As stated at the beginning of this book, the Noble Messenger said: “Whoever sees me in a dream will also see me while awake, for Satan cannot assume my form.” There are several other hadiths of similar meaning. He also said: “Whoever sees me in a dream has truly seen me, for Satan cannot take my form.”
It should be stated at once that seeing the Sultan of the Prophets in a dream is among the greatest and most honorable forms of happiness for a person.
Seeing him signifies serenity in this world and the Hereafter. It has been said that there can be no true practice without love. One does not attain felicity until a drop of love for him falls upon the soil of the heart and a bud from the branch of his flower appears there.
The hadiths mentioned above, and many others, have been interpreted in different ways by Islamic scholars. Some of these distinguished scholars said that a person's dream of the Noble Messenger is valid when he is seen in the form and appearance in which the Messenger of God was known. Others said it is when he is seen in the appearance he had at the time of his death. The famous scholar and saint Ibn Sirin was among those who held such a view. It is related that when someone told him of a dream in which the Master of the Universe had been seen, Ibn Sirin would say, “Describe to me the person you saw in the dream.” If the dreamer described someone in a way Ibn Sirin did not recognize and that did not correspond to the blessed physical description of the Prophet of Prophets, Ibn Sirin would say, “O man, you did not see the Glorious Prophet.”
Scholars have said much about seeing the Master of the Universe in a dream. Without entering into all of those discussions, the source states briefly that the mirror of the heart must be bright for such a vision. The more a person is free of sin and error and the more closely the person follows the Noble Sunnah, the greater that person's fortune in this respect. It is presented as a historical fact that many people, including great figures, have seen the Prophet of Prophets in dreams.
A person who sees God's beloved and honored Messenger in a dream will remain in a good state and with a joyful heart, and will be granted serenity of heart. If the person is burdened by sorrow, grief, hardship, or imprisonment, the person will be freed from these and attain the desired aim.
Seeing the Noble Messenger signifies his intercession, for the Glorious Prophet is the possessor of intercession.
Seeing the Prophet of Mercy also signifies making proofs clear, being truthful in one's word, and keeping one's promises. Sometimes it signifies attaining among one's relatives a station that none of them has reached.
Seeing the Pride of the Worlds riding something signifies visiting his blessed tomb.
Ja'far al-Sadiq said that seeing the prophets, or one of them, in a dream is interpreted in eleven ways: mercy; blessing; honor; loftiness of rank; authority or good fortune; victory; happiness; leadership; strength in Islam; goodness in this world and the Hereafter; and prosperity and ease.
Seeing the Noble Messenger die signifies the death of an honorable and righteous person from the dreamer's own lineage.
Seeing the Prophet of Prophets walking on foot along a road signifies that the dreamer will visit the Rawda al-Mutahhara on foot.
Seeing God's beloved and honored Messenger in a ruined place signifies that the place will be repaired and restored through the blessing of the Glorious Messenger.
Seeing oneself wearing the footwear of the Prophet of Prophets signifies that the Messenger of God is directing that person to strive in the way of God.
Seeing the Noble Messenger call the adhan in a place signifies low prices, abundance, blessing, and an increase in the population of that place.
Seeing the honored Messenger praying in a locality signifies that the scattered affairs of the Muslims there will be gathered and put in order.
Seeing the Master of the Universe combing his blessed beard signifies deliverance from sorrow, grief, and distress.
Seeing the Glorious Prophet with extraordinary beauty signifies that the dreamer is deeply religious and follows the Noble Sunnah. Shaking hands with the Messenger of God signifies following the Prophetic Sunnah.
Seeing the noble beard of God's Messenger as black signifies joy, happiness, abundance, and low prices.
Seeing whiteness in his blessed beard signifies strength, victory over an enemy, and perfection.
Seeing the Sultan of the Prophets give the dreamer something signifies attaining knowledge and wisdom and following the Truth. In every respect, seeing the Sultan-Prophet signifies strength of faith, righteousness in religion, adherence to the Sunnah, great blessing, and intercession in the Hereafter.
Seeing the Prophet's Rawda signifies wealth, release from prison and distress, blessing, and abundance.
Seeing the Prophet of Prophets delivering a sermon signifies enjoining what is good and forbidding what is wrong. Receiving something pleasant such as honey or dates from the hand of the Glorious Prophet signifies memorizing the Qur'an and attaining knowledge in proportion to what was given.
Seeing the Master of the Universe with a wheat-colored complexion signifies abandoning whims and passions, repenting, and seeking forgiveness.
Seeing the Pride of the Worlds among a small number of soldiers, not fully equipped with weapons and behaving humbly toward them, signifies the victory of Muslims over unbelievers. Following behind the Noble Messenger signifies following the Noble Sunnah.
The source again emphasizes that seeing the exalted Prophet in a dream is connected with keeping away from sin, serenity of heart, purity of heart, righteousness in religion, and sincerity in deeds. One must burn with the lamp of love; if the lover beats his wings on this path, the beloved will surely reveal himself. It concludes with the verse: “O person whose life is of dust, take the road of love with Muhammad; I know no other road by which to reach the Truth.”