In about October 1835, at the age of eighteen, Bahá'u'lláh
married Asiyih Khanum, described as remarkably intelligent, winsome, vivacious,
and exceedingly beautiful. She was the younger sister of Bahá'u'lláh’s
brother-in-law, who had married His older sister Sarih Khanum about three years
earlier. Asiyih Khanum, like Bahá'u'lláh, came from a noble and wealthy family.
It is reported that her wedding treasures were so extensive that forty mules
were needed to carry them to His home.
In the early years of their married life Bahá'u'lláh and
Asiyih Khanum devoted themselves to charitable activities. Their daughter,
Bahiyyih Khanum, recounts that they "took part as little as possible in
State functions, social ceremonies, and the luxurious habits of ordinary
highly-placed and wealthy families in the land of Persia." They
"counted these worldly pleasures meaningless, and preferred rather to
occupy themselves in caring for the poor, and for all who were unhappy, or in
trouble." Their acts of service earned them widespread renown as "The
Father of the Poor" and "The Mother of Consolation."
(Adapted
from ‘Call to Remembrance’, by Geoffry Marks, ‘Bahá'u'lláh – A Short
Biography’, by Moojan Momen)
