Tahirih grew up in a world of learning: the men in her family were mujtahids, her mother and aunt had attained a similar degree of education.
Behind the lattice covered walls of the spacious family home, she spent many hours in the second-floor library memorizing the Qur’an, reading and studying religious jurisprudence and its principles, Islamic traditions, and Qur’anic commentary with her uncles, and Persian literature and poetry with her mother.
Original home of Tahirih in Qazvin, Persia,
She had the good fortune to be able to attend the girls’ section of the large school founded by her father, which numbered hundreds of students including some from other parts of the kingdom and as far away as India. In the Kingdom of Persia at the time less than 10% of the population could read and write.
Bakhtiari migration: sheep, goats, donkeys, cows on the road Woman on horse. Inside courtyard. Oven made of mud. Clay fire tray. Bottle on fire in tray. Cupboard. Huts. Dhow on river. Rows of wooden pegs in soil. Tent.
Her brother acknowledged her fearsome intellect:
““We were all, her brothers and cousins, fearful to speak in her presence, so much did her knowledge intimidate us, and if we hazarded to put forward an opinion on a point of doctrine that was in dispute, she would prove to us where we were going wrong in a manner so clear, precise and magisterial that we were thrown into confusion and withdrew.””
To hear an audiobook about Tahirih and the Bab click HERE