DREAMS AND INSPIRATIONS

Dreams and inspirations are open proofs of the higher world. The past, present, and future are frequently seen in a dream, and may also be revealed through inspiration. The righteous person sees more clearly than the unrighteous. There are five kinds of dreams:

1. Khayali — in which the actions and thoughts of the day are reproduced in sleep.

2. Qalbi — in which the dream is opposite to the real happening.

3. Naqshi — in which the real meaning is disguised by as symbolic representation which only the wise can understand.

4. Ruhi — in which the real happening is literally shown.

5. Elhami — in which divine messages are given in letters or by an angelic voice.

Dreams give, sometimes clearly, sometimes in a veiled form, warnings of coming dangers and assurance of success. The ability to be conscious of dreams and their meaning varies with the degree of development attained.

Dreams have their effect sooner or later, according to the stars under which they take place. The dream seen at midnight is realized within one year, and the dream of the latter part of night within six months; the dream of the early morning is realized soon after. At the same time the manifestation of dreams is subject to qualification according to the good or bad actions of the dreamer.

Inspirations are more easily reflected upon spiritual persons than upon material ones. Inspiration is the inner light which reflects itself upon the heart of man; the purer the heart is from rust, like a clean mirror, the more clearly inspiration can be reflected in it. To receive inspirations clearly the heart should be prepared by proper training. A heart soiled with rust is never capable of receiving them. There are five kinds of inspiration:

1. Elham-e-'Ilm — inspiration of an artist and scientist

2. Elham-e-Husn — inspiration of a musician and poet

3. Elham-e-'Ishq — inspiration of a devotee

4. Elbam-e-Ruh — inspiration of a mystic

5. Elham-e-Ghayb — inspiration of a prophet

Inspirations are reflected upon mankind in five ways:

1. Kushad der Khyal — in the wave of thought

2. Kushad der Hal — in emotions and feelings

3. Kushad der Jemal — in the sufferings of the heart

4. Kushad der Jelal — in the flow of wisdom

5. Kushad der Kemal — in the divine voice and vision

Some are born with an inspirational gift, and to some it appears after their development. The higher the development in spirituality, the greater the capacity for inspiration, yet the gift of inspiration is not constant; as the saying of Mohammed declares, 'Inspirations are enclosed as well as disclosed at times; they appear according to the will of Allah, the only Knower of the unknown."