Fazl-e-Umar — Page 171
Fazle Umar 171 moment I heard a voice which seemed to come from someone whom I could not see but who, it appeared, was standing somewhere near. I had a peculiar feeling that the person from whom the voice came was none other than my own soul, as though that person and myself were one and the same. The voice said, ‘WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR. ’ The next day when I related this dream to some friends, Dr M. M. Sadiq looked up the word William in the dictionary and told me that it meant a man of firm views and unshakable resolve. ” The statement in the “Al Fazl” then proceeded to say that: “these dreams seemed to signify that in regard to the Western countries Almighty God had some gracious resolve with which, probably, was bound up some journey of mine or of some representative of mine. It should not be inferred, however, that the result hinted at in these visions would flow immediately from such a journey. Rather, it was more likely that the seed would be sown to bear fruit in time. ” It is interesting to pause here and ponder the significance of the conquest of England by William (the Conqueror) of Normandy: “The immediate and formal changes which followed on William’s coming were of small account when compared with the indirect, and more important changes which came, as it were of themselves, as the natural result of his coming. A revolution was gradually wrought in every thing that touched the relations of the kingdom within and without. But it was a revolution of a strange kind. It was a revolution which seemed, if not to root up our ancient institutions, at least practically so to transform them that they might be deemed to have in truth passed away. It was a revolution which seemed to have broken down the spirit of Englishmen forever under the yoke of strangers. But what that revolution