Seeing the Messenger ﷺ in a dream

Many of our scholars say that it is possible to see the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in a dream, and that seeing him in a dream is a reality; because the devils are unable to take on the form of the Messenger ﷺ. 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; there is no shirk in it. This is because it is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: “Whoever sees me in a dream has truly seen me, for the devil cannot take on my form.” It is agreed upon that this hadith 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 cannot take on his form. However, this does not imply that the one who sees him is among the righteous. It is not permissible to rely on such a vision for anything that contradicts what is known from the Shari'ah (Islamic sacred law). Rather, it is obligatory to present what the seer hears from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)—whether commands, prohibitions, news, or other matters that the seer hears or sees—against the Book and the authentic Sunnah. Whatever agrees with them, or with one of them, is accepted, and whatever contradicts them, or one of them, is rejected. This is because Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) has perfected the religion for this Ummah (the Muslim community) and completed His favor upon them before the death of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Therefore, it is not permissible to accept from anyone what contradicts what is known from the Shari'ah of Allah and His religion, whether that comes through a vision 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, his vision is false. For example, if he sees him as a young boy without a beard, or sees him as black in complexion, or something similar to these characteristics that contradict his (peace and blessings be upon him) actual characteristics. This is because he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “For the devil cannot take on my form.” This indicates that the devil may take on a form other than his (peace and blessings be upon him) form 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. Such a claim is only accepted from those who are trustworthy and known for their truthfulness and uprightness upon the Shari'ah 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.