Mirza Abbas Buzurg, Bahá’u’lláh’s father, was a prominent minister of the Persian government. In 1817, in the ancient city of Tehran, his wife Khadijah Khanum gave birth to Bahá’u’lláh; their third child.
 
One night, when Bahá’u’lláh was still a child, Mirza Buzurg had a dream. In the dream he saw his son in an ocean – a vast ocean stretching out in every direction. Bahá’u’lláh’s body was aglow – lighting up all around him. His long black hair was floating on the waves in every direction. A vast number of fish began to gather around him, each fish clinging to the end of one of his hairs. Fascinated by Bahá’u’lláh’s glowing face they followed him wherever he swam. The fish did him no harm and not a single hair being detached. Nor could they prevent him swimming wherever he wished.
 
When he awoke Mirza Buzurg was determined to discover the meaning of so strange and vivid a dream. He summoned a soothsayer – an interpreter of dreams. The man listened to the Minister’s dream reflecting carefully on everything he was told. His interpretation was in words like this.
 
O Minister, the endless ocean in which you saw your son is the world of creation. Your son will achieve mastery over this world. The multitude of fish are the people of the world and the turmoil that Bahá’u’lláh will generate among them. None will be able to prevent him doing whatever he wishes. Around him the people will gather and to him they will cling. They will be unable to harm him.
 
Acrylic on Mounted Canvas
91cm (L) x 91cm(W) x 4cm (H)