Are dreams part of prophecy? The link between revelation and visions

DREAMS WISDOM / ISTANBUL, TURKEY — JAN. 4, 2026

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) informed his followers that the process of divine revelation first began with "true dreams" (al-ru'ya al-sadiqa) that came true like the breaking of dawn. He emphasized the spiritual significance of these visions, stating that the righteous dreams of a believer are a fraction of prophecy itself.

Islamic scholars note that while prophethood has ended, "Mubashshirat"—or glad tidings in the form of dreams—continue as a window into the unseen world. However, a crucial distinction remains regarding whether these dreams can be a source of religious ruling.

Revelation began with dreams

Revelation is defined as Allah communicating His commands and prohibitions to His prophets in a special way. According to Aisha (RA), the initial revelations to Prophet Muhammad came in the form of true dreams during sleep. The Prophet stated that these nightly visions would occur in waking life exactly as he had seen them, as clear as the morning light.

One of the 46 parts of prophecy

Prophet Muhammad valued good and beautiful dreams as a component of prophethood, declaring, "The dream of a believer is one of the 46 parts of prophecy". In various narrations, this fraction is sometimes cited as 1 in 40, 45, or 70.

Establishing this connection between dreams and prophethood, the Prophet further remarked, "That which is from prophethood cannot be a lie," pointing to the inherent truth and importance of a righteous vision.

Mubashshirat: The glad tidings

The Prophet informed his companions that there would be no prophet after him, but that "Mubashshirat" (glad tidings) would remain. When asked what these were, he replied, "The righteous dream seen by a Muslim". Furthermore, it is narrated that he interpreted the verse "For them are good tidings in the worldly life" (Surah Yunus, 10:64) as referring to the good dreams of a Muslim.

Can dreams be acted upon religiously?

While scholars agree that the dreams of prophets are a form of revelation, they draw a line for the dreams of others. Although the dreams of righteous people fall under "Mubashshirat," they are not binding on others. Religious rulings or general decisions cannot be derived solely based on dreams, as they lack the absolute authority of direct revelation given to prophets.

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