Dreams and visions: images that invite reflection

At one time in the world of dreams, I attained the presence of the Messenger of God [Muhammad] - may the spirit of all else be sacrificed for Him. Words were revealed from that Dawning-Place of the Divine Book, and utterances shone forth from that Ocean of Divine Wisdom. During His utterance He said: "Formerly I declared 'Paradise is beneath the shadow of swords,' but in these days were I manifest I would say 'Paradise is beneath the shade of the Tree of Unity and Mercy.'" … When I arose from sleep, for a time I found myself in such joy as cannot be described.

I became known and revealed myself to thee in the world of vision and instructed thee in the search of Truth.

I saw thee standing before Me, with a radiant countenance, gazing upon thy Lord. The Face of God turned toward thee and magnified thee. Then there flowed from the mouth of thy Lord, the All-Merciful, the Kawthar of inner meanings and utterance, in such measure as none in all the worlds could reckon. And at the end of the discourse, We commanded thee, from the presence of the Lord of Lords, to convey His Cause among His creatures.

The poems thou didst compose in the realm of dreams have been recorded in the Book of the Unseen and shall not vanish from memory.

Regarding the star which appeareth while thou art turned unto God: This is the spiritual disclosure and the divine impression. Also the fire circle which appeareth to thine eyes, is a spiritual transfiguration and [signifieth] the Eternal Grace manifesting itself in the human garment; because "cloud" signifies the human form (or body), while the "circle of fire," the divine form, which is manifested in the reality of man.

O cherished handmaid of God! Those two stars which you observed were a wondrous sign, for they were above the Michigan River and now it is the site of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkar. This vision was a spiritual revelation and those two stars were two heavenly luminaries of the divine realm that appeared before you and indicated that the Baha'i star would rise above the Michigan River and illuminate the surroundings, meaning that the power of the Word of God would penetrate and illumine those regions with the lights of the Kingdom.

I dreamed I was in Tiberias. Along the shore I was living alone in a small cottage which was built with mud brick but I was most happy and I was surrounded with a spiritual atmosphere indescribable in its beauty and calmness.

Yet another Hand of the Cause was the revered Mulla 'Ali-Akbar, upon him be the glory of God, the All-Glorious. Early in life, this illustrious man attended institutions of higher learning and labored diligently, by day and night, until he became thoroughly conversant with the learning of the day, with secular studies, philosophy, and religious jurisprudence. He frequented the gatherings of philosophers, mystics, and Shaykhis, thoughtfully traversing those areas of knowledge, intuitive wisdom, and illumination; but he thirsted after the wellspring of truth, and hungered for the bread that comes down from Heaven. No matter how he strove to perfect himself in those regions of the mind, he was never satisfied; he never reached the goal of his desires; his lips stayed parched; he was confused, perplexed, and felt that he had wandered from his path. The reason was that in all those circles he had found no passion; no joy, no ecstasy; no faintest scent of love. And as he went deeper into the core of those manifold beliefs, he discovered that from the day of the Prophet Muhammad's advent until our own times, innumerable sects have arisen: creeds differing among themselves; disparate opinions, divergent goals, uncounted roads and ways. And he found each one, under some plea or other, claiming to reveal spiritual truth; each one believing that it alone followed the true path--this although the Muhammedic sea could rise in one great tide, and carry all those sects away to the ocean floor. "No cry shalt thou hear from them, nor a whisper even."

Whoso ponders the lessons of history will learn that this sea has lifted up innumerable waves, yet in the end each has dissolved and vanished, like a shadow drifting by. The waves have perished, but the sea lives on. This is why 'Ali Qabl-i-Akbar could never quench his thirst, till the day when he stood on the shore of Truth and cried:

Here is a sea with treasure to the brim;

Its waves toss pearls under the great wind's thong.

Throw off your robe and plunge, nor try to swim,

Pride not yourself on swimming--dive headlong.

Like a fountain, his heart welled and jetted forth; meaning and truth, like soft-flowing crystal waters, began to stream from his lips. At first, with humility, with spiritual poverty, he garnered the new light, and only then he proceeded to shed it abroad. For how well has it been said,

Shall he the gift of life to others bear

Who of life's gift has never had a share?

A teacher must proceed in this way: he must first teach himself, and then others. If he himself still walks the path of carnal appetites and lusts, how can he guide another to the "evident signs" of God?

This honored man was successful in converting a multitude. For the sake of God he cast all caution aside, as he hastened along the ways of love. He became as one frenzied, as a vagrant and one known to be mad. Because of his new Faith, he was mocked at in Tihran by high and low. When he walked through the streets and bazars, the people pointed their fingers at him, calling him a Baha'i. Whenever trouble broke out, he was the one to be arrested first. He was always ready and waiting for this, since it never failed.

Again and again he was bound with chains, jailed, and threatened with the sword. The photograph of this blessed individual, together with that of the great Amin, taken of them in their chains, will serve as an example to whoever has eyes to see. There they sit, those two distinguished men, hung with chains, shackled, yet composed, acquiescent, undisturbed.

Things came to such a pass that in the end whenever there was an uproar Mulla 'Ali would put on his turban, wrap himself in his 'aba and sit waiting, for his enemies to rouse and the farrashes to break in and the guards to carry him off to prison. But observe the power of God! In spite of all this, he was kept safe. "The sign of a knower and lover is this, that you will find him dry in the sea." That is how he was. His life hung by a thread from one moment to the next; the malevolent lay in wait for him; he was known everywhere as a Baha'i--and still he was protected from all harm. He stayed dry in the depths of the sea, cool and safe in the heart of the fire, until the day he died.

After the ascension of Baha'u'llah, Mulla 'Ali continued on, loyal to the Testament of the Light of the World, staunch in the Covenant which he served and heralded. During the lifetime of the Manifestation, his yearning made him hasten to Baha'u'llah, Who received him with grace and favor, and showered blessings upon him. He returned, then, to Iran, where he devoted all his time to serving the Cause. Openly at odds with his tyrannical oppressors, no matter how often they threatened him, he defied them. He was never vanquished. Whatever he had to say, he said. He was one of the Hands of the Cause of God, steadfast, unshakable, not to be moved.

I loved him very much, for he was delightful to converse with, and as a companion second to none. One night, not long ago, I saw him in the world of dreams. Although his frame had always been massive, in the dream world he appeared larger and more corpulent than ever. It seemed as if he had returned from a journey. I said to him, "Jinab, you have grown good and stout." "Yes," he answered, "praise be to God! I have been in places where the air was fresh and sweet, and the water crystal pure; the landscapes were beautiful to look upon, the foods delectable. It all agreed with me, of course, so I am stronger than ever now, and I have recovered the zest of my early youth. The breaths of the All-Merciful blew over me and all my time was spent in telling of God. I have been setting forth His proofs, and teaching His Faith." (The meaning of teaching the Faith in the next world is spreading the sweet savors of holiness; that action is the same as teaching.) We spoke together a little more, and then some people arrived and he disappeared.

His last resting-place is in Tihran. Although his body lies under the earth, his pure spirit lives on, "in the seat of truth, in the presence of the potent King." I long to visit the graves of the friends of God, could this be possible. These are the servants of the Blessed Beauty; in His path they were afflicted; they met with toil and sorrow; they sustained injuries and suffered harm. Upon them be the glory of God, the All-Glorious. Unto them be salutation and praise. Upon them be God's tender mercy, and forgiveness.

Last night in the realm of dreams I beheld His Honor Mulla 'Ali-Akbar. His frame was robust, but in the dream I saw him even more robust and corpulent. In the dream, it was as if he had been on a journey. I said to him, "Your honor, you have grown quite stout." He replied, "Praise be to God, I have traveled to places where the air was supremely gentle, the water exceedingly sweet, the vistas perfectly delightful, and the food most delectable.

Three years ago I saw thee in a dream while thou wert I suppose in America and I asked thee: 'What art thou doing here? Who has brought thee here[?] and thou didst answer: 'God has brought me here and I am doing His work.'

After a few moments of silence he said: "A few nights ago I had a lovely dream the memory of which has uplifted my soul. In the world of dream I found myself in the Holy Presence of the Blessed Perfection. With a number of other friends I was standing before Him. He directed His gaze toward me and began to speak to me mercifully, compassionately.

'Uluviyyih Khanum, the wife of the martyred Mulla 'Ali Jan [Mafuzaki], had a dream which she recounted to Jamal Burujirdi. She said, "I dreamt that Jamal Mubarak [the Blessed Beauty] came to this room and graciously spoke in praise of me."

Last night I had a dream. In this dream I saw the Blessed Perfection standing before a large gathering. I was also amongst those people.

In one of the dreams I saw myself in Bagdad living in the same house that we used to live. With a number of believers we were standing in His holy Presence and He was in the course of delivering a talk on the spiritual station of the Manifestations of God. Meanwhile people came in, listened to His Words, were thrilled with joyousness and went out with the Light of God in their faces.

I seemed to be standing within a great mosque, in the inmost shrine, facing the Qiblih, in the place of the Imam himself. I became aware that a large number of people were flocking into the mosque. More and yet more crowded in, taking their places in rows behind Me, until there was a vast multitude. As I stood I raised loudly the call to prayer. Suddenly the thought came to Me to go forth from the mosque. When I found Myself outside I said within Myself: 'For what reason came I forth, not having led the prayer? But it matters not; now that I have uttered the Call to prayer, the vast multitude will of themselves chant the prayer.

I dreamed a dream and behold, the Blessed Beauty (Baha'u'llah) came and said to Me: `Destroy this room.'

Last night I dreamt I was riding on a dromedary, going fast through a desert. The animal became wild and beyond my control. Then I jumped down from its back and ran away and stood on a hill.

Somehow he had got hold of my shirt and imagined that I was in it. He was striking it against the sand with great rage as though he wanted to tear me to pieces. However from my vintage-ground I was looking at him and was much amused at his irresistible fury.

That dream was: I saw in Akka that a large street had opened in a straight line, and from the beginning of this thoroughfare a cannon was fired. All the people leaned to one side so that no harm would befall them, and I too bent to one side. This shot passed and no harm was done, but a strange anxiety became evident among the people. From around this shell, things like birds but red in color were scattered about, which people said was dynamite that would destroy whatever it hit, but it hit nothing and caused no damage.

I told this dream to the friends. The next day the Pashas arrived. I also said there would be a great storm but it would not be important and would pass safely.

We were awakened one night, ere break of day, by Mirza Abdu'l-Vahhab-i-Shirazi, who was bound with Us to the same chains. He had left Kazimayn and followed Us to Tihran, where he was arrested and thrown into prison. He asked Us whether We were awake, and proceeded to relate to Us his dream. 'I have this night,' he said, 'been soaring into a space of infinite vastness and beauty. I seemed to be uplifted on wings that carried me wherever I desired to go. A feeling of rapturous delight filled my soul. I flew in the midst of that immensity with a swiftness and ease that I cannot describe.'

One of the Babis had a vision in which he saw a passage from the Qur'an written in English upon an arch beneath which sat the Shah.

One night he dreamed he was on the plain of Karbila in the company of the Lord of Martyrs on that field of tribulation, and all the companions and followers were in danger while the opposing forces were attacking and ready for battle.

She dreamed a dream, and behold, she saw her seventh son, the only one left. He was being brought to her with a dagger in his heart.

In My vision I saw the head of the Imam Husayn, the Siyyidu'sh-Shuhada', which was hanging upon a tree. Drops of blood dripped profusely from His lacerated throat. With feelings of unsurpassed delight, I approached that tree and, stretching forth My hands, gathered a few drops of that sacred blood, and drank them devoutly.

But the Prophet, before declaring and announcing his mission, spent ten nights in the cave of Hira, and in those ten nights the sea of divine outpourings was surging and the lights of divine manifestations were shining forth.

Finally he did not come. It seemed that he was dreaming. The repeated answers of "Bale' Aga" were uttered in a dream state.

In that very moment I recognized my Imam through the inspiration of my Lord, and I saluted Him. And there was vouchsafed unto me, from His presence, even as hath been sent down upon me this day, tokens of the bounties of my Lord.

Then I arose, facing the Ka'bah, in this my station, and I took a crust and placed it in my palm before my Master---may my soul be a sacrifice for Him. … Then He took, from His beloved, two handfuls of sweetmeats---of that whereof the Persians say it is nuql---and, through His bounty, bestowed upon me whatsoever He willed of His gifts.

O God, Thou knowest that on the day I desired to compose this book, I saw in a night vision that the Holy Land was reduced to atoms and was lifted into the air, then all of it came toward my house and became established.

One night when he was away from home he had had an alarming dream of his little daughter. She had come to him, sat on his knee and complained that her head ached. Rapidly she grew worse. They sent for the doctor. The father knew in his dream that she was hopelessly ill and felt the most acute anguish. Then he saw her die.

One morning at early tea Abdul Baha told us that he had a dream about America. He said that there were many sincere, earnest souls there.

He said that in His dream he thought he was in a large room with a number of the Persians (naming them) and others also of the teachers there. These told him that there were many earnest believers in America, but that they were far apart and all playing on different musical instruments, so that they did not play in harmony.

Abdul Baha said "I will see what I can do. Finding one, I told him to stay until I brought others to him, but when I came back with another, the first had gone away piping on his instrument."

And so it was; I would never get them together. He added, "When I awoke, I was very tired."