A Bābī Theology in Poetry: The Creative Imagination of Tāhirih, Qurratu’l-ʿAyn

Tāhirih, also known as Qurratu’l-‘Ayn (1814–1852), was one of the leading disciples Bāb (1819–1844), Sayyid ‘Alī-Muhammad Shiraz, founder Babism. She formally educated in Islamic learning and theology, but relied heavily on inspiration for some her most radical doctrines. Her poems contain theological pronouncements that would propel Bābī movement beyond Islam. By no means typical or representative other scholars, theology seems to be filled with a woman’s sensibility, its inclination towards peace, justice, reconciliation. At certain moments, Tāhirih anticipates developments /Bahā’ī teachings not take place until decades later. Tāhirih’s poetic voice offers unique understood, perhaps, only by few (women?) followers at time.