According to the “Memorials of the Faithful” (pp. 291–8),
Tahirih had two sons and one daughter, none of whom recognised the truth of the
Cause. Such was the degree of her knowledge and attainment, that her father,
Hájí Mullá Sáliḥ often expressed his regret in the following terms: “Would that
she had been a boy for he would have shed illumination upon my household, and
would have succeeded me!” She became acquainted with the writings of Shaykh
Ahmad while staying in the home of her cousin, Mullá Javád, from whose library
she borrowed these books, and took them over to her home. Her father raised
violent objections to her action and, in his heated discussions with her,
denounced and criticised the teachings of Shaykh Ahmad. Táhirih refused to heed
the counsels of her father, and engaged in secret correspondence with Siyyid
Kázim, who conferred upon her the name of “Qurratu’l-‘Ayn.” The title of
“Táhirih” was first associated with her name while she was staying in Badasht,
and was subsequently approved by the Báb.
(Footnotes to Chapter 3 provided by
Shoghi Effendi)
