The Creed of Islam
Beholding the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم
Mawlana Adnan Chishti Attari Madani
Allah Almighty has created countless beings, some of whom are beautiful, and others of whom are exceptionally beautiful. There is, however, one being whose beauty is the cynosure of all hearts. Those who were graced by his presence were left yearning to see him again. The same longing permeates the hearts of those who are yet to see him but have heard or read of his radiant countenance, kohl-filled, refulgent eyes, rosy lips, pearl-like teeth, tongue moistened with a sweet, limpid saliva, and his beautifully lifted nose—after all, the ears often fall in love before the eyes. By virtue of his generosity, the radiant one, our Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم shows himself to many from his Ummah. Bringing solace to their hearts, he صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has appeared before his devotees in a wakeful state, and he صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم appeared before many in their dreams.
Act of worship
The fortunate people who saw the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم or attained his company during his apparent lifetime on this earth and departed from this world as believers are known as Companions (Sahabah). Anyone who saw his radiant countenance in a dream was not left bereft of blessings and mercy. Mufti Ahmed Yar Khan Na’eemi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه states:
Looking at the countenance of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is also an act of worship, just as looking at the Quran is an act of worship. In fact, it is more virtuous to look at the countenance of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم than to look at the Quran, because a Muslim is not deemed a Companion by looking at the Quran, rather a Muslim becomes a Companion by looking at the face of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. Mention of his name [in the Testimony of Faith] renders one a Muslim; beholding his countenance makes one a Companion; and thinking of him makes one a high-ranking saint (‘Arif). It is his countenance, and not the Quran or Ka’bah, that the angels present in the grave and question one about. It is through recognising him that one attains salvation in the grave, (Mirat-ul-Manajih, vol. 8, p. 60).
The Companions رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهُم would constantly yearn to be in the presence of the Prophet and to bask in his outer and inner perfection. Seeing him lifted their hearts and soothed their souls. Once, a Companion رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ was looking at the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, not looking away for even a moment. The Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم asked, ‘What is the reason for this?’ The Companion رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ replied: ‘May my mother and father be sacrificed for you! I gain comfort by looking at you,’ (Al-Shifa, vol. 2, p. 20, Selected).
The Blessings of Beholding the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم
What can be said of the good fortune of the Companions رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهُم, for they had the honour of seeing the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم! If they ever had a need, they would visit him and have their matters resolved. Just as the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم blessed people and tended to their needs during his apparent life, he graces those who love him with his presence after his worldly passing—for the prophets are alive in their graves. Some are called by him to his blessed city; the difficulties of others are removed by him; the glad tidings of martyrdom are given to some; and he grants deliverance from oppression to others. Books are replete with countless incidents like these.
Beholding the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم in a dream
The possibility of seeing the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم in a dream is something that cannot be denied. He صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has said himself:
وَمَنْ رَاٰنِی فِی المَنَامِ فَقَدْ رَاٰنِی، فَاِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ لاَ يَتَمَثَّلُ فِی صُورَتِی
‘And the one who saw me in a dream has indeed seen me, because Satan cannot adopt my form.’
(Bukhari, vol. 1, p. 57, Hadith 110).
In another Hadith, the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said:
مَنْ رَاٰنِیْ فِی الْمَنَامِ فَسَيَرَانِیْ فِیْ الْيَقَظَةِ وَلَا يَتَمَثَّلُ الشَّيطَانُ بِیْ
‘Whoever saw me in a dream will
soon see me whilst awake—and Satan cannot impersonate me,’
(Bukhari, vol. 4, p. 406, Hadith 6993).
Protection of Faith
Commenting on this hadith, Mufti Muhammad Shareef Al-Haq Amjadi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه writes:
Even if someone is honoured with beholding the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم after he صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم passed away, the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم will bless that person and appear before him in a wakeful state. Another interpretation given is that the person [who saw him in a dream] will behold him in the Hereafter; this will take place in a specific way, whereby that individual will be granted proximity, and such a person will pass away as a believer, (Nuzhat-ul-Qaari, vol. 5, p. 846).
It should also be noted that everyone who beholds the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم does so based on their level of faith. The exegete Ismail Haqqi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه explains it thus:
Whoever sees the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم in a dream without there being any disliked element [such as seeing the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم displeased] will live in ease. If he saw the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم in barren land, that land will become fertile, (Ruh-ul-Bayan, vol. 9, p. 230, part 27, Al-Najm, under verse 18).
Beholding the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم every night
The towering figure of Islam and eponymous founder of the Maliki School of Jurisprudence, Imam Malik رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه, remarked: ‘A night has not passed in which I have not seen the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم,’ (Hilya-tul-Awliya, vol. 6, p. 346, Raqm 8855).
Important note
An individual who sees the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم in a dream does not become a Companion. To be a Companion, one must have seen the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم or have accompanied him during his lifetime, even if for a moment, and then died as a believer, (Fath Al-Bari, vol. 8, p. 3). There were some unfortunate souls who were believers when they saw the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم but left Islam afterwards. The hypocrites would also recite the Shahadah, but in reality, they were against the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, which is why they are not included with the Companions.
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