Prophet's Daughter: The Life and Legacy of Bahiyyih Khanum, Outstanding Heroine of the Baha'i Faith

The remarkable story of a woman who shaped the course of religious history

Prophet's Daughter examines the extraordinary life of Bahiyyih Khánum (1846-1932), the daughter of Bahá'u'llah, founder of the Bahá'l Faith. From the mid-nineteenth century to the early twentieth century, when women in the Middle East were largely invisible, deprived of education, and without status in their communities, Bahiyyih Khánum was an active participant in the religion's turbulent early years and contributed significantly both to the development of its administrative structure and to its emergence as a worldwide faith community. Her appointment to head the Bahá'í Faith during a critical period of transition stands unique in religious history.

Bahiyyih Khánum's response to the events in her life despite some eight decades of extreme hardship illustrates her ability to transcend the social and cultural constraints of the traditional Muslim society in which she lived. Optimistic and resilient in the face of relentless persecution and uncertainty, practical and resourceful by nature, she embraced change, took action, and looked to the future. The legacy of her life offers an inspiring model for thoughtful women and men who seek creative ways to deal with social change and the pressures of contemporary life.

Janet A. Khan is a member of the Research Department at the Baha'i World Center in Haifa, Israel, the international headquarters of the religion. After completing a doctorate in counseling at the University of Michigan, she held academic positions at the University of Michigan and the University of Queensland, in Brisbane, Australia. Her research interests include gender issues, the role of women in religion, aspects of social change, and the evolution of the Bahá'l system of administration. Her previous book, coauthored with Peter J. Khan, is Advancement of Women: A Baha'i Perspective (Bahá'í Publishing, 2003).

About Author

Janet A. Khan is a former member of the Research Department at the Baha'i World Center in Haifa, Israel. After completing a doctorate in counseling at the University of Michigan, she held academic positions at the University of Michigan and University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. Her research interests include gender issues, the role of women in religion, aspects of social change, and the evolution of the Baha'i system of administration.