✿ The Chain of Transmission Status of the Story of Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream ✿

Source: Monthly Al-Hadith, Hazro

❖ The Story of Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream​

The story narrates that the reason for the Children of Israel’s deliverance from the land of Babylon was a dream seen by Nebuchadnezzar. Alarmed by the dream, he summoned his priests and magicians, informing them about his disturbing vision. He demanded an interpretation but claimed to have forgotten the dream itself. When they asked him to narrate the dream, he refused and threatened to kill them if they failed to interpret it within three days.

This news spread and reached Prophet Daniel عليه السلام, who was imprisoned at the time. He spoke to the prison warden, requesting him to mention Daniel to the king, saying he possessed knowledge of dreams. The warden was initially reluctant but acknowledged Daniel’s unique capabilities and eventually conveyed the message to the king.

Daniel was brought before Nebuchadnezzar, and unlike others, he did not prostrate before him. The king questioned him for not showing this respect. Daniel explained that his Lord had granted him the knowledge and that prostrating to anyone else could result in him losing that knowledge, ultimately leading to his execution by the king. He chose to face death rather than perform an act of shirk.

Impressed, Nebuchadnezzar asked about the dream. Daniel accurately described the dream of a large statue composed of various metals and materials and explained its interpretation. The dream symbolized different empires through time, ending with a rock representing the true religion of Allah, which would ultimately prevail through an unlettered Prophet from the Arabs.

❖ Chain of Narration and Authenticity​

This narrative is found in the following sources:

✦ Al-Dalā'il al-Nubuwwah (1/83, Hadith 44)
Narrated by:
Imam Abu Nu'aym said:
Ahmad ibn al-Sindi ibn Bahr → al-Hasan ibn 'Aliyyah al-Qattan → Isma'il ibn 'Isa → Ishaq ibn Bishr Abu Hudhayfah → Sa'id ibn Bashir → Qatadah → Ka'b al-Ahbar

✦ Tarikh Dimashq (5/163, Entry 73)
The story is also mentioned here, but without a chain of narration.

❖ Analysis of the Chain​

This chain of narration is severely weak for the following three reasons:

◈ ➊ Presence of a Liar: Ishaq ibn Bishr

• Imam Ibn Hibban said: “He used to fabricate Hadiths upon trustworthy narrators.”
  (al-Majruhin, T60, 1/146)
• Imam Abu Zur'ah stated: “He used to lie and narrate fabricated Hadiths from Malik and Abu Ma'shar.”
  (al-Jarh wa al-Ta'dil, 2, T744)
• Imam Abu Hatim remarked: “He used to lie.”

◈ ➋ Tadlis of Qatadah
Qatadah was a known mudallis and narrates here with the ambiguous term “عن”. Unless he explicitly states having heard the narration, his report is not accepted.

◈ ➌ Disconnection (Inqita’):
Qatadah never met Ka'b al-Ahbar. Ka'b passed away during the later part of the caliphate of Sayyiduna Uthman رضي الله عنه, making the chain disconnected.

(See: Siyar A'lam al-Nubala', 3/596)

❖ Summary of Research:​

This entire story is fabricated, baseless, and classified as a fabricated (موضوع) narration.