91/35. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 7028 — Pray More Often
The feeling of security and the disappearance of fear in dream
Hadith About Ibn Umar Being Told to Pray More
Sahih Bukhari : 7028
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 7028
حَدَّثَنِي عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَفَّانُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا صَخْرُ بْنُ جُوَيْرِيَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا نَافِعٌ، أَنَّ ابْنَ عُمَرَ، قَالَ إِنَّ رِجَالاً مِنْ أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانُوا يَرَوْنَ الرُّؤْيَا عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَيَقُصُّونَهَا عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَيَقُولُ فِيهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ، وَأَنَا غُلاَمٌ حَدِيثُ السِّنِّ وَبَيْتِي الْمَسْجِدُ قَبْلَ أَنْ أَنْكِحَ، فَقُلْتُ فِي نَفْسِي لَوْ كَانَ فِيكَ خَيْرٌ لَرَأَيْتَ مِثْلَ مَا يَرَى هَؤُلاَءِ. فَلَمَّا اضْطَجَعْتُ لَيْلَةً قُلْتُ اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ فِيَّ خَيْرًا فَأَرِنِي رُؤْيَا. فَبَيْنَمَا أَنَا كَذَلِكَ إِذْ جَاءَنِي مَلَكَانِ فِي يَدِ كُلِّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا مَقْمَعَةٌ مِنْ حَدِيدٍ، يُقْبِلاَ بِي إِلَى جَهَنَّمَ، وَأَنَا بَيْنَهُمَا أَدْعُو اللَّهَ اللَّهُمَّ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ جَهَنَّمَ. ثُمَّ أُرَانِي لَقِيَنِي مَلَكٌ فِي يَدِهِ مِقْمَعَةٌ مِنْ حَدِيدٍ فَقَالَ لَنْ تُرَاعَ، نِعْمَ الرَّجُلُ أَنْتَ لَوْ تُكْثِرُ الصَّلاَةَ. فَانْطَلَقُوا بِي حَتَّى وَقَفُوا بِي عَلَى شَفِيرِ جَهَنَّمَ فَإِذَا هِيَ مَطْوِيَّةٌ كَطَىِّ الْبِئْرِ، لَهُ قُرُونٌ كَقَرْنِ الْبِئْرِ، بَيْنَ كُلِّ قَرْنَيْنِ مَلَكٌ بِيَدِهِ مِقْمَعَةٌ مِنْ حَدِيدٍ، وَأَرَى فِيهَا رِجَالاً مُعَلَّقِينَ بِالسَّلاَسِلِ، رُءُوسُهُمْ أَسْفَلَهُمْ، عَرَفْتُ فِيهَا رِجَالاً مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ، فَانْصَرَفُوا بِي عَنْ ذَاتِ الْيَمِينِ. فَقَصَصْتُهَا عَلَى حَفْصَةَ فَقَصَّتْهَا حَفْصَةُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ رَجُلٌ صَالِحٌ ". فَقَالَ نَافِعٌ لَمْ يَزَلْ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ يُكْثِرُ الصَّلاَةَ.
Ibn 'Umar Narrated from:
Men from the companions of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to see dreams during the lifetime of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and they used to narrate those dreams to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) would interpret them as Allah wished. I was a young man and used to stay in the mosque before my wedlock. I said to myself, "If there were any good in myself, I too would see what these people see." So when I went to bed one night, I said, "O Allah! If you see any good in me, show me a good dream." So while I was in that state, there came to me (in a dream) two angels.In the hand of each of them, there was a mace of iron, and both of them were taking me to Hell, and I was between them, invoking Allah, "O Allah! I seek refuge with You from Hell." Then I saw myself being confronted by another angel holding a mace of iron in his hand. He said to me, "Do not be afraid, you will be an excellent man if you only pray more often." So they took me till they stopped me at the edge of Hell, and behold, it was built inside like a well and it had side posts like those of a well, and beside each post there was an angel carrying an iron mace.I saw therein many people hanging upside down with iron chains, and I recognized therein some men from the Quraish. Then (the angels) took me to the right side. I narrated this dream to (my sister) Hafsa and she told it to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "No doubt, `Abdullah is a good man."(Nafi` said, "Since then `Abdullah bin `Umar used to pray much.)
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 7028, 7029In-book reference : Book 91, Hadith 45USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 9, Book 87, Hadith 155
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 7028
This hadith about Ibn Umar being told to pray more gives a strong lesson through a dream. Ibn Umar said that companions used to tell their dreams to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, who would interpret them as Allah wished. As a young man living in the mosque before marriage, Ibn Umar wished to see a good dream. In his dream, two angels took him toward Hell while he prayed, asking Allah for refuge from it. Another angel told him not to fear and said he would be an excellent man if he prayed more often. Hafsa told the dream to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, and he said Abdullah was a good man. Nafi added that after this, Ibn Umar prayed much.
What we learn from this hadith
- Ibn Umar sought refuge with Allah when shown Hell in the dream.
- The angel’s advice was to pray more often.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم described Abdullah as a good man.
- After this dream, Ibn Umar increased his prayer.
