arthra

I don't know how many have heard of this story but it is found in Chapter Three of the book Tahirih the Pure, Iran's Greatest Woman by Martha Root



NOW I shall present to you all that I have been able to learn about Táhirih's communication with His Imperial Majesty Násiri'd-Din Sháh.

When she was brought into his presence, after being brought back from Badasht on seeing her he said: "I like her looks: leave her, and let her be."

It is related that His Imperial Majesty sent her a letter to the kalántar's house, the resume of which was that he urges her to deny the Báb and again become a true Muslim. If she will do this, then he will give her an exalted place, the guardian of the ladies of his household: he will make her his bride.

She wrote a reply in verse on the back of his letter and had it returned to the Sháhinsháh. The English translation which can not do justice to the beauty of the original poem is about as follows:

"Kingdom, wealth and ruling be for thee,

Wandering, becoming a poor dervish and calamity be for me.

If that station is good, let it be for thee,

And if this station is bad, I long for it, let it be for me!"

After the Sháh read this, he commented on her wonderful spirit and her courage, His words were: "So far history has not shown such a woman to us."

The relative of Táhirih in Qazvin told me that the day before her martyrdom she was called to the presence of His Imperial Majesty Násiri'd-Din Sháh. He said to her that day: "Why should you be a believer in the Báb?" She replied not with her own words, but from the Qu'rán which was about as follows, that I do not worship whom you worship, and you do not worship whom I worship. I shall never worship whom you worship and you will never worship whom I worship. Therefore, permit that I worship whom I wish and you worship whom you wish.

His Majesty bent his head in silence for some time and then arose and left the room without saying anything. However, I heard that the eunuch and others around the Sháh were determined she should be killed, and the next day they had her murdered without the Sháh's knowledge; and he was very grieved when he learned of it.


Source:

Tahirih, The Pure, Iran's Greatest Woman

cire perdue

I had read this and forgotten that. How special.......

armin

Nice story. The poem even in English is strikingly beautiful. I just ordered a book of her poems in Persian/Arabic . Thanks for the post