| (also Bahá'íyyih K̲h̲ánum) The Greatest Holy Leaf, daughter
of Bahá'u'lláh, sister of 'Abdu'l-Bahá.
Designated by Shoghi Effendi as 'the outstanding heroine of the Bahá'í Dispensation', she was born in 1846 in Ṭihrán. She accompanied Bahá'u'lláh on every stage of His exiles. When a young girl she decided to devote herself to the
service of the Faith of
her Father; therefore she
never married. Following the passing of Bahá'u'lláh , she stood by her brother, 'Abdu'l-Bahá,
and assisted Him greatly at the time when the activities of the Covenant-breakers were
at their height. Perhaps her greatest hour of service was after the passing of 'Abdu'l-Bahá when Shoghi Effendi,
overwhelmed by the responsibilities thrust upon him, decided to leave the affairs of
the Cause in the hands of
Bahíyyih K̲h̲ánum while he retired to recuperate and contemplate
the tasks ahead. |
| Of her character Shoghi
Effendi has written: 'A purity of life reflected itself in even the minutest details
of her daily occupations and activities; a tenderness of heart that obliterated every
distinction of creed, class and colour; a resignation and serenity that evoked to the
mind the calm and heroic fortitude of the Báb;
a natural fondness of flowers and children that was so characteristic of Bahá'u'lláh ; an unaffected simplicity of manners; an extreme sociability which made her accessible
to all; a generosity , a love, at once disinterested and undiscriminating, that reflected
so clearly the attributes of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's character; a sweetness of temper; a cheerfulness that no amount of sorrow could
becloud; a quiet and unassuming disposition that served to enhance a thousandfold the
prestige of her exulted rank; a forgiving nature that instantly disarmed the most unyielding
enemy — these rank among the outstanding attributes of a saintly life which history
will acknowledge as having been endowed with a celestial potency that few heroes of
the past possessed.'10 |
| The Greatest Holy Leaf passed away on 15 July 1932 and is buried under a Shrine
in the Monument Gardens on Mount
Carmel. |
| [BD 42] |
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| Bahíyyih K̲h̲ánum in 1895 |
[  ] [ Wikipedia - Bahíyyih K̲h̲ánum ] |
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| Bahíyyih, known as "the Greatest Holy Leaf". |
| [ ] [ Wikipedia - Bahíyyih K̲h̲ánum ] |
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| Prison in Acre in which Bahíyyih and her family were imprisoned |
| [ ] [ Wikipedia - Bahíyyih K̲h̲ánum ] |
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| The "Mansion" of Bahjí |
| [ ] [ Wikipedia - Bahíyyih K̲h̲ánum ] |
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| The grave of Bahíyyih K̲h̲ánum within the Monument Gardens. |
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| [ ] [ Photo - NicholasJB© ] [ Wikipedia - Bahá'í Gardens ] |
