Fath al-Rabbani

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Qais bin ‘Abad (may Allah be pleased with him), he says: I was present in the mosque when a man came, on whose face the signs of humility and submission were apparent. He entered and performed two short rak‘ahs. People began to say that this is a man of Paradise. When he went out, I also followed him. He entered his house, so I also entered after him and spoke with him. When I became familiar with him and he with me, I said to him: When you entered the mosque, people were saying such things about you. He said: Subhan Allah! No person should say anything which he does not know well. I will tell you the reason for what they said. I once narrated a dream before the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). I saw as if I was in a splendid, lush garden. One of the narrators of the hadith, Ibn ‘Awn, said that ‘Abdullah bin Salam (may Allah be pleased with him) also mentioned the garden’s lushness, splendor, and its vastness, that it was extremely beautiful, splendid, and very vast and spacious. In its midst was an iron pillar, whose lower part was in the earth and upper part reached the sky. At its top was a ring. I was told to climb it. I said: I cannot climb it. Then a servant came, lifted my garment from behind and said: Climb up. So I climbed it until I grasped the ring. He said to me: Hold the ring firmly. At that moment, I woke up, and when I woke up, it was as if it was in my hand. I went and mentioned this dream to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and he said: The garden refers to the garden of Islam, the pillar refers to the pillar of Islam, and the ring refers to the firm ring (i.e., faith). The meaning of this dream is that you will remain steadfast upon Islam until your death. Sayyiduna Qais bin ‘Abad (peace and blessings be upon him) says that the person was Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah bin Salam (may Allah be pleased with him).