Introduction

We glorify Allah and ask blessings and send salutation upon the Holy Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam. O Lord! Shower thy blessings and send eternal peace in continuation, upon thy beloved (Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam), who is the best of all the creation.

It is very fortunate to see the Holy Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam in a dream but two points should well be considered in this connection. The first, as written by Hazrat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi rahmatullahi alaihe in his book ‘Nish-rut-tib’, is as follows: It is really a source of great consolation, and a great favour for a person who has not seen the Holy Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam live, to see him in a dream. However, it should be borne in mind that it can not be acquired, rather it is granted by Allah. A Persian poet says:

"This felicity cannot be earned through strength but only when Allah grants and bestows."

Many people have devoted their whole lives in the hope of this fortune. One might have succeeded if he sends Durood upon the Holy Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam abundantly and follows his ways with love and eagerness. Nevertheless, if a person is not successful, he should not be worried because it may be due to some unknown Wisdom and the Mercy of Allah. A lover only wants the pleasure of his beloved whether it is because of union or due to separation. As a poet rightfully says:

"I want a meeting with him (the beloved) but he wants separation, and I leave my pleasure for his pleasure."

Shirazi, a Persian poet and Mystic says, "Meeting or separation have no value in comparison to the pleasure of the beloved; and to seek any other thing than his pleasure is an offence (in love)."

Secondly, if a person saw the Holy Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam in his dream, he really and certainly saw him. This is supported by authentic and strong Ahaadith. It has been verified that Satan has not been empowered to change himself in the guise of the Holy Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam in a dream or that he may declare himself as the Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam in a dream. It is also impossible that the person dreaming may misunderstand Satan as the Holy Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam. May Allah protect us from this.

May Allah Ta’ala make this article beneficial for the entire world. We invoke blessings on the greatest creation of the Almighty, the Holy Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam and ask that He be pleased with him and all his companions and followers till the day of judgement. And may He forgive the compilers of this publication, Aameen.


He Who Has Seen Me In A Dream Has Certainly Seen Me

It is stated in a Hadith, Hazrat Abu Hurairah radiyallahu anhu reports that the Apostle of Allah sallallahu alaihe wasallam said, "He who sees me in a dream has certainly seen me, because Satan can not take my form."
(Bukhari, Muslim)

The Muhadditheen (commentators of hadith) have mentioned various opinions regarding its meanings. Mulla Ali Qari rahmatullahi alaihe whilst commentating on this hadith writes in Mirqat, "It is like he has seen the Holy Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam in real life, but he will not be considered as to be a Sahabi, neither is it obligatory to carry out the orders given to him by the Holy Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam within the dream."
(Mirqat v.9, p.24)

Mulla Ali Qari rahmatullahi alaihe further writes in Mirqat (p.24) that some people are of the opinion that this hadith is concerning those people present at the time of the Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam. This means that those who see me in a dream, Allah will enable them to see me in real life.

This opinion is also supported by another hadith in Mishkat, Hazrat Abu Hurairah radiyallahu anhu reports that the Apostle of Allah sallallahu alaihe wasallam said, "He who saw me in a dream will soon see me when he is awake, for Satan can not take my form."
(Mishkat p.394)

Another opinion is that the Holy Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam is informing that who ever saw me in a dream, let he be known that his dream is true and genuine, (for Satan cannot take my form).

Those people who claimed to have received special guidance from the Holy Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam in a dream cannot be denied. It should be kept in mind that, if the orders and guidance received by them is in accordance with the laws of Shariah then it will be a source of evidence for themselves and not for others. However, if the guidance is contrary to the laws of Shariah then it will not be accepted nor will it be a source of evidence for anyone.

The reason for this is that not every person is privileged enough to understand dreams and their interpretations. Peoples’ dreams can differ by their own personality. Seeing the Holy Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam in unclear and strange circumstances can be based on the weakness of the person’s Imaan.

It is reported by Sheikh Ali Muttaqi rahmatullahi alaihe that a person saw the Holy Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam in a dream ordering him to consume alcohol. He became very disturbed by this dream; thus, he referred to the Ulama (Scholars) of his time to find out the interpretation and explanation of his dream. The scholars gave various explanations about his dream. During this, the issue came to Sheikh Muhammad bin Uraat rahmatullahi alaihe who was a very pious scholar, he said that the fact is that the Holy Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam said, "Do not consume alcohol." However, due to his misunderstanding and the disorder of his mind he understood the contrary and heard him saying, "Consume alcohol." Rather than do not consume alcohol."
(Mazhair-ul-Haq p.325 vol.4)


Innovating In Religion Because Of Dreams

In Fazail-e-Durood Shareef, Hazrat Sheikh Zakaria rahmatullahi alaihe says that, "It is possible that due to the person’s bad habits, the Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam said the words with great anger. In the same way that a person who is angry over his son says to him, ‘Go on do it.’ and the dreamer thought that it was a mere order from the Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam.

From the above mentioned passage we can gather for ourselves that the people who introduce religious innovations based upon dreams and attribute them to the Holy Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam are totally contradicting the spirit of the Shariah and are certainly astray from the Seerat-ul-Mustaqeem (Straight path). Such people should immediately resort to repentance.

The Holy Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam has condemned those who introduce innovations in religion in various Ahaadith. It is reported in one of them that, Hazrat Aisha radiallahu anha narrates that the Apostle of Allah sallallahu alaihe wasallam said, "He who innovates something in this religion of ours, which does not belong to it, is repulsed."
(Mishkat p.27)

It is also stated in another Hadith, Hazrat Ibrahim bin Maysara radiyallahu anhu narrates that the Apostle of Allah sallallahu alaihe wasallam said, "He who showed respect for an innovator, has in fact assisted in undermining Islam."
(Mishkat p.31)


Seeing The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam In A Dream Is Not Sufficient For Salvation

It should also be kept in mind that even if somebody saw the Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam in his dream and yet continued to disobey Allah and did not earn His pleasure, then that will not be sufficient for salvation. Even during the days of the Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam there were numerous people who were seeing the Holy Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam every day, yet remained dwellers of hell, because Imaan had not reached their hearts and they did not earn the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala. While others (like Hazrat Uwais Qarni rahmatullahi alaihe) did not see the Holy Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam but are considered among the very pious, and true Muslims.

Hazrat Uwais Qarni rahmatullahi alaihe is amongst the great Tabi’een. It is stated by Hazrat Umar bin Khattab radiyallahu anhu in a Hadith that I heard the Apostle of Allah sallallahu alaihe wasallam saying, "The best of the Tabi’een will be a man called Uwais who has a mother and has been afflicted by leprosy. Tell him to ask forgiveness for you."
(Muslim p.311)

On the other hand Abu Jahal used to see the Holy Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam regularly but did not accept Islam. A poet says in Urdu:

"Though Uwais radiyallahu anhu was far, yet became near (to the Holy Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam, because of his piety) and Abu Jahal was near (to him) but became far. (because of his blasphemy)."

From the above mentioned we deduce that just to see the Holy Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam in a dream and not carrying out the orders of Shariah is not sufficient for salvation.

According to Mazahir-e-Haq, Imam Naawawi rahmatullahi alaihe says, "If a person sees the Holy Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam in his dream, it is true disregarding the fact that he sees his recognised features and qualities or otherwise. The differences in appearance are due to the good or bad habits and qualities of the person who sees him in his dream. The person who sees him with his good qualities would be related to piety and it will be assign on the strength of his Imaan. However if someone sees him in unrecognised conditions then this will need interpretations from a person who is qualified in this field. According to peoples own personalities their dreams could differ. Some dream him old while others young. Some see him pleased while others find him annoyed."
(Mazahir-e-Haq p.24 vol.4)

From the above we can conclude that to see the Holy Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam in a dream will need to be interpreted and to dream him is a test for ones own personality.


A Method Of Seeing The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam In A Dream

Every Muslim has the desire to see the Holy Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam in a dream. The desire increases more and more due to the love and affection. Many great saints have written various exercises and deeds out of their own experience, which may help, in seeing the Holy Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam in a dream. I would like to mention one way which will assist in seeing the blessed Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam in a dream. According to the book ‘Virtues of Durood Shareef" (written by Hazrat Sheikh Zakaria sahib rahmatullahi alaihe). Sheikh Abdul Haq Muhaddith Dahalwi rahmatullahi alaihe writes that if a person offers two rak`aah’s nafl salaah and recites twenty five times Surah Ikhlas after Surah Al-Fatiha in each rak’aah thereafter recites one thousands times the following Durood, he will (Allah willing) see the Holy Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam in his dream.

However, it should be kept in mind that the main cause of seeing the Holy Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam is the desire of the heart, abundant Durood Shareef and refraining from sins. May Allah enable us to see the Holy Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam in a dream and give us the true understanding of Deen, Aameen.

One of the students of Darul Uloom asked our Patron, Hazrat Moulana Yusuf sahib, "Why do I not see the Holy Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam in my dreams even though I pray Durood Shareef regularly." Hazrat replied, "It is our duty to keep reciting and it is not right for us to call him to our dream. If he wishes he will come. It is not right to try and force a king to visit your home. Similarly we should just keep up our rituals and hope that one day the rituals will prove faithful and we will achieve our goal."

O Lord! Shower thy Blessings and send eternal peace in continuation, upon Thy Beloved (Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam) who is the best of all creation.