Rúhíyyih Khanum
From Bahaikipedia
Amatu'l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum (August 8, 1910 - January 19, 2000), born Mary Maxwell, was the wife of Shoghi Effendi, the head of the Bahá'í Faith from 1921-1957. She was appointed by him as a Hand of the Cause, and served an important role in the transfer of authority from 1957-1963. In 2004, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation viewers voted her number 44 on the list of "greatest Canadians" on the television show 'The Greatest Canadian.
Contents |
[edit] Background
Mary was the long awaited child of William Maxwell and his wife May Maxwell. Forty-year-old May gave birth to Mary in Hahnemann Hospital, New York. Through her father she had Canadian and Scottish roots; through her mother she had American roots. Mary grew up with a loving family surrounding her, and was adored of her parents. Despite this, her school life was often rigid and authoritarian. For Mary's early training, May established the first Montessori school in Canada in the Maxwell home. In 1923 when she was 13 Mary made her first visit to the Holy Land and this was the time when she fist met Shoghi Effendi.
[edit] Marriage
She had met Shoghi Effendi a few times before her actually marriage. Mary, who will soon be known as Rúhiyyih Khánum, writes that when she arrived in the Holy Land in January of 1937, "it was not as strangers but as two people reaching the zenith of their love" During her pilgrimage in 1937, the Guardian surprised Mary by proposing to her after couple went through a discreet courtship. She accepted and the couple married in the Greatest Holy Leaf’s room in 7 Haparsim (Persian) Street on March 24th 1937. The marriage was a pure and simple one, reminiscent of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá's marriage to Munírih Khánum. Shoghi Effendi then renamed her Amatu'l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum. The marriage surprised the Bahá’ís. Rúḥíyyih Khánum states that Shoghi Effendi was keen on the wedding being kept secret. After Shoghi Effendi was married, it was seen as a symbol of the unity between the East and the West. A telegram was sent out to America stating:
“Announce Assemblies celebration marriage beloved Guardian. Inestimable honour conferred upon handmaiden of Bahá’u’lláh Rúhíyyih Khánum Miss Mary Maxwell. Union of East and West proclaimed by Bahá’í faith cemented. Ziaiyyih mother of the Guardian”
Rúḥíyyih Khánum and Shoghi Effendi never had children. She later reported that they in fact tried unsuccessfully. After consulting doctors, they were told that nothing was wrong with them physically, and nothing should prevent them from having children. After the Guardian died in 1957, she became for Bahá'ís the last remaining link to the family of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, who headed the Faith from 1892 to 1921 and was the eldest son of the Faith's Founder, Bahá'u'lláh.
[edit] Ministry of the Custodians
In 1957 her husband, Shoghi Effendi, died without having appointed a successor. Rúḥíyyih Khánum was among the 27 Hands of the Cause who stewarded the religion for the six-year interim, before the Universal House of Justice was scheduled to be elected in 1963. The Hands voted among themselves for 9 individuals to work at the Bahá'í World Centre to run the administration of the Faith, a position to which Rúḥíyyih Khánum was elected. These 9 were designated the Custodians, and held the authority of excommunication.
[edit] Final years
From 1957 until her death Rúḥíyyih Khánum traveled to over 185 countries and territories helping integrate the world's several million Bahá'ís into a unified global community; she especially encouraged members of indigenous peoples to participate in the global Bahá'í community.
Rúḥíyyih Khánum died on January 19, 2000 at the age of 89 in Haifa, Israel and her resting place is at the Bahá'í World Centre.
[edit] References
- Rúḥíyyih Khánum
- Harper, Barron (1997). Lights of Fortitude, Paperback, Oxford, UK: George Ronald. ISBN 0853984131.
- Nakhjavani, Violette (2000). Tribute to Amatu'l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum, A. Bahá'í Canada Publications & Nine Pines Publishing, Ottawa, Canada. ISBN 0888671059.
- Rabbani, Ruhiyyih (Ed.) (1992). The Ministry of the Custodians 1957-1963. Bahá'í World Centre. ISBN 085398350X.
- Rabbani, Ruhiyyih (1969). The Priceless Pearl, Hardcover, London, UK: Bahá'í Publishing Trust: 2000. ISBN 1870989910.
- Rabbani, R. (1948). Twenty-Five Years of the Guardianship. Wilmette, Illinois, USA: Bahá'í Publishing Trust.
