Ásíyih Khánum: Difference between revisions

{{short description|Wife of Baháʼu'lláh, the founder of the Baha'i Faith}}

'''Ásíyih K͟hánum''' ({{lang-fa|{{big|آسیه خانم}}}}&lrm; 1820{{spaced ndash}}1886) was the wife of [[Baháʼu'lláh]], the founder of the [[Baháʼí Faith]]. She is viewed by Baháʼís as the paragon of a devoted mother and wife. She is also known by her titles of '''Navváb''', the '''Most Exalted Leaf''', '''Búyúk K͟hánum''' or '''Hadrat-i-K͟hánum'''. '''K͟hánum''' is a title usually given to a Persian lady and is equivalent to madam.<ref>{{harvnb|Morier|2005|p=115}}</ref> Baháʼu'lláh and Ásíyih Khánum were known as the ''Father of the Poor'' and the ''Mother of Consolation'' for their extraordinary generosity and regard for the impoverished. Baháʼu'lláh, along with Ásíyih Khánum and her children, are regarded as the Baháʼí holy family.

== Background ==

Ásíyih Khánum was born '''Ásíyih Yalrúdí''' the only daughter of Mírzá Ismáʼíl Yalrúdí, the vazír or minister.<ref name="lotdt">{{Harvnb|Ma'ani|2008|pp=85–124}}</ref> Ásíyih Khánum was born in the village of [[Yal Rud]] in [[Mazandaran]], [[Persia]] to a wealthy noble family.<ref name="lotdt"/><ref>{{Harvnb|Cole|1998|p=175}}</ref> Her father Mírzá Ismáʼíl was a minister in the court of the King of Persia and highly influential and wealthy. She had one brother Mírzá Mahmúd who did not become a [[Bábism|Bábí]] or a [[Baháʼí]].<ref name="bkog">{{harvnb|Balyuzi|2000|p=23}}</ref> Little is known about the early life of Ásíyih Khánum. This is mainly due to the fact that contemporaries did not care for the maternal sideoffamilies concentrating more on the males<ref>{{Harvnb|Ma'ani|2008|p=3}}</ref> – hence the name of her mother is unknown.<ref name="lotdt"/> What can be assumed however is that the young Ásíyih Khánum was educated well, learning to read and write in Persian and Arabic.<ref name="lotdt"/>

== Marriage ==

More information is known about her after her marriage to [[Baháʼu'lláh]]. In 1832 her eldest brother, Mírzá Mahmúd, was wedded to an elder sister of Baháʼu'lláh; Sarah.<ref name="lotdt"/> Sarah Khánum was very close to Baháʼu'lláh<ref name="Taherzadeh 2000 21">{{harvnb|Taherzadeh|2000|p=21}}</ref> and was gratified with evidence of her beauty, piety and kindness.<ref name="lotdt"/><ref name="bkog" /><ref name="basi">{{Harvnb|Momen|2007|p=8,34,43}}</ref> She quickly devised a plan to marry the two together.<ref name="bkog" /> [[Mírzá ʻAbbás Núrí]] (father of Baháʼu'lláh) accepted perhaps enticed by the huge dowry which included three servants, large piece of land, property and a huge sum of money.<ref name="lotdt"/> The betrothal was then made official.<ref name="lotdt"/> For the young Ásíyih marriage would have meant a new-found freedom, something which ladies in nineteenth-century Persia could only find through marriage.<ref name="RoBv2">{{Harvnb|Bowers|2004|pp=165,210}}</ref> In her youth she was lauded for her beauty<ref name="basi"/> being described as "tall, slender, graceful, eyes of dark blue"<ref name="blom">{{Harvnb|Blomfield|1956|pp=39–65,100}}</ref> "slender, stately…with white skin and blue eyes and dark hair"<ref>{{Harvnb|Rabbani|1952|pp=253–8}}</ref> and "winsome, vivacious and exceedingly beautiful".<ref name="bkog" />

In October 1835, the fifteen-year-old Ásíyih Khánum married Baháʼu'lláh in a grand and sumptuous ceremony with the buttons on Ásíyih Khánum's clothes as jewels,<ref name="lotdt"/><ref name="bkog" /> these jewels were later sold to provide for food for the family during the [[persecution of Baháʼís|persecution of Bábís]] in 1852.<ref name="lotdt"/><ref name="blom"/> The early years of the marriage were apparently happy, according to Baháʼí texts, living a life of luxury; with Ásíyih and Baháʼu'lláh occupying themselves with philanthropy though naturally Ásíyih only helped the women and young children.<ref name="lotdt"/><ref name="blom"/> The marriage resultedinseven children: [[Baháʼu'lláh's family#Others|Kázim]],<ref name="Browne320">{{Harvnb|Browne|1918|pp=320–321}}</ref> Sádiq,<ref name="Browne320"/> [[ʻAbdu'l-Bahá|ʻAbbás]],<ref name="Browne320"/> ʻAlí-Muhammad,<ref name="Browne320"/> [[Bahiyyih Khánum|Bahíyyih]],<ref name="Browne320"/> [[Mírzá Mihdí|Mihdí]]<ref name="Browne320"/> and ʻAlí-Muhammad.<ref name="Browne320"/><ref>{{Harvnb|Ma'ani|2008|p=94}}</ref> Only three survived to adulthood all of whom were deeply loyal to their mother.<ref>{{Harvnb|Blomfield|1956|p=92}}</ref> Ásíyih Khánum was very close to her children, and took active participation in their upbringing especially [[ʻAbdu'l-Bahá]].<ref name="blom"/>

The three surviving children of the couple were ʻAbbás, entitled the ''G͟husn-i-Aʻzam'' (meaning "Mightiest Branch" or "Mightier Branch"),<ref group=note>The [[elative (gradation)|elative]] is a stage of gradation in [[Arabic language|Arabic]] that can be used both for a [[superlative]] or a [[comparative]]. ''G͟husn-i-Aʻzam'' could mean "Mightiest Branch" or "Mightier Branch."</ref> who later took the epithet [[ʻAbdu'l-Bahá]].<ref name="iranica_abdulbaha_b">{{cite encyclopedia |encyclopedia= Encyclopædia Iranica |year= 1989 |article=ʻAbd-al-Bahāʼ : Life and work | url = http://www.iranica.com/newsite/articles/unicode/v1f1/v1f1a064.html | first = Alessandro | last = Bausani}}</ref> Bahíyyih, entitled the ''Ḥadrat-i-Varaqiyih-'Ulyá'' (meaning "Greatest Holy Leaf"), and known as [[Bahíyyih Khánum]] and Mihdí, entitled ''G͟husn-i-Athar'' (meaning "Purest Branch" or "Purer Branch"),<ref group=note>The [[elative (gradation)|elative]] is a stage of gradation in [[Arabic language|Arabic]] that can be used both for a [[superlative]] or a [[comparative]]. ''G͟husn-i-Athar'' could mean "Purest Branch" or "Purer Branch."</ref> and known as [[Mírzá Mihdí]]. The oldest of these:<ref name="Browne320"/> ʻAbbás, married in 1873 to [[Munírih Khánum|Fátimih Nahrí]]<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |encyclopedia= Knol |year= 2009 |article= Babi and Baha'i (Bahai) religions | url = http://knol.google.com/k/rachel-woodlock/babi-and-bahai-bahai-religions/2ikwuhzdlhwn6/2# | first = Rachel| last = Woodlock}}</ref> and had nine children. In her youth Bahíyyih chose to remain unmarried so therefore she had no children. Mihdí died at the age of twenty-two unmarried. All in all Ásíyih had nine grandchildren with only four surviving to adulthood.<ref name="bkog" />

== As a Bábí ==

In 1844, [[Baháʼu'lláh]] heard of a new faith [[Bábism]] and accepted.<ref name="lotdt" /> At 23, Ásíyih Khánum accepted the faith and their family became one its most prominent members.<ref name="lotdt" /> The Núrí family lived in the capital [[Tehran]] or sometimes [[Mazandaran]] – the norm of upper-class Persian families. She was aware of the plight of many of the [[Bábism|Bábís]] and even was a close friend to [[Táhirih]] whom she entertained in her private parlour.<ref name="lotdt" />

On 15 August 1852, a radical group of Bábís attempted the assassination of the Shah and failed.<ref name="blom" /> The group of Bábís linked with the plan were rounded up and killed, and, notwithstanding the assassins' claim that they were working alone, the entire Bábí community was blamed andageneral pogrom of the Bábí community was started by the Shah.<ref name="blom" /> Ásíyih was not spared. Her home was looted, its possessions were taken away and she was leftinpractical poverty.<ref name="blom" /> From being one of the most wealthy and influential families of Persia to penury in one night left a mark on Ásíyih for the rest of her life.<ref name="lotdt" />

== Baghdad ==

[[File:Mirza-mihdi.jpg|thumb|Mirzá Mihdí, the youngest and favourite child of Ásíyih.]]

In 1852, her husband was arrested because of his Bábí faith.<ref>{{Harvnb|Cole|1998|p=28}}</ref> Her home was looted and the family were left in destitution.<ref>{{Harvnb|Cole|1998|p=52}}</ref> According to her daughter, Ásíyih would go the home of her aunt to find any news of Baháʼu'lláh. She lived in constant fear in case Baháʼu'lláh would be executed, seeing one Bábí being taken from the [[Síyáh-Chál]] and killed every day.<ref name="ltoae1">{{Harvnb|Phelps|1912|pp=14–65}}</ref> She sold parts of her dowry and used them to bribe guards to give food to her husband. An edict arrived banishing the family to [[Baghdad]]. On leaving, no-one came to say goodbye save the "grandmother of Ásíyih Khánum".<ref name="blom"/> She reluctantly left her favourite child, Mihdí, in her care.<ref name="blom"/><ref name="ltoae1"/>

When her husband was exiled in the freezing January 1853 she accompanied him becoming his closest companion and confidante.<ref name="Taherzadeh 2000 21"/><ref name="basi"/> As a young woman exiled, she was ill-prepared for her journey finding the exile hard and demanding "young as she was and unaccustomed to sorrow".<ref name="ltoae1"/> She was pregnant when exiled in January 1853<ref name="ltoae1"/> – causing her much difficulty.<ref name="basi"/> However, she stayed quiet about her problems in order not to upset the demoralized exiles.<ref name="ltoae1"/>

[[Baháʼu'lláh]] decided to retreat to [[Kurdistan]] and left his two brothers [[Mírzá Músá]] and [[Subh-i-Azal]] to care for the family. The latter was often cruel to the family and when Ásíyih's baby needed a doctor he forbade her from getting one. The child, born in [[Baghdad]] whom she named ʻAlí-Muhammad after the [[Báb]]. He died around 1855 at the age of about two, affecting her greatly.<ref>{{Harvnb|Blomfield|1956|p=52}}</ref> Her [[Bahiyyih Khánum|daughter]] explains: "the sweet body of our beautiful baby was givento a man, who took it away, and we never knew even where he was laid. I remember so clearly the sorrow of those days".<ref name="blom"/> When her husband left Baghdad to live in solitude she greatly depended for support on her [[ʻAbdu'l-Bahá|son]] and [[Bahiyyih Khánum|daughter]] and the three became inseparable.<ref name="blom"/> The period in Baghdad was extremely painful for the delicate Ásíyih Khánum; the exile, the separation from Mihdí, loss of her child and separation from her husband left her emotionally and physically drained.<ref name="ltoae1"/>

== Constantinople and Adrianople ==

The family were subsequently exiled again to [[Constantinople]] in 1863.<ref name="RoBv2"/> During this period Ásíyih consoled herself with knowing her husband was with her,<ref name="ltoae1"/> but according to her [[Bahiyyih Khánum|daughter]] she was also petrified knowing that at any time she could be separated from him "as though a sword were hanging over our heads".<ref name="ltoae1"/> It was during this time that her [[Bahiyyih Khánum|daughter]] grew into a beautiful seventeen-year-old and began emulating her mother. She implored her parents, father in particular, to remain unmarried.<ref>{{Harvnb|Ma'ani|2008|p=254}}</ref> According to Baháʼí sources, her mother gladly accepted this request and the two became constant companions.<ref name="lotdt"/><ref name="RoBv2"/><ref name="blom"/>

Shortly after the arrival in Constantinople they were exiled to the remote [[Adrianople]].<ref name="RoBv2"/> The journey was an exhausting and wearisome one during the bitter winter. The cold winter took its toll of Ásíyih and she fell gravely ill.<ref name="ltoae1"/> The five years in Adrianople were also unhappy. After Baháʼu'lláh almost died, the family were beside themselves with grief.<ref name="ltoae1"/> Ásíyih and her children were then told that they would be all exiled to different places away from [[Baháʼu'lláh]], she became so grievous that for a few days she neither slept nor ate.<ref name="ltoae1"/> It was, according to Baháʼís, through the intercession of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá that the edict was scrapped and the family all exiled together.<ref name="ltoae1"/>

== Acre ==

A royal command was issued in July 1868 condemning the Bábís/Baháʼís to perpetual imprisonment and isolation in far-flung outposts of the [[Ottoman Empire]] — [[Famagusta]], [[Cyprus]] for [[Mirza Yahya]] and his followers, and [[Acre, Israel|ʻAkká]],in Ottoman [[Palestine (region)|Palestine]], for Baháʼu'lláh and his followers.<ref name="PSmith26">{{Harvnb|Smith|1999|p=26}}</ref> Again and for the last time the family were exiled to the prison city of [[Acre, Israel]]. This was by far the most devastating place the family had been to .<ref name="ltoae2">{{Harvnb|Phelps|1912|pp=55–70}}</ref> Accompanying her was her 24-year-old [[ʻAbdu'l-Bahá|son]],<ref name="ltoae2"/> her 21-year-old [[Bahiyyih Khánum|daughter]],<ref name="lotdt"/><ref name="ltoae2"/> her twenty-year-old son [[Mírzá Mihdí]] and her husband. A band of companions also accompanied. The Baháʼís arrived in July in the heart of the summer, and when arrived were all seasick.<ref name="ltoae2"/> The inhabitants of Acre were told that the new prisoners were enemies of the state, of God and his religion, and that association with them was strictly forbidden. The aggressive public was jeering and throwing abuse.<ref name="ltoae2"/> She was greatly distressed by this and almost all of the exiles fell dangerously ill.<ref name="ltoae2"/> Her husband and she depended emotionally on each other during this difficult period.<ref name="ltoae2"/>

The period was distressing for Ásíyih Khánum, as it was for many of the Baháʼís, due to the death of three Baháʼís and hostile behavior of the surrounding population.<ref name="blom"/> The Baháʼís were imprisoned under horrendous conditions in a cluster of cells covered in dirt and sewage and not given sufficient food for three days.<ref name="ltoae2"/> The most devastating circumstance for Ásíyih was probably the death of her youngest and favourite son; twenty-two-year-old [[Mírzá Mihdí|Mihdí]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Ma'ani|2008|p=19}}</ref> The site was painful for the onlookers, who witnessed the dying Mírzá Mihdí, covered in blood, hold out his arms to his mother.<ref name="lotdt" /> On witnessing this Ásíyih made an agonizing sigh and lost consciousness to the consternation of [[Bahíyyih Khánum]].<ref name="lotdt" /> His death caused her much pain – so much so that her family feared for her life.<ref name="lotdt" /><ref name="ltoae2"/> According to Baháʼís the disconsolate Ásíyih was helped by [[Baháʼu'lláh]] who assured his wife their child was in heaven.<ref name="lotdt" /> [[Bahíyyih Khánum]] gathered and kept her brother's blood-stained clothes after he died in 1870.<ref name="RoBv2"/> [[Shoghi Effendi]] has described her as having "continued to evince a fortitude, a piety, a devotion and a nobility of soul".<ref>{{Harvnb|Effendi|1944|p=108}}</ref>

== Easing of restrictions ==

[[File:Abbaseffendi1868.jpg|thumb|right|ʻAbbás Effendi, Ásíyih Khánum's eldest son.]]

In 1870, restrictions were eased for the family and they were moved from the prison. As the people of Acre started to respect the Baháʼís and in particular, ʻAbdu'l-Bahá,<ref name="blom"/> ʻAbdu'l-Bahá was able to arrange for [[House of ʻAbbúd#Akk.C3.A1 area|houses to be rented]] for the family, and the family finally moved to the [[Mansion of Bahjí]] around 1879 when an epidemic caused the inhabitants to flee. She was greatly respected and admired by the Baháʼís and known for her keen sense of humour, kindness and compassion.<ref name="blom"/>

Ásíyih personally helped women and children of Acre who were struck with illness nursing them to health.<ref name="blom"/> Though she was dainty and of little strength she nonetheless served the household and pilgrims with the help her daughter and Baháʼu'lláh. Her health soon swiftly declined with many of her family believing it was the climate of Acre.<ref name="blom"/>

Ásíyih spent most of her time devoted to piety and her family. Baháʼu'lláh called her “Navváb”, a respectable term Persian noblemen called their wives.<ref name="blom"/> She was also affectionately known as Búyúk Khánum.<ref>{{harvnb|Balyuzi|2000|p=227}}</ref><ref>A Turkish title lit: ''Great Lady''</ref> He also named her ''Varaqiyih-'Ulyá'' (meaning "Greatest Holy Leaf")<ref group=note>Baháʼu'lláh referred to his family as a tree, and the females the leaves</ref> and his "perpetual consort in the worlds of God". Baháʼu'lláh named her son [[ʻAbdu'l-Bahá]] as his successor.<ref>{{harvnb|Britannica|1992|p=2}}</ref> She was greatly esteemed and revered by Baháʼís and even by her own children and was referred to as "the Exalted Leaf" by them. [[Shoghi Effendi]] described her as “the most distinguished of all people”.<ref>{{Harvnb|Ma'ani|2008|p=118}}</ref> ʻAbdu'l-Bahá wrote about his mother:

{{quote|And truly the humiliation and reproach which she suffered in the path of God is a fact which no one can refute. For the calamities and afflictions mentioned in the whole chapter are such afflictions which she suffered in the path of God, all of which she endured with patience and thanked God therefor and praised Him, because He had enabled her to endure afflictions for the sake of Bahá. During all this time, the men and women ([[Covenant-breakers]]) persecuted her in an incomparable manner, while she was patient, God-fearing, calm, humble and contented through the favor of her Lord and by the bounty of her Creator.<ref name="toab">{{cite web | title = Tablets of Abdu'l-Bahá ʻAbbás | url = http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/ab/TAB/tab-126.html.utf8?query=humiliation&action=highlight#gr7 | publisher = Baháʼí International Community | accessdate=2008-07-05}}</ref>}}

== Death ==

Ásíyih died peacefully in 1886, aged 66, with Baháʼu'lláh by her side.<ref name="Ma'ani 2008 115">{{Harvnb|Ma'ani|2008|p=115}}</ref> Her death was mourned by the populace of Acre; her funeral was attended by [[Muslims]], [[Christians]] and [[Druze]] people.<ref>{{harvnb|Balyuzi|2000|p=21}}</ref> Baháʼu'lláh remarked that after Ásíyih, his light had been turned to darkness, his joy to sadness and calmness into agitation.<ref>{{Harvnb|Khan|1998|p=47}}</ref> Her death was followed by several other deaths which hurt the family: a year later the death of [[Mírzá Músá]], the brother of Baháʼu'lláh, followed by the passing of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá's son and Baháʼu'lláh grandson (five-year-old Husayn) only increased Baháʼu'lláh's mourning.<ref name="basi"/> ʻAbdu'l-Bahá writes that when it came to suffering, his mother "''endured with patience and thanked God therefor and praised Him''".<ref name="Effendi 1947 35">{{Harvnb|Effendi|1947|p=35}}</ref> Though her children were deeply hurt,<ref>{{harvnb|Balyuzi|2000|p=369}}</ref> it was Baháʼu'lláh who was the most affected.<ref name="basi"/> He was so grief-stricken that he lost his appetite to eat and was overwhelmed with sorrow.<ref>{{harvnb|Rabbani|1958|p=5}}</ref>

He revealed a tablet in her honour which he extols her virtues writing God "is well-pleased with thee" and that God "hath singled thee out for His own Self, and chosen thee from among His handmaidens".<ref>{{Harvnb|Effendi|1947|p=32}}</ref> Heart-broken, Baháʼu'lláh wrote a number of writings in honour of Ásíyih. In one revealed shortly after her death, he describes her as his "companion", that she had been faithful at all times, that she had drank from the "chalice" of tribulation and praised her steadfastness and devotion. He described her death as the second most sorrowful event for the Baháʼís – the first being the death of [[Khadíjih-Bagum]] – and that he was overtaken by sadness. He also warns "woe betide" anybody who tries to marginalize her, or question her station. She was originally buried in a Muslim cemetery with her son, Mírzá Mihdí, but in December 1939 her body was removed and reburied on in the gardens below [[The Arc (Baháʼí)|the Arc]] on [[Mount Carmel, Israel|Mount Carmel]] in [[Haifa]] in an area now called the [[Baháʼí World Centre buildings#Monument Gardens|Monument Gardens]].<ref name="basi"/>

== Reburial ==

[[File:Monument Gardens Navvab Mihdi.jpg|thumb|right|Monument Gardens, facing north. The tomb of Ásíyih is on the left; of Mihdí on the right.]]

After Ásíyih died in 1886, she was buried in a Muslim cemetery in Acre.<ref name="Ma'ani 2008 115"/> Western and Eastern pilgrims would travel to the cemetery to visit her grave and the grave of Mírzá Mihdí. In 1932 her [[Bahiyyih Khánum|daughter]] died and her wish was to be buried beside her mother and [[Mírzá Mihdí|brother]].<ref name="pp">{{Harvnb|Rabbani|1969|p=261}}</ref> [[Shoghi Effendi]] thought the gravesite of Ásíyih in this cemetery was unbefitting for her and her son.<ref>{{Harvnb|Ma'ani|2008|p=121}}</ref> After fifty-three years since her death, he arranged to secretly transfer her remains and that of her son to be buried near her daughter in Mount Carmel.<ref name="pp"/> They were removed from their previous resting places and the bodies were temporarily left in the [[Shrine of the Báb]] till the burial arrangements were finished.<ref name="pp"/> He then cabled the Baháʼís:

{{quote|Blessed remains [[Mírzá Mihdí|Purest Branch]] and Master's mother safely transferred hallowed precincts Shrines Mount Carmel. Long inflicted humiliation wiped away. Machinations Covenant-breakers frustrate plan defeated. Cherished wish [[Bahíyyih Khánum|Greatest Holy Leaf]] fulfilled. Sister brother mother wife [[ʻAbdu'l-Bahá]] reunited one spot designed constitute focal centre Baháʼí Administrative Institutions at Faith's World Centre. Share joyful news entire body American believers. Shoghi Rabbani.<ref name="pp"/>}}

He commissioned two marble monuments to be built made in Corinthian style from [[Italy]].<ref name="pp"/> After successfully transferring the remains, Shoghi Effendi reburied the two next to each other in a ceremony on Christmas Day of 1939.<ref name="pp"/> The burial ground is now called the [[Baháʼí World Centre buildings#Monument Gardens|Monument Gardens]] the burial ground of the Baháʼí "holy family" namely the wife, [[Mírzá Mihdí|son]], [[Bahiyyih Khánum|daughter]] and [[Munírih Khánum|daughter-in-law]] of Baháʼu'lláh.<ref name="pp"/>

== See also ==

*[[Bahiyyih Khánum]], Baháʼu'lláh's daughter by Ásíyih.

==Notes and citations==

;Notes

{{reflist|group=note}}

;Citations

== References ==

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*{{cite book | last = Bowers | first = Kenneth E. | title = God Speaks Again | publisher = Baha'i Publishing Trust | year = 2004 | location = | pages = 165, 210 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=IOjBc_wK4m8C&pg=PA165 | doi = | id = | isbn = 978-1-931847-12-4 | ref =harv}}

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*{{cite book|last = Cole |first = Juan |authorlink = Juan Cole |year = 1998|title = Modernity and the Millennium |publisher = Columbia University Press|location = |isbn = 0-231-11081-2|url = | ref =harv}}

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*{{cite book|last = Effendi |first = Shoghi |authorlink = Shoghi Effendi |year = 1947|title = Messages to America |publisher = Baha'i Publishing Trust|location = |isbn = |url = | ref =harv}}

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*{{cite book|last = Ma'ani|first = Baharieh Rouhani |authorlink = |year = 2008|title = Leaves of the Twin Divine Trees |publisher = George Ronald|location = Oxford, UK|isbn = 0-85398-533-2|url = | ref =harv}}

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*{{cite book

|last=Rabbani

|first=Ruhiyyih

|authorlink = Rúhíyyih Khanum

|year= 1969

|title= The Priceless Pearl

|edition=Hardcover

|publisher= Baháʼí Publishing Trust: 2000

|location=London, UK

|isbn= 1-870989-91-0 | ref =harv

}}

*{{cite book|last = Rabbani |first = Ruhiyyih |authorlink = Ruhiyyih Khanum |year = 1952|title = The Baháʼí World|publisher = Baha'i Publishing Trust|location = |isbn = |url = | ref =harv}}

*{{Cite book |last = Smith

|first = Peter

|authorlink = Peter Smith (historian)

|year = 1999

|title = A Concise Encyclopedia of the Baháʼí Faith

|publisher = Oneworld Publications

|place = Oxford, UK

|isbn = 1-85168-184-1

|ref = harv

|url-access = registration

|url = https://archive.org/details/conciseencyclope0000smit

}}

*{{Cite book

|last = Taherzadeh

|first = A.

|author-link = Adib Taherzadeh

|year = 2000

|title = The Child of the Covenant

|publisher = George Ronald

|place = Oxford, UK

|isbn = 0-85398-439-5 | ref =harv

}}

*{{cite book | title = The Adventures of Hajji Baba of Ispahan | first = James | last = Morier | year = 2005 | publisher = Cosimo Classics | isbn = 1-59605-263-5 | ref =harv}}