Dreams & Wishes

Dua: If you don't ask, then how will He answer?
{photo credit: heartofdua site}

I’m not one who dreams every night in my sleep.  The few that I do dream, from the moment I realize I’m waking up, I try to grasp the quickly fading message – words, feel, & vision – chasing after it reluctantly, knowing I have little time while being  pulled forward by the strong hands of  consciousness into the new day.  And after opening my eyes, I usually try to blow off the cobwebs that come along with it, so that I can clearly understand the significance of that rare dream I had managed to hold onto.  

“Me-meow… Meooow” came the repeated attempts of Zumar (Masha’Allah our beloved 5 month old kitten) yesterday, trying to wake me up at exactly the same time that he always does.  Within seconds, his meows grew louder, while the images and the voice started to fade into dark silence.  I opened my eyes to find the little sweetheart inches away from my face watching me with his big hazel eyes. 

“Assalamu-alaikum আমার যান (read as: amar jaan)! ‘Peace be upon you my love!' Assalamu-alaikum Zumar!”

As always Zumar did his happy prance and a tiny “meorrp”, before putting his wet, pink nose on my nose as his reply, and then rubbed his face affectionately on my face - that being his hug.  

I tried to recall the already blurry image that I was still holding onto that I could now feel slipping away from my grasp.  While standing by the window, I slowly pulled the blinds open to let in the sunlight, and started to wipe away the haze in my mind in order to remember the dream.  It was something important, I know. Bits and pieces still floated around in my mind, and didn't quite fall into its proper place yet.  

"Hmm, maybe I need my coffee first", I thought groggily.  

But I continued to jog my memory without the jolt of the much needed caffeine. The room had now filled up with the rays of the morning sun, consuming it with its golden warmth.  But, a part of the ray must've touched the dusty jewel I was grasping onto - at the right angle to give it that sparkle it needed to be recognized.  Because I suddenly and fully remembered I had dreamt of a voice telling me to “Remember to send peace and blessings upon Muhammad (s.a.w)”. 

The significance of that message, and the virtues of invoking salutation and peace upon Muhammad (s.a.w) is that the last Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (s.a.w) is the greatest benefactor of humanity and a source of guidance for all Muslims. Thus, loving him is an essential part of faith, and it is part of his right to receive peace and blessings from his ummah. 

Al-Q'uran: 
"Surely Allah and His angels bless the Prophet; O you who believe! call for (Divine) blessings on him and salute him with a (becoming) salutation." {Surah Al-Ahzab 'The Coalition' 33:56}

Hadith: 
Towards the end of time, hardly any dreams will be untrue. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allahbe upon him) said: “That will be because the Prophethood and its effects will be so far away in time, so the believers will be given some compensation in the form of dreams which will bring them some good news or will help them to be patient and steadfast in their faith.” {al-Bukhaari, 6499; Muslim, 4200}

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Dreams are of three types: a dream from Allah, a dream which causes distress and which comes from the Shaytaan, and a dream which comes from what a person thinks about when he is awake, and he sees it when he is asleep.” {al-Bukhaari, 6499; Muslim, 4200}

It was narrated that ‘Abd-Allaah said: the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Allaah has angels who travel about the earth, conveying to me the salaams of my ummah.” {Saheeh Sunan al-Nasaa’i, 1215; al-Silsilat al-Saheehah, 2853}

It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There is no one who sends salaams upon me, but Allaah will restore to me my soul so that I may return his salaams." {Saheeh Sunan Abi Dawood, 1795}

Occassions to Invoke Salutations & Blessings:  There are no restrictions of time, place, or any special requirements for sending peace and blessings on the Prophet (s.a.w)
“•No matter when or where a believer supplicates for blessings and peace on the Prophet [saw], it is delivered to him {Musnad Ahmed}
• The Prophet [saw] has taught us to send peace and blessings upon him in the last part (tashahhud) of the salaah {Jami’ Tirmidhi}
• It is prescribed (masnoon) to send peace and blessings upon the Messenger of Allah [saw] after the second takbeer of the funeral prayers {Musnad Shaf’i} 
• Sending peace and blessings upon the Prophet [saw] after hearing the call to prayer (Azaan) and before making supplications is a means of receiving ten blessings from Allah {Sahih Muslim}
• Supplications for the Prophet [saw] made on Fridays are presented to him. {Sahih al-Jami’ as-Sagheer}
• The etiquette of making supplications, which have a greater likelihood of acceptance, is to first praise Allah , then send peace and blessings upon the Prophet [saw] and then supplicate {Jami’ Tirmidhi} 
• It is recommended (masnoon) to send blessings upon the Prophet of Allah [saw] in every gathering because gatherings where this is not done may become a means of chastisement from Allah {Jami’ Tirmidhi}
• Sending blessings on the Prophet [saw] ten times in the morning and ten times in the evening will be a source of intercession on the Day of Judgment {Sahih al-Jami’ as-Sagheer}
 
• It is recommended to send blessings on the Prophet [saw] at the beginning of sermons and preaching, at gathering of learning (especially when ahadith of the Prophet [saw] are being taught), at the time of engagement or marriage, when writing and at the beginning of every righteous deed.”  All this will be a cause for attaining Allah’s pleasure and mercy and facilitate the task at hand."

Benefits of Invoking Salutation & Blessings upon Muhammad (s.a.w):

“Elevation of Status
: Anas bin Malik ؓ relates that the Prophet [saw] said, “He who sends blessings on me once Allah sends blessings on him ten times and removes from him ten sins and raises him by ten degrees.” {Sunan Nasai}

Worthy of Intercession: 
Abu al-Darda’ ؓ relates that the Messenger of Allah [saw] said, “Whoever sends blessings on me ten times in the morning and ten times in the evening will have my intercession on the Day of Judgment.”
 {Sahih al-Jami’ as-Sagheer}

Relief from Misery and Sorrow: 
Ubayy bin Ka`b ؓ relates: I said, “O Messenger of Allah [saw], I send much blessings on you. What proportion of my prayer should I devote to (sending blessings on) you?” He said, “As much as you like.”
I said, “A quarter?” He said, “As much as you like, and if you increased it would only be better for you.”
I said, “Then a half?” He said, “As much as you like and if you increased then it would only be better for you.”
I said, “Then two thirds?” He said, “As much as you like and if you increased it would only be better for you.”
I said, “I’ll devote all of my prayers to sending blessings on you.” The Prophet [saw] said, “In that case it will suffice you from your worries and your sins will be forgiven.”
 {Jami’ Tirmidhi}

Source of Blessings
: ‘Abdurrahman bin ‘Auf ؓ relates that the Messenger of Allah [saw] went out once and he followed him until he entered a grove of palm trees and prostrated. His prostration was so long that ‘Abdurrahman feared that Allah had taken his soul. ‘Abdurrahman came to look at him and he raised his head and said: “What is wrong, Abdurrahman?” Abdurrahman mentioned what had happened, and the Prophet [saw] said: “Gabriel ؑ came to me and said: ‘Shall I not give you glad tidings? Allah says to you, “Whoever sends blessings upon you, I confer blessings upon him. Whoever sends salutations to you, I send peace on him.”’ Therefore, I prostrated to Allah in thanks”.
 {Musnad Ahmed and Al-Hakim}

Acceptance of Supplications:
 Abdullah bin Mas’ud ؓ narrates: I was once praying, and the Prophet [saw], Abu Bakrؓ and Umar ؓ (were all present). When I sat down (in the final tashahhud), I praised Allah, then sent salaams on the Prophet [saw], then started praying for myself. At this, the Prophet [saw] said:
‘Ask (in this manner) and you shall be given! Ask, and you shall be given it!’
 {Jami’ Tirmidhi}

Increase in Reward
: Abu Huraira ؓ relates that the Prophet [saw] said, “Whoever sends blessings on me once, Allah writes ten good deeds in his book of deeds.” {Fadal as-Salaah ala an-Nabi}”


Dua:
Sending salaams upon the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) may be done by saying “Al-salaamu ‘alayka ayyuha’l-Nabiyyu wa rahmat Allaahi wa barakaatuhu" ("Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings)". 

It may aslo take the form of a dua, by praying that Allaah may keep him safe and sound, by saying "Sal Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam" ("May Allah Send blessings and peace upon him [i.e., the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him))".  {Dabaa’i’ al-Fawaa’id, 2/143}