Dawn Breakers

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Table of Contents DB 3 Section 4
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      Before long it was realized Khadíjih Bagum was with child. And when the time came, her accouchement [meaning labour to give birth] was exceedingly difficult and fraught with danger. Her mother-in-law reported to Siyyid ‘Alí-Muhammad [the Báb] that His wife was on the point of death. There was a mirror beside Him, on which He wrote a prayer, and instructed His mother to hold the mirror in front of His wife. That done, the child was safely delivered; but its life was short. Siyyid ‘Alí-Muhammad’s mother was both grieved and angry. She remonstrated with her Son that if He had such powers, why had He not made an attempt to preserve the life of the child, and spare His wife so much suffering? Siyyid ‘Alí-Muhammad replied with a smile that He was not destined to leave any progeny, an answer which infuriated His mother; but to her approaches He said no more. 101ACT2

      She saw a Light

      In the time of the Prophet Muhammad, the first person to recognize the Divine Power that flowed through Him, was the Prophet’s wife, whose name was Khadíjih. Thirteen centuries later, a similar process took place with another Khadíjih, the Bab’s wife. She has related 102ACT2

      One night, when the house was quiet and its occupants gone to sleep, He [the Báb] rose from His bed and left the room. At first I took no particular notice of His absence, but when it lengthened to an hour I felt some concern. Then I went out to look for Him, but He was nowhere to be found. Perhaps, for some reason, He had left the house, I thought; but trying the street door I found it locked from within, as usual. Then I walked to the western side of the house, looked up to the roof-top, and saw that the upper chamber was well lighted. … So, with both astonishment and trepidation, I went up the steps … There I saw Him standing in that chamber, His hands raised heavenwards, intoning a prayer in a most melodious voice, with tears streaming down His face. And His face was luminous; rays of light radiated from it. He looked so majestic and resplendent that fear seized me, and I stood transfixed where I was, trembling uncontrollably. I could neither enter the room nor retrace my steps. My will power was gone, and I was at the point of screaming, when He made a gesture with His blessed hands, telling me to go back. The movement of His hands gave me back my courage, and I returned to my room and my bed. … Sleep was impossible that night … 

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