, Persia, now Iran, in the 1800s was a place fraught with religious conflict (still true today). At this time, a new world religion was born, the Bahá'i Faith, which taught unity of mankind, gender, religion--of everything. To the Bahá'is there are many famous male martyrs, including the messenger of the Bahá'i Faith, the Báb. However, one of the most important martyrs in the Faith was notably a woman.
Táhirih was important for reasons other than her martyrdom. According to Zoe Meyer in Children's Stories from the Dawn-Breakers, she "... was one of the Letters of the Living, the fist eighteen disciples...of the Báb" (Meyer 84). Táhirih was also the only woman in the Letters of the Living.
To be a Bahá'i living in Persia at this time, one had to be very brave. The Báb was an enemy of the state because he was revealing a new religion that was not Islam. The government was hunting him, along with his disciples. Despite the fear of death wherever she went, Táhirih's faith did not waver and she continued to travel.
At this time, women were required to wear veils outside the home. Táhirih, thought this unjust, and decided to no longer wear hers. When she later revealed herself to Bahá'u'lláh, the prophet of the Bahái's and another disciple, Quddús, the men were horrified. Seeing a woman's face was considered immoral and unseemly. According to Meyer, "One man was so disturbed that he cut his own throat and ran away, shrieking" (89). This was how she earned her name from Bahá'u'lláh, which means "the Pure One."
Táhirih's message revealed a new and changing world. She was one of the first feminists, and probably the first outspoken one in Iran. She was eventually imprisoned and executed. According to Clara Edge in Táhirih, before her murder, "Táhirih said, 'You can kill me as soon as you like, but you cannot stop the emancipation of women'" (182). Though Bahá'u'lláh revealed the message of equality between men and women, Táhirih sought to make it true.
Edge, Clara A. Táhirih. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Edgeway Publisher, 1964. 182. Print.
Meyer, Zoe. Children's Stories from the Dawn-Breakers. Evanston, Illinois: Bellwood Press, 2000.
83-91. Print.
Molly,
ReplyDeleteGreat job! This blog is very interesting. I cannot imagine the courage it would have taken to be a woman fighting for equality during that time especially in a country like Iran. It is very inspiring to see that there are religions across the globe that promote equality and kindness. So often we only hear of those that are unjust. I really liked the quote at the very end of your post. She knew what the world would be like one day.
Heather Carlson
Heather,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the comment! I also like the story of Táhirih because people often think of women in the middle east as being meek and powerless and she proves that stereotype wrong.
Molly