Dreams - Part of Prophethood

Dreams are a part of prophethood

Allah ﷻ would also reveal knowledge of al-ghayb (unseen) to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ through various channels including dreams and at times the recipient would be a companion rather than the Prophet himself as clearly explained for us in the Quran and hadith. In fact the Quran also confirms the source of this prophetic knowledge when it mentions Prophet Yusuf (alaihi salaam) receiving the news of his great future through the medium of dream: “when Joseph said to his father, ‘O my father, indeed I have seen [in a dream] eleven stars and the sun and the moon; I saw them prostrating to me.’”[1] This dream was fulfilled many years after he became a leader in Egypt and all his family bowed to pay respect to him.
 
The Prophet ﷺ taught Muslims very important lessons pertaining to dreams when he said: “Nothing would remain of prophethood after me except al-Mubashshiraat. The companions asked: Messenger of Allah, what do you mean by al-Mubashshiraat? He replied: Good dreams seen by a good man and those seen for him by another man. This is one part of the forty-six parts comprising prophethood.”[2] He also said: “A good dream of a righteous person (which comes true) is one of forty-six parts of prophethood.”[3] The Prophet hood continued on earth as long as Allah willed and then the Prophet hood was completed with the arrival of the final Messenger i.e. Muhammad ﷺ. However Allah ﷻ has left the door open for believers till the day of judgment to receive knowledge of al-ghayb (unseen) through medium of good dreams i.e. al-mubashiraat. Therefore, during his prophetic mission, the Prophet himself used to allow the believers with him to share any knowledge that they may have received through this source. Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) reported when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ finished his morning prayer he used to ask whether anyone had seen a dream, and used to say, “After me there would be nothing left of prophethood except good dreams.”[4]

However while inquiring about the knowledge of their dreams he also made it clear for them as to what is a sound dream and what is a dream that may be unsound. The Prophet ﷺ said “dreams are of three types: one, ‘good’ dreams which are a sort of good tidings (bushra) from Allah; the evil dream which causes pain is from Satan; and the third one is a suggestion of one’s own mind. So if any one of you sees a dream which he dislikes he should stand up and offer prayer and should not narrate it to the people.”[5] Thus he made it clear to the believers the three types of dreams so they understand what they see as a spiritual vision from Allah ﷻ  and seek refuge in Him from anything bad that may occur during their dream. In authentic collection of Sunan Ibn Majah that Ubadah ibn Samit (r.a) asked the Prophet ﷺ about the verse: “For them are glad tidings (bushra), in the life of the present world, and in the Hereafter.”[6] The Prophet ﷺ replied “those are good dreams that a Muslim sees or are seen about him.’”[7]

Therefore in Islamic traditions and its teachings Muslims are supposed to have faith that good and true dreams called bushra or al-mubashiraat are received by the believers not only for themselves but for other believers as well. They are part of prophet hood even after the revelation process is complete with the arrival of Quran. Allah ﷻ will leave this one part available till the end of the world to communicate news of al-ghayb (unseen) to believers if and when He seems fit. Please note that this knowledge that will continue to descend on the believers will not be pertaining to religion because the religion has been completed with the completion of Quran. The prophetic teachings clarify that they will be pertaining to individual matters of believers or worldly matters. 

References:
[1] Al Quran 12:04
[2] Recorded in Muwatta of Imam Malik - DREAMS IN ISLAM - A WINDOW TO TRUTH
AND TO THE HEART  by Imran N. Hosein.
[3] Sahih al-Bukhari 6983 – Sunnah.com
[4] Recorded in Muwatta of Imam Malik - DREAMS IN ISLAM - A WINDOW TO TRUTH
AND TO THE HEART  by Imran N. Hosein
[5] Sahih Muslim 2263 a – Sunnah.com
[6] Al Quran 10:64
[7] Sunan Ibn Majah 3898 – Sunnah.com