Is it possible to see the Prophet in his true form in a dream?

Many of our scholars say that it is possible to see the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) in a dream, and that seeing him in a dream is a reality; because the devils are unable to take on the personality of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). Is such a belief shirk (associating partners with Allah) or not?

Answer: This statement is true and is part of the belief of the Muslims, and there is no shirk (associating partners with Allah) in it, because it is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: It is agreed upon that it is authentic. This authentic hadith indicates that he (peace and blessings be upon him) can be seen in sleep, and that whoever sees him in sleep in his known form has truly seen him, for the devil does not take on his form. However, this does not imply that the dreamer is among the righteous, nor is it permissible to rely on it in anything that contradicts what is known from the Shari'ah (Islamic sacred law). Rather, it is obligatory to present what the dreamer heard from the Prophet, such as commands, prohibitions, news, or other matters that the dreamer hears or sees from the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), to the Book and the authentic Sunnah. Whatever agrees with them or one of them is accepted, and whatever contradicts them or one of them is rejected; because Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) has perfected the religion for this Ummah (the Muslim community) and completed the favor upon them before the death of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Therefore, it is not permissible to accept from any person what contradicts what is known from the Shari'ah (Islamic sacred law) and religion of Allah, whether that is through the path of a dream or otherwise. This is a point of consensus among the scholars who are considered reliable. As for one who sees him (peace and blessings be upon him) in a form other than his true form, then his dream is a false one, such as seeing him as a young boy without a beard, or seeing him as black in color, or similar attributes that contradict his description (peace and blessings be upon him). Because he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "For the devil does not take on my form." This indicates that the devil may take on a form other than his (peace and blessings be upon him) and claim to be the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) in order to mislead people and confuse them.
Furthermore, not everyone who claims to have seen him (peace and blessings be upon him) is truthful. Rather, such a claim is only accepted from those who are trustworthy and known for their truthfulness and uprightness upon the Shari'ah (Islamic sacred law) of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). Many people saw him (peace and blessings be upon him) during his lifetime, yet they did not attain safety and did not benefit from seeing him, such as Abu Jahl, Abu Lahab, Abdullah ibn Ubayy ibn Salul, the head of the hypocrites, and others. Therefore, seeing him (peace and blessings be upon him) in sleep is even more so the case.