A man came to Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said, "I saw in a dream, a cloud having shade. Butter and honey were dropping from it and I saw the people gathering it in their hands, some gathering much and some a little. And behold, there was a rope extending from the earth to the sky, and I saw that you (the Prophet) held it and went up, and then another man held it and went up and (after that) another (third) held it and went up, and then after another (fourth) man held it, but it broke and then got connected again." Abu Bakr said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Let my father be sacrificed for you! Allow me to interpret this dream." The Prophet ﷺ said to him, "Interpret it." Abu Bakr said, "The cloud with shade symbolizes Islam, and the butter and honey dropping from it, symbolizes the Qur'an, its sweetness dropping and some people learning much of the Qur'an and some a little. The rope which is extended from the sky to the earth is the Truth which you (the Prophet) are following. You follow it and Allah will raise you high with it, and then another man will follow it and will rise up with it and another person will follow it and then another man will follow it but it will break and then it will be connected for him and he will rise up with it. O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Let my father be sacrificed for you! Am I right or wrong?" The Prophet replied, "You are right in some of it and wrong in some." Abu Bakr said, "O Allah's Prophet! By Allah, you must tell me in what I was wrong." The Prophet ﷺ said, "Do not swear."  

أَنَّ رَجُلاً أَتَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ إِنِّي رَأَيْتُ اللَّيْلَةَ فِي الْمَنَامِ ظُلَّةً تَنْطِفُ السَّمْنَ وَالْعَسَلَ فَأَرَى النَّاسَ يَتَكَفَّفُونَ مِنْهَا فَالْمُسْتَكْثِرُ وَالْمُسْتَقِلُّ وَإِذَا سَبَبٌ وَاصِلٌ مِنَ الأَرْضِ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ فَأَرَاكَ أَخَذْتَ بِهِ فَعَلَوْتَ ثُمَّ أَخَذَ بِهِ رَجُلٌ آخَرُ فَعَلاَ بِهِ ثُمَّ أَخَذَ بِهِ رَجُلٌ آخَرُ فَعَلاَ بِهِ ثُمَّ أَخَذَ بِهِ رَجُلٌ آخَرُ فَانْقَطَعَ ثُمَّ وُصِلَ فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ بِأَبِي أَنْتَ وَاللَّهِ لَتَدَعَنِّي فَأَعْبُرَهَا فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ اعْبُرْ قَالَ أَمَّا الظُّلَّةُ فَالإِسْلاَمُ وَأَمَّا الَّذِي يَنْطِفُ مِنَ الْعَسَلِ وَالسَّمْنِ فَالْقُرْآنُ حَلاَوَتُهُ تَنْطُفُ فَالْمُسْتَكْثِرُ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ وَالْمُسْتَقِلُّ وَأَمَّا السَّبَبُ الْوَاصِلُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ إِلَى الأَرْضِ فَالْحَقُّ الَّذِي أَنْتَ عَلَيْهِ تَأْخُذُ بِهِ فَيُعْلِيكَ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ يَأْخُذُ بِهِ رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَعْدِكَ فَيَعْلُو بِهِ ثُمَّ يَأْخُذُ رَجُلٌ آخَرُ فَيَعْلُو بِهِ ثُمَّ يَأْخُذُهُ رَجُلٌ آخَرُ فَيَنْقَطِعُ بِهِ ثُمَّ يُوَصَّلُ لَهُ فَيَعْلُو بِهِ فَأَخْبِرْنِي يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ بِأَبِي أَنْتَ أَصَبْتُ أَمْ أَخْطَأْتُ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ أَصَبْتَ بَعْضًا وَأَخْطَأْتَ بَعْضًا قَالَ فَوَاللَّهِ لَتُحَدِّثَنِّي بِالَّذِي أَخْطَأْتُ قَالَ لاَ تُقْسِمْ  

Messenger of Allah, I saw while I was sleeping during the night (this vision) that there was a canopy from which butter and honey were trickling and I also saw people collecting them in the palms of their hands, some more, some less, and I also saw a rope connecting the earth with the sky and I saw you catching hold of it and rising towards the heaven; then another person after you catching hold of it and rising towards (Heaven); then another person catching hold of it, but it was broken while it was rejoined for him and he also climbed up. Abu Bakr said: Messenger of Allah, may my father be sacrificed for you, by Allah, allow me to interpret it. Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Well, give its interpretation. Thereupon Abu Bakr said: The canopy signifies the canopy of Islam and that what trickles out of it in the form of butter and honey is the Holy Qur'an and its sweetness and softness and what the people get hold of it in their palms implies major portion of the Qur'an or the small portion; and so far as the rope joining the sky with the earth is concerned, it is the Truth by which you stood (in the worldly life) and by which Allah would raise you (to Heaven). Then the person after you would take hold of it and he would also climb up with the help of it. Then another person would take hold of it and climb up with the help of it. Then another person would take hold of it and it would be broken; then it would be rejoined for him and he would climb up with the help of it. Messenger of Allah, may my father be taken as a ransom for you, tell me whether I have interpreted it correctly or I have made an error. Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: You have interpreted a part of it correctly and you have erred in interpreting a part of it. Thereupon he said: Messenger of Allah, by Allah, tell me that part where I have committed an error. Thereupon he said: Don't take an oath.  

أَنَّ رَجُلاً أَتَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ ح وَحَدَّثَنِي حَرْمَلَةُ بْنُ يَحْيَى التُّجِيبِيُّ وَاللَّفْظُ لَهُ أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ أَنَّ عُبَيْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُتْبَةَ أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ كَانَ يُحَدِّثُ أَنَّ رَجُلاً أَتَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي أَرَى اللَّيْلَةَ فِي الْمَنَامِ ظُلَّةً تَنْطِفُ السَّمْنَ وَالْعَسَلَ فَأَرَى النَّاسَ يَتَكَفَّفُونَ مِنْهَا بِأَيْدِيهِمْ فَالْمُسْتَكْثِرُ وَالْمُسْتَقِلُّ وَأَرَى سَبَبًا وَاصِلاً مِنَ السَّمَاءِ إِلَى الأَرْضِ فَأَرَاكَ أَخَذْتَ بِهِ فَعَلَوْتَ ثُمَّ أَخَذَ بِهِ رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَعْدِكَ فَعَلاَ ثُمَّ أَخَذَ بِهِ رَجُلٌ آخَرُ فَعَلاَ ثُمَّ أَخَذَ بِهِ رَجُلٌ آخَرُ فَانْقَطَعَ بِهِ ثُمَّ وُصِلَ لَهُ فَعَلاَ قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ بِأَبِي أَنْتَ وَاللَّهِ لَتَدَعَنِّي فَلأَعْبُرَنَّهَا قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ اعْبُرْهَا قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ أَمَّا الظُّلَّةُ فَظُلَّةُ الإِسْلاَمِ وَأَمَّا الَّذِي يَنْطِفُ مِنَ السَّمْنِ وَالْعَسَلِ فَالْقُرْآنُ حَلاَوَتُهُ وَلِينُهُ وَأَمَّا مَا يَتَكَفَّفُ النَّاسُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ فَالْمُسْتَكْثِرُ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ وَالْمُسْتَقِلُّ وَأَمَّا السَّبَبُ الْوَاصِلُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ إِلَى الأَرْضِ فَالْحَقُّ الَّذِي أَنْتَ عَلَيْهِ تَأْخُذُ بِهِ فَيُعْلِيكَ اللَّهُ بِهِ ثُمَّ يَأْخُذُ بِهِ رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَعْدِكَ فَيَعْلُو بِهِ ثُمَّ يَأْخُذُ بِهِ رَجُلٌ آخَرُ فَيَعْلُو بِهِ ثُمَّ يَأْخُذُ بِهِ رَجُلٌ آخَرُ فَيَنْقَطِعُ بِهِ ثُمَّ يُوصَلُ لَهُ فَيَعْلُو بِهِ فَأَخْبِرْنِي يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ بِأَبِي أَنْتَ أَصَبْتُ أَمْ أَخْطَأْتُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَصَبْتَ بَعْضًا وَأَخْطَأْتَ بَعْضًا قَالَ فَوَاللَّهِ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لَتُحَدِّثَنِّي مَا الَّذِي أَخْطَأْتُ قَالَ لاَ تُقْسِمْ  

"I had a dream of a cloud with shade dripping butter and honey. I saw the people scooping it up with their hands, some taking much and some taking little. I saw a rope extending from the sky to the earth. Then I saw you O Messenger of Allah ! You took hold of it and went up, then a man took hold of it after you do so, then a man took hold of it after him to do so. Then a man took hold of it and it was severed, and then connected for him, and he did so (i.e. , went up)." Abu Bakr said: "May my father and mother be ransomed for you O Messenger of Allah! Allow me to interpret it." He said: "Interpret it." so he said: "As for the cloud with its shade, it is Islam. As for what the butter and honey that dropped from it, this is the Quran and its delicateness and sweetness. It means some of them gathered much of the Quran and some of them a little. As for the rope extending from the sky to the earth, it is the truth which you are upon, you clug to it and Allah exalted you. Then another man will take hold of it after you and ascend on it, then after him, another man will take hold of it and ascend on it. Then another [man] will take hold of it but it will break, then be connected so he will ascend on it. Inform me O Messenger of Allah! Am I correct or am I mistaken?" The Prophet ﷺ said: "You are correct in some of it and mistaken in some of it." He (i.e., Abu Bakr) said: "I swear to you by my father and my mother O Messenger of Allah! Inform me in what I was mistaken?" The Prophet ﷺ said: "Do not swear."  

أَنَّ رَجُلاً جَاءَ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَقَالَ إِنِّي رَأَيْتُ اللَّيْلَةَ ظُلَّةً يَنْطِفُ مِنْهَا السَّمْنُ وَالْعَسَلُ وَرَأَيْتُ النَّاسَ يَسْتَقُونَ بِأَيْدِيهِمْ فَالْمُسْتَكْثِرُ وَالْمُسْتَقِلُّ وَرَأَيْتُ سَبَبًا وَاصِلاً مِنَ السَّمَاءِ إِلَى الأَرْضِ وَأَرَاكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَخَذْتَ بِهِ فَعَلَوْتَ ثُمَّ أَخَذَ بِهِ رَجُلٌ بَعْدَكَ فَعَلاَ ثُمَّ أَخَذَ بِهِ رَجُلٌ بَعْدَهُ فَعَلاَ ثُمَّ أَخَذَ بِهِ رَجُلٌ فَقُطِعَ بِهِ ثُمَّ وُصِلَ لَهُ فَعَلاَ بِهِ فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ أَىْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ بِأَبِي أَنْتَ وَأُمِّي وَاللَّهِ لَتَدَعَنِّي أَعْبُرْهَا فَقَالَ اعْبُرْهَا فَقَالَ أَمَّا الظُّلَّةُ فَظُلَّةُ الإِسْلاَمِ وَأَمَّا مَا يَنْطِفُ مِنَ السَّمْنِ وَالْعَسَلِ فَهُوَ الْقُرْآنُ لِينُهُ وَحَلاَوَتُهُ وَأَمَّا الْمُسْتَكْثِرُ وَالْمُسْتَقِلُّ فَهُوَ الْمُسْتَكْثِرُ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ وَالْمُسْتَقِلُّ مِنْهُ وَأَمَّا السَّبَبُ الْوَاصِلُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ إِلَى الأَرْضِ فَهُوَ الْحَقُّ الَّذِي أَنْتَ عَلَيْهِ فَأَخَذْتَ بِهِ فَيُعْلِيكَ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ يَأْخُذُ بِهِ بَعْدَكَ رَجُلٌ آخَرُ فَيَعْلُو بِهِ ثُمَّ يَأْخُذُ بِهِ بَعْدَهُ رَجُلٌ آخَرُ فَيَعْلُو بِهِ ثُمَّ يَأْخُذُ رَجُلٌ آخَرُ فَيَنْقَطِعُ بِهِ ثُمَّ يُوصَلُ لَهُ فَيَعْلُو أَىْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لَتُحَدِّثَنِّي أَصَبْتُ أَوْ أَخْطَأْتُ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ أَصَبْتَ بَعْضًا وَأَخْطَأْتَ بَعْضًا قَالَ أَقْسَمْتُ بِأَبِي أَنْتَ وَأُمِّي لَتُخْبِرَنِّي مَا الَّذِي أَخْطَأْتُ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ لاَ تُقْسِمْ قَالَ هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ  

“A man came to the Prophet ﷺ, upon his return from Uhud, and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, in my dream I saw a cloud giving shade, from which drops of ghee and honey were falling, and I saw people collecting them in the palms of their hands, some gathering a lot and some a little. And I saw a rope reaching up into heaven, and I saw you take hold of it and rise with it. Then another man took hold of it after you rose with it, then another man took hold of it after him and rose with it. Then a man took hold of it after him and it broke, then it was reconnected and he rose with it.’ Abu Bakr said: ‘Let me interpret it, O Messenger of Allah.’ He said: ‘Interpret it.’ He said: ‘As for the cloud giving shade, it is Islam, and the drops of honey and ghee that fall from it (represent) the Qur’an with its sweetness and softness. As for the people collecting that in their palms, some learn a lot of the Qur’an and some learn a little. As for the rope reaching up into heaven, it is the truth that you are following; you took hold of it and rose with it, then another man till take hold of it after you and rise with you, then another, who will rise with it, then another, but it will break and then he reconnected, then he will rise with it.’ He said: ‘You have got some of it right and some of it wrong.’ Abu Bakr said: ‘I adjure you O Messenger of Allah, tell me what I got right and what I got wrong.’ The Prophet ﷺ said: ‘Do not swear, O Abu Bakr.”*  

أَتَى النَّبِيَّ ﷺ رَجُلٌ مُنْصَرَفَهُ مِنْ أُحُدٍ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي رَأَيْتُ فِي الْمَنَامِ ظُلَّةً تَنْطِفُ سَمْنًا وَعَسَلاً وَرَأَيْتُ النَّاسَ يَتَكَفَّفُونَ مِنْهَا فَالْمُسْتَكْثِرُ وَالْمُسْتَقِلُّ وَرَأَيْتُ سَبَبًا وَاصِلاً إِلَى السَّمَاءِ رَأَيْتُكَ أَخَذْتَ بِهِ فَعَلَوْتَ بِهِ ثُمَّ أَخَذَ بِهِ رَجُلٌ بَعْدَكَ فَعَلاَ بِهِ ثُمَّ أَخَذَ بِهِ رَجُلٌ بَعْدَهُ فَعَلاَ بِهِ ثُمَّ أَخَذَ بِهِ رَجُلٌ بَعْدَهُ فَانْقَطَعَ بِهِ ثُمَّ وُصِلَ لَهُ فَعَلاَ بِهِ فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ دَعْنِي أَعْبُرْهَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ اعْبُرْهَا قَالَ أَمَّا الظُّلَّةُ فَالإِسْلاَمُ وَأَمَّا مَا يَنْطِفُ مِنْهَا مِنَ الْعَسَلِ وَالسَّمْنِ فَهُوَ الْقُرْآنُ حَلاَوَتُهُ وَلِينُهُ وَأَمَّا مَا يَتَكَفَّفُ مِنْهُ النَّاسُ فَالآخِذُ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ كَثِيرًا وَقَلِيلاً وَأَمَّا السَّبَبُ الْوَاصِلُ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ فَمَا أَنْتَ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الْحَقِّ أَخَذْتَ بِهِ فَعَلاَ بِكَ ثُمَّ يَأْخُذُهُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَعْدِكَ فَيَعْلُو بِهِ ثُمَّ آخَرُ فَيَعْلُو بِهِ ثُمَّ آخَرُ فَيَنْقَطِعُ بِهِ ثُمَّ يُوَصَّلُ لَهُ فَيَعْلُو بِهِ قَالَ أَصَبْتَ بَعْضًا وَأَخْطَأْتَ بَعْضًا قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ أَقْسَمْتُ عَلَيْكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لَتُخْبِرَنِّي بِالَّذِي أَصَبْتُ مِنَ الَّذِي أَخْطَأْتُ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ لاَ تُقْسِمْ يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ أَنْبَأَنَا مَعْمَرٌ عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ كَانَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ يُحَدِّثُ أَنَّ رَجُلاً أَتَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ رَأَيْتُ ظُلَّةً بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالأَرْضِ تَنْطِفُ سَمْنًا وَعَسَلاً فَذَكَرَ الْحَدِيثَ نَحْوَهُ  

"I had a dream of a cloud with shade dripping butter and honey. I saw the people scooping it up with their hands, some taking much and some taking little. I saw a rope extending from the sky to the earth. Then I saw you O Messenger of Allah ! You took hold of it and went up, then a man took hold of it after you do so, then a man took hold of it after him to do so. Then a man took hold of it and it was severed, and then connected for him, and he did so (i.e. , went up)." Abu Bakr said: "May my father and mother be ransomed for you O Messenger of Allah! Allow me to interpret it." He said: "Interpret it." so he said: "As for the cloud with its shade, it is Islam. As for what the butter and honey that dropped from it, this is the Quran and its delicateness and sweetness. It means some of them gathered much of the Quran and some of them a little. As for the rope extending from the sky to the earth, it is the truth which you are upon, you clug to it and Allah exalted you. Then another man will take hold of it after you and ascend on it, then after him, another man will take hold of it and ascend on it. Then another [man] will take hold of it but it will break, then be connected so he will ascend on it. Inform me O Messenger of Allah! Am I correct or am I mistaken?" The Prophet ﷺ said: "You are correct in some of it and mistaken in some of it." He (i.e., Abu Bakr) said: "I swear to you by my father and my mother O Messenger of Allah! Inform me in what I was mistaken?" The Prophet ﷺ said: "Do not swear." (Using translation from Tirmidhī 2293)   

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَانَ مِمَّا يَقُولُ لِأَصْحَابِهِ «مَنْ رَأَى مِنْكُمْ رُؤْيَا فَلْيَقُصَّهَا عَلَيَّ فَأَعْبُرَهَا لَهُ» قَالَ فَجَاءَ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ رَأَيْتُ ظُلَّةً بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ تَنْطِفُ عَسَلًا وَسَمْنًا وَرَأَيْتُ سَبَبًا وَاصِلًا مِنَ السَّمَاءِ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ وَرَأَيْتُ أُنَاسًا يَتَكَفَّفُونَ مِنْهَا فَمُسْتَكْثِرٌ وَمُسْتَقِلٌّ وَرَأَيْتُ سَبَبًا وَاصِلًا مِنَ السَّمَاءِ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ فَأَخَذْتَ بِهِ فَعَلَوْتَ «فَأَعْلَاكَ اللَّهُ» ثُمَّ أَخَذَ بِهِ الَّذِي بَعْدَكَ فَعَلَا «فَأَعْلَاهُ اللَّهُ» ثُمَّ أَخَذَهُ الَّذِي بَعْدَهُ فَعَلَا «فَأَعْلَاهُ اللَّهُ» ثُمَّ أَخَذَهُ الَّذِي بَعْدَهُ فَقُطِعَ بِهِ ثُمَّ وُصِلَ فَاتَّصَلَ فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ائْذَنْ لِي فَأَعْبُرَهَا فَقَالَ «اعْبُرْهَا» وَكَانَ أَعْبَرَ النَّاسِ لِلرُّؤْيَا بَعْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ أَمَّا الظُّلَّةُ فَالْإِسْلَامُ وَأَمَّا الْعَسَلُ وَالسَّمْنُ فَالْقُرْآنُ حَلَاوَةُ الْعَسَلِ وَلِينُ السَّمْنِ وَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ يَتَكَفَّفُونَ مِنْهُ فَمُسْتَكْثِرٌ وَمُسْتَقِلٌّ فَهُمْ حَمَلَةُ الْقُرْآنِ وَأَمَّا السَّبَبُ الْوَاصِلُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ فَالْحَقُّ الَّذِي أَنْتَ عَلَيْهِ تَأْخُذُ بِهِ فَيُعْلِيكَ اللَّهُ بِهِ ثُمَّ يَأْخُذُ بِهِ رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَعْدِكَ فَيَعْلُوَ بِهِ ثُمَّ يَأْخُذُ بِهِ رَجُلٌ آَخَرُ فَيَعْلُو بِهِ ثُمَّ يَأْخُذُ بِهِ رَجُلٌ آخَرُ فَيَنْقَطِعُ بِهِ ثُمَّ يَوصَلُ لَهُ فَيَعْلُو بِهِ فَأَخْبِرْنِي يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ بَأَبِي أَنْتَ أَصَبْتُ أَمْ أَخْطَأْتَ فَقَالَ «أَصَبْتَ وَأَخْطَأْتَ» فَقَالَ فَمَا الَّذِي أَصَبْتُ؟ وَمَا الَّذِي أَخْطَأْتُ؟ فَأَبَى أَنْ يُخْبِرَهُ  

Abu Hurairah said that a man came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said: I saw (in my dream) a piece of cloud from which ghee and honey were dropping. I saw the people spreading their hands. Some of them took much and some a little. I also saw a rope hanging from Heaven to Earth. I saw, Messenger of Allah, that you caught hold of it and ascended by it. Then another man caught hold of it and ascended it. Then another man caught hold of it and ascended it. Then another man caught hold of it, but it broke, and then it was joined and he ascended it. AbuBakr said: May my parents be sacrificed for you, if you allow, I shall interpret it. He said: Interpret it. He said: The piece of cloud is the cloud of Islam; the ghee and honey that were dropping from it are the Qur'an, which contains softness and sweetness. Those who received much or little of it are those who learn much or little of the Qur'an. The rope hanging from Heaven to Earth is the truth which you are following. You catch hold of it and then Allah will raise you to Him. Then another man will catch hold of it and ascend it, Then another man will catch hold of it and it will break. But it will be joined and he will ascend it. Tell me. Messenger of Allah, whether I am right or wrong. He said: You are partly right and partly wrong. He said: I adjure you by Allah, you should tell me where I am wrong. The Prophet ﷺ said: Do not take an oath. (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 4632)   

أَنَّ رَجُلًا أَتَى النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي رَأَيْتُ اللَّيْلَةَ فِي الْمَنَامِ ظُلَّةً تَنْطِفُ السَّمْنَ وَالْعَسَلَ وَإِذَا النَّاسُ يَتَكَفَّفُونَ فَعَلَوْتَ ثُمَّ أَخَذَ بِهِ رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَعْدِكَ فَعَلَا ثُمَّ أَخَذَ بِهِ رَجُلٌ آخَرُ فَعَلَا ثُمَّ أَخَذَ بِهِ رَجُلٌ آخَرُ فَانْقَطَعَ بِهِ ثُمَّ وُصِلَ لَهُ فَعَلَا قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ بِأَبِي أَنْتَ وَاللَّهِ لَتَدَعَنِّي فَلَأَعْبُرُهُ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ «عَبِّرْ» قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ أَمَّا الظُّلَّةُ فَظُلَّةُ الْإِسْلَامِ وَأَمَّا الَّذِي يَنْطِفُ مِنَ السَّمْنِ وَالْعَسَلِ فَالْقُرْآنُ حَلَاوَتُهُ وَلِينُهُ وَأَمَّا مَا يَتَكَفَّفُ النَّاسُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ فَالْمُسْتَكْثِرُ وَالْمُسْتَقِلُّ وَأَمَّا السَّبَبُ الْوَاصِلُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ فَالْحَقُّ الَّذِي أَنْتَ عَلَيْهِ أَخَذْتَهُ فَيُعْلِيكَ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ يَأْخُذُ بِهِ رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَعْدِكَ فَيَعْلُو بِهِ ثُمَّ يَأْخُذُ بِهِ رَجُلٌ آخَرُ فَيَعْلُو بِهِ ثُمَّ يَأْخُذُ بِهِ رَجُلٌ آخَرُ فَيَنْقَطِعُ بِهِ ثُمَّ يُوصَلُ لَهُ فَيَعْلُو فَأَخْبِرْنِي يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ بِأَبِي أَنْتَ أَصَبْتُ أَمْ أَخْطَأْتُ؟ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «أَصَبْتَ بَعْضًا وَأَخْطَأْتَ بَعْضًا» قَالَ وَاللَّهِ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لَتُخْبِرَنِّي بِالَّذِي أَخْطَأْتُ قَالَ «لَا تُقْسِمْ»  

“A man came to the Prophet ﷺ, upon his return from Uhud, and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, in my dream I saw a cloud giving shade, from which drops of ghee and honey were falling, and I saw people collecting them in the palms of their hands, some gathering a lot and some a little. And I saw a rope reaching up into heaven, and I saw you take hold of it and rise with it. Then another man took hold of it after you rose with it, then another man took hold of it after him and rose with it. Then a man took hold of it after him and it broke, then it was reconnected and he rose with it.’ Abu Bakr said: ‘Let me interpret it, O Messenger of Allah.’ He said: ‘Interpret it.’ He said: ‘As for the cloud giving shade, it is Islam, and the drops of honey and ghee that fall from it (represent) the Qur’an with its sweetness and softness. As for the people collecting that in their palms, some learn a lot of the Qur’an and some learn a little. As for the rope reaching up into heaven, it is the truth that you are following; you took hold of it and rose with it, then another man till take hold of it after you and rise with you, then another, who will rise with it, then another, but it will break and then he reconnected, then he will rise with it.’ He said: ‘You have got some of it right and some of it wrong.’ Abu Bakr said: ‘I adjure you O Messenger of Allah, tell me what I got right and what I got wrong.’ The Prophet ﷺ said: ‘Do not swear, O Abu Bakr.”* (Using translation from Ibn Mājah 3918)   

أَتَى رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ رَجُلٌ مُنْصَرَفَهُ مِنْ أَحِدٍ فَقَالَ إِنِّي رَأَيْتُ فِي الْمَنَامِ كَأَنَّ ظُلَّةً تَنْطُفُ سَمْنًا وَعَسَلًا فَرَأَيْتُ النَّاسَ يَتَكَفَّفُونَ مِنْهُ فَالْمُسْتَقِلُّ وَالْمُسْتَكْثِرُ وَرَأَيْتُ سَبَبًا وَاصِلًا إِلَى السَّمَاءِ أَخَذْتَ بِهِ فَعَلَوْتَ ثُمَّ أَخَذَ بِهِ بَعْدَكَ آخَرُ فَعَلَا ثُمَّ أَخَذَ بِهِ بَعْدَهُ آخَرُ فَعَلَا ثُمَّ أَخَذَ بِهِ بَعْدَهُ آخَرُ فَانْقَطَعَ ثُمَّ وُصِلَ لَهُ فَعَلَا قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ دَعْنِي أَعْبُرْهَا يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ قَالَ «أَعْبُرْهَا» قَالَ أَمَّا الظُّلَّةُ فَهِيَ الْإِسْلَامُ وَأَمَّا مَا يَنْطُفُ مِنَ السَّمْنِ وَالْعَسَلِ فَهُوَ الْقُرْآنُ حَلَاوَتُهُ وَلِينُهُ فَالْمُسْتَقِلُّ وَالْمُسْتَكْثِرُ وَأَمَّا السَّبَبُ الْوَاصِلُ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ فَهُوَ الَّذِي أَنْتَ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الْحَقُّ أَخَذْتَ بِهِ فَعَلَوْتَ ثُمَّ أَخَذَ بِهِ بَعْدَكَ آخَرُ فَعَلَا ثُمَّ أَخَذَ بِهِ بَعْدَهُ آخَرُ فَعَلَا ثُمَّ أَخَذَ بِهِ آخَرُ فَانْقَطَعَ فَوُصِلَ لَهُ فَعَلَا هَلْ أَصَبْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَمْ أَخْطَأْتُ؟ فَقَالَ «أَصَبْتَ بَعْضًا وَأَخْطَأْتَ بَعْضًا» قَالَ أَقْسَمْتُ؟ قَالَ «لَا تُقْسِمْ» [112] 7594 أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ عُتْبَةَ كَانَ أَحْيَانًا يَقُولُ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ وَأَحْيَانًا يَقُولُ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّ رَجُلًا أَتَى رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ وَسَاقَ الْحَدِيثَ  

Messenger of Allah, I saw while I was sleeping during the night (this vision) that there was a canopy from which butter and honey were trickling and I also saw people collecting them in the palms of their hands, some more, some less, and I also saw a rope connecting the earth with the sky and I saw you catching hold of it and rising towards the heaven; then another person after you catching hold of it and rising towards (Heaven); then another person catching hold of it, but it was broken while it was rejoined for him and he also climbed up. Abu Bakr said: Messenger of Allah, may my father be sacrificed for you, by Allah, allow me to interpret it. Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Well, give its interpretation. Thereupon Abu Bakr said: The canopy signifies the canopy of Islam and that what trickles out of it in the form of butter and honey is the Holy Qur'an and its sweetness and softness and what the people get hold of it in their palms implies major portion of the Qur'an or the small portion; and so far as the rope joining the sky with the earth is concerned, it is the Truth by which you stood (in the worldly life) and by which Allah would raise you (to Heaven). Then the person after you would take hold of it and he would also climb up with the help of it. Then another person would take hold of it and climb up with the help of it. Then another person would take hold of it and it would be broken; then it would be rejoined for him and he would climb up with the help of it. Messenger of Allah, may my father be taken as a ransom for you, tell me whether I have interpreted it correctly or I have made an error. Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: You have interpreted a part of it correctly and you have erred in interpreting a part of it. Thereupon he said: Messenger of Allah, by Allah, tell me that part where I have committed an error. Thereupon he said: Don't take an oath. (Using translation from Muslim 2269a)   

رَجُلًا أَتَى رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ إِنِّي رَأَيْتُ اللَّيْلَةَ ظُلَّةً يَنْطِفُ مِنْهَا السَّمْنُ وَالْعَسَلُ فَأَرَى النَّاسَ يَتَكَفَّفُونَ فِي أَيْدِيهِمْ فَالْمُسْتَكْثِرُ وَالْمُسْتَقِلُّ وَأَرَى سَبَبًا وَاصِلًا مِنَ السَّمَاءِ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ فَأَرَاكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَخَذْتَ بِهِ فَعَلَوْتَ ثُمَّ أَخَذَ بِهِ رَجُلٌ آخَرُ فَعَلَا ثُمَّ أَخَذَ بِهِ رَجُلٌ آخَرُ فَعَلَا ثُمَّ أَخَذَ بِهِ رَجُلٌ آخَرُ فَانْقَطَعَ بِهِ ثُمَّ وُصِلَ لَهُ فَعَلَا قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ ؓ أَيْ رَسُولَ اللهِ بِأَبِي أَنْتَ وَأُمِّي وَاللهِ لَتَدَعَنِّي فَلَأَعْبُرُهَا فَقَالَ اعْبُرْهَا فَقَالَ أَمَّا الظُّلَّةُ فَظُلَّةُ الْإِسْلَامِ وَأَمَّا التَّنَطُّفُ مِنَ السَّمْنِ وَالْعَسَلِ فَهُوَ الْقُرْآنُ وَلِينُهُ وَحَلَاوَتُهُ الْمُسْتَكْثِرُ وَالْمُسْتَقِلُّ فَهُوَ الْمُسْتَكْثِرُ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ وَالْمُسْتَقِلُّ مِنْهُ أَمَّا السَّبَبُ الْوَاصِلُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ فَهُوَ الْحَقُّ الَّذِي أَنْتَ عَلَيْهِ تَأْخُذُ بِهِ فَيُعْلِيكَ اللهُ ثُمَّ يَأْخُذُ بِهِ بَعْدَكَ رَجُلٌ آخَرُ فَيَعْلُو بِهِ ثُمَّ يَأْخُذُ به آخَرُ بَعْدَهُ فَيَعْلُو بِهِ ثُمَّ يَأْخُذُ بِهِ رَجُلٌ آخَرُ فَيُقْطَعُ بِهِ ثُمَّ يُوصَلُ فَيَعْلُو بِهِ أَيْ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ لَتُحَدِّثَنِّي أَصَبْتُ أَمْ أَخْطَأْتُ؟ قَالَ أَصَبْتَ بَعْضًا وَأَخْطَأْتَ بَعْضًا قَالَ أَقْسَمْتُ بِأَبِي أَنْتَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ لَتُحَدِّثَنِّي بِالَّذِي أَخْطَأْتُ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ لَا تُقْسِمْ  

Messenger of Allah, I saw while I was sleeping during the night (this vision) that there was a canopy from which butter and honey were trickling and I also saw people collecting them in the palms of their hands, some more, some less, and I also saw a rope connecting the earth with the sky and I saw you catching hold of it and rising towards the heaven; then another person after you catching hold of it and rising towards (Heaven); then another person catching hold of it, but it was broken while it was rejoined for him and he also climbed up. Abu Bakr said: Messenger of Allah, may my father be sacrificed for you, by Allah, allow me to interpret it. Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Well, give its interpretation. Thereupon Abu Bakr said: The canopy signifies the canopy of Islam and that what trickles out of it in the form of butter and honey is the Holy Qur'an and its sweetness and softness and what the people get hold of it in their palms implies major portion of the Qur'an or the small portion; and so far as the rope joining the sky with the earth is concerned, it is the Truth by which you stood (in the worldly life) and by which Allah would raise you (to Heaven). Then the person after you would take hold of it and he would also climb up with the help of it. Then another person would take hold of it and climb up with the help of it. Then another person would take hold of it and it would be broken; then it would be rejoined for him and he would climb up with the help of it. Messenger of Allah, may my father be taken as a ransom for you, tell me whether I have interpreted it correctly or I have made an error. Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: You have interpreted a part of it correctly and you have erred in interpreting a part of it. Thereupon he said: Messenger of Allah, by Allah, tell me that part where I have committed an error. Thereupon he said: Don't take an oath. (Using translation from Muslim 2269a)   

اللهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنِّي أَرَى اللَّيْلَةَ فِي الْمَنَامِ ظُلَّةً تَنْطِفُ السَّمْنَ وَالْعَسَلَ فَأَرَى النَّاسَ يَتَكَفَّفُونَ مِنْهَا بِأَيْدِيهِمْ فَالْمُسْتَكْثِرُ وَالْمُسْتَقِلُّ وَأَرَى سَبَبًا وَاصِلًا مِنَ السَّمَاءِ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ فَأَرَاكَ أَخَذْتَ بِهِ فَعَلَوْتَ ثُمَّ أَخَذَ بِهِ رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَعْدِكَ فَعَلَا ثُمَّ أَخَذَ بِهِ رَجُلٌ آخَرُ فَعَلَا ثُمَّ أَخَذَ بِهِ رَجُلٌ آخَرُ فَانْقَطَعَ بِهِ ثُمَّ وُصِلَ لَهُ فَعَلَا قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ ؓ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ بِأَبِي أَنْتَ وَأُمِّي لَتَدَعَنِّي فَلَأَعْبُرَنَّهُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ اعْبُرْ قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ أَمَّا الظُّلَّةُ فَظُلَّةُ الْإِسْلَامِ وَأَمَّا الَّذِي يَنْطِفُ مِنَ السَّمْنِ وَالْعَسَلِ فَالْقُرْآنُ حَلَاوَتُهُ وَلِينُهُ وَأَمَّا مَا يَتَكَفَّفُ النَّاسُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ فَالْمُسْتَكْثِرُ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ وَالْمُسْتَقِلُّ وَأَمَّا السَّبَبُ الْوَاصِلُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ فَالْحَقُ الَّذِي أَنْتَ عَلَيْهِ تَأْخُذُ بِهِ فَيُعْلِيكَ اللهُ ثُمَّ يَأْخُذُ بِهِ رَجُلٌ بَعْدَكَ فَيَعْلُو بِهِ ثُمَّ يَأْخُذُ بِهِ رَجُلٌ آخَرُ فَيَعْلُو بِهِ ثُمَّ يَأْخُذُ بِهِ رَجُلُ آخَرُ فَيَعْلُو بِهِ فَيَنْقَطِعُ بِهِ ثُمَّ يُوصَلُ لَهُ فَيَعْلُو بِهِ فَأَخْبِرْنِي يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ بِأَبِي أَنْتَ وَأُمِّي أَصَبْتُ أَوْ أَخْطَأْتُ؟ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ أَصَبْتَ بَعْضًا وَأَخْطَأْتَ بَعْضًا قَالَ فَوَاللهِ لَتُخْبِرَنِّي بِالَّذِي أَخْطَأْتُ قَالَ لَا تُقْسِمْ لَفْظُ حَدِيثِ ابْنِ وَهْبٍ وَفِي حَدِيثِ اللَّيْثِ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنِّي رَأَيْتُ اللَّيْلَةَ فِي الْمَنَامِ وَقَالَ وَإِذَا سَبَبٌ وَاصِلٌ مِنَ الْأَرْضِ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ وَأَرَاكَ أَخَذْتَ بِهِ فَعَلَوْتَ وَالْبَاقِي مِثْلُ حَدِيثِ ابْنِ وَهْبٍ