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first women of Karbalá’ to accept the Cause of the Báb], but also several men who were among the learned in that region. In time, this grew, such that Nabíl notes that:
By the aid of this chosen band of staunch and able supporters, Táhirih was able to fire the imagination and to enlist the allegiance of a considerable number of the Persian and Arab inhabitants of Iraq …”48ACT6
Táhirih challenges the religious practices
The teaching success of Táhirih caused the clergy who were in power to become concerned, and they plotted to bring about her downfall. What agitated the clergy most was how fearlessly she advocated a fundamental revolution, in all the ways of the past, which threatened their power. An example of her fearlessness was seen by her actions on the anniversary of the martyrdom of the Imám Husayn. This anniversary which falls in the month of Muharram of the Islamic calendar, is called Áshúrá . It is one of the most important commemorations of the year for the Shí’a. For a ten-day period [from the first to the tenth of the month of Muharram], the Shí’a globally mourn and grieve the martyrdom of Husayn in the most emphatic fashion. It so happens that the Birthday of the Báb falls on the first day of the month of Muharram. It is recorded that Táhirih insisted on celebrating the Birthday of the Báb instead of mourning that day, and to make this point, she wore colourful attire instead of black. She is reported to have asked her sister and relatives to also celebrate that day, and to discard their mourning attire and wear instead happy attire. To do this anywhere in the Shí’a world was open defiance of centuries old customs and traditions of the people, but to do it in Karbalá’ which was the location of the Shrine of the Imám Husayn was unthinkable. The clergy used this as an excuse and reported her to the Páshá [governor] in Baghdád as a disturber of public peace. Táhirih was summoned to go to Baghdád to face charges.49ACT6
Táhirih in Baghdád
The teaching success of Táhirih caused the clergy who were in power to become concerned, and they plotted to bring about her downfall. What agitated the clergy most was how fearlessly she advocated a fundamental revolution, in all the ways of the past, which threatened their power. An example of her fearlessness was seen by her actions on the anniversary of the martyrdom of the Imám Husayn. This anniversary which falls in the month of Muharram [the chief clergy], Siyyid Mahmúd-i-Álúsí . During this stay,
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