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Fatwa CenterSeeing the Prophet in a dream
Question
Is it a condition for the validity of seeing the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, in a dream that a person sees him, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, exactly as he was described in the Sunnah? If a person sees the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, in a vision, but some of his features were different, for example, non-bearded, would this mean that it is not the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said that when a person sees him in a dream, then he has actually seen him, because the devil cannot embody the image of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. [Muslim]
Ibn Hajar 
said that although Allaah The Almighty enabled the devil to embody the image of any person he wants, He did not enable him to embody the image of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.
Some scholars said that the vision mentioned in the abovementioned Hadeeth is valid only if a person saw the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, in his realistic form. Some scholars said that he must be seen in his last image, when he was dying, and that he must even see the grey hairs of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, that did not amount to twenty. However, Ibn Hajar believed that the correct opinion is that a person is considered to have seen the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, if he sees him in any of his images, meaning, in his youth, manhood, early middle age, or during his last days on earth. If a person does not see the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, in any of his images, then this may have some kind of particular significance concerning that person. This is understood from the words of Ibn Hajar .
Al-Qaraafi said:
Seeing the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, in a dream is valid for only two categories of people:
1- A Companion of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, who saw him , sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, in real life. When this Companion sees the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, in a vision, he will have no doubt that he is seeing the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.
2- A person who listens several times to the description of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. When this person sees him, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, in a vision, he will have no doubt that he is seeing the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, exactly like those who lived during the time of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.
1- He may have seen the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.
2- The devil may have made him believe that he saw the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.
This person must not be sure, even if he sees a man in his dream who tells him that he is indeed the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and even if a person accompanying that man in the vision tells him that this man is the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. This is because the devil lies about himself and to others.
If a person does not see the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, 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, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, with black skin, this means that the person is unfair. If he sees the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, blind, this means the person does not have faith. If he sees the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, without hands, this means the person prevents the implementation of the Sharee‘ah. If he sees the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, non-bearded, this means the person derides the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. If this person sees the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, as an old man, this mean the person respects the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. [End of quote].
This is what is understood from the words of Al-Qaraafi .
Allaah Knows best.
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