Memorials of the Faithful
Táhirih
the barrier that encloses the tomb, and they broke open the resplendent grave, so that the immaculate body lay revealed to their gaze. They sought to take up the holy form, but I cast myself down on the corpse and I warded them off.” Táhirih answered: “This is the meaning of your dream: you are about to deliver me from the hands of the
Shí’ih divines.” “I too had interpreted it thus,” said Ibn-i-Álúsí.
Since he had discovered that she was well versed in learned questions and in sacred commentaries and Texts, the two often carried on debates; she would speak on such themes as the
Day of Resurrection, the Balance, and the
Ṣiraṭ,
1 and he would not turn away.
Then came a night when the father of Ibn-i-Álúsí called at the house of his son. He had a meeting with Táhirih and abruptly, without asking a single question, began to curse, mock and revile her. Embarrassed at his father’s behavior, Ibn-i-Álúsí apologized. Then he said: “The answer has come from
Constantinople. The King has commanded that you be set free, but only on condition that you leave his realms. Go then, tomorrow, make your preparations for the journey, and hasten away from this land.”
Accordingly Táhirih, with her women companions, left the muftí’s house, saw to arranging for their travel gear, and went out of
Baghdád. When they left the city, a number of Arab believers, carrying arms, walked along beside their convoy. Among the escort were
Shay
kh Sulṭán,
Shay
kh Muḥammad and his distinguished son Muḥammad-Muṣṭafá, and
Shay
kh Ṣáliḥ, and these were mounted. It was
Shay
kh Muḥammad who defrayed the expenses of the journey.
When they reached Kirmansháh the women alighted at one house, the men at another, and the inhabitants arrived
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