‘Alí Khán’s Dream at Máh-Kú

In 1848 the Báb was held prisoner in the mountain castle of Máh-Kú, in Ádhirbáyján, in the charge of its warden, ‘Alí Khán. Mullá Ḥusayn set out from Mashhad to visit Him, resolved to walk the whole way.

The night before his [Mullá Husayn's] arrival at Máh-Kú, which was the eve of the fourth Naw-Rúz after the declaration of the Mission of the Báb, and which fell in that year, the year 1264 A.H., [1848] on the thirteenth of the month of Rabí’u’th-Thání, ‘Alí Khán dreamed a dream.

“In my sleep,” he thus relates his story, “I was startled by the sudden intelligence that Muhammad, the Prophet of God, was soon to arrive at Máh-Kú, that He was to proceed directly to the castle in order to visit the Báb and to offer Him His congratulations on the advent of the Naw-Rúz festival. In my dream, I ran out to meet Him, eager to extend to so holy a Visitor the expression of my humble welcome. In a state of indescribable gladness, I hastened on foot in the direction of the river, and as I reached the bridge, which lay at a distance of a maydán [a subdivision of a farsakh] from the town of Máh-Kú, I saw two men advancing towards me. I thought one of them to be the Prophet Himself, while the other who walked behind Him I supposed to be one of His distinguished companions. I hastened to throw myself at His feet, and was bending to kiss the hem of His robe, when I suddenly awoke. A great joy had flooded my soul. I felt as if Paradise itself, with all its delights, had been crowded into my heart. Convinced of the reality of my vision, I performed my ablutions, offered my prayer, arrayed myself in my richest attire, anointed myself with perfume, and proceeded to the spot where, the night before in my dream, I had gazed upon the countenance of the Prophet. I had instructed my attendants to saddle three of my best and swiftest steeds and to conduct them immediately to the bridge. The sun had just risen when, alone and unescorted, I walked out of the town of Máh-Kú in the direction of the river. As I approached the bridge, I discovered, with a throb of wonder, the two men whom I had seen in my dream walking one behind the other, and advancing towards me. Instinctively I fell at the feet of the one whom I believed to be the Prophet, and devoutly kissed them. I begged Him and His companion to mount the horses which I had prepared for their entry into Máh-Kú. ‘Nay,’ was His reply, ‘I have vowed to accomplish the whole of my journey on foot. I will walk to the summit of this mountain and will there visit your Prisoner.’”

This strange experience of ‘Alí Khán brought about a deepening of reverence in his attitude towards the Báb. His faith in the potency of His Revelation became even greater, and his devotion to Him was vastly increased. In an attitude of humble surrender, he followed Mullá Husayn until they reached the gate of the castle. As soon as the eyes of Mullá Husayn fell upon the countenance of his Master, who was seen standing at the threshold of the gate, he halted instantly and, bowing low before Him, stood motionless by His side. The Báb stretched forth His arms and affectionately embraced him. Taking him by the hand, He conducted him to His chamber.

• Nabíl (‘The Dawn-Breakers’, translated and edited by Shoghi Effendi)

Source: The Dawn-Breakers (Nabíl-i-A‘ẓam), trans. Shoghi Effendi, ch. XIII, pp. 256–57.

Found via the Baha'i Stories Blog (https://bahaistories.blogspot.com/2025/03/ali-khan-warden-of-castle-of-mah-ku-had.html).

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