In Nasikh al-Tawarikh, Qurratu’l-ʿAyn (Zarrín Táj, later titled Ṭáhirih) is mentioned as acting in opposition to the Islamic law and the social customs of Iran of that period.
Qurratu’l-ʻAyn was the daughter of Ḥájí Mullá Sáliḥ of Qazvín, a well-known jurist. She was admired for her beauty, knowledge, and expertise in Arabic sciences. After becoming a follower of Mírzá Muḥammad ‘Alí, the Báb, she carried out the following actions:
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Public Appearance and Removing the Veil:
She was famous for her beauty and hair scented like musk. She believed that the veil (hijab) for women was a source of suffering. She would prepare herself and her gatherings and then appear unveiled in front of Bábí followers. -
Abolishing Islamic Law and Encouraging Immoral Practices:
She declared that the era of the Báb was a time of suspension (fitrah) in which all religious duties—such as prayer and fasting—were cancelled.-
She taught that one woman marrying nine men was encouraged in the Bábí laws.
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She urged her followers to share their partners and property with each other, promising that there would be no punishment for doing so.
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Inciting Murder:
Her uncle, Mullá Muḥammad Taqí, a Mujtahid, opposed this behavior. Qurratu’l-ʻAyn issued a religious ruling (fatwá) calling for his killing. As a result, her followers murdered her uncle in the mosque at dawn during prayer. -
Immoral Conduct at Badasht and Hezar Jarib:
While traveling in Mázandarán with Ḥájí Muḥammad ‘Alí of Bárfurúsh, she developed affection for him. The camel driver who carried them in one litter sang verses comparing their union to “the conjunction of the sun and moon.” It is reported that she and Ḥájí Muḥammad ‘Alí went to a bathhouse together and cohabited in the village of Hezar Jarib. When the villagers discovered this and learned of their beliefs, they attacked them and looted their belongings. -
Blasphemous Claims and Behavior:
She sat on a throne and delivered sermons, saying that anyone who touched her (or smelled her) would be protected from the fire of hell. Those present kissed her breasts and lips—features she herself described as “ruby-like.”
In addition to these specific actions, the sources also describe the general behavior of Bábí women in their gatherings:
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Participation in Immoral Assemblies:
Bábí followers held gatherings where they drank wine and performed acts forbidden by Islamic law. -
Serving Wine and Appearing Unveiled:
Women were instructed to enter gatherings of unrelated men without a veil and to serve wine to them. -
Encouraging Violence:
Before the attempted assassination of the Shah in Niyávarán, Ḥájí Sulaymán Khán held gatherings with women—including his sister and daughters—where wine was drunk. These meetings ended with the decision to attack the Shah.
Qurratu’l-ʻAyn’s extreme actions—abolishing Islamic law, promoting polyandry and cohabitation, appearing unveiled publicly, and calling for the killing of her cleric uncle—were an assault on the core principles of Islamic Shariah. According to these accounts, she acted like a “wrecking ball,” not merely modifying religious norms but attacking fundamental pillars of society such as modesty, marriage, and the authority of religious scholars, which led to social disorder and violence.
(Extracted from Nasikh al-Tawarikh by Sepehr. He was a court historian during the reigns of two Qajar kings).About Nasikh al-Tawarikh, check Bijan Masumian's introduction, here:
https://bijanmasumian.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/nasikh-al-tawarikh-introduction.pdf
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