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| Baha'u'llah's father |
When Bahá'u'lláh was still a child, the Vazir, His father,
dreamed a dream. Bahá'u'lláh appeared to him swimming in a vast, limitless
ocean. His body shone upon the waters with a radiance that illumined the sea.
Around His head, which could distinctly be seen above the waters, there
radiated, in all directions, His long, jet-black locks, floating in great
profusion above the waves. As he dreamed, a multitude of fishes gathered round
Him, each holding fast to the extremity of one hair. Fascinated by the effulgence
of His face, they followed Him in whatever direction He swam. Great as was
their number, and however firmly they clung to His locks, not one single hair
seemed to have been detached from His head, nor did the least injury affect His
person. Free and unrestrained, He moved above the waters and they all followed
Him.
The Vazir, greatly impressed by this dream, summoned a
soothsayer, who had achieved fame in that region, and asked him to interpret it
for him. This man, as if inspired by a premonition of the future glory of
Bahá'u'lláh, declared: "The limitless ocean that you have seen in your
dream, O Vazir, is none other than the world of being. Single-handed and alone,
your son will achieve supreme ascendancy over it. Wherever He may please, He
will proceed unhindered. No one will resist His march, no one will hinder His
progress. The multitude of fishes signifies the turmoil which He will arouse
amidst the peoples and kindreds of the earth. Around Him will they gather, and
to Him will they cling. Assured of the unfailing protection of the Almighty,
this tumult will never harm His person, nor will His loneliness upon the sea of
life endanger His safety."
That soothsayer was subsequently taken to see Bahá'u'lláh.
He looked intently upon His face, and examined carefully His features. He was
charmed by His appearance, and extolled every trait of His countenance. Every
expression in that face revealed to his eyes a sign of His concealed glory. So
great was his admiration, and so profuse his praise of Bahá'u'lláh, that the
Vazir, from that day, became even more passionately devoted to his son. The
words spoken by that soothsayer served to fortify his hopes and confidence in
Him. Like Jacob, he desired only to ensure the welfare of his beloved Joseph,
and to surround Him with his loving protection.
- Nabil (‘The Dawn-Breakers’,
translated. and edited by Shoghi Effendi)
