The Ship Beyond the Horizon

Between 1901 and 1905 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá sent Mírzá Abu'l-Fadl to teach in the United States, and Ali Kuli Khan went with him as his interpreter. At the end of one teaching trip, Dr. Khan reminded Abu'l-Fadl that, day after day, he had offered service to the best of his ability and, in view of this, would Abu'l-Fadl answer just one question: What really happened to the soul after death? Abu'l-Fadl looked at Khan very thoughtfully - and changed the subject.

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A few days later, as they were nearing Washington, Dr. Khan repeated his question - "Please tell me - what does happen to the soul after death?" Abu'l-Fadl glanced at Khan and changed the subject. Finally they reached Washington and the day before Abu'l-Fadl was to return to Acca. Dr. Khan asked the question for the third time. Abu'l-Fadl smiled and went away.

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Two or three years went by and one day Khan was sitting on a beach, looking at the sea. On the horizon was a ship, and as first the hull and then the sails slipped out of sight - suddenly, gloriously, Khan knew what happened to the soul after death. For, to those on board that ship nothing had happened - they were still on their familiar ship sailing the same sea.

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So, some time later when Ali Kuli Khan met Abu'l-Fadl in Acca he told him of this experience and added - "Why was it you refused, when I first asked you, to answer my question?" Abu'l-Fadl said, lovingly, "If, my dear friend, you would have been able to understand my answer, you would never have asked the question."

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