Table of Contents
A Vision of the Resurrection and Divine Pardon
Abū al-Qāsim al-Ḥusayn ibn Hārūn in ʿAkkā informed us, saying: Abū Yaʿqūb Isḥāq ibn Ibrāhīm al-Awzāʿī narrated to us, saying: ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Wāṣil Abū Zurʿa al-Ḥāḍirī informed me, saying: Abū ʿAbd Allāh al-Tatarī narrated to us, saying:
I saw in my dream as if the Day of Resurrection had come. I rose from my grave and was brought a beast to ride, so I mounted it. Then I was taken up into the heavens. In each heaven, there was a garden. I wished to descend, but I was told, “This is not your place.” I was then ascended from heaven to heaven, each of them containing a garden, until I reached the highest of the Illiyyīn (Highest Stations). Then I wished to sit, and I was told, “Would you sit before you see your Lord, Glorified and Exalted?” I said, “No.” So I stood. They proceeded with me, and behold—Allah, Blessed and Exalted, was there, with Ādam (peace be upon him) before Him. When Ādam saw me, he seated me to his right like one seeking help. I said, “O Lord, You have granted triumph to the elder by Your pardon.” Then I heard Allah, Exalted is He, say: “Rise, O Ādam! We have pardoned you.”
A Vision Concerning Bishr ibn al-Ḥārith
Abū ʿAlī al-Ḥasan ibn Muḥammad al-Zubayr informed us, saying: Muḥammad ibn al-Musayyib narrated to us, saying: ʿAbd Allāh ibn Junayf narrated to us, saying: The nephew of Bishr ibn al-Ḥārith informed me, saying: A man came to Bishr and said, “Are you Bishr ibn al-Ḥārith?” He replied, “Yes.” The man said, “I saw the Lord, Glorified and Exalted, in a dream. He said, ‘Go to Bishr and tell him: Even if you were to prostrate to Me on burning coals, you would not have fulfilled the gratitude due for My favor upon you when I made your name known among the people.'”
A Dream of Standing Before the Divine
Aḥmad ibn Abī ʿUmar al-Ṣūfī in Makkah—may Allah protect it—told us, saying: Abū Bakr al-Ṭarsūsī informed me, saying: ʿUthmān al-Aḥwāl, a student of al-Kharrāz, said: Abū Saʿīd spent the night at my place. When a third of the night had passed, he shouted to me, “O ʿUthmān, get up and light the lamp!” So I got up and lit it. He said to me, “Woe to you! I just saw as if I were in the Hereafter, and the Resurrection had begun. I was called and made to stand before my Lord, and I trembled—every hair on me stood up. He said to me, ‘Are you the one who refers to Me in singing with Salmā and Buthayna? Were it not that I know you are sincere in that, I would have punished you with a torment I would not inflict upon anyone among the worlds.'”
General Principles of Dream Interpretation Regarding Standing Before Allah
Al-Ustādh Abū Saʿīd (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
Whoever sees in his dream that he is standing before Allah Almighty, and Allah is looking at him—if the dreamer is among the righteous, the dream is one of mercy. If he is not among the righteous, he should beware, as Allah said:
“On the Day when mankind will stand before the Lord of the worlds.” [Qur’an 83:6]
Conversing with Allah in a Dream
If he sees that he is conversing with God, he is honored with nearness and becomes beloved among the people, as Allah said:
“And We brought him near, confiding in private.” [Qur’an 19:52]
Likewise, if he sees that he is prostrating before God, that is based on God’s saying:
“And prostrate and draw near [to Allah].” [Qur’an 96:19]
Speaking to Allah with or without a Veil
If he sees that Allah is speaking to him from behind a veil, his religion will be sound, he will fulfill his trust if he has one, and his authority will be strengthened.
If he sees that Allah is speaking to him without a veil, there is a flaw in his religion, based on the verse:
“It is not fitting for a human that Allah should speak to him except by revelation or from behind a veil.” [Qur’an 42:51]
Witnessing Allah without Description
If he sees Him in his heart as great, as if God, Glorified is He, has brought him near, honored him, forgiven him, taken account of him, or given him glad tidings—without witnessing an image—then he will meet Allah on the Day of Judgment in that state.
Promises, Admonitions, and Clothing from God
If he sees that Allah promised him forgiveness and mercy, the promise is true and without doubt, for Allah does not break His promise. However, he will be afflicted in his body or his livelihood as long as he lives.
If he sees that Allah is admonishing him, he should desist from what Allah does not approve of, based on His saying:
“He admonishes you so that you may remember.” [Qur’an 16:90]
If Allah clothes him with a garment, it is a sign of distress and illness as long as he lives, but through it, he becomes deserving of great gratitude.
It is said that someone saw in a dream that GoAllah d clothed him with two garments, and he wore them immediately. He asked Ibn Sīrīn about it, who said, “Prepare yourself for affliction.” Not long after, the man became a leper until he met God.
Seeing Divine Light or Being Named by God
If he sees a light and is bewildered by it and cannot describe it, then he will be unable to benefit from his own hands as long as he lives.
If he sees that Allah has called him by his own name or by another name, his status will be elevated, and he will overcome his enemies.
Receiving Worldly Goods from God
If Allah gives him something from the pleasures of this world, it is a test through which he becomes worthy of mercy.
God’s Anger and Parental Displeasure
If he sees that Allah is angry with him, that indicates that his parents are angry with him.
If he sees that his parents are angry with him, that means that Allah is angry with him, based on His saying:
“Give thanks to Me and to your parents.” [Qur’an 31:14]
It is narrated in some traditions that God’s pleasure lies in the pleasure of the parents, and His anger lies in their anger.
Falling from Heights as a Sign of Divine Wrath
It is said: whoever sees that Allah is angry with him will fall from a high place, based on the verse:
“And whoever incurs My wrath has certainly fallen.” [Qur’an 20:81]
If he sees that he fell from a wall, sky, or mountain, that indicates God’s wrath upon him.
God’s Presence in a Known Location
If he sees himself before God, Glorified and Exalted, in a known place, then justice and prosperity will spread in that place, oppressors will perish, and the oppressed will be granted victory.
Seeing God’s Throne
If he sees that he is looking at the Throne of God, Blessed and Exalted, he will obtain mercy and blessings.
Worshiping an Idol Mistaken as God
If he sees an image or form, and it is said to him, “This is your god,” or he believes it to be his god—Exalted is Allah above that—and he worships it and prostrates to it, then he is immersed in falsehood while thinking it is the truth. This is a dream of one who lies about God.
Blasphemy in Dreams
If he sees that he is cursing Allah, Exalted is He, then he is ungrateful for his Lord’s blessing and displeased with His decree.