Author: Dr. Muhammad Zia-ur-Rahman A‘zami (رحمه الله)
Chapter: Meeting of the Souls of Believers
«باب التقاء أرواح المؤمنين»
✿ ʿAbdullah ibn ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ (رضي الله عنه) narrated from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), who said:
“Indeed, the souls of the believers meet at a distance of a day’s travel, even though they may have never seen one another before.”
[Ḥasan: Ibn Wahb in al-Jāmiʿ, p. 27; Aḥmad 6636; al-Bukhārī in al-Adab al-Mufrad 261]
✿ Khuzaimah ibn Thābit (رضي الله عنه) said:
“I saw in a dream that I was placing my forehead upon the forehead of the Prophet (ﷺ). I informed the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) of this, and he said: ‘Indeed, the soul meets the soul.’ Then the Prophet (ﷺ) lowered his head in such a way that I placed my forehead upon his.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ: Aḥmad 21864; Ibn Abī Shaybah 11/78; al-Ṭabarānī in al-Kabīr 4/97]
✔ The souls of believers are interconnected, even if their bodies have never met in this world.
✔ Spiritual bonds surpass physical acquaintance — indicating the purity of the soul and faith-based connection.
✔ Dreams may serve as a spiritual medium for the meeting of souls, a reality confirmed by the Prophet ﷺ.
✔ This narration supports the view of continued spiritual interaction beyond physical life among the righteous.
Chapter: Meeting of the Souls of Believers
«باب التقاء أرواح المؤمنين»
❖ The Souls of Believers Meet and Recognize One Another
✿ ʿAbdullah ibn ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ (رضي الله عنه) narrated from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), who said:
“Indeed, the souls of the believers meet at a distance of a day’s travel, even though they may have never seen one another before.”
[Ḥasan: Ibn Wahb in al-Jāmiʿ, p. 27; Aḥmad 6636; al-Bukhārī in al-Adab al-Mufrad 261]
❖ A Soul’s Encounter in a Dream: A Glimpse of Reality
✿ Khuzaimah ibn Thābit (رضي الله عنه) said:
“I saw in a dream that I was placing my forehead upon the forehead of the Prophet (ﷺ). I informed the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) of this, and he said: ‘Indeed, the soul meets the soul.’ Then the Prophet (ﷺ) lowered his head in such a way that I placed my forehead upon his.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ: Aḥmad 21864; Ibn Abī Shaybah 11/78; al-Ṭabarānī in al-Kabīr 4/97]
✿ Key Reflections:
✔ The souls of believers are interconnected, even if their bodies have never met in this world.
✔ Spiritual bonds surpass physical acquaintance — indicating the purity of the soul and faith-based connection.
✔ Dreams may serve as a spiritual medium for the meeting of souls, a reality confirmed by the Prophet ﷺ.
✔ This narration supports the view of continued spiritual interaction beyond physical life among the righteous.
