There are moments in sleep that feel too real to be imagination. You wake with tears still drying on your face, or a calm that lingers as if someone you loved was truly just there.

According to Ibn al-Qayyim (rahimahullah) in Kitab al-Ruh, this is not fantasy. It is part of the unseen design of how souls move between worlds.

When a person dies, their soul exits fully from the body, rising through the mouth as the Prophet ﷺ described, and the eyes follow it as it departs. That is why the dying often gaze upward in their final moments as if watching their own soul ascend.

But when a person sleeps, something gentler happens. The soul does not depart completely. Ibn al-Qayyim wrote that it leaves partially, passing like a ray through the nostrils, still tethered to the body by an unseen thread.

Here lies the mystery: a truthful soul, purified by sincerity and remembrance, is allowed to travel far. It ascends to the heavens and returns. But a deceitful soul darkened by lies or heedlessness becomes entangled with the whispers of shayateen mid-air. Its dreams are distorted, its visions confused.

Ibn Abbas (radiAllahu ‘anhu) said that the believing souls of the living and the dead meet in the dream world, asking each other about what they left behind. Then Allah holds the souls of the dead and sends the souls of the living back to their bodies by morning.

It is a nightly reunion only Allah allows.

If you have ever seen a loved one who passed away, a parent, a friend, a child, know that it is not always your mind replaying memories. Sometimes it is your soul being granted permission to meet theirs in a realm where words are not spoken, but hearts still recognize.

The dead cannot choose who they visit. The living cannot summon who they see. These moments are gifts chosen, timed, and permitted by Allah alone.

So if you dream of a loved one and they appear radiant, peaceful, smiling in a garden or wearing their favorite clothing, take comfort. Such dreams are rahmah — mercy. They are not nostalgia; they are signs from the One who controls both life and death, giving you a glimpse of reunion to ease your heart and strengthen your faith.

And if you long to see someone but never do, know that the gift lies not in the dream, but in the connection that never ended. Allah has kept it safe beyond time, beyond distance.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

He taught that true dreams are messages from Allah. They either call us to do good, forbid us from harm, come to pass as truth, or increase us in faith. They are part of His mercy, the same mercy that allows souls to find one another across realms.

So the next time you wake with that lingering sense of presence, whisper Alhamdulillah. Because what you just experienced was not merely a dream. It was a visit.

A meeting written in the unseen.

A reminder that love does not die, it only changes its world.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

Spiritually, this purifies the body and prepares the soul for safe travel during sleep. Neuroscience supports this, as calming rituals before bed reduce stress hormones and deepen restorative sleep.

He ﷺ said:

Spiritually, this protects the soul from deceptive dreams. Psychologically, it creates a sense of safety, lowering nighttime anxiety and improving dream recall.

Journaling after waking strengthens memory and emotional insight³. In Islam, it also helps differentiate between ru’yā sālihah (true dreams) and hadith an-nafs (mind’s echoes).

As Ibn al-Qayyim said, “A deceitful heart dreams deceit.” The purity of one’s dreams mirrors the purity of one’s deeds. Modern psychology echoes this truth: integrity brings inner peace, while dishonesty breeds turmoil.

Say Alhamdulillah and share it only with those who are wise and trustworthy, as the Prophet ﷺ advised. Gratitude grounds the experience in humility, protecting it from ego and misinterpretation.

1. Can we communicate with the dead through dreams?
Not by our choice. Such encounters are granted by Allah as mercy or reassurance, not through summoning.

2. Are all dreams meaningful?
No. The Prophet ﷺ said some dreams are from Allah, some from Shaytan, and some from the self. True dreams bring peace, not fear.

3. Can a sinful person see a true dream?
Yes, but rarely. Repentance, dhikr, and sincerity clear the heart’s mirror through which true visions are seen.

4. What should we do after a disturbing dream?
Seek refuge in Allah, spit lightly to the left three times, and do not share it with anyone. Pray two rak‘ahs and return to peace.

5. Is it permissible to interpret dreams?
Yes, but only those grounded in Qur’an, Sunnah, and knowledge of the dreamer’s state should do so. Casual interpretation can mislead.