Rúhíyyih Khanum
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Amatu'l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khanum (1910-2000), born Mary Maxwell was the wife of Shoghi Effendi, the head of the Bahá'í Faith from 1921-1957. She was appointed by him as a Hand of the Cause, and served an important role in the transfer of authority from 1957-1963. In 2004, CBC viewers voted her number 44 on the list of "greatest Canadians" on the television show The Greatest Canadian.
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[edit] Background
Rúhíyyih Khanum was born in New York City in 1910, and was raised in Montreal, Québec. After two trips to the Bahá'í World Centre in Israel, she engaged in many youth activities in the Bahá'í community. Her parents, William Sutherland Maxwell and May Maxwell, were both prominent Bahá'ís who helped establish Green Acre Bahá'í school.
[edit] Marriage
In 1937 she married the Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith, Shoghi Effendi. During their marriage, one of the greatest services performed by Rúhíyyih Khanum was her role as the Guardian's secretary. In 1952, she was elevated to the office of Hand of the Cause of God, for which she attended to issues related to the expansion and protection of the Bahá'í Faith.
After the Guardian died in 1957, she became for Bahá'ís the last remaining link to the family of `Abdu'l-Bahá, who headed the Faith from 1892 to 1921 and was the eldest son of the Faith's Founder, Bahá'u'lláh.
Rúhíyyih Khanum and Shoghi Effendi never had children. She later reported that they in fact tried unsuccessfully. After consulting doctors, they were told that nothing was wrong with them physically, and nothing should prevent them from having children.
[edit] Ministry of the Custodians
In 1957 her husband, Shoghi Effendi, died without having been able to appoint a successor. Rúhíyyih Khanum was among the 27 Hands of the Cause who stewarded the religion for the 6 year interrum, before the Universal House of Justice was scheduled to be elected in 1963. The Hands voted among themselves for 9 individuals to work at the Bahá'í World Centre to run the administration of the Faith, a position to which Rúhíyyih Khanum was elected. These 9 were designated the Custodians, and held the authority of excommunication.
[edit] Final years
From 1957 until her death Rúhíyyih Khanum traveled to over 185 countries and territories helping integrate the world's several million Bahá'ís into a unified global community; she especially encouraged members of indigenous peoples to participate in the global Bahá'í community.
Rúhíyyih Khanum died on January 19, 2000 at the age of 89 in Haifa, Israel and her resting place is at the Bahá'í World Centre.
[edit] References
- Nakhjavani, Violette (2000). Tribute to Amatu'l-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum, A. Bahá'í Canada Publications & Nine Pines Publishing, Ottawa, Canada. ISBN 0888671059.
- Rabbani, Ruhiyyih (Ed.) (1992). The Ministry of the Custodians 1957-1963. Bahá'í World Centre. ISBN 085398350X.
- Rabbani, Ruhiyyih (1969). The Priceless Pearl, Hardcover, London, UK: Bahá'í Publishing Trust: 2000. ISBN 1870989910.
- Harper, Barron (1997). Lights of Fortitude, Paperback, Oxford, UK: George Ronald. ISBN 0853984131.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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