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Marriage |
During the youth of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá the question of a
suitable marriage for Him was naturally one of great interest
to the believers, and many people came forward,
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wishing to have this crown of honor for their own family.
For a long time, however, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá showed no inclination
for marriage, and no one understood the wisdom
of this. Afterwards it became known that there was a girl
who was destined to become the wife of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá,
one whose birth came about through the Blessing which
the Báb gave to her parents in Iṣfahán. Her father was
Mírzá Muḥammad ‘Alí, who was the uncle of the “King
of Martyrs” and the “Beloved of Martyrs,” and she belonged
to one of the great and noble families of Iṣfahán.
When the Báb was in Iṣfahán, Mírzá Muḥammad ‘Alí
had no children, but his wife was longing for a child. On
hearing of this, the Báb gave him a portion of His food
and told him to share it with his wife. After they had
eaten of that food, it soon became apparent that their
long-cherished hopes of parenthood were about to be fulfilled,
and in due course a daughter was born to them,
who was given the name of Munírih Khánum.
1
Later on
son was born, to whom they gave the name of Siyyid
Yaḥyá, and afterwards they had some other children.
After a time, Munírih’s father died, her cousins were martyred
by Zillu’s-Sulṭán and the mullás, and the family fell
into great troubles and bitter persecutions because of
their being Bahá’ís. Bahá’u’lláh then permitted Munírih
and her brother Siyyid Yaḥyá to come to ‘Akká for protection.
Bahá’u’lláh and His wife, Navváb, the mother of
‘Abdu’l-Bahá, showed such kindness and favor to Munírih
that others understood that they wished her to become
the wife of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. The wish of His father and
mother became the wish of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, too. He had a
warm feeling of love and affection for Munírih which was
fully reciprocated, and erelong they became united in
marriage.
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The marriage proved exceedingly happy and harmonious.
Of the children born to them four daughters have survived the
rigors of their long imprisonment, and, through their beautiful
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lives of service, have endeared themselves to all who have been
privileged to know them.
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1. | It is interesting to compare this story with that of the birth of John the Baptist; see St. Luke’s Gospel, Chapter I. [ Back To Reference] |