Ibn `Umar said, "In the lifetime of the Prophet (ﷺ) I dreamt that a piece of silk cloth was in my hand and it flew with me to whichever part of Paradise I wanted. I also saw as if two persons (i.e. angels) came to me and wanted to take me to Hell. Then an angel met us and told me not to be afraid. He then told them to leave me. Hafsa narrated one of my dreams to the Prophet (ﷺ) and the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Abdullah is a good man. Would that he offer the night prayer (Tahajjud)!" So after that day `Abdullah (bin `Umar) started offering Tahajjud. The companions of the Prophet (p.b.u.h) used to tell him their dreams that (Laila-tul-Qadr) was on the 27th of the month of Ramadan. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "I see that your dreams agree on the last ten nights of Ramadan and so whoever is in search of it should seek it in the last ten nights of Ramadan."
Prayer at Night (Tahajjud)
Sahih al-Bukhari - Hadith 1156, 1157, 1158
The Excellence of Night Prayer
This narration demonstrates the high status of Tahajjud prayer in Islam. When the Prophet (ﷺ) learned of Abdullah ibn Umar's virtuous dream, he immediately recognized his spiritual potential but noted one deficiency - his lack of regular night prayer. The Prophet's statement "Would that he offer the night prayer" indicates that Tahajjud elevates a believer's rank and brings them closer to Allah.
Dream Interpretation in Islam
True dreams are considered one of the forty-six parts of prophethood. Ibn Umar's dream of silk cloth representing Paradise shows his righteous nature, while the angels seeking to take him to Hell demonstrates that even the righteous must remain cautious. The intervening angel signifies divine protection for those who strive in worship.
The Impact of Prophetic Guidance
Notice how immediately after hearing the Prophet's wish, Ibn Umar began performing Tahajjud regularly. This illustrates the companions' immediate implementation of the Prophet's guidance, no matter how subtle the instruction. Their love for Allah and His Messenger manifested in instant obedience.
Seeking Laylat al-Qadr
The companions' dreams agreeing on the 27th night of Ramadan, followed by the Prophet's guidance to seek it in the last ten nights, shows how divine wisdom works through multiple channels. The Prophet confirmed the truth in their dreams while providing broader guidance to increase worship during all the last ten nights, thus ensuring greater reward.
Scholarly Commentary
Classical scholars note that this hadith combines several important teachings: the virtue of righteous dreams, the excellence of night prayer, the importance of acting upon pious advice, and the methodology for seeking Laylat al-Qadr. It shows how the Prophet nurtured his companions through gentle encouragement rather than harsh criticism.