Secondary Retelling7 min●●○○○'Abdu'l-Bahá's ministry (1892–1921)
Bahá’u’lláh’s marriage to Ásíyih Khánúm and their early lives together up until His recognition of the Báb
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When in Bahá'í history
1844'Abdu'l-Bahá (1892–1921)2026
Tihrán (today: Tehran, Iran)
When Bahá’u’lláh was nearly eighteen years old, His older
sister requested their father's permission for her Brother to marry her
husband's sister, Ásíyih Khánúm. Ásíyih Khánúm, who was then fifteen years old,
was exceedingly beautiful, lively and winsome. Their marriage, which took place
in the fall of 1835, opened a new level of responsibility and fulfillment for
the young nobleman. He was to share a lifetime of love and extreme difficulties
with this great noblewoman who later was known by the title Navváb (her
Highness, her Excellency).
The young married couple devoted themselves to charitable
activities during the early years of their married life. Their daughter
Bahíyyih Khánúm recounted many years later how her parents "took part as
little as possible in State functions, social ceremonies, and the luxurious
habits of ordinary highly-placed and wealthy families in the land of Persia.
[They] … counted these worldly pleasures meaningless, and preferred rather to
occupy themselves in caring for the poor, and for all who were unhappy, or in
trouble.'" Their Son, 'Abdu'l-Bahá, also recalled His Father's role
during those early years of His marriage:
"He was most generous, giving abundantly to the poor.
None who came to Him were turned away. The doors of His house were open to all.
He always had many guests. This unbounded generosity was conducive to greater
astonishment from the fact that He sought neither position nor prominence. In
commenting upon this His friends said He would become impoverished, for His
expenses were many and His wealth becoming more and more limited. 'Why is He
not thinking of His own affairs?' they inquired of each other; but some who
were wise declared, 'This Personage is connected with another world; He has
something sublime within Him that is not evident now; the day is coming when it
will be manifested.' In truth, the
Blessed Perfection [Bahá’u’lláh] was a refuge for every weak one, a shelter for
every fearing one, kind to every indigent one, lenient and loving to all
creatures."
Due to such acts of charity and service Bahá’u’lláh and His
wife earned widespread reputation as "The Father of Poor" and
"The Mother of Consolation".
Residence
Bahá'u'lláh and Ásíyih Khánúm initially lived in one of the
many mansions that His father Mirzá Búzúrg owned in the capital city, Tehrán.
This was the same mansion in which Bahá’u’lláh was born. Shortly after this,
however, the entire family was forced to move out as a result of the extremely
unfair scheming against Bahá’u’lláh's father by the new Prime Minister Hájí
Mirzá Áqásí. This is how it happened:
A year before Bahá’u’lláh's marriage, Fath-'Ali Sháh who had
reigned the country for thirty-five years died and his grandson Muhammad Sháh
was crowned king. In June of 1835 the new king executed the Prime Minister, the
able and noble Mirzá Abdu'l-Qásim who was an esteemed friend of Bahá’u’lláh's
father. Then, in that same month, the Sháh appointed his former elderly tutor
Hájí Mirzá Áqásí as the new Prime Minister. Hájí Mirzá Áqásí was a vain, cruel
and ruthless plotter whose treacherous, intolerant, and bigoted personality
brought the country to the edge of ruin.
When Hájí Mirzá Áqásí learned that Bahá’u’lláh's father was
horrified at the Hájí's role in murdering his predecessor, he retaliated. He
removed Mirzá Búzúrg from the governorship of Búrújird and Lúristán provinces,
cut off his annual income, and engineered a divorce from a daughter of the
former Sháh whom he had married as his fourth wife a few years earlier. As a
result of this very unfair and evil plotting, Mirzá Búzúrg faced a very costly
divorce settlement at a time when all of his legitimate sources of income were
cut off by the Prime Minister's machinations.
He was forced to quickly sell his magnificent interconnected mansions in
the capital city with all their very valuable furnishings at a very low price
in order to stop daily beatings by thugs that were sent to him by his ex-wife
to extract money for the divorce settlement.
Following this conspiracy and fraud, Bahá’u’lláh,
accompanied by His wife Ásíyih Khánúm, His mother Khadíjih Khánúm, His other
stepmothers and a number of brothers and sisters, moved to a rented house not
far from the mansion of His youth.
Added Responsibilities
In 1839, when Bahá’u’lláh was about twenty-two years old,
His father passed away. It was the year 1839. Although He had an older
half-brother, Bahá’u’lláh's recognized and proven leadership abilities made Him
the only candidate to assume responsibility for His father's large family. This
huge and demanding family complex included His own brother and sisters and
their families, His half-brothers, half-sisters, step-brothers, and
step-sisters, all with their own families. Probably to some degree Bahá’u’lláh
also had influence upon His aunts and uncles and their numerous dependents. As
one can imagine in such an extended family environment there was potential for
every manner of personal conflict and differences arising that would require
intervention and guidance.
Bahá’u’lláh took on this added responsibility with courage
and determination. His genuine desire to solve family problems in the best way
possible, His innate wisdom and insight combined with His gentle and kind
disposition reinforced His leadership abilities. Furthermore, His sunny
disposition and humor made those difficult and testing days more bearable for
everyone involved. Bahá’u’lláh also received great assistance and comfort from
His devoted companion and wife, Ásíyih Khánúm, whose charm and warmth pervaded
the new household.
Bahá’u’lláh's
Children
Almost all of Bahá’u’lláh's children from His marriage with
Ásíyih Khánúm were born in this rented house which was located in the northern
section of Tehran near the Gate of Shimirán. They had a total of seven
children, six boys and one girl. Their first two sons Kázim and Sádiq died in
infancy. Their third son named 'Abbás was born on May 23, 1844. He was later
known as 'Abdu'l-Bahá. Two years later they had their only daughter named
Fátimih, later to be known as Bahíyyih Khánúm. Their fourth son named
'Ali-Múhammad also died in childhood. Their last surviving child, while they
were at this house, was born in 1848. He was named Mihdí, after Bahá’u’lláh's
brother who had died in their father's lifetime. Bahá’u’lláh and Ásíyih Khánúm
had one last child, a son who died in infancy in 1854 when the family was
exiled in Baghdad, Iraq.
During the summer months when the weather was often
exceptionally hot in the capital city Tehran, Bahá’u’lláh and His family would
repair to Tákúr, an ancestral village located about 60 miles north of Tehrán.
On occasion the family would go to places closer to the capital city. The
beautiful natural setting of these environs provided some temporary relief for
Bahá’u’lláh to enjoy the company of His family.
(Adapted from ‘Stories of Baha’u’llah’; ‘The Dawn-Breakers; ‘Baha’u’llah and the New Era’; ‘The Chosen Highway’; ‘Promulgation of Universal Peace’; and ‘Baha’u’llah, The King of Glory’)
(Adapted from ‘Stories of Baha’u’llah’; ‘The Dawn-Breakers; ‘Baha’u’llah and the New Era’; ‘The Chosen Highway’; ‘Promulgation of Universal Peace’; and ‘Baha’u’llah, The King of Glory’)
Source: Baha'i Stories Blog (https://bahaistories.blogspot.com/2013/12/bahaullahs-marriage-to-asiyih-khanum.html).
Discuss this story
For adults
- Where do courage and devotion meet in this story?
- How does this story illustrate the practice of courage?
- What stands out about Ásíyih Khánum's response in this account?
For teens
- If you were in Ásíyih Khánum's place, what might you have done?
- What does this story teach about courage?
Reflection
- What in this account feels timely? What feels timeless?
- How does courage show up in your life right now — and where is it being asked of you?
- Is there someone in your life who would be helped by hearing this story?
Comprehension quiz
Which source is "Bahá’u’lláh’s marriage to Ásíyih Khánúm and their early lives together up until His recognition of the Báb" drawn from?
Where does this story take place?
What period of Bahá'í history does this story belong to?
Which historical figure is featured most prominently in this story?
Which virtue does this story most clearly illustrate?
Cite this story
Various. *Baha'i Stories Blog*. https://bahaistories.blogspot.com/2013/12/bahaullahs-marriage-to-asiyih-khanum.html
This story shares quotes with 94 other stories
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Also in
- 1844: A lonely youth’s encounter with Bahá’u’lláh by a roadside in Mazindaran and his amazing recognition of His station— Various, Baha'i Stories Blog
- 1848: Baha’u’llah describes the consternation that seized the Bábís when Tahirih suddenly appeared unveiled at the conference of Badasht— Various, Baha'i Stories Blog
- 1851 Karbilá, Iraq: A disciple of the Báb becomes the first person to whom Baha'u'llah confided His Divine Mission – as was prophesied by the Báb in 1848— Various, Baha'i Stories Blog
- A believer’s eagerness to provide financial assistance to Baha’u’llah – but chose a wrong method— Various, Baha'i Stories Blog
- A funny incident while in the company of the Master— Various, Baha'i Stories Blog
- …and 89 more
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