Table of Contents
Táhirih met with several delegations of clergy, but none could match her knowledge and eloquence. It is recorded that the Múftí, in private said to her:
O Qurratu’l-‘Ayn! I swear by God that I share in thy belief. I am apprehensive, however, of the swords of the family of ‘Uthmán[meaning the Ottoman Caliphate which ruled the region].50ACT6
Ultimately, the order was received that Táhirih leave the Ottoman territory and return to Persia. This was exactly what Táhirih wanted because she was intent on fulfilling the Báb’s call for the believers to go to Khurásán.
Táhirih’s work in the Íraq region was done. She immediately set out towards Persia, with the intention of going to Khurásán to join forces with Quddús and Mullá Husayn.
Táhirih’s journey to Qazvín: Fearlessly Teaching at every stop
The first leg of the journey from Baghdád was to the town of Kirmánsháh . One memoir records that Táhirih was accompanied at this stage by about thirty Arab believers and several Persian believers. They had stopped en route at the village of Karand , where they stayed for three days. In Karand,
Táhirih fearlessly proclaimed the teachings of the Báb and was highly successful in awakening the interest of all classes of people in the the new Revelation. Twelve hundred persons are reported to have volunteered to follow her and do her bidding.51ACT6
Similarly, in Kirmánsháh, Táhirih got an enthusiastic reception.
Princes, ‘ulamás, and government officials hastened to visit her, and were greatly impressed by her eloquence, her fearlessness, her extensive knowledge, and the force of her character. The commentary on the Súrih of Kawthar, revealed by the Báb, was publicly read and translated. The wife of the Amír, the governor of Kirmánsháh, was among the ladies who met Táhirih, … … The Amír himself, together with his family, acknowledged the truth of the Cause and testified to their admiration and love for Táhirih.52ACT6
278 / 803