The following is a commentary I have compiled by using Fathul Baari and Kashful Baari in relation to the third hadith or Bukhari Sharif which deals with the manner in which Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam received revelation from Allah Ta'ala. There are many narrations which describe this matter but I felt that this hadith is amazing as it takes a person back to the very beginning of Rasulullah's salallahu alayhi wa salam prophethood. The hadith in itself is quite long but I have decided to break it up bit by bit in order to give a somewhat detailed but succinct commentary of it. Inshallah, I intend to continue to write more of the hadith with its commentary as time progresses. I have begun first by mentioning extremely brief notes on the people who have narrated this hadith.
حدثنا يحيى بن بكير قال: حدثنا الليث عن عقيل، عن ابن شهاب، عن عروة بن الزبير، عن عائشة أم المؤمنين أنها قالت: أول ما بدىء به رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم من الوحي الرؤيا الصالحة في النوم، فكان لا يرى رؤيا إلا جاءت مثل فلق الصبح
Yahya ibn Bukayr narrates to us, he says: Layth has narrated to us on the authority of Uqayl from Ibn Shihaab from Urwah ibn Zubair from Aishah the Mother of theBelievers radiallahu anhum that she said “The first thing by which Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam would receive revelation would be through good dreams. He would never see any dream except that it would become as clear as daylight (i.e. it would occur).”
Yahya ibn Bukayr – His full name is Abu Zakariyyah Yahya ibn Abdullah ibn Bukayr al Qurashee al Makzhoomi al Misri. Some have said he is from Egypt, Imam Bukhari rahimahullah is of the opinion he was from Syria (Tareekhul Kabeer).
Layth – His full name is Abul Harith Layth ibn Sa’d ibn Abdur Rahman Fahmi. He was from Qalqashandah or Qarqashanda which is close to Egypt. He was born in 94 AH. He was a great scholar and Imam Shafi rahimahullah says about him, “He was more learned than even Imam Malik but his students did not spread his works (by which he would be recognised further).”
Uqayl – His full name is Uqayl ibn Khalid ibn Aqeel. He was a trustworthy narration of hadith. He passed away in Egypt in the year 144AH.
Ibn Shihaab – His full name is Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Muslim ibn Ubaydullah ibn Abdullah ibn Shihaab ibn Abdullah ibn al Haarith ibn Zuhrah ibn Kilaab ibn Murrah ibn Ka’ab ibn Lu’ee az Zuhri al Madani. He is more famously known by the name Ibn Shihaab az Zuhri. He is from the Tabi’een and his virtues are numerous. He was born in 50AH and passed away in 124AH.
Urwah ibn Zubair – He was the son of the great sahabi Zubair radiallahu anhu and Asma bint Abu Bakr radiallahu anhu. He was the only one from amongst his brothers who was a tabi’ee and not a sahabi.
Aishah, The Mother of the Believers radiallahu anha – She was the daughter of Abu Bakr radiallahu anhu and the most beloved wife of Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam.
Now moving on to the hadith at hand, Aishah radiallahu anha mentions, “The first thing by which Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam would receive revelation would be through good dreams."
The dreams Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam saw were there in order to ready him for Prophethood and the Qur'an which was to be revealed to him soon. As a result of these dreams, Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam would know that something extra ordinary is occurring and thus, the coming of Jibraeel alayhis salam in Mount Hiraa would not be such a massive shock. Many things besides true dreams occurred prior to Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam embracing prophethood. In some narrations related by Imam Bayhaqi it is mentioned that Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam would be walking in Makkah and he would hear somebody greeting him with ‘salaam’ He would turn around and except stones and trees, there was nothing else there. Another narration in Muslim Sharif mention, “I recognise the stone that would greet me in Makkah before my prophethood. I can still recognise it even now.”
The point made here is that Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam was being prepared for the prophethood which was to come his way. The example of this is perhaps like a job. A person will not be thrown into the middle of the work floor straight away and be expected to deal with customers instantly but rather, he will be given some brief training and indications as to what he should be doing so that he will not get a shock when he is in on duty. Over here, we have Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam, who was coming to the age of 40; this is the age in which prophets are given their prophethood. Soon Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam would have the words of the Qur’an revealed to him by an angel in the darkness of Mount Hiraa; for this to happen straight away with no warning would leave a person stunned and thus Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam was the recipient of some extra ordinary occurrences which in turn would make him aware that something remarkable is on its way. It is for this reason Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam would be shown good dreams and would be given greetings by inanimate objects.
A Good Dream
In two different places in Bukhari Sharif (Kitab at Tafseer, Kitab at Ta’beer) The word ‘salihah (good)’ has been substituted for the word ‘saadiqah (true)’. In fact, the dreams of Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam were of three types: 1) Salihah (good) 2) Saadiqah (true) 3) Waazihah (clear).
The meaning of number 3 (waazihah) is this that when Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam would have a dream it would be clear in its meaning without any ambiguity. It was completely clear and explicit in its meaning and there would be no difficult in recalling it.
In relation to number 1 & 2, the Ulama have mentioned that the true dream (saadiqah) is more general than the good dream (saalihah). This is because the dreams of all the prophets are true but not every dream would be a good dream. For example, in Bukhari Sharif it is mentioned Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam had a dream during the period of the battle of Uhud in which he saw himself making movements with a sword but that sword would break and likewise he would see that a cow was being sacrificed. Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam then gave the interpretation that both dreams meant the death and martyrdom of some of the Sahabah radiallahu anhum. Now, the dream in itself was a true dream which did occur but it is obvious, to see the Sahabah radiallahu anhum in such pain is not a good and happy dream. Thus it is established that a dream can be of a true nature but at the same time it can also be good or bad.
Imam Bayhaqi rahimahullah mentions that these dreams were continuous for the period of 6 months.
He would never see any dream except that it would become as clear as daylight (i.e. it would occur).”
The word ‘falaq’ فلق used in this hadith literally means to split, rip or tear something. For example, in the Qur’an it comes that “Verily, Allah is the One who splits seeds...” (Surah An’aam)
However the word in this hadith فلق الصبح which I have translated as ‘daylight’ is used in order to explain the clarity by which Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam would see his dreams. There would be no ambiguity, vagueness or confusion in them. The opposite to ‘daylight’ is darkness and during this time, it is hard to see anyone. Many people think that they have seen something but this is with much doubt and there is no such certainty about it. On the contrary, when something is seen in daylight, a person is certain that his eyes have not deceived him. This is what is being mentioned in this hadith that whatever Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam saw in his dream, its meaning was apparent. It was for this reason that the Sahabah radiallahu anhum mention that they would abstain from waking Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam up in his sleep because it may be the case that Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam was receiving revelation.
Hazrat Maulana Saleemullah Khan sahib has given an excellent opinion as to what is mentioned by this entire statement of Aishah radiallahu anha. He says that this entire statement is in line with the way prophethood had come to Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam and it is shown by the example of the sun rising in the morning to produce clear daylight. In the beginning there was total darkness but the rays of the sun were beginning to be seen and this is similar to the prophethood that the stones and trees were saying “Peace be upon you O Messenger of Allah” but the revelation was soon to come. Then the light of the sun became increased in its visibility and in the same way, the dreams of Rasulullah became extremely clear and positive. Then when the sun actually rises to its fullest, Muhammad alayhis salatu was salam will also emerge as the clear Prophet of Allah Ta’ala. It is for this reason Allah Ta’ala calls Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam ‘Assiraajum Muneera’ A bright, guiding light which is similar to daylight.
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