The Book of Dreams - Sahih Muslim 2267a

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. All praise is to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may peace and blessings be upon His final Messenger Muhammad.

The Hadith Text

"He who saw me in dream in fact saw the truth (what is true)."

Commentary on the Meaning

This noble hadith establishes that seeing the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in a dream constitutes a true vision. The phrase "saw the truth" indicates that such a dream is authentic and corresponds to reality, for Satan cannot assume the form of the Prophet (peace be upon him). This is based on the consensus of the scholars of Islam.

Imam al-Nawawi, in his commentary on Sahih Muslim, explains that this hadith demonstrates the special protection Allah has granted to the form of His Messenger. When a person sees the Prophet in his true, known form as described in the authentic narrations, this is considered a true vision and a blessed occurrence.

Conditions for Authenticity

The scholars have stipulated conditions for considering such a dream authentic: The dreamer must see the Prophet (peace be upon him) in his known, described form - of medium height, not extremely tall nor short, with a handsome face, black eyes, and other attributes mentioned in the authentic traditions.

If the form differs from these descriptions, scholars differ regarding its authenticity. Some say it may still be valid if the dreamer recognizes him as the Prophet, while others maintain strict adherence to the physical descriptions.

Spiritual Significance

This type of dream is considered among the glad tidings for the believer. It indicates the dreamer's love for the Prophet (peace be upon him) and may be a sign of goodness. However, it is important to note that such dreams do not constitute revelation nor do they establish legal rulings in Islam.

The dream should inspire the dreamer to increase in following the Sunnah and emulating the noble character of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Conclusion

This hadith remains a source of comfort and blessing for the Muslim community. It reminds us of the continued connection between the believers and their Prophet, even after his earthly departure. May Allah grant us the honor of following his Sunnah completely and may He unite us with him in the highest gardens of Paradise. And Allah knows best.