Seeing one’s father come back alive after dying

Question

Question: Zayd saw in a dream that his father ‘Umar had passed away. Out of extreme grief and sorrow Zayd became as if unconscious: he takes part neither in his father’s washing (ghusl) nor in the shrouding and burial. Then, on the second or third day, Zayd’s father ‘Umar comes back home alive. Zayd asks him, “How did you come back?” He says, “I have come having taken leave for a few days.

Answer

The purpose of this kind of dream is that a person should not be heedless of death and the grave, but should remain occupied with concern and preparation, and should also keep doing isal al-thawab (conveying the reward of good deeds) for those who have already gone.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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