Question # 570: I was reading about what the Noble Prophet looked like, and I started picturing him in my head. Then, I had a dream where I saw a man who looked just like that image I had. I can’t really remember what he said, though. Is it possible to see the Messenger (saws) in dreams?
Assalamu ‘laikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,
All praise and thanks are due to Allah (سبحانه و تعالى), and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger (صلى الله عليه و سلم).
Dear questioner,
First of all, we implore Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) to help us serve His cause and render our work for His sake.
Shorter Answer: Authentic ahadith support the belief that it is possible to see Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم) in dreams and that Shaytan cannot take his true form. However, Shaytan could appear in another form and claim to be the Prophet. Scholars emphasize that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) can be seen in dreams as he appeared at any stage of his life, but the dreamer should be able to describe him accurately. If the description doesn’t match the known attributes of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم), it’s likely not a true vision. Some scholars argue that only two categories of people can validly claim to have seen the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) in dreams: his Companions (رضي الله عنهم) and those thoroughly familiar with his physical description.
The Companions (رضي الله عنهم) described him as exceptionally beautiful and unique in appearance, and the following is the detailed description of his physical attributes based on authentic ahadith:
- Average height, neither tall nor short
- Pinkish complexion, not very white or dark
- Hair was neither very curly nor straight
- Broad-shouldered with thick hair reaching shoulders and earlobes
- Large hands and feet, big-boned
- A thin line of hair from chest to navel
- Walked leaning forward slightly
- Wide-mouthed and big-eyed
- Heels were not fleshy
While seeing the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) in dreams can be a source of glad tidings, Muslims are advised not to base religious rulings or actions solely on dream experiences. Instead, they should focus on following the Prophet’s (صلى الله عليه و سلم) teachings in their daily lives.
Long Answer: It’s important to note that it is indeed possible for a person to see the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) in a dream. The Shaytan cannot appear in the image of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم), but he could appear in another form and claim that he is the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم).
Abu Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) said: I heard the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) say: “Whoever sees me in a dream will see me when he is awake; the Shaytan cannot take my shape.” (Narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim)
[It was narrated from ‘Awn bin Abu Juhaifah, from his father, that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “Whoever sees me in a dream, it is as if he has seen me when he is awake, for Satan is not able to resemble me.” (Sunan Ibn Majah; graded saheeh)]
Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar said: ‘We have narrated it with a complete isnad from Isma’il ibn Ishaq al-Qadi from Sulayman ibn Harb – who was one of the shaykhs of al-Bukhari – from Hammad ibn Zayd from Ayyub who said: If a man told Muhammad (meaning Ibn Sirin) that he had seen the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) [in a dream], he would say, “Describe to me the one whom you saw.” If he gave a description that he did not recognize, he would say, “You did not see him.” Its isnad is sound, and I have found another report which corroborates it. Al-Hakim narrated via ‘Asim ibn Kulayb (who said), my father told me: I said to Ibn ‘Abbas, “I saw the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) in a dream.” He said, “Describe him to me.” He said, “I mentioned al-Hasan ibn ‘Ali and said that he looked like him.” He said, “You did indeed see him.” Its isnad is good.” (Fath al-Bari)
With regard to those who say that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) may appear in all forms [in dreams], quoting as evidence the report narrated by Ibn Abi ‘Asim from Abu Hurayrah, that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “Whoever sees me in a dream has indeed seen me, for I may be shown in all forms” – this hadith is da’eef (weak). Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar said: “Its isnad includes Salih the freed slave of al-Tawamah, who is weak who became confused (in old age), and this is a report from someone who heard it after he became confused.” (Fath al-Bari)
Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar said: “The phrase “[the Shaytan] cannot” indicates that although Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) gave him the ability to appear in any form he wants, He does not allow him to appear in the form of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم). This was the opinion of a group who said concerning the hadith: What this refers to is when a person sees him as he really looked. Some of them restricted it even further and said: He must see him as he looked when he died, so he must even take into consideration the number of his white hairs, which was no more than twenty. The correct view is that he may be seen at any age or in any condition so long as he appears as he really looked at any time, whether as a youth, in the prime of manhood, in old age, or any other time of his life.” (Fath al-Bari)
[However,] it is possible for the Shaytan to come to a person in his sleep and claim to be the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) if he comes in a form other than the way in which Allah formed him at all stages of his life. [In summary,] the Shaytan cannot appear in the true image of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم), but he can appear in other forms.
[Shihab al-Din] Al-Qaraafi [(d. 1285 Maliki Scholar)] said: “Seeing the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) in a dream is valid for only two categories of people:
- A Companion of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) who saw him (صلى الله عليه و سلم) in real life. When this Companion sees the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) in a vision, he will have no doubt that he is seeing the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم).
- A person who listens several times to the description of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم). When this person sees him (صلى الله عليه و سلم) in a vision, he will have no doubt that he is seeing the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) exactly like those who lived during the time of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم).
If a person does not belong to either of these two categories, he cannot be sure that he saw the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) in a vision. If he sees the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم), there are two possibilities:
- He may have seen the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم).
- The [Shaytan] may have made him believe that he saw the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم).
This person must not be sure, even if he sees a man in his dream who tells him that he is indeed the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) and even if a person accompanying that man in the vision tells him that this man is the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم). This is because the devil lies about himself and to others.
If a person does not see the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) in any of his forms, then this may be interpreted in a certain way that suits the condition of that person. For example, if he sees the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) with black skin, this means that the person is unfair. If he sees the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) blind, this means the person does not have faith. If he sees the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) without hands, this means the person prevents the implementation of the Shari‘ah. If he sees the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) non-bearded, this means the person derides the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم). If this person sees the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) as an old man, this means the person respects the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم).”
So [one] should know the physical attributes of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم). These attributes have been mentioned in many ahadith…; some of these are as follows:
- Rabi’ah ibn Abi ‘Abd al-Rahman said: “I heard Anas ibn Malik (رضي الله عنه) describing the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم). He said: “He was of average height, not too tall and not too short, with a pinkish color, not very white and not dark, and his hair was neither very curly nor very straight. The Revelation came to him when he was forty years old, and he stayed in Makkah for ten years after the Revelation came, then in Madinah for ten years. When he died, there were no more than twenty white hairs on his head and in his beard.” (Al-Bukhari)
- Al-Bara ibn ‘Azib said: “The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) was broad-shouldered and had thick hair coming down to his shoulders and earlobes. He was wearing red garments. I have never seen anything more beautiful than him.” (Reported by Muslim, Kitab al-Fadail, Bab Sifat Sha’r al-Nabi)
- ‘Ali (رضي الله عنه) said: “He was neither tall nor short and had large hands and feet. He had a large head and was big-boned, and the thin line of hair (starting from his chest and extending to the navel) was long. When he walked, he would lean forward as if he was walking downhill. I have never seen anyone like him before or since.” (Reported by al-Tirmidhi, who said this is a saheeh hasan hadith).
- Jabir ibn Samurah said: “The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) was dali’ al-fam, ash-kal al-‘ayn and manhus al-‘aqib.” Shu’bah said: “I asked Malik, ‘What is dali’ al-fam?’ He said: ‘Wide-mouthed.’ I asked, ‘What is ash-kal al-‘ayn?’ He said, ‘Big-eyed.’ I asked, ‘What is manhus al-‘aqib?’ He said, ‘His heels were not fleshy.'” (Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Fadail)
Additionally, scholars have stated that if a person sees the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) and he tells him something that goes against the apparent meaning of the Qur’an or Sunnah or tells him of some matter concerning which there has to be proof, he should not act upon it, because what one sees in a dream is not binding; what is binding is the facts that one learns when awake. [One] should note that the dreams of the Prophets [were] wahy (revelation), but seeing the Prophets in a dream is not wahy – according to scholarly consensus. Rather, it is bushra (glad tidings), as was explained by al-Nawawi.
[To sum it up,] the Muslim should not concern himself with dreams and visions, basing his affairs on them and forgetting about the state of wakefulness in which Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) has enjoined rulings and acts of worship on him. The Muslim who follows the Sunnah sees the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) in his heart; the more he follows him, the more he will see him. So when he goes out of his house or goes to the mosque or performs wudu’, he remembers what the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) used to do. When he prays or performs Hajj, he follows his Sunnah. When he buys and sells or interacts with people, he acts according to the teachings of his Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم). When he is at home with his family and children, he follows the teachings of his Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم). This is what the Muslims should seek and strive to achieve.
(Most part of the above reply is based on various answers on similar topics provided by Islamqa.info and Islamweb.net)
Allahu A’lam (Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) knows best) and all Perfections belong to Allah, and all mistakes belong to me alone. May Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) forgive me, Ameen.
Wassalaam
