The vision of the prophets is true, so what is the answer to the statement of Allah the Exalted: {When Allah showed them to you in your sleep as few, and if He had shown them to you as many, you would have faltered and disputed over the matter}?
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The questioner : As is known, O honorable Shaykh, the vision of the prophets is true, so what is the answer to the statement of Allah the Exalted: [Al-Anfal 8:43]
The Shaykh : Yes, it is said that the vision of the prophets is true, without doubt. And Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, showed His Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) his enemy as few for the sake of a great benefit. So it is a parable that Allah, Mighty and Majestic, struck for him, and it is not a vision in reality, but rather a parable struck for him by Allah, Mighty and Majestic, so that there would be no humiliation or cowardice in advancing in jihad.
And for this reason He said:[Al-Anfal 8:43] So it was wisdom that Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, showed them to him as a parable He struck, and for the sake of encouraging him in jihad.
The questioner : I mean, O Shaykh, is it not true?
The Shaykh : No, it is true, but from Allah, Mighty and Majestic. The Messenger saw it truly, but he did not see these people; he was shown a parable of them.
when Allah showed them to you in your dream as few; and if He had shown them to you as many, you [believers] would have lost courage and would have disputed in the matter
إذ يريكهم الله في منامك قليلا ولو أراكهم كثيرا لفشلتهم ولتنازعتم في الأمرThe Shaykh : Yes, it is said that the vision of the prophets is true, without doubt. And Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, showed His Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) his enemy as few for the sake of a great benefit. So it is a parable that Allah, Mighty and Majestic, struck for him, and it is not a vision in reality, but rather a parable struck for him by Allah, Mighty and Majestic, so that there would be no humiliation or cowardice in advancing in jihad.
And for this reason He said:
if He had shown them to you as many, you [believers] would have lost courage and would have disputed in the matter
ولو أراكهم كثيرا لفشلتم ولتنازعتم في الأمرThe questioner : I mean, O Shaykh, is it not true?
The Shaykh : No, it is true, but from Allah, Mighty and Majestic. The Messenger saw it truly, but he did not see these people; he was shown a parable of them.