"The Prophet said (Allah bless him and give him peace): 'If someone sees me in his sleep, he has indeed seen me, for Satan cannot impersonate me!' He also said: 'The vision of the believer is one of forty-six parts of Prophethood.'"
The Seeing Of Rasoolullah In a Dream - Ash-Shama'il Al-Muhammadiyah
This commentary examines the noble hadith from Ash-Shama'il Al-Muhammadiyah 415 concerning the vision of the Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) in dreams.
The Authenticity of Prophetic Visions
The statement "he has indeed seen me" establishes that a true vision of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) in sleep is a genuine encounter. This is affirmed by the divine protection mentioned: "Satan cannot impersonate me!" - indicating that Allah has safeguarded the Prophet's form from satanic imitation, preserving the honor of his appearance.
The Nature of Satanic Impersonation
Scholars explain that Satan is prevented from taking the exact form of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) due to Allah's divine decree and protection of Prophetic dignity. This protection extends to both the physical characteristics and the spiritual essence of the Messenger of Allah.
The Status of Believer's Vision
The second part, "The vision of the believer is one of forty-six parts of Prophethood," indicates the high spiritual station of true dreams. Scholars interpret this as meaning that righteous dreams contain a portion of divine inspiration, being among the first manifestations of Prophethood that continue after its completion.
Spiritual Implications
This hadith comforts the believers that seeing the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) in a dream is a great blessing and honor. It serves as a connection to his noble presence and a means of spiritual upliftment for the ummah until the Day of Judgment.