A reader from AlDammam asks: One night, I saw in a dream that I was in a new house and that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was to my right. I remembered that the Prophet (peace be upon him) has had all his past and future sins forgiven and that Allah (Exalted be He) decrees; therefore, I thought how can I be saved from Allah's decree if it is against me and not for me. I thus asked the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) this question, but I suddenly awaked.
My question is: Can the person whom I saw in my dream really be the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)? Moreover, how can one be safe from Allah's plans being against, but not for them? Clarify this point for me please. May Allah reward you with the best.
A: If you saw the Messenger of Allah in his known figure as related by the Sahih Hadith, you then have in fact seen him. This is because the Prophet (peace be upon him) stated: Whoever sees me in a dream in fact has seen me, for Satan does not appear in my form. (Agreed upon by Imams AlBukhari and Muslim).We ask Allah (Exalted be He) to make us and you amongst those who truly follow the Prophet.
As for one to be protected from Allah's plans being against and not for them, one must obey Allah's commands, abandon His prohibitions, continually offer Tawbah (repentance to Allah), increase righteous deeds such as Dhikr (Remembrance of Allah), Istighfar (seeking forgiveness from Allah), reciting the Noble Qur'an, and asking Allah (Glorified be He) to keep them firm on the truth and preserve their heart on the true guidance. Allah (Glorified be He) says: Invoke Me, [i.e. believe in My Oneness (Islâmic Monotheism) and ask Me for anything] I will respond to your (invocation). Allah (Glorified be He) also says: And whosoever fears Allâh and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine.
He (Glorified and Exalted be He) also states: and whosoever fears Allâh and keeps his duty to Him, He will expiate from him his sins, and will enlarge his reward. Allah (Glorified be He) also says: "Truly! The Muttaqûn (the pious See V.2:2) will be amidst Gardens and watersprings (Paradise). Allah (Glorified be He) also says: And all of you beg Allâh to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful There are many Ayahs (Qur'anic verses) to the same effect. Assalamu `alaykum warahmatullah wabarakatuh (May Allah's Peace, Mercy, and Blessings be upon you!)