After the morning Prayer, His Holiness the Promised Messiah(as) said: I saw a dream in which I removed a piece of a decayed molar from my mouth. I found the piece to be very clean and kept it in my hand. Then the Promised Messiah(as) said: In a dream if someone throws away a tooth, this is an ominous sign, otherwise it is an indication of glad-tidings.
After this, Muhammad Sadiq related two of his own dreams; one of which was about him receiving clothes made of divine light, and the second one was about him neatly writing out a treatise of the Promised Messiah(as). The Promised Messiah(as) interpreted these dreams to be a sign of success in attaining his objectives.
Insights Descend upon the Heart through Divine Succour
After this the Promised Messiah(as) said: One form of God’s support is manifested in a clear and evident manner; and this can be witnessed by the general public as well. However, there are certain hidden kinds of support. I am at a loss to think of any method by which I can show this hidden succour of God to the common masses. For example, there are my written works in Arabic. I know well the extent of my expertise in Arabic literature, but the fact is that when I begin to pen a treatise in Arabic, I am inspired with words—one after the other—which fit precisely in places that are most appropriate and apt. Do tell me, how am I to show you this form of divine succour whereby words are revealed upon my heart?
You may observe that most of the subject-matter discussed in my book Ayyam-us-Sulh is nowhere to be found in my previous works. Allah the Exalted knows full well that before this time these concepts never came to my mind, but now they have been revealed upon my heart in such a manner as is beyond a person’s ability to fathom, until they themselves receive a portion of such divine succour and they become able to understand this phenomenon. God Almighty bestows this grace upon such people whom He desires to use for an important task.
The fact is that until a person enjoys good health and has time at their disposal, it is impossible to produce written work. Only those people are granted this grace of God Almighty whom He wishes to use for an important task. In such a case, God Almighty makes available to such a person all the means that are necessary for them to engage in written work.
Consideration for Apparent Means
The Honourable Maulvi Nur-ud-Din Sahib, may Allah be pleased with him, had been feeling unwell since 31 July 1898 due to stomach pain. The Promised Messiah(as) sent someone to inquire about him and when he received news of his recovery, he said: All praise belongs to Allah. The Promised Messiah(as) went on to say: Maulvi Sahib has now reached an age which only leads the physical body to a state of decline. Therefore, caution is required and he ought to watch his every step. Life and death is in the hands of God’s decree, but it is not appropriate for man to disregard apparent means.
Then the Promised Messiah(as) stated: In actuality, the time for a person’s physical decline begins after the age of thirty. Any extreme, whether less or more, is harmful at this age. I have seen some people who eat precise quantities of food and even drink a measured amount, while others are so extreme that they eat and drink without any limits. Both of these practices are improper. As I have said, the time of one’s youth only lasts until the age of thirty and that too if a person’s faculties are strong and healthy. Otherwise, there are some who, even in their young age, resemble the elderly.1
1 Al-Hakam, vol. 2, nos. 22-23, dated 6-13 August 1898, p. 16