When Bahá’u’lláh was nearly eighteen years old, His older
sister requested their father's permission for her Brother to marry her
husband's sister, Ásíyih Khánúm. Ásíyih Khánúm, who was then fifteen years old,
was exceedingly beautiful, lively and winsome. Their marriage, which took place
in the fall of 1835, opened a new level of responsibility and fulfillment for
the young nobleman. He was to share a lifetime of love and extreme difficulties
with this great noblewoman who later was known by the title Navváb (her
Highness, her Excellency).
The young married couple devoted themselves to charitable
activities during the early years of their married life. Their daughter
Bahíyyih Khánúm recounted many years later how her parents "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 Son, 'Abdu'l-Bahá, also recalled His Father's role
during those early years of His marriage:
"He was most generous, giving abundantly to the poor.
None who came to Him were turned away. The doors of His house were open to all.
He always had many guests. This unbounded generosity was conducive to greater
astonishment from the fact that He sought neither position nor prominence. In
commenting upon this His friends said He would become impoverished, for His
expenses were many and His wealth becoming more and more limited. 'Why is He
not thinking of His own affairs?' they inquired of each other; but some who
were wise declared, 'This Personage is connected with another world; He has
something sublime within Him that is not evident now; the day is coming when it
will be manifested.' In truth, the
Blessed Perfection [Bahá’u’lláh] was a refuge for every weak one, a shelter for
every fearing one, kind to every indigent one, lenient and loving to all
creatures."
Due to such acts of charity and service Bahá’u’lláh and His
wife earned widespread reputation as "The Father of Poor" and
"The Mother of Consolation".
