The Possibility of Seeing the Prophet (PBUH) in a Wakeful State
By Shaykh `Atiyyah Saqr, former head of Al-Azhar Fatwa Committee
Q. Can anyone see the Prophet while not sleeping?
A. Al-Bukhari
and Muslim and other compilers of Hadith report that the Prophet
(peace and blessings be upon him) is reported to have said,
“Whoever sees me in a dream will see me in his wakefulness, and
Satan cannot imitate me in shape.”
This hadith indicates clearly that a Muslim can see the Prophet
while he is awake.
Imam As-Suyuti reports that he saw the Prophet in his
wakefulness. Many other trustworthy scholars report the same.
Examining the various reports on the possibility of seeing the
Prophet, I can deduce the following:
1. It is possible to see Prophet Muhammad (peace and
blessings be upon him) in one's dream, just as one's dreaming of
a beloved person.
2. Whoever sees the Prophet in his dream, will see him in
his wakefulness; that is according to the promise stated in the
hadith. Muslim scholars, however, differ if this promise of
seeing the Prophet will be fulfilled in this world or it will
come true in the Hereafter.
3. There is no textual proof that goes against seeing the
Prophet while one is awake. In principle, it is possible to see
him whether vision-like or in actual shape.
4. Many stories state that the Prophet (peace and
blessings be upon him) was seen by many people. However, the
majority of these reports have weak chains of narrators.
Consequently, if there are people who do not believe in such
stories, they should not be thought badly of or be accused of
disbelief. Seeing the Prophet is not an article of faith where
denying it renders a believer a disbeliever.
5. One who claims to see the Prophet (peace and blessings
be upon him) should be a trustworthy and reliable person who is
of sound mind and eligible to stand as a witness.
6. Whoever claims to see the Prophet (peace and blessings
be upon him) should not use this to achieve personal gain or
exploit it for any purpose that contradicts the bases of
religion.
