THE REALITY OF SEEING THE PROPHET (PEACE BE UPON HIM) IN A DREAM: THE CRITERIA OF ITS AUTHENTICITY AND LEGAL VALIDITY

حقيقة رؤية النبي -صلى الله عليه وسلم- في المنام وضوابط صحتها ومدى صلاحيتها للاحتجاج بها

Abstract

This research addresses a precise theological-hadith issue: the reality of seeing Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in a dream, the extent to which such a vision corresponds to his physical description during his earthly life, and its legal standing. The study adopts an inductive method in collecting hadith texts, a critical-analytical method in examining scholarly positions, and a comparative method in weighing divergent views. The research finds that the hadith "Whoever sees me in a dream has truly seen me" is mutawatir in meaning and has been narrated by numerous Companions. Scholars differed over whether a genuine vision must conform to the Prophet's authentically transmitted physical description, and over the extent of its authority to derive or abrogate legal rulings. The study concludes that such a vision carries glad tidings but does not independently establish or abrogate a legal ruling; rather, it is measured against the established principles of the Shari'ah.