Following the death of her Father, the Greatest Holy Leaf lived in the household of Abdu’l-Bahá. Because of the high station conferred upon her by Bahá’u’lláh and her unique qualities, she served as the head of Abdu’l-Bahá’s household. She cultivated social relationships to shield her Brother and acted as the honored hostess to the increasing numbers of pilgrims from the East and the West. In all things she was His loyal partner and trusted confidant. Finally, when the sultanate was overthrown in 1908 and all political and religious prisoners of the Ottoman state were freed, Abdu’l-Bahá was able to embark on his historic travels to the Western world. During His two-year absence from the Holy Land, Abdu’l-Bahá left the running of the affairs of the Cause in the hands of Bahíyyih Khánum. She was, according to Shoghi Effendi, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s “competent deputy, His representative and vicegerent, with none to equal her.”
- Janet Khan (‘Prophet’s Daughter’)