Table of Contents
Narration from Abū Bakr Jaʿfar ibn al-Khayyāṭ
I heard Abū al-Faḍl Aḥmad ibn ʿUmar al-Harawī in Makkah (may Allah protect it), say: I heard Abū Bakr ibn al-Qārī say: I heard Abū Bakr Jaʿfar ibn al-Khayyāṭ, the righteous shaykh, say:
I saw the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in a dream sitting, and with him was a group of the poor who were identified with taṣawwuf (Sufism). Then suddenly the sky split open, and Jibrīl descended along with angels carrying basins and jugs. They began pouring water on the hands of the poor and washing their feet. When they reached me, I extended my hands, but some of them said to one another: “Do not pour water on his hands, for he is not one of them.”
So I said, “O Messenger of Allah, even if I am not one of them, I love them.”
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “A believer is with those whom he loves.” Then they poured water on my hands until they were washed.
Interpretation by Abū Saʿīd
Al-Ustād Abū Saʿīd (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
Seeing the angels in a dream—if they are known and joyful—indicates the appearance of something significant for the dreamer: honor, strength, good news, and victory after injustice, or healing after illness, or safety after fear, or ease after poverty, or joy after hardship. It implies that the dreamer will go on ḥajj or take part in jihād and be martyred.
If one sees that he is opposing Jibrīl and Mīkāʾīl or arguing with them, then he is in a matter that incurs Allah’s wrath from moment to moment, and his opinion aligns with that of the Jews—we seek refuge in Allah.
If one sees that he receives food from Jibrīl, then he will be among the people of Paradise, in shāʾ Allāh.
And if one sees Jibrīl sad and distressed, then a hardship and punishment will befall him, because he is the angel of punishment.
Visions of Specific Angels in Dreams and Their Interpretations
Seeing Mīkāʾīl (Peace Be Upon Him)
Whoever sees Mīkāʾīl (peace be upon him), if he is pious, he will attain what he desires in both this world and the Hereafter. But if he is not pious, he should beware.
If Mīkāʾīl is seen in a town or village, its people will receive rain, and prices there will become cheaper.
If he speaks to the dreamer or gives him something, the dreamer will receive a blessing and joy, because he is the angel of mercy.
Seeing Isrāfīl (Peace Be Upon Him)
Whoever sees Isrāfīl (peace be upon him) sad, blowing the trumpet, and thinks that he alone heard it, will die.
But if he believes that the people of that place also heard it, then widespread death will appear in that area.
It is also said that this vision indicates justice after widespread injustice and the destruction of oppressors in that region.
Seeing the Angel of Death (Malak al-Mawt, Peace Be Upon Him)
Whoever sees the Angel of Death joyful, will die a martyr.
If he sees him grim and angry, he will die without repentance.
If he sees that he wrestled with him and the Angel of Death overpowered him, he will die.
If the Angel of Death did not overpower him, he will be close to death but Allah will save him.
It is also said: whoever sees the Angel of Death, his life will be prolonged.
It was related from Ḥamzah al-Zayyāt:
He said, “I saw the Angel of Death in a dream, and I said, ‘O Angel of Death, I ask you by Allah, is there any good for me with Allah?’ He said, ‘Yes. And the sign of that is that you will die in Ḥulwān.’ So he died in Ḥulwān.”
Seeing an Angel Bringing Good News of a Righteous Son
If one sees that a knowledgeable son has become an angel and brings him good news of a son, he will be granted a righteous, noble, and respected son—based on the verse:
{Indeed, Allah gives you good tidings of a word from Him} [Āl ʿImrān: 45],
and His saying:
{I am only the messenger of your Lord to grant you a pure boy} [Maryam: 19].
Seeing Angels Holding Plates of Fruit
If one sees angels holding plates of fruit, he will depart from this world as a martyr.
Seeing an Angel Entering One’s House
If one sees an angel entering his house, he should beware of a thief entering his home.
Seeing an Angel Taking One’s Weapon
If one sees an angel taking his weapon, it means his strength, power, and status will be taken away, and perhaps he will separate from his wife.
Angels in a Place While the Dreamer Fears Them
If one sees that angels are present in a location and he is afraid of them, then a fitnah (trial) or war will occur in that place.
Angels in a Place of Battle
If one sees angels in a place of battle, it indicates victory over enemies.
Angels Bowing or Prostrating Before the Dreamer
If one sees that angels are bowing or prostrating to him, he will attain his wishes, and his status and authority will be elevated.
Wrestling with an Angel
If one sees that he is wrestling with an angel, he will experience distress and humiliation after honor.
An Angel Approaching a Sick Person
If a sick person sees an angel approaching him, his death is near.
Angels Descending from the Sky in Their True Form
If one sees angels descending from the sky to the earth in their actual form, it is a sign of support for the people of truth, humiliation for the people of falsehood, and victory for the mujāhidīn.
Angels in the Form of Women
If one sees angels in the form of women, it indicates lying against Allah Almighty—based on the verse:
{Has your Lord preferred you with sons and taken for Himself angels as females? Truly, you utter a grave saying} [Al-Isrāʾ: 40].
Flying with the Angels or Ascending with Them to the Sky
If one sees that he is flying with the angels or ascending with them to the sky and does not return, he will attain honor in this world and then be martyred.
Looking at the Angels
If one sees that he is looking at the angels, he will be afflicted with a calamity—based on the verse:
{The Day they will see the angels—no good news will there be that Day for the criminals} [Al-Furqān: 22].
Being Cursed by the Angels
If one sees that the angels are cursing him, it is a sign of weakness in his religion.
Angels Raising a Noise
If one sees that the angels are raising their voices, his house and dwelling will be destroyed.
A Group of Angels Appearing in a Town or Village
If a group of angels is seen in a town, district, or village, then a scholar or ascetic will die there, or an oppressed person will be killed, or a house will collapse on a group of people.
Angels Performing the Same Work as the Dreamer
If one sees that the angels are doing the same kind of work as he does, it indicates that he will benefit from his trade or profession.
An Angel Saying to the Dreamer: “Recite the Book of Allah”
If one sees an angel saying to him, “Recite the Book of Allah,” and he is a righteous person, he will encounter something difficult. If he is not righteous, then he should beware—based on the verse:
{Recite your book; sufficient is your own self today as a reckoner against you} [Al-Isrāʾ: 14].
Angels Appearing on Horses
If one sees angels in a place, mounted on horses, then a tyrant will perish there.
Unidentified Birds as Angels
If one sees birds whose species he cannot identify, they are angels. Their appearance in a place signifies the downfall of the oppressors and the victory of the oppressed.
Seeing al-Kirām al-Kātibīn (The Noble Recording Angels)
Whoever sees the Kirām al-Kātibīn will attain joy and happiness in this world and the Hereafter, and will be granted a good ending—if he is among the righteous. If not, then there is fear for him—based on the verses:
{Noble recorders} {They know whatever you do} [Al-Infiṭār: 11–12].
The Form in Which the Angel Appears
Some of the scholars of this discipline said:
Seeing an angel in the form of an old man signifies the past.
Seeing him in the form of a young man signifies the present.
Seeing him in the form of a boy signifies the future.
Becoming Like an Angel in a Dream
If one sees that he has become like an angel, then:
– If he is in hardship, he will find relief.
– If he is enslaved, he will be freed.
– If he is noble, he will gain leadership.
– If he is ill, this dream indicates his death.
Angels Greeting the Dreamer with Salām
If one sees that angels are greeting him with salām, Allah will grant him insight in his life and a good ending.
The Story of Shamuʾīl the Jewish Merchant
It is related that Shamuʾīl, a Jewish merchant, saw in a dream—while on a journey—that the angels were praying over him. He asked an interpreter, who said:
“You will enter into the religion of Allah and the law of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him),”
based on the verse:
{It is He who blesses you—and His angels—that He may bring you out from darkness into light} [Al-Aḥzāb: 43].
So he embraced Islam and Allah guided him. The reason for his conversion was that he had helped hide a poor indebted man from a creditor who was pursuing him.