Bahá’u’lláh’s Imprisonment in the Síyáh-Chál – Page 9

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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.’ `To-day,’ 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-Vahháb. 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! ,

Bahá’u’lláh’s time in the Síyáh-Chál: Four months

Bahá’u’lláh’s imprisonment in the Síyáh-Chál began sometime in the last two weeks in August 1852 and lasted about four months, ending mid-December of that year. The gruelling conditions of His imprisonment in the Síyáh-Chál took its toll on His body. Years later, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá recalled the one time he was allowed into the prison to see his beloved Father. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was just over eight years old then [nine years old by the lunar calendar]. :

They sent me with a black servant to His blessed presence in the prison. The warders indicated the cell, and the servant carried me on his shoulders. I saw a dark, steep place. We entered a small, narrow doorway, and went down two steps, but beyond those one could see nothing. In the middle of the stairway, all of a sudden we heard His blessed voice: “Do not bring him in here”, and so they took me back. We sat outside, waiting for the prisoners to

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