Some example Ahadith are presented in this short article.
How and when did dreams start?
بَعْضُ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْعَبَّاسِ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع قَالَ إِنَّ الْأَحْلَامَ لَمْ تَكُنْ فِيمَا مَضَى فِي أَوَّلِ الْخَلْقِ وَ إِنَّمَا حَدَثَتْ فَقُلْتُ وَ مَا الْعِلَّةُ فِي ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ ذِكْرُهُ بَعَثَ رَسُولًا إِلَى أَهْلِ زَمَانِهِ فَدَعَاهُمْ إِلَى عِبَادَةِ اللَّهِ وَ طَاعَتِهِ فَقَالُوا إِنْ فَعَلْنَا ذَلِكَ فَمَا لَنَا فَوَ اللَّهِ مَا أَنْتَ بِأَكْثَرِنَا مَالًا وَ لَا بِأَعَزِّنَا عَشِيرَةً فَقَالَ إِنْ أَطَعْتُمُونِي أَدْخَلَكُمُ اللَّهُ الْجَنَّةَ وَ إِنْ عَصَيْتُمُونِي أَدْخَلَكُمُ اللَّهُ النَّارَ فَقَالُوا وَ مَا الْجَنَّةُ وَ النَّارُ فَوَصَفَ لَهُمْ ذَلِكَ فَقَالُوا مَتَى نَصِيرُ إِلَى ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ إِذَا مِتُّمْ فَقَالُوا لَقَدْ رَأَيْنَا أَمْوَاتَنَا صَارُوا عِظَاماً وَ رُفَاتاً فَازْدَادُوا لَهُ تَكْذِيباً وَ بِهِ اسْتِخْفَافاً فَأَحْدَثَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِيهِمُ الْأَحْلَامَ فَأَتَوْهُ فَأَخْبَرُوهُ بِمَا رَأَوْا وَ مَا أَنْكَرُوا مِنْ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَرَادَ أَنْ يَحْتَجَّ عَلَيْكُمْ بِهَذَا هَكَذَا تَكُونُ أَرْوَاحُكُمْ إِذَا مِتُّمْ وَ إِنْ بُلِيَتْ أَبْدَانُكُمْ تَصِيرُ الْأَرْوَاحُ إِلَى عِقَابٍ حَتَّى تُبْعَثَ الْأَبْدَانُ
Certain persons of our people have narrated from Ali ibn al-’Abbas from Al-Hassan ibn ‘Abd Al-Rahman who has narrated the following:
‘Abu AI-Hassan-asws has said: ‘Dream did not exist in the past in the beginning of the creation. It came into being later.’ I then asked, ‘What is the reason for that?’
The Imam-asws said, ‘Allah-azwj sent a messenger to the people of his time and he-as called them to worship Allah-azwj. They said: ‘If we worship Him-azwj what then we get for it? You do not have more wealth than we do and your tribe also is not stronger than our tribe.’ He-as said, ‘If you follow me Allah-azwj will Admit you in the Garden (Paradise) and if you disobey me-as Allah-azwj will Send you to the Fire’.
They asked, ‘What are the Garden and the Fire?’ He-as explained it for them and they asked, ‘When will we go there?’ He-as said: ‘This will happen when you die’. They said: ‘We see our dead people turn into bones and dust’.’ They became worse in their rejecting and insults toward him-as, Allah-azwj then Enabled them to have dream. They came to him-as and informed him-as about what they had seen and what they did not know about it. He-as told them that Allah-azwj Wants to establish His-azwj Argument against you. This is how your spirits are. When you die, even though your bodies will decay, the spirits will face suffering until the bodies are raised’.[1]
Three Kinds of Dreams:
عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ أَبِي خَلَفٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ الرُّؤْيَا عَلَى ثَلَاثَةِ وُجُوهٍ بِشَارَةٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ لِلْمُؤْمِنِ وَ تَحْذِيرٍ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ وَ أَضْغَاثِ أَحْلَامٍ
Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn Abu ‘Umayr from Sad ibn abu Khalaf who has narrated:
‘Abu Abd Allah-asws has said: ‘Dreams are of three kinds: One is a glad news from Allah-azwj for a believing person, a caution against Satan and the muddled and mixed up dreams’.[2]
The time of True and False Dreams:
عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ النَّضْرِ بْنِ سُوَيْدٍ عَنْ دُرُسْتَ بْنِ أَبِي مَنْصُورٍ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ الرُّؤْيَا الصَّادِقَةُ وَ الْكَاذِبَةُ مَخْرَجُهُمَا مِنْ مَوْضِعٍ وَاحِدٍ قَالَ صَدَقْتَ أَمَّا الْكَاذِبَةُ الْمُخْتَلِفَةُ فَإِنَّ الرَّجُلَ يَرَاهَا فِي أَوَّلِ لَيْلَةٍ فِي سُلْطَانِ الْمَرَدَةِ الْفَسَقَةِ وَ إِنَّمَا هِيَ شَيْءٌ يُخَيَّلُ إِلَى الرَّجُلِ وَ هِيَ كَاذِبَةٌ مُخَالِفَةٌ لَا خَيْرَ فِيهَا وَ أَمَّا الصَّادِقَةُ إِذَا رَآهَا بَعْدَ الثُّلُثَيْنِ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ مَعَ حُلُولِ الْمَلَائِكَةِ وَ ذَلِكَ قَبْلَ السَّحَرِ فَهِيَ صَادِقَةٌ لَا تَخَلَّفُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ إِلَّا أَنْ يَكُونَ جُنُباً أَوْ يَنَامَ عَلَى غَيْرِ طَهُورٍ وَ لَمْ يَذْكُرِ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ حَقِيقَةَ ذِكْرِهِ فَإِنَّهَا تَخْتَلِفُ وَ تُبْطِئُ عَلَى صَاحِبِهَا
A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from his father from al-Nazr ibn Suwayd from Durust ibn abu Mansur from Abu Basir who has narrated:
‘I once asked Abu ‘Abd Allah-asws saying, ‘I pray to Allah-azwj to Keep my soul in service for your-asws cause, dreams come from the same place, then how is it that certain ones are true and others are false?’
The Imam-asws replied: ‘What you said is right. However, the false dreams are different. A man may see in the beginning of the night during the domination of rebels and sinful ones which is only one’s imaginations, it is false and contradicting and there is not anything good in it.
The true dreams are the ones, which take place after the two-thirds of the night are passed which is just before dawn when the angels arrive. Such dreams are true and do not go wrong, if Allah-azwj so Wills, unless one is Junub[3] or has gone to sleep without Tahur (cleansing) and without speaking in real sense of Allah-azwj in those cases the results of the dream may be contrary or delayed for its viewer’.[4]
Dreams of Believing people:
عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ رَأْيُ الْمُؤْمِنِ وَ رُؤْيَاهُ فِي آخِرِ الزَّمَانِ عَلَى سَبْعِينَ جُزْءاً مِنْ أَجْزَاءِ النُّبُوَّةِ
Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from Hisham ibn Salim who ha narrated:
‘I once heard Abu Abd Allah-asws say: ‘The opinion and dream of a believing person in the later portions of time is a seventieth of prophet-hood’.[5]
مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَمَّرِ بْنِ خَلَّادٍ عَنِ الرِّضَا ع قَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص كَانَ إِذَا أَصْبَحَ قَالَ لِأَصْحَابِهِ هَلْ مِنْ مُبَشِّرَاتٍ يَعْنِي بِهِ الرُّؤْيَا
Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muammar ibn Khallad who has narrated:
‘Abu Al-Hassan al-Reza-asws has said that the Messenger of Allah-saww in the morning would ask his companions. ‘Is there any glad news?’ He meant thereby dreams’.[6]
عَنْهُمْ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَمِيلَةَ عَنْ جَابِرٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع قَالَ قَالَ رَجُلٌ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَهُمُ الْبُشْرى فِي الْحَياةِ الدُّنْيا قَالَ هِيَ الرُّؤْيَا الْحَسَنَةُ يَرَى الْمُؤْمِنُ فَيُبَشَّرُ بِهَا فِي دُنْيَاهُ
It is narrated from the narrator of the previous Hadith from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal from abu Jamilah from Jabir who has narrated:
‘Abu Jafar-asws has said that a man once asked the Messenger of Allah-saww about the meaning of the words of Allah-azwj there is glad news for them in the worldly life.’ (10:65) He-saww said: ‘It is a reference to the good dreams of a believing person which give him glad news in this world’.[7]
Interpretation of a Dream of a Momin is different from that of others
عَلِيٌّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ الصَّائِغِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ قَالَ دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ عِنْدَهُ أَبُو حَنِيفَةَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ رَأَيْتُ رُؤْيَا عَجِيبَةً فَقَالَ لِي يَا ابْنَ مُسْلِمٍ هَاتِهَا فَإِنَّ الْعَالِمَ بِهَا جَالِسٌ وَ أَوْمَأَ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى أَبِي حَنِيفَةَ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ رَأَيْتُ كَأَنِّي دَخَلْتُ دَارِي وَ إِذَا أَهْلِي قَدْ خَرَجَتْ عَلَيَّ فَكَسَّرَتْ جَوْزاً كَثِيراً وَ نَثَرَتْهُ عَلَيَّ فَتَعَجَّبْتُ مِنْ هَذِهِ الرُّؤْيَا فَقَالَ أَبُو حَنِيفَةَ أَنْتَ رَجُلٌ تُخَاصِمُ وَ تُجَادِلُ لِئَاماً فِي مَوَارِيثِ أَهْلِكَ فَبَعْدَ نَصَبٍ شَدِيدٍ تَنَالُ حَاجَتَكَ مِنْهَا إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَصَبْتَ وَ اللَّهِ يَا أَبَا حَنِيفَةَ قَالَ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ أَبُو حَنِيفَةَ مِنْ عِنْدِهِ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنِّي كَرِهْتُ تَعْبِيرَ هَذَا النَّاصِبِ فَقَالَ يَا ابْنَ مُسْلِمٍ لَا يَسُؤْكَ اللَّهُ فَمَا يُوَاطِي تَعْبِيرُهُمْ تَعْبِيرَنَا وَ لَا تَعْبِيرُنَا تَعْبِيرَهُمْ وَ لَيْسَ التَّعْبِيرُ كَمَا عَبَّرَهُ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَقَوْلُكَ أَصَبْتَ وَ تَحْلِفُ عَلَيْهِ وَ هُوَ مُخْطِئٌ قَالَ نَعَمْ حَلَفْتُ عَلَيْهِ أَنَّهُ أَصَابَ الْخَطَأَ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ فَمَا تَأْوِيلُهَا قَالَ يَا ابْنَ مُسْلِمٍ إِنَّكَ تَتَمَتَّعُ بِامْرَأَةٍ فَتَعْلَمُ بِهَا أَهْلُكَ فَتُمَزِّقُ عَلَيْكَ ثِيَاباً جُدُداً فَإِنَّ الْقِشْرَ كِسْوَةُ اللُّبِّ قَالَ ابْنُ مُسْلِمٍ فَوَ اللَّهِ مَا كَانَ بَيْنَ تَعْبِيرِهِ وَ تَصْحِيحِ الرُّؤْيَا إِلَّا صَبِيحَةُ الْجُمُعَةِ فَلَمَّا كَانَ غَدَاةُ الْجُمُعَةِ أَنَا جَالِسٌ بِالْبَابِ إِذْ مَرَّتْ بِي جَارِيَةٌ فَأَعْجَبَتْنِي فَأَمَرْتُ غُلَامِي فَرَدَّهَا ثُمَّ أَدْخَلَهَا دَارِي فَتَمَتَّعْتُ بِهَا فَأَحَسَّتْ بِي وَ بِهَا أَهْلِي فَدَخَلَتْ عَلَيْنَا الْبَيْتَ فَبَادَرَتِ الْجَارِيَةُ نَحْوَ الْبَابِ وَ بَقِيتُ أَنَا فَمَزَّقَتْ عَلَيَّ ثِيَاباً جُدُداً كُنْتُ أَلْبَسُهَا فِي الْأَعْيَادِ وَ جَاءَ مُوسَى الزَّوَّارُ الْعَطَّارُ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقَالَ لَهُ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ رَأَيْتُ رُؤْيَا هَالَتْنِي رَأَيْتُ صِهْراً لِي مَيِّتاً وَ قَدْ عَانَقَنِي وَ قَدْ خِفْتُ أَنْ يَكُونَ الْأَجَلُ قَدِ اقْتَرَبَ فَقَالَ يَا مُوسَى تَوَقَّعِ الْمَوْتَ صَبَاحاً وَ مَسَاءً فَإِنَّهُ مُلَاقِينَا وَ مُعَانَقَةُ الْأَمْوَاتِ لِلْأَحْيَاءِ أَطْوَلُ لِأَعْمَارِهِمْ فَمَا كَانَ اسْمُ صِهْرِكَ قَالَ حُسَيْنٌ فَقَالَ أَمَا إِنَّ رُؤْيَاكَ تَدُلُّ عَلَى بَقَائِكَ وَ زِيَارَتِكَ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَإِنَّ كُلَّ مَنْ عَانَقَ سَمِيَّ الْحُسَيْنِ يَزُورُهُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ
Ali has narrated from his father from al-Hassan ibn Ali from abu Jafar al-Sa’igh from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has narrated:
‘Once I visited Abu Abd Allah-asws when abu Hanifah was with him-asws. I said, ‘I pray to Allah-azwj to keep my soul in service for your-azwj cause, I have seen a strange dream’. The Imam-asws said to me, ‘You can explain it. The scholar for it is sitting here’, he made a gesture with his hand to Abu Hanifah. I said, ‘I saw in a dream that I entered my house and my wife came out. She broke a large number of walnuts and spread them on me. I was amazed because of this dream’.
Abu Hanifah said, ‘You are a man who disputes and argues against mean people about the legacy of your wife and after a tiring work you achieve from her what you need, by the will of Allah-azwj.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah-asws said, ‘You have found it, by Allah-azwj, O Abu Hanifah’. Abu Hanifah left and I said, ‘I pray to Allah-azwj to keep my soul in service for your cause, I did not want this hostile person (to ‘Aimmah-asws) to interpret my dream.’
The Imam-asws said, ‘O ibn Muslim, Allah-azwj will not Show you bad things. Their interpretation does not concur with our-asws interpretation and our-asws interpretation does not agree with their interpretations. The interpretation is not as he said it is.’ I then said, ‘I pray to Allah-azwj to keep my soul in service for your-asws cause, you-asws just said that he had found the interpretation. Then you-asws swore. How has he missed the truth?’ The Imam-asws said, ‘I swore that he found it (meaning the misinterpretation but not the right one).’ I then asked, ‘What is the right interpretation?’ The Imam-asws said, ‘O ibn Muslim, you will find a Mut’ah[8] and your wife will learn about it. She will tear down your new clothes because the shells are the clothes of the nut.’ Ibn Muslim has said that, by Allah-azwj, his-asws interpretation did not take more than a Friday morning to materialize.
On a Friday morning I was sitting at the door that a girl passed by and I liked her. I commanded my slave and he brought her back, inside my house. I formed a Mut’ah contract with her but my wife noticed my presence as well as her presence. She came in on us. The girl ran to the door but I remained inside. She tore down on me my new clothes that I used to wear on Eid days.’
Musa al-Zawwar al-’Attar came to Abu Abd Allah-asws and said, ‘O son of the Messenger of Allah-saww I have seen a dream which has terrified me. I saw my son-in-law who is dead embraced me and I am afraid that the time of my death may have come close.’
The Imam-asws said, ‘O Musa, expect death every morning and evening because it will approach us inevitably but embracing of the dead is longevity of the life of the living. What was the name of your son-in-law?’ He replied, ‘It was Husayn.’ The Imam-asws said, ‘Your dream means that you will live and visit the shrine of Abu Abd Allah, al-Husayn-asws. Whoever embraces one who is of the same name as al-Husayn-asws he visits him by the will of Allah-azwj’.[9]
إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْقُرَشِيُّ قَالَ أَتَى إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ لَهُ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ رَأَيْتُ فِي مَنَامِي كَأَنِّي خَارِجٌ مِنْ مَدِينَةِ الْكُوفَةِ فِي مَوْضِعٍ أَعْرِفُهُ وَ كَأَنَّ شَبَحاً مِنْ خَشَبٍ أَوْ رَجُلًا مَنْحُوتاً مِنْ خَشَبٍ عَلَى فَرَسٍ مِنْ خَشَبٍ يُلَوِّحُ بِسَيْفِهِ وَ أَنَا أُشَاهِدُهُ فَزِعاً مَرْعُوباً فَقَالَ لَهُ ع أَنْتَ رَجُلٌ تُرِيدُ اغْتِيَالَ رَجُلٍ فِي مَعِيشَتِهِ فَاتَّقِ اللَّهَ الَّذِي خَلَقَكَ ثُمَّ يُمِيتُكَ فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ قَدْ أُوتِيتَ عِلْماً وَ اسْتَنْبَطْتَهُ مِنْ مَعْدِنِهِ أُخْبِرُكَ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ عَمَّا [قَدْ] فَسَّرْتَ لِي إِنَّ رَجُلًا مِنْ جِيرَانِي جَاءَنِي وَ عَرَضَ عَلَيَّ ضَيْعَتَهُ فَهَمَمْتُ أَنْ أَمْلِكَهَا بِوَكْسٍ كَثِيرٍ لِمَا عَرَفْتُ أَنَّهُ لَيْسَ لَهَا طَالِبٌ غَيْرِي فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ صَاحِبُكَ يَتَوَلَّانَا وَ يَبْرَأُ مِنْ عَدُوِّنَا فَقَالَ نَعَمْ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ رَجُلٌ جَيِّدُ الْبَصِيرَةِ مُسْتَحْكَمُ الدِّينِ وَ أَنَا تَائِبٌ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ إِلَيْكَ مِمَّا هَمَمْتُ بِهِ وَ نَوَيْتُهُ فَأَخْبِرْنِي يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ لَوْ كَانَ نَاصِباً حَلَّ لِي اغْتِيَالُهُ فَقَالَ أَدِّ الْأَمَانَةَ لِمَنِ ائْتَمَنَكَ وَ أَرَادَ مِنْكَ النَّصِيحَةَ وَ لَوْ إِلَى قَاتِلِ الْحُسَيْنِ ع
‘Isma’il ibn ‘Abd Allah Al-Qarashiy has narrated:
‘Once a man came to Abu Abd Allah-asws and said this: ‘O son of the Messenger of Allah-saww I saw in a dream that I was moving out of Al-Kufah to a place that I know. There was something in the shape of a man or a piece of wood carved as such on a wooden horse showing his sword and I was looking at him, terrified and frightened’.
The Imam-asws said, ‘You are a man who wants to slay another man because of his assets, have fear of Allah-azwj who has created you then causes you to die’. He said, ‘I testify that you-asws have received the knowledge and have interpreted it (dream) from its right source. I can inform you, O son of the Messenger of Allah-saww about your interpretation for me.
A man of our neighbours came to me and displayed before me an asset and I thought to own it for a greatly reduced value because I knew that there is no other demand for it’. Abu Abd Allah-asws asked, ‘Does your companion accept our-asws ‘Amr’, Walayah (guardianship of Aimmah-asws with Divine authority and knowledge) and denounces our-asws enemy?’ He replied, ‘Yes, O son of the Messenger of Allah-saww he is a man of good understanding and strong religion.
I repent before Allah-azwj and before you because of my intention about him and about myself. Instruct me, O son of the Messenger of Allah-saww, ‘Had he been a Nasib (hostile to ‘Aimmah-asws) was slaying lawful?’ The Imam-asws said, ‘You must return the trust to the one who has entrusted you and has expected you to provide him with good advice even if he is a killer of (Imam) Al-Husayn-asws’.[10]
A dream turns true as a believer interprets it:
عَنْهُ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ جَهْمٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع يَقُولُ الرُّؤْيَا عَلَى مَا تُعَبَّرُ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّ بَعْضَ أَصْحَابِنَا رَوَى أَنَّ رُؤْيَا الْمَلِكِ كَانَتْ أَضْغَاثَ أَحْلَامٍ فَقَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع إِنَّ امْرَأَةً رَأَتْ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص أَنَّ جِذْعَ بَيْتِهَا قَدِ انْكَسَرَ فَأَتَتْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص فَقَصَّتْ عَلَيْهِ الرُّؤْيَا فَقَالَ لَهَا النَّبِيُّ ص يَقْدَمُ زَوْجُكِ وَ يَأْتِي وَ هُوَ صَالِحٌ وَ قَدْ كَانَ زَوْجُهَا غَائِباً فَقَدِمَ كَمَا قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص ثُمَّ غَابَ عَنْهَا زَوْجُهَا غَيْبَةً أُخْرَى فَرَأَتْ فِي الْمَنَامِ كَأَنَّ جِذْعَ بَيْتِهَا قَدِ انْكَسَرَ فَأَتَتِ النَّبِيَّ ص فَقَصَّتْ عَلَيْهِ الرُّؤْيَا فَقَالَ لَهَا يَقْدَمُ زَوْجُكِ وَ يَأْتِي صَالِحاً فَقَدِمَ عَلَى مَا قَالَ ثُمَّ غَابَ زَوْجُهَا ثَالِثَةً فَرَأَتْ فِي مَنَامِهَا أَنَّ جِذْعَ بَيْتِهَا قَدِ انْكَسَرَ فَلَقِيَتْ رَجُلًا أَعْسَرَ فَقَصَّتْ عَلَيْهِ الرُّؤْيَا فَقَالَ لَهَا الرَّجُلُ السَّوْءُ يَمُوتُ زَوْجُكِ قَالَ فَبَلَغَ ذَلِكَ النَّبِيَّ ص فَقَالَ أَلَّا كَانَ عَبَّرَ لَهَا خَيْراً
It is from Ahmad ibn Muhammad Ibn al-Hasan ibn as well Jahm who says:
I heard it from Abu Al-Hasan-asws that a dream turns true as one interprets it, I said, some of our companions says that the king (of Egypt in the Verse of Yousif) got worried until he found its interpretation from Prophet Yousif-as (Josef).
Imam Abu Hassan-asws said during the time of Prophet-saww, a woman saw a dream that one of the pillars of her house has broken down. She came to the Prophet-saww and described her dream. Prophet-saww said: ‘It means that your husband will return home with a good news. That woman’s husband had been away (as part of a trading caravan) and after some time he returned back (after a successful business trip) as per interpretation of the Prophet-saww.
For the second time, when her husband was away, she saw a dream that a pillar of her house has fallen down, she was told the same interpretation by the Prophet of Allah-saww, that he will return back with good news, it happened as per the interpretation of the dream. But, when her husband went away for the third time, she saw again (in her dream) that a pillar of her house has broken, this time she asked its interpretation from a ‘fortune teller’, who said, your husband has surely been killed, later, it turned out to have happened like that and when the news of his death came to the Prophet-saww, Rasool-Allah-saww said, why did not he tell her its positive interpretation (like I-saww did before).’.[11]
Dream of a ‘Momin’ is suspended between the earth and the Heavens
عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ وَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ جَمِيعاً عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ غَالِبٍ عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ كَانَ يَقُولُ إِنَّ رُؤْيَا الْمُؤْمِنِ تُرِفُّ بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَ الْأَرْضِ عَلَى رَأْسِ صَاحِبِهَا حَتَّى يُعَبِّرَهَا لِنَفْسِهِ أَوْ يُعَبِّرَهَا لَهُ مِثْلُهُ فَإِذَا عُبِّرَتْ لَزِمَتِ الْأَرْضَ فَلَا تَقُصُّوا رُؤْيَاكُمْ إِلَّا عَلَى مَنْ يَعْقِلُ
Several of our companions from Sahl ibn Ziyad and Ali ibn Ibrahim from his father all from Ibn Mahbub from ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Ghalib from Jabir ibn Yazid who has narrated the following from Abu Jafar-asws:
Rasool-Allah-saww used to say that a dream of a ‘Momin’ is suspended between the earth and the heavens dreams and remain circulating on one’s head until one takes its interpretation or someone else does that for him. Whatever interpretation is taken, it happens like that so never narrate your dreams to worthless people’.[12]
A Dream Must not be shared with unworthy ones:
مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص الرُّؤْيَا لَا تُقَصُّ إِلَّا عَلَى مُؤْمِنٍ خَلَا مِنَ الْحَسَدِ وَ الْبَغْيِ
Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Khalid from al-Qasim ibn Urwa who from Abu Basir who narrates from Abu Abdullah-asws said:
Rasool Allah-saww said: A dream should not be told to anyone but to that ‘Momin’ (believer) who is not a jealous and hypocrite’.[13]
Iblis Cannot Come in a Dream in the Appearance of Prophet-asws or an Imam‑asws or their followers:
حدثنا محمد بن إبراهيم بن إسحاق الطالقاني رضي الله عنه قال حدثنا أحمد بن محمد بن سعيد الكوفي مولى بني هاشم عن علي بن الحسين بن علي بن فضال عن أبيه عن أبي الحسن علي بن موسى الرضا ع أنه قال له رجل من أهل خراسان يا ابن رسول الله رأيت رسول الله ص في المنام كأنه يقول لي كيف أنتم إذا دفن في أرضكم بضعتي و استحفظتم وديعتي و غيب في ثراكم نجمي فقال له الرضا ع أنا المدفون في أرضكم و أنا بضعة نبيكم فأنا الوديعة و النجم ألا و من زارني و هو يعرف ما أوجب الله تبارك و تعالى من حقي و طاعتي فأنا و آبائي شفعاؤه يوم القيامة و من كنا شفعاءه نجا و لو كان عليه مثل وزر الثقلين الجن و الإنس و لقد حدثني أبي عن جدي عن أبيه عن آبائه ع أن رسول الله ص قال من زارني في منامه فقد زارني لأن الشيطان لا يتمثل في صورتي و لا في صورة أحد من أوصيائي و لا في صورة أحد من شيعتهم و إن الرؤيا الصادقة جزء من سبعين جزءا من النبوة
Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn Ishaq al- Taleqani – may Allah be pleased with him narrated that Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Sa’eed al-Kufi – a chief of the Hashemite tribe – quoted on the authority of Ali ibn AI-Hassan ibn Ali ibn Fadhdhal, on the authority of his father:
A man from Khorasan told Abal Hassan Ali ibn Musa AI-Reza-asws, ‘son of the Prophet of Allah‑saww! I saw the Prophet of Allah-saww in a dream. The Prophet-saww asked me, ‘How will you be when one of my own flesh and blood is buried in your land, you are asked to protect my trust, and my star (AI-Reza-asws) when he disappears in your soil?” Then AI-Reza-asws told him, ‘I am the one who will be buried in your land. I am a piece of the flesh and blood of your Prophet-saww. I-asws am the trusted one and I-asws am the star. Know that whoever visits me-asws recognizing my rightfulness and obeys me-asws as Allah-azwj has Made it incumbent upon him to do so – my forefathers-asws and I-asws will intercede on his behalf on the Resurrection Day. Whoever on whose behalf we-asws intercede shall be saved, even if there is the heavy burden of sin of the Jinn and the men on him.
In fact, my father-asws quoted on the authority of my grandfather-asws, on the authority of his father-asws, on the authority of his forefather-asws that Allah-azwj’s Prophet-saww said, ‘Whoever visits me-saww in his dream, it is as if he has visited me-saww since Satan cannot appear to be like me, or appear to be like anyone of my Testamentary Trustees-asws (the 12 Imams-asws). Neither can Satan appear to be like any of their followers. Indeed truthful dreams are one of the seventy parts of Prophethood’.[14]
How to see Masomeen-asws in Dreams
وَ مِنْهُ، عَنْ أَبِي الْفَرَجِ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ رَجُلٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ جَبَلَةَ عَنْ أَبِي الْمَغْرَاءِ عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ ع قَالَ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ مَنْ كَانَتْ لَهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ حَاجَةٌ وَ أَرَادَ أَنْ يَرَانَا وَ أَنْ يَعْرِفَ مَوْضِعَهُ فَلْيَغْتَسِلْ ثَلَاثَةَ لَيَالٍ يُنَاجِي بِنَا فَإِنَّهُ يَرَانَا وَ يُغْفَرُ لَهُ بِنَا وَ لَا يَخْفَى عَلَيْهِ مَوْضِعُهُ
And from him, from Abu Al Faraj, from Sahl Bin Ziyad, from a man, from Abdullah Bin Jabalah, from Abu Al Magra’a,
‘From Musa-asws Bin Ja’far-asws, he (the narrator) said, ‘I heard him-asws saying: ‘One who had a need for him to Allah-azwj and wanted to see us-asws and to know his place, so let him wash for three nights, whispering with us-asws, for he would see us-asws, and he (his sins) would be Forgiven for him through us-asws, and his place would not be hidden unto him’.
قُلْتُ سَيِّدِي فَإِنَّ رَجُلًا رَآكَ فِي الْمَنَامِ وَ هُوَ يَشْرَبُ النَّبِيذَ
I said, ‘My Master-asws! If a person sees you-asws during the sleep, and he drinks Al-Nabeez?’
قَالَ لَيْسَ النَّبِيذُ يُفْسِدُ عَلَيْهِ دِينَهُ إِنَّمَا يُفْسِدُ عَلَيْهِ تَرْكُنَا وَ تَخَلُّفُهُ عَنَّا الْخَبَرَ.
He-asws said: ‘Al-Nabeez wouldn’t spoil his religion upon him. But rather, neglecting us-asws and staying behind from us-asws would spoil it upon him’ – the Hadeeth’’.[15]
السَّيِّدُ ابْنُ الْبَاقِي فِي كِتَابِ إِخْتِيَارِ الْمِصْبَاحِ، عَنِ الصَّادِقِ ع أَنَّهُ قَالَ مَنْ قَرَأَ بَعْدَ كُلِّ فَرِيضَةٍ هَذَا الدُّعَاءَ فَإِنَّهُ يَرَى الْإِمَامَ محمد بْنَ الْحَسَنِ عَلَيْهِ وَ عَلَى آبَائِهِ السَّلَامُ فِي الْيَقَظَةِ أَوْ فِي الْمَنَامِ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ اللَّهُمَّ بَلِّغْ مَوْلَايَ صَاحِبَ الزَّمَانِ ع أَيْنَمَا كَانَ وَ حَيْثُمَا كَانَ مِنْ مَشَارِقِ الْأَرْضِ وَ مَغَارِبِهَا سَهْلِهَا وَ جَبَلِهَا عَنِّي وَ عَنْ وَالِدَيَّ وَ عَنْ وُلْدِي وَ إِخْوَانِي التَّحِيَّةَ وَ السَّلَامَ عَدَدَ خَلْقِ اللَّهِ وَ زِنَةَ عَرْشِ اللَّهِ وَ مَا أَحْصَاهُ كِتَابُهُ وَ أَحَاطَ بِهِ عِلْمُهُ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أُجَدِّدُ لَهُ فِي صَبِيحَةِ هَذَا الْيَوْمِ وَ مَا عِشْتُ فِيهِ مِنْ أَيَّامِ حَيَاتِي عَهْداً وَ عَقْداً وَ بَيْعَةً لَهُ فِي عُنُقِي
.لَا أَحُولُ عَنْهَا وَ لَا أَزُولُ اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْنِي مِنْ أَنْصَارِهِ وَ نُصَّارِهِ الذَّابِّينَ عَنْهُ وَ الْمُمْتَثِلِينَ لِأَوَامِرِهِ وَ نَوَاهِيهِ فِي أَيَّامِهِ وَ الْمُسْتَشْهَدِينَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ اللَّهُمَّ فَإِنْ حَالَ بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَهُ الْمَوْتُ الَّذِي جَعَلْتَهُ عَلَى عِبَادِكَ حَتْماً مَقْضِيّاً فَأَخْرِجْنِي مِنْ قَبْرِي مُؤْتَزِراً كَفَنِي شَاهِراً سَيْفِي مُجَرِّداً قَنَاتِي مُلَبِّياً دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِي فِي الْحَاضِرِ وَ الْبَادِي اللَّهُمَّ أَرِنِي الطَّلْعَةَ الرَّشِيدَةَ وَ الْغُرَّةَ الْحَمِيدَةَ وَ اكْحُلْ بَصَرِي بِنَظْرَةٍ مِنِّي إِلَيْهِ وَ عَجِّلْ فَرَجَهُ وَ سَهِّلْ مَخْرَجَهُ اللَّهُمَّ اشْدُدْ أَزْرَهُ وَ قَوِّ ظَهْرَهُ وَ طَوِّلْ عُمُرَهُ وَ اعْمُرِ اللَّهُمَّ بِهِ بِلَادَكَ وَ أَحْيِ بِهِ عِبَادَكَ فَإِنَّكَ قُلْتَ وَ قَوْلُكَ الْحَقُّ ظَهَرَ الْفَسادُ فِي الْبَرِّ وَ الْبَحْرِ بِما كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِي النَّاسِ فَأَظْهِرِ اللَّهُمَّ لَنَا وَلِيَّكَ وَ ابْنَ بِنْتِ نَبِيِّكَ الْمُسَمَّى بِاسْمِ رَسُولِكَ صَلَوَاتُكَ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ حَتَّى لَا يَظْفَرَ بِشَيْءٍ مِنَ الْبَاطِلِ إِلَّا مَزَّقَهُ وَ يُحِقَّ اللَّهُ الْحَقَّ بِكَلِمَاتِهِ وَ يُحَقِّقَهُ اللَّهُمَّ اكْشِفْ هَذِهِ الْغُمَّةَ عَنْ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ بِظُهُورِهِ إِنَّهُمْ يَرَوْنَهُ بَعِيداً وَ نَرَاهُ قَرِيباً وَ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ
Al-Syed Ibn Al-Baqiy in his book Ikhtiyaar Al Misbaah from narrates the following from Al-Sadiq-asws:
Imam Jafar-e-Sadiq-asws said: One who recites this supplication after every obligatory (Prayer), he will see ‘الْإِمَامَ محمد بْنَ الْحَسَنِ’ the Imam Muhammad-asws Bin Al-Hassan-asws (12th Imam-ajfj), peace be upon him and on his forefathers, either whilst being awake or in a dream.
In the Name of Allah-azwj; the most Beneficent and the most Merciful. Our Allah-azwj! Make it reach my Master, wherever he-asws may be, whether from the East of the Earth and from its West, in its coasts or its mountains, from me and from my parents and my brothers, the greetings and the peace as much as the number of the creation of Allah-azwj and the weight of the Throne of Allah-azwj, and what has been written in His-azwj Book and what has been noted by His-azwj Knowledge.
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أُجَدِّدُ لَهُ فِي صَبِيحَةِ هَذَا الْيَوْمِ وَ مَا عِشْتُ فِيهِ مِنْ أَيَّامِ حَيَاتِي عَهْداً وَ عَقْداً وَ بَيْعَةً لَهُ فِي عُنُقِي
Our Allah-azwj! I renew to him-asws, in the morning of this day, and what I am living in from the days of my life, the covenant and the binding and his-asws allegiance on my neck. (O Allah-azwj) Do not turn these from me nor let them pass away.
Our Allah-azwj! Make me to be of his-asws supporters and help his-asws army and be compliant with his-asws orders and his-asws prohibitions during his-asws days and be of the martyrs in front of him-asws.
Our Allah-azwj! In this event between myself and him-asws, if I were to die, and go to Your-azwj servants, which is an inevitable matter, Take me out of my grave wielding my sword in my shroud, ready to answer the call of the caller in the present and afterwards.
Our Allah-azwj! Show me the good governance and the offices of the slaves, and sharpen my vision so that I may glance at him-asws, and Accelerate his-asws appearance and Make his-asws coming out to be easy.
Our Allah-azwj! Intensify his-asws courage and strengthen his-asws back, and lengthen his-asws life and my life.
Our Allah-azwj! By it is Your country, and revive by it Your servants, for I have said this to You, and Your Words are True, Corruption has appeared in the land and the sea on account of what the hands of men have wrought, (30:41) has appeared.
Our Allah-azwj to us Your heir and the son of the daughter of Your Prophet-saww, the one named by the name of Your Messenger-saww, greetings be upon him and his progeny, until not a thing from the falsehood succeeds but gets torn apart, and the Right of Allah-saww is achieved by his-asws words and his accomplishments.
Our Allah-azwj! Uncover this gloom from this community by his-asws appearance, They see the (Day) indeed as a far-off (event) (70:6): But We see it (quite) near (70:7) and Send salutations on Muhammad-saww and his-saww Progeny-asws.[16]
و من (خواص القرآن): روي عن النبي (صلى الله عليه و آله) أنه قال: «من قرأ هذه السورة كان له من الأجر كمن أعتق رقابا في سبيل الله بعدد الجن و الشياطين، و رفع الله عنه العسر في الدنيا و الآخرة،
And from Khawas Al-Quran –
It has been reported from the Prophet-saww having said: ‘The one who recites this Chapter (Surah Al-Muzammil) would have the Recompense as if he has freed slaves in the Way of Allah-azwj of the number of the Jinn and the Satan(s), and the difficulties would be lifted from him in the world and the Hereafter.
و من أدمن قراءتها و رأى النبي (صلى الله عليه و آله) في المنام فليطلب منه ما يشتهي فؤاده».
One who habitually recites it, and sees the Prophet-saww in the dream, so he can ask for whatsoever that his heart craves for’.[17]
Who claims to have seen Allah-azwj in his dream has no Religion:
مَجَالِسُ الصَّدُوقِ، عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ نَاتَانَةَ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الْكَرْخِيِّ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِلصَّادِقِ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ ع إِنَّ رَجُلًا رَأَى رَبَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِي مَنَامِهِ فَمَا يَكُونُ ذَلِكَ
(The book) ‘Majaalis’ of Al Sadouq – from Al-Husayn Bin Ibrahim Bin Natanah, from Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Ibn Abu Umeyr, from Ibrahim Al Karkhy who said,
‘I said to Al-Sadiq Ja’far-asws Bin Muhammad-asws, ‘A man sees his Lord-azwj Mighty and Majestic in his sleep (dream), so what would that be?’
فَقَالَ ذَلِكَ رَجُلٌ لَا دِينَ لَهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى لَا يُرَى فِي الْيَقَظَةِ وَ لَا فِي الْمَنَامِ وَ لَا فِي الدُّنْيَا وَ لَا فِي الْآخِرَةِ.
He-asws said: ‘That is a man having no religion for him. Allah-azwj Blessed and Exalted cannot be seen, neither during the wakefulness nor during the sleep, nor in the world nor in the Hereafter’’.[18]
Delay in realisation of the interpretation of a Dream:
وَ نَقَلْتُ مِنَ التِّرْمِذِيِّ قِيلَ لِلصَّادِقِ ع كَمْ تَتَأَخَّرُ الرُّؤْيَا فَذَكَرَ مَنَامَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص فَكَانَ التَّأْوِيلُ بَعْدَ سِتِّينَ سَنَةً.
(In a long Hadith) And it is transmitted from Al-Tirmizi, ‘It was said to Al-Sadiq-asws, ‘For long can the dream be delayed?’ He-asws mentioned a dream of Rasool-Allah-saww (i.e., martyrdom of his-saww grandson), its interpretation occurred after sixty years’.[19]
Ilham – Guidance in the Heart (Qalb):
We get the ‘good-News’ (Ilham) or ‘bad-News’ (the Waswasa), the former comes from Allah‑azwj and His-azwj Guides the Masomeen-asws while later is induced into our hearts by the Ibis-la to either corrupt the ‘good-News’ or seduce us into committing sins. However, these signals are so frequent that we, sometimes, are unable to distinguish them (between the good and the bad News) unless our souls are free from the filth of the sins. We take an example of Ilham here.
عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) هَلْ تَعْرِفُونَ طُولَ الْبَلَاءِ مِنْ قِصَرِهِ قُلْنَا لَا قَالَ إِذَا أُلْهِمَ أَحَدُكُمُ الدُّعَاءَ عِنْدَ الْبَلَاءِ فَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ الْبَلَاءَ قَصِيرٌ .
Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Ibn Abu Umeyr, from Hisham Bin Salim who said,
‘Abu Abdullah-asws said: ‘Are you recognising the lengthening of the affliction from its shortening?’ We said, ‘No’. He-asws said: ‘Whenever one of you is inspired for the supplication during the affliction, so he should know that the affliction is short (term)’.[20]
See Appendix for more Ahadith on Ilham:
Example of a Revelation in a Dream:
حَدَّثَنا أَبُو الفَضْلِ تَمِيمُ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّه بْنِ تَمِيمُ القُرَشِي الحِمْيَريُّ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا أَبي أَخْبَرَناعَلِيِّ أَحْمَدِ بْنِ عَلِى الأَنْصارِي قالَ: حَدَّثَنا أَبُو الصَّلْتِ عَبْد السَّلامُ بْنِ صالِح الهَرَوِيِّ قالَ: سَمِعتُ عَلِىِّ بْنِ مُوسَى الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ يَقُولُ أَوْحَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِلَى نَبِيٍّ مِنْ أَنْبِيَائِهِ إِذَا أَصْبَحْتَ فَأَوَّلُ شَيْءٍ يَسْتَقْبِلُكَ فَكُلْهُ وَالثَّانِي فَاكْتُمْهُ وَالثَّالِثُ فَاقْبَلْهُ وَالرَّابِعُ فَلا تُؤْيِسْهُ وَالْخَامِسُ فَاهْرُبْ مِنْهُ قَالَ فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحَ مَضَى فَاسْتَقْبَلَهُ جَبَلٌ أَسْوَدُ عَظِيمٌ فَوَقَفَ وَقَالَ أَمَرَنِي رَبِّي أَنْ آكُلَ هَذَا وَبَقِيَ مُتَحَيِّراً ثُمَّ رَجَعَ إِلَى نَفْسِهِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ رَبِّي جَلَّ جَلالُهُ لا يَأْمُرُنِي إِلا بِمَا أُطِيقُ فَمَشَى إِلَيْهِ لِيَأْكُلَهُ فَكُلَّمَا دَنَا مِنْهُ صَغُرَ حَتَّى انْتَهَى إِلَيْهِ فَوَجَدَهُ لُقْمَةً فَأَكَلَهَا فَوَجَدَهَا أَطْيَبَ شَيْءٍ أَكَلَهُ ثُمَّ مَضَى فَوَجَدَ طَسْتاً مِنْ ذَهَبٍ فَقَالَ أَمَرَنِي رَبِّي أَنْ أَكْتُمَ هَذَا فَحَفَرَ لَهُ وَجَعَلَهُ فِيهِ وَأَلْقَى عَلَيْهِ التُّرَابَ ثُمَّ مَضَى فَالْتَفَتَ فَإِذَا الطَّسْتُ قَدْ ظَهَرَ فَقَالَ قَدْ فَعَلْتُ مَا أَمَرَنِي رَبِّي عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فَمَضَى فَإِذَا هُوَبِطَيْرٍ وَخَلْفَهُ بَازِيٌّ فَطَافَ الطَّيْرُ حَوْلَهُ فَقَالَ أَمَرَنِي رَبِّي أَنْ أَقْبَلَ هَذَا فَفَتَحَ كُمَّهُ فَدَخَلَ الطَّيْرُ فِيهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ الْبَازِيُّ أَخَذْتَ صَيْدِي وَأَنَا خَلْفَهُ مُنْذُ أَيَّامٍ فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَمَرَنِي أَنْ لا أُؤْيِسَ هَذَا فَقَطَعَ مِنْ فَخِذِهِ قِطْعَةً فَأَلْقَاهَا إِلَيْهِ ثُمَّ مَضَى فَلَمَّا مَضَى إِذَا هُوَبِلَحْمِ مَيْتَةٍ مُنْتِنٍ مَدُودٍ فَقَالَ أَمَرَنِي رَبِّي عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَنْ أَهْرُبَ مِنْ هَذَا فَهَرَبَ مِنْهُ وَرَجَعَ وَرَأَى فِي الْمَنَامِ كَأَنَّهُ قَدْ قِيلَ لَهُ إِنَّكَ قَدْ فَعَلْتَ مَا أُمِرْتَ بِهِ فَهَلْ تَدْرِي مَا ذَا كَانَ قَالَ لا قَالَ لَهُ أَمَّا الْجَبَلُ فَهُوَالْغَضَبُ إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ إِذَا غَضِبَ لَمْ يَرَ نَفْـسَهُ وَجَــهِلَ قَدْرَهُ مِنْ عِظَمِ الْغَضَبِ، فَإِذَا حَفِظَ نَفْسَهُ وَعَرَفَ قَدْرَهُ وَسَكَنَ غَضَبُهُ كَانَتْ عَاقِبَتُهُ كَاللُّقْمَةِ الطَّيِّبَةِ الَّتِي أَكَلْتَهَا وَأَمَّا الطَّسْتُ فَهُوَالْعَمَلُ الصَّالِحُ إِذَا كَتَمَهُ الْعَبْدُ وَأَخْفَاهُ أَبَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِلا أَنْ يُظْهِرَهُ لِيُزَيِّنَهُ بِهِ مَعَ مَا يَدَّخِرُ لَهُ مِنْ ثَوَابِ الآْخِرَةِ وَأَمَّا الطَّيْرُ فَهُوَالرَّجُلُ الَّذِي يَأْتِيكَ بِنَصِيحَةٍ فَاقْبَلْهُ وَاقْبَلْ نَصِيحَتَهُ وَأَمَّا الْبَازِيُّ فَهُوَالرَّجُلُ الَّذِي يَأْتِيكَ فِي حَاجَةٍ فَلا تُؤْيِسْهُ وَأَمَّا اللَّحْمُ الْمُنْتِنُ فَهِيَ الْغِيبَةُ فَاهْرُبْ مِنْهَا.
Abul Fadhl Tamim ibn Abdullah ibn Tamim al-Qurashi – may Allah be pleased with him – narrated that his father quoted on the authority of Abu Ali Ahmad ibn Ali Al-Ansari, on the authority of Abul Salt Abdul Salam ibn Salih al-Harawi that he had heard:
Ali-asws ibn Musa Al-Reza-asws say, “The Honourable the Exalted Allah-azwj Revealed (in a dream) the following to one of His Prophets-as, ‘When you leave the house in the morning, eat the first thing that you encounter, hide the second thing, accept the third thing, do not disappoint the fourth, and escape from the fifth. At first when he left the house in the morning, he encountered a big black mountain. He said to himself that the Exalted the Magnificent Allah had ordered him to eat it, and wondered how to do it. He then thought that Allah would not order him to do what was beyond his power. So, he moved towards the mountain. The closer he got to the mountain, the smaller it became. When he finally reached it, it had turned into a small bite to eat. He ate it, and it was really delicious. He continued to go on until he reached a golden pan. He said to himself that Allah had ordered him to hide it. He dug a ditch, threw the golden pan in the ditch, covered it up with dirt, and started to go on his way again. But then he noticed that the pan was visible out of the ground. He said to himself that he had done what Allah had ordered him to and continued to go on. Then he suddenly saw a bird being pursued by a falcon trying to hunt it. The falcon was flying around the bird. The Prophet remembered that Allah had ordered him to accept this one. He opened his sleeve and the bird entered it. The falcon told the Prophet-as, ‘You have caught the prey that I was after for a few days.’ Then he remembered that Allah had ordered him not to disappoint this one. Then he cut off a piece of the bird’s leg and threw it to the falcon. He continued to go on, and saw a piece of rotten meat. He remembered that Allah-azwj had ordered him to escape from this one, so he escaped from it. When he had returned home he went to sleep, and had a dream. He was told, ‘You performed your mission, and did whatever you were instructed to do. Do you know what the philosophy behind all these issues is?’ He said, ‘No.’ He was told, ‘That mountain was anger. Whenever one gets angry, he does not see himself and does not realize his situation. If he restrains himself, recognizes his position and quenches his anger, the end is like a delicious bite which he eats. The golden pan is indeed man’s good deeds which are better to hide. However, Allah-azwj will Make them apparent so that he is adorned by them, and he will receive the reward in the Hereafter. The bird, however, is like a man who advises you, and you should accept his advice. The falcon is like a man who comes to you and asks you to fulfil his needs. You should not disappoint him. The rotten meat is like gossip which you should avoid’.[21]’”
When a believer does not see Dreams:
وَ قَالَ ص لَا يَحْزَنُ أَحَدُكُمْ أَنْ تُرْفَعَ عَنْهُ الرُّؤْيَا فَإِنَّهُ إِذَا رَسَخَ فِي الْعِلْمِ رُفِعَتْ عَنْهُ الرُّؤْيَا
The Prophet-saww said: ‘You should not be sad when you do not see dream. The highly knowledgeable ones cannot see visions’.[22]
Whenever the Satan-l.a. plays with one of you in his sleep, so do not narrate with it to anyone
لما كان أمر الرؤيا و صدقها و كذبها مما اختلفت فيه أقاويل الناس فلا بأس أن نذكر هاهنا بعض أقوال المتكلمين و الحكماء ثم نبين ما ظهر لنا فيه من أخبار أئمة الأنام ع.
When the matter of the dream and its trueness and its falsity are from what there is a differing, it is, there are (various) words of the people so there is no problem in us mentioning over here some of the words of the theologians and the wise ones, then we shall explain what has appeared to us regarding it from the Ahadith of the Imams-asws of the people.
وَ قَدْ جَاءَ فِي الْحَدِيثِ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص أَنَّهُ قَالَ: رُؤْيَا الْمُؤْمِنِ جُزْءٌ مِنْ سَبْعَةٍ وَ سَبْعِينَ جُزْءاً مِنَ النُّبُوَّةِ.
And it has come in the Hadeeth from Rasool-Allah-saww having said: ‘The dream of a Momin is a part from seventy-seven parts from the Prophet-hood’’.
وَ رُوِيَ عَنْهُ ع أَنَّهُ قَالَ: رُؤْيَا الْمُؤْمِنِ تَجْرِي مَجْرَى كَلَامٍ تَكَلَّمَ بِهِ الرَّبُّ عِنْدَهُ.
And it is reported from him-saww having said: ‘The dream of a Momin flows the flow of a Speech the Lord-azwj Speaks with him’’.
فأما وسوسة شياطين الجن فقد ورد السمع بذكرها قال الله تعالى مِنْ شَرِّ الْوَسْواسِ الْخَنَّاسِ الَّذِي يُوَسْوِسُ فِي صُدُورِ النَّاسِ
As for the insinuations of Satan-l.a. of the Jinn, it’s mention has arrived to the hearing. Allah-azwj the Exalted Said: From the evil of doubts insinuated by the wicked one [114:4] Who insinuates into the chests of people [114:5] Being from the Jinn and the people [114:6].
و قال وَ إِنَّ الشَّياطِينَ لَيُوحُونَ إِلى أَوْلِيائِهِمْ لِيُجادِلُوكُمْ و قال شَياطِينَ الْإِنْسِ وَ الْجِنِّ يُوحِي بَعْضُهُمْ إِلى بَعْضٍ زُخْرُفَ الْقَوْلِ غُرُوراً و ورد السمع به فلا طريق إلى دفعه.
And He-azwj Said: and that the satans are suggesting to their friends to contend with you all, [6:121]; and Said: satans of the humans and the Jinn, suggesting flowery words to each other, deceiving; [6:112]; and it has arrived to the hearing, so there is no path to defending it.
رَوَى جَابِرُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ أَنَّهُ قَالَ: بَيْنَمَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يَخْطُبُ إِذْ قَامَ إِلَيْهِ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي رَأَيْتُ كَأَنَّ رَأْسِي قَدْ قُطِعَ وَ هُوَ يَتَدَحْرَجُ وَ أَنَا أَتْبَعُهُ
It is reported by Jabir Bin Abdullah having said, ‘While Rasool-Allah-saww was addressing, when a man stood up to him-saww. He said, ‘O Rasool-Allah-saww! I saw (in a dream) as if my head had been cut off and it was tumbling down, and I was pursuing it’.
فَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص لَا تُحَدِّثْ بِلَعِبِ الشَّيْطَانِ بِكَ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِذَا لَعِبَ الشَّيْطَانُ أَحَدَكُمْ فِي مَنَامِهِ فَلَا يُحَدِّثَنَّ بِهِ أَحَداً.
Rasool-Allah-saww said to him: ‘Do not narrate with the playing of the Satan-l.a. with you!’ Then he-saww said: ‘Whenever the Satan-l.a. plays with one of you in his sleep, so do not narrate with it to anyone’’.[23]
APPENDIX: Additional Ahadith on Ilham
مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ أَبِي وَلَّادٍ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى ( عليه السلام ) مَا مِنْ بَلَاءٍ يَنْزِلُ عَلَى عَبْدٍ مُؤْمِنٍ فَيُلْهِمُهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ الدُّعَاءَ إِلَّا كَانَ كَشْفُ ذَلِكَ الْبَلَاءِ وَشِيكاً وَ مَا مِنْ بَلَاءٍ يَنْزِلُ عَلَى عَبْدٍ مُؤْمِنٍ فَيُمْسِكُ عَنِ الدُّعَاءِ إِلَّا كَانَ ذَلِكَ الْبَلَاءُ طَوِيلًا فَإِذَا نَزَلَ الْبَلَاءُ فَعَلَيْكُمْ بِالدُّعَاءِ وَ التَّضَرُّعِ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ .
Muhamad Bin Yahya, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Isa, from Ibn Mahboub, from Abu Wallad who said,
‘Abu Al-Hassan Musa-asws said: ‘There is none from an affliction descending upon a Momin servant, so Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic Inspires him for the supplication, except that, that affliction would be Removed imminently; and there is none from an affliction descending upon a Momin servant, so he withholds from the supplication, except that, that affliction would be prolonged. So whenever the affliction descends, it would be upon you with the supplication and the pleading to Allah-azwj’.[24]
مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ وَهْبٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) إِنَّ عِنْدَ كُلِّ بِدْعَةٍ تَكُونُ مِنْ بَعْدِي يُكَادُ بِهَا الْإِيمَانُ وَلِيّاً مِنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتِي مُوَكَّلًا بِهِ يَذُبُّ عَنْهُ يَنْطِقُ بِإِلْهَامٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَ يُعْلِنُ الْحَقَّ وَ يُنَوِّرُهُ وَ يَرُدُّ كَيْدَ الْكَائِدِينَ يُعَبِّرُ عَنِ الضُّعَفَاءِ فَاعْتَبِرُوا يَا أُولِي الْأَبْصَارِ وَ تَوَكَّلُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ .
Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Isa, from Al Hassan Bin Mahboub, from Muawiya Bin Wahab who said,
‘I heard Abu Abdullah-asws saying: ‘Rasool-Allah-saww said: ‘After me-saww innovations will be fabricated in order to destroy the Eman, however, a Guardian-asws from the People-asws of my-saww Household would come forward to remove it (the innovations). He-asws would speak with ‘بِإِلْهَامٍ’ (Ilham) the inspiration from Allah-azwj, and he-asws would declare the Truth and radiate it, and he-asws would repeal the plots of the plotters, speaking on behalf of the weak ones. Therefore, take a lesson, O people of insight, and rely upon Allah-azwj!’.[25]
وَ إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ إِذَا اخْتَارَهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لِأُمُورِ عِبَادِهِ شَرَحَ صَدْرَهُ لِذَلِكَ وَ أَوْدَعَ قَلْبَهُ يَنَابِيعَ الْحِكْمَةِ وَ أَلْهَمَهُ الْعِلْمَ إِلْهَاماً فَلَمْ يَعْيَ بَعْدَهُ بِجَوَابٍ وَ لَا يُحَيَّرُ فِيهِ عَنِ الصَّوَابِ فَهُوَ مَعْصُومٌ مُؤَيَّدٌ مُوَفَّقٌ مُسَدَّدٌ قَدْ أَمِنَ مِنَ الْخَطَايَا وَ الزَّلَلِ وَ الْعِثَارِ يَخُصُّهُ اللَّهُ بِذَلِكَ لِيَكُونَ حُجَّتَهُ عَلَى عِبَادِهِ وَ شَاهِدَهُ عَلَى خَلْقِهِ وَ ذلِكَ فَضْلُ اللَّهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَنْ يَشاءُ وَ اللَّهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ
And the servant, when Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic Chooses him-asws for the affairs of His-azwj servants, Expands his chest for that, and Places springs of wisdom in his-asws chest, and Inspires the Knowledge with an Inspiration. So, after it, he-asws neither tires of answering (based on opinions), nor does he-asws get confused with regards to it from the correct answer. Thus, he-asws is infallible, Assisted, Harmonised, Protected. He-asws is secure from the mistakes, and the slips, and the short-comings. Allah-azwj Specialises him-asws with that in order for him-asws to become His-azwj Divine Authority upon His-azwj servant, and His-azwj witness upon His-azwj creatures, and [57:21] that is the Grace of Allah: He gives it to whom He pleases, and Allah is the Lord of Mighty Grace….(An extract)[26]
عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَمَّنْ حَدَّثَهُ عَنِ الْمُفَضَّلِ بْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ قُلْتُ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ ( عليه السلام ) رُوِّينَا عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) أَنَّهُ قَالَ إِنَّ عِلْمَنَا غَابِرٌ وَ مَزْبُورٌ وَ نَكْتٌ فِي الْقُلُوبِ وَ نَقْرٌ فِي الْأَسْمَاعِ فَقَالَ أَمَّا الْغَابِرُ فَمَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ عِلْمِنَا وَ أَمَّا الْمَزْبُورُ فَمَا يَأْتِينَا وَ أَمَّا النَّكْتُ فِي الْقُلُوبِ فَإِلْهَامٌ وَ أَمَّا النَّقْرُ فِي الْأَسْمَاعِ فَأَمْرُ الْمَلَكِ .
Ali Bin Ibrahim, from the one who narrated it, from Al Mufazzal Bin Umar who said,
‘I said to Abu Al-Hassan-asws, ‘We are reporting from Abu Abdullah-asws that he-asws said: ‘Our-asws knowledge is ancient, and Hymned, and Cast into the hearts, and Reverberated into the ears. As for the ancient, so it is what has preceded from our-asws Knowledge, and as for the Hymned, so it is what is Given to us-asws, and as for the Cast into the hearts, so it is inspiration, and as for the Reverberated into the hearts, so it is an instruction of the Angel’.[27]
[1] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 78 – The Book Cleanliness – Ch 1 H 16 (Chapters on Funerals)
[1] Al-Kafi, Vol. 8, H. 14505
[2] Al-Kafi, Vol. 8, H. 14509, الكافي ج : 8 ص : 91
[3] In need of obligatory ‘ghusal’ (bath)
[4] Al-Kafi, Vol. 8, H. 14510
[5] Al-Kafi, Vol. 8, H. 14506
[6] Al-Kafi, Vol. 8, H. 14507
[7] Al-Kafi, Vol. 8, H. 14508
[8] Contract marriage
[9] Al-Kafi, Vol. 8, H. 447. الكافي ج : 8 ص : 293
[10] Al-Kafi, Vol. 8, H. 448 الكافي ج : 8 ص : 294
[11] Al-Kafi, Vol. 8, H. 528 الكافي ج : 8 ص : 336
[12] Al-Kafi, Vol. 8, H. 529
[13] Al-Kafi, Vol. 8, H. 530
[14] Uyun Akhbar Ali Reza (asws), 66-11, pg. 584, عيونأخبارالرضا(ع) ج : 2 ص : 258
[15] Bihar Al Anwaar – V 57 The book of creation – Ch 44 H 20
[16] مستدركالوسائل ج : 5 ص : 74
[17] Tafseer Al Burhan – H 11153
[18] Bihar Al Anwaar – V 57 The book of creation – Ch 44 H 21
[19] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 45, The book of History – Al-Hassan-asws, Ch 37 H 2
[20] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Supplication CH 6 H 1
[21] عيون أخبار الرضا عليه السلام، ج1، ص: 275
[22] Tuhaf al-Uqoul, pg. 62, بحارالأنوار 74 156 باب 7
[23] Bihar ul Anwaar, vol. 58 – بحار الأنوار (ط – بيروت)، ج58، ص: 211
[24] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Supplication CH 6 H 2
[25] Al Kafi V 1 – The Book Of Intellect and Ignorance CH 19 H 5
[26] Al Kafi V 1 – The Book Of Divine Authority CH 15 H 1
[27] Al Kafi V 1 – The Book Of Divine Authority CH 50 H 3
Addendum:
Nightmare is an expiation for the Sins:
وَ مِنْهُ، عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ نَاتَانَةَ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ عَنْ أَبَانِ بْنِ تَغْلِبَ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّ الْمُؤْمِنَ لَيُهَوَّلُ عَلَيْهِ فِي مَنَامِهِ فَتُغْفَرُ لَهُ ذُنُوبُهُ وَ إِنَّهُ لَيُمْتَهَنُ فِي بَدَنِهِ فَتُغْفَرُ لَهُ ذُنُوبُهُ.
And from him, from Al Husayn Bin Ibrahim Bin Natanah, from Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Al Hassan Bin Mahboub, from Hisham Bin Salim, from Aban Bin Taghlib who said,
‘Abu Abdullah-asws said: ‘The Momin, there is horror upon him in his sleep (dream), so his sins are Forgiven for him, and He-azwj would Test him in his body so his sins are Forgiven for him’’.[1]
[1] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 78 – The Book Cleanliness – Ch 1 H 16 (Chapters on Funerals)