From The Archives 6: The Controversy of Táhirih’s Unveiling
As a Bahá’í, one of the fundamental tenets is the equality of men and women. So for me, I was particularly intrigued by the class Religion & Gender, because I wanted to learn more about the relationship between the two within various religions. Susan Marks was a great professor, and I almost put her on my thesis committee! And while I did write about my own religion in this essay, I ended up learning a lot about Judaism in that class, and that was really cool. Thanks Dr. Marks!
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September 2016
Táhirih, The Pure One, was an activist and poet who demanded a change in the gender roles of Iran. In comparison to current day, the gender roles of Iran in the 1800s were much stricter, and the struggle towards rights for women was barely starting. The highly religious structure of the government, and religion itself can contribute additional gender norms for followers, or people living within the culture. Religion, a communal faith in a divine being, comes not only with a way to think about and understand life, but advice on how to also live it. Despite not having any precedent or examples to follow, Táhirih begun to challenge the religious gender norms of her country, and became a well-known leader within Bábí and Bahá’í religious history. As Táhirih disrupted one religious tradition, she set standards for a blossoming new religious tradition.
Táhirih was born Fátimih Baraghání to a family with strict religious beliefs but enough money to allow for her education to continue much further than most girls.[1] Because of this, she became known not only for her beauty, but also for her immense intelligence. Táhirih studied many religious writings growing up, leading her to eventually become one of the first Bábís.
The Bábí faith begun in May of 1844 when a man named Mulla Husayn came to Shiraz, Persia, and met Siyyid ‘Alí-Muhammad, who would become known as the Báb. The Báb means “the Gate” in Arabic, chosen because his mission was to lead the way for another manifestation of God to come. Within a month of the first meeting, 17 other people, including Táhirih, found the Báb and converted. These first 18 followers, known as “The Letters of the Living,” were the ones to go out and teach their new religion to others. The Báb sent Mulla Husayn off to teach with the specific purpose to give a letter to someone who would be particularly accepting towards his new religion. In Tehran, Mulla Husayn found Mirza Husayn-‘Alí, who would become better known as Bahá’u’lláh, which means “Glory of God.” Bahá’u’lláh and the Báb were never able to meet in person, but the Báb recognized Bahá’u’lláh as the manifestation of God that he had promised, and named his as his successor for theBábís. The Báb was martyred in 1850, but Bahá’u’lláhdid not announce his new religion, the Bahá’í faith, until 1863.[2]
While Bábí writings and ideas were separate from Islam, the Báb encouraged his followers to continue observing Islamic law.[3] Muslim countries, like Persia, often incorporate Islamic law, Sharia, into their government.[4] One of the well-debated aspects of Islam and Sharia is that of women wearing veils. Many women argue believe now that having to wear a veil characterizes oppression and the subordination of women. However, today people are agreeing more that the choice belongs to each woman as to whether she wants to wear a veil or not, and that choosing to wear a veil does not signify oppression.
In what is thought to be the first time an Iranian woman choose to publicly unveil, Táhirih’s most well-known act happened when she went without her veil at the conference of Bábís in the Badasht gardens in 1848 and proclaimed the need for change.[5][6] This was so startling that one follower actually slit his own throat upon seeing her face without a veil.[7] The Bábís considered her actions so scandalous that rumors and accusations swelled after the event. The Báb, despite having told them to follow Islamic law, hence gave her the title of “Táhirih,” which means “The Pure One” in defense to the rumors and in support of her actions.[8]
Táhirih’s unveiling was not the only time she balked against the religious traditions and laws of her time, but it ended up becoming a huge turning point for the formation of the Bábí and Bahá’í faith. At the time of the conference, the Báb was in prison, but Bahá’u’lláh, later founding the Bahá’í faith, had been there.[9] For her, having let go of her Islamic background meant that she had no need to continue following Sharia, despite the strong cultural ties that the Islamic traditions had, and still have. She remained steadfast to her beliefs even under imprisonment and being exiled. While being sentenced to execution, impressed with her beauty, the Shah offered her the option of renouncing her beliefs, marrying him, and joining his harem, she firmly refused him.[10] During her execution in 1852 at the age of 32, her last recorded words were “You can kill me as soon as you like, but you will never stop the emancipation of women.”[11] To this day, one of the main principles of the Bahá’í faith is the equality of men and women.
Táhirih’s story takes place amidst multiple religions. Raised Muslim, but questioning traditions from early on, she did not accept the religion she grew up with and not only joined the newly-forming Bábí faith, but also created change within it. Her unveiling caused some Bábís to leave the faith, but because the Báb accepted her unveiling, it became semi-accepted by others. Significantly, once the Bábí faith led to the Bahá’í faith, they discarded the tradition of women wearing veils to symbolize purity. And although Bahá’ís have no obligation towards veils, Bahá’ís regard the choices of women as to whether they want to wear a veil or not as acceptable and to be respected.
Bibliography
By the Time They Arrive at Our Doors, in the Legacy of Our Namesake, They Are Already Heroes. "Who Was Tahirih? « Tahirih Justice Center." Who Was Tahirih? «Tahirih Justice Center. 2016. Accessed September 11, 2016. http://www.tahirih.org/about-us/who-was-tahirih/.
Johnson, Toni, and Mohammed Aly Sergie. "Islam: Governing Under Sharia." Council on Foreign Relations. July 25, 2014. Accessed September 28, 2016. http://www.cfr.org/religion/islam-governing-under-sharia/p8034.
Maneck, Susan Stiles. "Táhirih: A Religious Paradigm of Womanhood." Journal of Bahá’í Studies2, no. 2 (1989).
Researched by Bahá'í Chronicles. "Táhirih – Bahai Chronicles." Bahai Chronicles. March 21, 2015. Accessed September 11, 2016. http://bahaichronicles.org/tahirih/.
"What Bahá'ís Believe." The Báb. 2016. Accessed September 27, 2016. http://www.bahai.org/the-bab/.
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