arthra
Baha'i
The following account concerns events in the Siyal-Chal Prison in Tehran in the late Fall of 1853.. The prisioners were awaiting imminent execution:
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."
"Today," We replied, "it will be your turn to sacrifice yourself for this Cause. May you remain firm and steadfast to the end. You will then find yourself soaring in that same limitless space of
which you dreamed, traversing with the same ease and swiftness the realm
of immortal sovereignty, and gazing with that same rapture upon the
Infinite Horizon."
'That morning saw the gaoler again enter Our cell and call out
the name of 'Abdu'l-Vahhab. Throwing off his chains, he sprang to his
feet, embraced each of his fellow-prisoners, and, taking Us into his
arms, pressed Us lovingly to his heart.
That moment We discovered that he had no shoes to wear. We gave him Our own, and, speaking a last word of encouragement and cheer, sent him forth to the scene of his martyrdom.
Later on, his executioner came to Us, praising in glowing language
the spirit which that youth had shown. How thankful We were to God for
this testimony which the executioner himself had given!'
~ H.M. Balyuzi, Baha'u'llah - The King of Glory, p. 97
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."
"Today," We replied, "it will be your turn to sacrifice yourself for this Cause. May you remain firm and steadfast to the end. You will then find yourself soaring in that same limitless space of
which you dreamed, traversing with the same ease and swiftness the realm
of immortal sovereignty, and gazing with that same rapture upon the
Infinite Horizon."
'That morning saw the gaoler again enter Our cell and call out
the name of 'Abdu'l-Vahhab. Throwing off his chains, he sprang to his
feet, embraced each of his fellow-prisoners, and, taking Us into his
arms, pressed Us lovingly to his heart.
That moment We discovered that he had no shoes to wear. We gave him Our own, and, speaking a last word of encouragement and cheer, sent him forth to the scene of his martyrdom.
Later on, his executioner came to Us, praising in glowing language
the spirit which that youth had shown. How thankful We were to God for
this testimony which the executioner himself had given!'
~ H.M. Balyuzi, Baha'u'llah - The King of Glory, p. 97