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True Dreams and the Living Heart: Lessons from the Righteous
A believer dreaming of light and peace symbolizing divine mercy.
Windows Into the Unseen
Throughout the early generations of Islam, stories spread of believers whose dreams opened small windows into the unseen.
After the Battle of Yamama, Thabit ibn Qais (may Allah be pleased with him) fell as a martyr. Days later, one of his companions saw him in a dream.
Thabit said:
“Go and find my shield. It was taken from me on the battlefield and hidden beneath a pile of armor.”
He even gave the exact place. The man awoke, searched, and found it exactly where Thabit described. He carried the message to Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), the Caliph at the time, for Thabit had also asked that his debt be repaid from the value of that shield. Abu Bakr fulfilled his wish.
It was as if death itself could not silence truth when it needed to be heard.
The Scholars Who Spoke After Death
These marvels did not end with the Companions. Many of the students of Imam Sufyan al-Thawri (may Allah have mercy on him) saw their teacher after his passing still giving counsel, still reminding them to stay close to Allah.
Sufyan ibn Uyayna said:
“I saw my teacher Sufyan al-Thawri in a dream and asked, ‘Give me advice.’
He said, ‘Keep the company of fewer people.’”
Others saw him in Jannah. One dreamer asked, “What did Allah do with you?”
Sufyan replied:
“When I entered my grave, I was brought instantly before the Lord of the worlds.
A voice said, ‘Do you remember a day when you preferred Allah over your desires?’
I said, ‘Yes.’
And I was served plates of food from Paradise.’”
Another man, Su’ayr ibn al-Khims, saw him flying from date palm to date palm, reciting:
“All praise be to Allah who fulfilled His promise to us.”
The Sweetness of Reunion
There is a tenderness in these visions, the sweetness of reunion and reassurance. A deceased parent smiles at you in a dream. A teacher appears radiant and calm. A friend long gone visits only to say, “Your time is near, and I am happy to receive you.”
These are gifts, glimpses of mercy from the unseen. But they are not measures of who we are.
Dreams are real, yet they are not the life we were meant to live in.
They are signs, not destinations.
Signs, Not Measures
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“The most truthful of you in dreams are those who are most truthful in speech.”
He also taught that good dreams come from Allah, and they are among the remaining traces of Prophethood.
But they are byproducts of truthfulness, not the goal of it.
You are not meant to chase dreams as proofs of your closeness to Allah, nor to treat them as warnings that dictate your fears.
True dreams are a mercy, not a measure.
Life unfolds in your wakeful choices in prayer, honesty, patience, and repentance. These moments write the story that determines what kind of soul you will carry into the next world.
So when a dream brings comfort, be grateful.
When it brings warning, turn back to Allah.
But never measure your faith by what you see in sleep.
Because faith is not found in the dream, it is proven in the day you live after it.
Applying This Teaching to Our Lives
1. Sleep with Dhikr
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“When you go to bed, perform ablution as you do for prayer and lie down on your right side.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari 247)
Benefit: Dhikr before sleep cleanses the heart, aligning the soul for peaceful dreams.
Science: Studies show that calm breathing and positive reflection before sleep enhance REM cycles and reduce anxiety.
2. Avoid Obsessing Over Dreams
If a dream disturbs you, the Prophet ﷺ instructed:
“Do not tell it to anyone. Rise and pray.”
(Sahih Muslim 4200)
Benefit: This protects your heart from unnecessary fear.
Psychology: Speaking about distressing dreams can reinforce their emotional power.
3. Seek Truthfulness While Awake
True dreams arise from a truthful heart.
Spiritual Benefit: Sincerity purifies perception.
Modern Insight: Neuroscientists note that integrity and moral alignment reduce cognitive dissonance, leading to deeper, more restful sleep.
4. Express Gratitude for Comforting Dreams
When a dream brings serenity, thank Allah for His mercy.
Gratitude reinforces the habit of seeing His care in every moment, sleeping or awake.
5. Focus on Righteous Action
Let dreams inspire deeds, not replace them.
Faith matures not in what we see, but in how we live.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Are true dreams considered revelation?
No, revelation ended with the Prophet ﷺ. True dreams are glimpses of mercy, not a form of prophecy.
Q2: Can dreams predict the future?
Only if Allah wills. They may symbolize future events, but interpretation must be humble and never absolute.
Q3: What should I do if I see the Prophet ﷺ in a dream?
Rejoice and send salawat. The Prophet ﷺ said, “Whoever sees me in a dream has truly seen me, for Shaytan cannot impersonate me.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 6993)
Q4: Should I tell others about my dreams?
Only if it is a good dream and you trust the listener’s sincerity. Otherwise, remain silent.
Q5: Do the dead really visit us in dreams?
The Qur’an confirms that souls meet in sleep (39:42). These encounters may carry comfort, but their truth lies in Allah’s wisdom, not our certainty.
Footnotes
Walker, M. (2017). Why We Sleep. Scribner.
Barrett, D. (2001). Trauma and Dreams. Harvard University Press.
Goleman, D. (1995). Emotional Intelligence. Bantam Books.
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