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What is the ruling of Islam on "visions," which are waking dreams?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

Visions and unveilings occur for righteous saints of Allah and for the brethren of devils. If the one experiencing them is a follower of the Messengers, then these are a sign of righteousness and piety, like the story of Umar calling out to Sariya. But if he is not a follower of the Messengers, then his action is sinful, like the supernatural feats of sorcerers. Al-Shafi'i said: "If you see a man walking on water and flying in the air, do not be deceived until you present his affair to the Qur'an and Sunnah." And Abu Yazid al-Bistami said: "Allah has many creations who walk on water, yet they hold no value with Allah." So, if these visions involve abandoning duties, committing forbidden acts, or adhering to unlawful forms of worship, then he is deceived by Satan. However, if he is steadfast in faith and the Sunnah, then it is a miracle granted to him, knowing that the saints of Allah conceal miracles and fear that they might be a trial.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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