When Souls See What Eyes Cannot

DAILYREFLECTION

In our last reflection, we spoke about those blessed enough to see the Prophet ﷺ in their dreams. But did you know that some of the righteous also saw Allah in their dreams?

It sounds almost unimaginable and yet, throughout the generations, Allah allowed glimpses of His nearness to some of His most sincere servants.

Abu Yazid al-Bustami (may Allah have mercy on him) said,
“I saw my Lord in a dream and I asked, ‘O my Lord, how do I draw closer to You?’
Allah responded, ‘Leave yourself behind and come closer.’

Closeness begins when the self is left behind. When pride, distraction, and ego are stripped away.

Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (may Allah have mercy on him) also said,
“I saw my Lord in a dream and I asked, ‘O my Lord, how is it possible to draw near to You?’
Allah replied, ‘O Ahmad, through My words.’

Meaning through the Qur’an. Imam Ahmad asked, ‘With understanding or without?’
And Allah responded, ‘With or without understanding.’

Even the simple recitation of His words, without tafsir, without scholarly mastery draws you near. Because the Qur’an is alive. Every letter you pronounce is a bridge to Him.

Ibn al-Jawzi (may Allah have mercy on him) narrates that Yahya al-Bakka once said,
“I saw my Lord in a dream and I said, ‘O my Lord, how long have I been calling upon You and You have not answered me?’
Allah responded, ‘O Yahya, I love to hear your voice.’”

SubhanAllah, how many times have you thought your du‘a went unheard?
Sometimes the delay is not rejection; it is affection. Allah loves the sound of your asking, the way a parent loves hearing the voice of their child.

Throughout history, the most truthful of believers experienced seeing Allah in dreams.
But these were not ordinary sights of the eye; they were visions of the heart. A rare mercy. A private conversation between a soul and its Creator.

And even in those moments, the message was the same: connect through My words, and through yours.
Through the Qur’an and through du‘a.

Closeness to Allah isn’t found in seeing, it’s found in remembering, speaking, listening, and loving.
And if you’ve ever felt that peace in prayer or that quiet comfort after du‘a, then you already know what it means to have seen something of His mercy.

Because the heart that truly turns toward Allah begins to see even before the eyes ever do.

REFLECT ON THIS:

When was the last time you spoke to Allah not in routine, but in raw honesty? What would your heart say if it knew He was listening right now?

^{Share your reflections in the poll at the end of the email.}

WATERMELONWATCH

• Israeli media report that the partial remains of three people handed over by Hamas do not match known hostages held in Gaza, raising tensions around the fragile ceasefire deal.

• Humanitarian groups say that despite a truce, only about 100 aid trucks are entering Gaza Strip each day versus 600 agreed under the deal, with many NGO delivery requests denied.

• Live updates indicate that Israeli strikes have resumed in Gaza for a fifth day, with at least five Palestinians killed and 17 bodies recovered — highlighting how tenuous the ceasefire remains.

• Foreign ministers from several Muslim-majority countries are set to meet in Istanbul on Monday to discuss next steps for Gaza, signalling growing regional pressure and emerging diplomatic hope.

• UN data show that nearly 90 % of Gaza’s 2.1 million+ residents are displaced, with severe shortages of shelter, food, fuel and life-saving services — yet community kitchens and local networks continue supporting families, showing resilience amid crisis.

QURANCORNER

Each day, you’ll be introduced to one of the 300 most common Qur’anic words. The Qur’an has about 77,430 words in total, all built on just 2,000 root words. By learning these frequently recurring ones, you’ll recognize 70–80% of the Qur’an’s vocabulary and begin connecting more deeply as you read.

Ayyu (أَيُّ) - Which / Which One

Ayyu is the question that searches for clarity. Ayyu al-ḥizbayni aḥṣā limā labithū amadā - Which of the two groups was more correct in counting how long they remained? It’s a word that doesn’t settle for surface answers. Ayyu invites the listener to reflect, compare, and truly see. In the Qur’an, it's not just a question, it’s an invitation to wake up.