Munírih Khánum

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Munírih Khánum, (Persian: منیره خانم )

Holy Mother Munírih Khánum (1848 - April 28, 1938) was the wife of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, eldest son of Bahá'u'lláh and Ásíyih Khánum. She is the grandmother of Shoghi Effendi.

Born Fátimih Nahrí, but called Fátimih Khánum (Persian: فاطمه خانم), she was born while her father and uncle where present at the Conference of Badasht which roughly puts her birthdate between June and July of 1848. Her father was Mírzá Muhammad `Alíy-i-Nahrí. He had been married before, but had no children. The Báb, gave her father some sweets that he ate, and Mírzá Muhammad `Alíy-i-Nahrí saved some for his wife and gave it to her. Eight months and nine days later she was born. Fátimih spent her childhood and early youth in Isfahan. In her youth, Fátimih Khánum was considered a suitable match for marriage to Báha'í or Bábí families throughout Iran.

'Abdu'l-Bahá, aged 24, was betrothed to his cousin, the very pretty and young Shahr-Bánu (Persian:شهربانو). This was from when 'Abdu'l-Bahá was around only 10. In Persia, and also Europe, betrothals where made during infancy. When the time came for His marriage Bahá'u'lláh summond Shahr-Bánu to come to Baghád to wed her handsome cousin. Perhaps fortunately for all concerned, Bahá'u'lláh's sister Shah Khanum (Khanum Buzurg), decided to create chaos and forced Shahr-Bánu's to cancell the engagment and marry one of the Vizer's son's. Grief stricken by this, she died of consumption shortly therafter. The same time in Irán...

Fátimih Khánum was to marry. After the death of her father, her family arranged that she should marry Mirza Kazim a cousin, which was a very popular thing to do in that time, who was also a brother of the King and Beloved of Martyrs (Núrayn-i-Nayyirayn) who had been horrifically martyred in Isfahan. Fátimih didn't want to marry him, however she reluctantly agreed to the marriage. Amazingly, during the wedding party Mirza Kazim avoided his bride and who was in perfect health, fell ill after the wedding party and died shortly after. Widowed at 20, Fátimih prayed and meditated, asking God for guidance.

In 1872, Bahá'u'lláh and Ásíyih Khánum expressed interest in the beautiful Fátimih to marry 'Abdu'l-Bahá. Bahá'u'lláh says that He had a dream and Shahr-Bánu's face was fading away and that another beautiful girl appeared. Certain that "liminuous" girl was Fátimih, her aunt travalled to Isfahan and told Fátimih of the glad-tidings. In her memoirs, she writes " Far be it, For I am not worthy of such bounty!". She then traveled to 'Akká, a journey which took her around 6 months. While on her journey she stayed with Khadíjih-Bagum in Shiráz, the wife of the Báb for a while too. As requsted by Bahá'u'lláh, her and her brother made a pilgrimage to Mecca.

A pregnant 32 year old Munírih Khánum in 1880

Once arriving in 'Akká, Fátimih was bestowed with the new name of "Munírih" meaning "Illumined" from Bahá'u'lláh. The wedding had been postponed for a while due to the lack of a room. Munírih Khánum married 'Abdu'l-Bahá on 8 March 1873 in the House of 'Abbúd. Munírih Khánum was 25, 'Abdu'l-Bahá was 28. They had 9 children together; Ḥusayn Effendi (d. 1305/1887, aged two), Mihdí (died aged two-and-a-half), Ṭúbá, Fu'ádiyyih, and Ruḥangíz. Munírih Khánum says; "Five of my children died in the poisonous climate of `Akka." Four daughters survived to adulthood; Ḍiyá'iyyih (mother of Shoghi Effendi) (d. 1951) Túbá Khánum (1880-1959) Rúḥá and Munavvar (d. 1971). Lady Blomfield described Munírih Khánum as; "She has a most beautiful voice, and her eyes are large, dark, still, with a serenity in their depths that holiness alone can give." and "She is a majestic woman, stately yet simple, with an innate dignity and strength of character."

Munírih Khánum died on April 28, 1938 and her resting place is in the Monument Gardens at the World Centre.

"If I had to write the details of the fifty years of my association with the Beloved of the World of His love, mercy and bounty I would need fifty years more of time and opportunity to write it."

“In His Name, the Glory of the Most Glorious! O Divine Providence! Thou seest and art a witness that all my limbs, my members, my heart, my soul, and my conscience bear testimony to the inexhaustible bounties which Thou hast showered upon this unworthy handmaiden at the Threshold from the beginning of her life.” —Munirih Khanum