Women's Worlds in Qajar Iran

Women's Worlds in Qajar Iran

Zahra Khanum's will, 1920

Zahra Khanum's will, 1920

Mashhadiyah Shikar Khanum, the daughter of the late Haji Allahyar Ganjah and the wife of Haji ‘Ali Akbar Aqa, the merchant from Ganjah, makes a claim against her brother, Mulla Najaf, regarding her inheritance from her father and her mother, Bibi Khanum, the daughter of Aqa Mustafa. Because all of Mulla Najaf’s properties have been in a state of ruin due to the unrest in Caucasus and their value has depreciated since his death, Mashhadiyah Shikar Khanum, thinking of her brother’s children, has settled her claims with them: Mashhadi Musayyab Aqa, Mashhadi Haji Bayg Aqa, and Muhammad Hasan Aqa (the merchants of Ganjah), Durr Baygum Khanum, and Salahah Baygum Khanum. She then assigned her son, Haji Javad Aqa, and Aqa Riza Bayg, as the executors of her will to determine one-third of her belongings. Three thousand tumans of her assets is a debt to Riza Khan. Two-thirds of her belongings will be divided among the inheritors according to Shari‘ah law and one-third should be spent on prayers, fasts, and pilgrimage on her behalf, charity, and her burial and funeral as described in her will.