Tahirih Justice Center has received for permanent display seven vibrant and colorful tapestries—known as “molas”—from the artwork collection of Madame Mary Maxwell Rabbani.
Madame Rabbani (Aug. 8, 1910 – Jan. 19, 2000) was the wife of Shoghi Effendi Rabbani, the great-grandson of Baha’u’llah (the prophet-founder of the Bahá’í Faith) and the daughter of the eminent Canadian Architect, William Sutherland Maxwell. Known to Bahá’ís all over the world as Rúhíyyih Khánum, she was a writer, public speaker, and world traveler with unparalleled love for indigenous people.
Tahirih’s mission to protect women and girls from violence and its vision of a world where all women and men enjoy equality is inspired by principles of the Bahá’í Faith.
Tahirih is honored to have this historic artwork proudly displayed in its Falls Church, Va., office. The intricate and delicate authentic tapestries reflect the most well know form of art produced more than 100 years ago by the Kuna women living on the San Blas Islands, off the northern coast of Panama.
To mark her remarkable life and display the molas on the 12th anniversary of Rúhíyyih Khánum’s passing, Tahirih hosted an event on Jan. 19. Nearly 50 members of the local Bahá’í community gathered at Tahirih’s office in Falls Church for an evening of celebration and remembrance.
