Throughout my life, I\u2019ve had different kinds of dreams, including those dreams that are confusing and require interpretation. But the prophetic dreams I\u2019ve had are the most profound and meaningful of them all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Defining Prophetic Dreams<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/media.bahaiteachings.org\/2021\/08\/understanding-prophetic-dreams-meaning-insights-4-1.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nMerriam Webster defines prophetic as \u201crelating to, or characteristic of a prophet or prophecy\u201d or \u201cforetelling events.\u201d So, our dreams are prophetic if they are about a prophet or if they give us glimpses into the future<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nRELATED: <\/strong>Discovering the Spiritual Meaning of Dreams<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nAbdu\u2019l-Baha<\/a>, the authorized interpreter of the Baha\u2019i writings and the son of Baha\u2019u\u2019llah<\/a>, the prophet and founder of the Baha\u2019i Faith<\/a>, discussed how common it is for people to have dreams that forecast future events. He said<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\nHow often it happens that it [the spirit] sees a dream in the world of sleep, and its signification becomes apparent two years afterward in corresponding events. \u2026In wakefulness the eye sees only for a short distance, but in dreams he who is in the East sees the West. Awake he sees the present; in sleep he sees the future.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\nMany historical figures in the Baha\u2019i Faith had such vivid and fascinating dreams that prophesied significant moments in their lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A Prophetic Dream About a Future Husband<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"silhouette](\"https:\/\/media.bahaiteachings.org\/2021\/08\/understanding-prophetic-dreams-meaning-insights-1.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe Bab<\/a>, the forerunner of Baha\u2019u\u2019llah, was a central figure of the Baha\u2019i Faith. He was born in 1819 in Shiraz, Persia (now present-day Iran). Before the Bab married his wife, Khadijih Bagum<\/a>, at age 23, she had a prophetic dream that the Bab would be her future husband.<\/p>\n\n\n\nKhadijih was one of three sisters, and arranged marriages were common at the time. She shared that one night, she dreamed of the Bab\u2019s mother coming to their home, hoping that Khadjih or one of her sisters would marry her son.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She said, “My sisters and I welcomed her with affection and courtesy. When she sat down, she looked us over keenly, then arose from her seat, came forward and kissed my forehead. In the world of dreams I felt that she was much pleased with my appearance and that I was her favorite.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nAfter Khadijih woke up the next morning, she felt light and cheerful. Amazingly, that afternoon, the Bab\u2019s mother came to their home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWith my sisters we went to welcome her, and, to my surprise just as I had seen in my dream, she left her seat, came smilingly toward me, kissed my forehead and embraced me,\u201d<\/strong> Khadijih <\/strong>said. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cAfter some general conversation she left. My eldest sister whispered into my ears that she had come to ask my hand for her son. I answered, \u2019How fortunate I am.\u2019 Then I related my dream of the previous night saying that the realization of this dream had brought to my heart great happiness.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Meaning of a Prophetic Dream About a Lion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"lion\"](\"https:\/\/media.bahaiteachings.org\/2021\/08\/understanding-prophetic-dreams-meaning-insights-2.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nKhadijih and the Bab soon fell in love and got married. But after they got married, Khadijih later \u201cdreamt of a fearsome male lion that dragged her around her courtyard two-and-a-half times, with her hands around its neck.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nShe woke up frightened and <\/strong>trembling and told her husband what she had dreamed. The Bab understood the meaning of this dream and told her that this prophesied that their life together would only last for two-and-a-half years.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Bab and his wife endured extreme suffering and religious persecution because the Bab announced in 1844 that he was given a revelation from God. He shared that humanity had entered a new era where the entire human race would unify and a materially and spiritually prosperous civilization would emerge. His mission was to prepare people for the coming of Baha\u2019u\u2019llah who he referred to as \u201cHe Whom God shall make manifest.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Understanding Visions and Dreams About Prophets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"silhouette](\"https:\/\/media.bahaiteachings.org\/2021\/08\/understanding-prophetic-dreams-meaning-insights-3.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAbdu\u2019l-Baha discussed how powerful and significant \u201cvisions of the Prophets\u201d<\/strong> are. He referred to them as spiritual discoveries that have \u201cheavenly inspiration.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nHe explained<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\nIt is therefore clear that the spirit has powerful perceptions that are not mediated by the organs of the five senses, such as the eyes and the ears. <\/strong><\/p>And, with respect to spiritual understandings and inner disclosures, there exists among spiritual souls a unity that surpasses all imagination and comparison and a communion that transcends time and place. <\/strong><\/p>So, for example, when it is written in the Gospel that Moses and Elijah came to Christ on Mount Tabor, it is clear that this was not a material communion but a spiritual condition that has been expressed as a physical meeting.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nMerriam Webster defines prophetic as \u201crelating to, or characteristic of a prophet or prophecy\u201d or \u201cforetelling events.\u201d So, our dreams are prophetic if they are about a prophet or if they give us glimpses into the future<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n RELATED: <\/strong>Discovering the Spiritual Meaning of Dreams<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Abdu\u2019l-Baha<\/a>, the authorized interpreter of the Baha\u2019i writings and the son of Baha\u2019u\u2019llah<\/a>, the prophet and founder of the Baha\u2019i Faith<\/a>, discussed how common it is for people to have dreams that forecast future events. He said<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n How often it happens that it [the spirit] sees a dream in the world of sleep, and its signification becomes apparent two years afterward in corresponding events. \u2026In wakefulness the eye sees only for a short distance, but in dreams he who is in the East sees the West. Awake he sees the present; in sleep he sees the future.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Many historical figures in the Baha\u2019i Faith had such vivid and fascinating dreams that prophesied significant moments in their lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Bab<\/a>, the forerunner of Baha\u2019u\u2019llah, was a central figure of the Baha\u2019i Faith. He was born in 1819 in Shiraz, Persia (now present-day Iran). Before the Bab married his wife, Khadijih Bagum<\/a>, at age 23, she had a prophetic dream that the Bab would be her future husband.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Khadijih was one of three sisters, and arranged marriages were common at the time. She shared that one night, she dreamed of the Bab\u2019s mother coming to their home, hoping that Khadjih or one of her sisters would marry her son.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She said, “My sisters and I welcomed her with affection and courtesy. When she sat down, she looked us over keenly, then arose from her seat, came forward and kissed my forehead. In the world of dreams I felt that she was much pleased with my appearance and that I was her favorite.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n After Khadijih woke up the next morning, she felt light and cheerful. Amazingly, that afternoon, the Bab\u2019s mother came to their home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWith my sisters we went to welcome her, and, to my surprise just as I had seen in my dream, she left her seat, came smilingly toward me, kissed my forehead and embraced me,\u201d<\/strong> Khadijih <\/strong>said. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAfter some general conversation she left. My eldest sister whispered into my ears that she had come to ask my hand for her son. I answered, \u2019How fortunate I am.\u2019 Then I related my dream of the previous night saying that the realization of this dream had brought to my heart great happiness.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Khadijih and the Bab soon fell in love and got married. But after they got married, Khadijih later \u201cdreamt of a fearsome male lion that dragged her around her courtyard two-and-a-half times, with her hands around its neck.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n She woke up frightened and <\/strong>trembling and told her husband what she had dreamed. The Bab understood the meaning of this dream and told her that this prophesied that their life together would only last for two-and-a-half years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Bab and his wife endured extreme suffering and religious persecution because the Bab announced in 1844 that he was given a revelation from God. He shared that humanity had entered a new era where the entire human race would unify and a materially and spiritually prosperous civilization would emerge. His mission was to prepare people for the coming of Baha\u2019u\u2019llah who he referred to as \u201cHe Whom God shall make manifest.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Abdu\u2019l-Baha discussed how powerful and significant \u201cvisions of the Prophets\u201d<\/strong> are. He referred to them as spiritual discoveries that have \u201cheavenly inspiration.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n He explained<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is therefore clear that the spirit has powerful perceptions that are not mediated by the organs of the five senses, such as the eyes and the ears. <\/strong><\/p> And, with respect to spiritual understandings and inner disclosures, there exists among spiritual souls a unity that surpasses all imagination and comparison and a communion that transcends time and place. <\/strong><\/p> So, for example, when it is written in the Gospel that Moses and Elijah came to Christ on Mount Tabor, it is clear that this was not a material communion but a spiritual condition that has been expressed as a physical meeting.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\nA Prophetic Dream About a Future Husband<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe Meaning of a Prophetic Dream About a Lion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nUnderstanding Visions and Dreams About Prophets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n