Zahra Sultan Nizam Mafi (‘Izzat al-Saltanah) writes to her sister, Ma‘sumah Nizam Mafi, in Rome, telling her family news and discussing Ma‘sumah Khanum's interest in mysticism. She asks if her readings have offered her some understanding of human suffering, and requests that she share any insight she may have acquired. As an example, she tells the story of Salar al-Dawlah's wife: "When I was nine years old, our father [Nizam al-Saltanah], the governor of Luristan and ‘Arabistan [Khuzistan] at the time, was sent to fight against Salar al-Dawlah, who was claiming the crown. Salar al-Dawlah...
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