Prophet Muhammad ﷺ Encounter: A 2024 Moment of Blessing and Hope

A Life-Changing Winter Evening and the Longing for Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

There’s a moment in my life—and a memory from it—that I’ll never forget. It’s the year 2024. I’m in a phase where I’m trying to improve both my life and my connection with my faith. It’s not easy. Balancing this world and the hereafter feels tough… but I know it’s not impossible.

So I’ve started working on myself. I’m trying to make the most of the life Allah has given me. I want to turn it into something better—something meaningful—for both this world and the next.

Yes, I’m a little weak right now. I struggle with discipline. I lack consistency. Sometimes I even miss my prayers, and I make many mistakes too. But I’m trying. I’m on a journey. And I believe that with effort and Allah’s mercy, I can get there.

It was one of those winter evenings in 2024—cold, quiet, and unforgettable. A moment that became a special part of my life. A memory I’ll never be able to erase. It was an evening that someone very special turned into something meaningful for me.

Here’s what happened.

That day, I had fallen into some negative thoughts—whispers of the devil, a bit of hopelessness, and honestly, my own laziness. Because of all that, I ended up missing all three prayers: Asr, Maghrib, and Isha. The evening passed, and now it was late at night—probably somewhere between 9 and 10 PM.

I was lying in bed, under my warm blanket, lost in some strange thoughts (thoughts I’ll talk about another time). My wife was busy with her work, stitching clothes. My mother and younger brother were in their room.

It was one of those typical winter nights—dark, silent, everyone wrapped up in their own world, tucked into their own blankets. We were all in our own little spaces, living through that quiet night… but for me, something was different.

As I lay under my blanket, a storm of thoughts started hitting me.

The Guilt of Missed Prayers and the Thought of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

I kept thinking—“Today, I missed all three prayers: Asr, Maghrib, and Isha. How unlucky… how unfortunate I am. What kind of person have I become?”

There was this deep sense of guilt, of regret. I was feeling truly ashamed of my actions.

“I say I want success,” I thought, “but I’m not even willing to put in the effort. I dream of Jannah, but I don’t even know where the key is. How will I ever get there if I keep living like this?”

I couldn’t stop the thoughts.

“Why don’t I pray? Why am I like this? What’s wrong with me?”

I was frustrated, disappointed, lost in self-blame. A mix of sadness, confusion, and a little bit of anger at myself. I was down, really down.

Reflecting on the Sacrifices of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and the State of My Faith

And as I kept thinking, another thought entered my mind…
I started thinking about my beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ—may my life be sacrificed for him. I’m not even worthy of being the dust beneath his feet.

He gave up so much for us. He made endless sacrifices, faced countless hardships, and prayed for us.
He was pelted with stones, rejected, hurt—yet he still raised his hands and cried to Allah, begging for mercy for us. He made dua after dua, with a heart full of love, like someone who deeply, selflessly loves you more than you could ever imagine.

And then I asked myself—What have we done in return?

We’re so caught up in our own lives… busy with our own routines, our own world.
While that beautiful soul stood before Allah, pleading on our behalf…
We couldn’t even offer our prayers. We couldn’t even try to follow him.
What a shame. What a deep, painful regret.

Ya Allah… what have I done?

The Painful Regret and the Hope to Face Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

Then another thought struck me…

“The true oppressor is the one who wrongs himself.”
What face will I show to the Prophet ﷺ on the Day of Judgment?
Will he even look at me?
Will I even be worthy of being near Al-Kawthar, that blessed fountain?
Will his eyes search for me in that massive gathering—or will he turn away?

“What have I done for the Deen?”
Not even a single prayer today. The least I could’ve done… and I didn’t.
And I claim to love him?

He and his blessed family—the Ahlul Bayt, the noble companions—they all went through unimaginable pain. They faced trials so that people like me, like us, could pray in peace, could live our faith freely. So that we could have this Deen.

And here I am… with peace, with comfort… and still, I forget their sacrifices.

I couldn’t even do the bare minimum. I couldn’t offer my prayers on time.

What will I say to him?
How will I face him on that day when the earth will be filled with all of Allah’s creation?
Will the Messenger of Allah Prophet Muhammad ﷺ even know me?
Will he even recognize me among the sea of faces?

Tears welled up in my eyes.
My heart was heavy.
I kept thinking, “Am I really among his Ummah? Or just someone who says it but doesn’t act on it?”

And just like that… somewhere between all those thoughts and tears… I drifted off to sleep.

Not for long. Just for a few seconds. Maybe 10… maybe 15. I don’t even know exactly.

It was like I had blacked out—like someone who suddenly loses consciousness, and then just as suddenly, wakes up again.

But those 10 to 15 seconds… became the most unforgettable moment of my life.

Even today, I remember that scene as clearly as if it just happened a second ago.
It’s carved into my memory—etched onto my heart.

What happened during that short moment? What did I see? What did I feel?

Before I tell you, I want you to pause for a second.
Clear your mind.
Forget everything else going on around you.
Give these next few lines your full attention—because I want you to feel what I’m about to share.

While I was lost in that storm of thoughts, heavy with guilt and sorrow… I drifted off.

Standing in the Garden and Witnessing Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

And in that sleep—a sleep that felt more like a brief escape—I found myself standing in front of a huge, towering gate. A gate like no other. It was massive… and behind it was a breathtaking garden. So beautiful, so peaceful—it almost didn’t feel real.

Even in the dream, my mind was still trying to make sense of what was happening.
I had this feeling deep inside that I had just come from something terrifying.
It felt like I had come from the plains of Judgment… or maybe from a place of fire and fear.
At first, it seemed like I was coming from fire. Then, more clearly—it felt like I had just walked out of the Day of Resurrection… like I had entered this gate after standing in the field of reckoning.

You know how dreams are—sometimes a bit mixed, unclear. Some parts fade, some stay crystal clear.
But one thing was certain: I was entering that gate from a place of hardship, fear, and intensity.

And that gate… that garden… it felt like hope. Mercy. A reward. A place I didn’t expect to be… but somehow ended up in.

So as I stepped through that majestic gate and entered the garden, I saw something truly beautiful—beyond words.

Tall, lush trees stood proudly, their leaves dancing gently in the breeze. The grass beneath my feet was soft and a light, peaceful shade of green. All around me were small, dark green trees, and the sound of birds filled the air…
It was like the perfect vision of Paradise—the kind your heart imagines when you think of peace, comfort, and beauty.

As I walked deeper into the garden, I saw a group of people sitting together on the ground. I was watching them from behind, from a little distance. They were wearing loose, light khaki-colored clothing. Their hair flowed down to their shoulders, long and graceful.

They sat in silence or perhaps deep focus, and right in front of them—just slightly elevated on a small rise—was a man speaking to them. Teaching them. Guiding them.

And as I moved closer… my heart knew exactly who he was.
It was him.
My beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

May my life be sacrificed for him.

I walked closer. He was sitting, and I stood in his presence… overwhelmed, trembling.

And then… he looked up.
He raised his blessed head… and he looked right at me.

Ya Allah… even as I write this, I can feel the chills running through me again. My hair stands on end.
Just imagine… imagine what it felt like to see him, to be seen by him.

The Blessed Gaze of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ: A Moment Etched in My Soul

That one moment… a glance from the Mercy to the worlds ﷺ…
It shook me to my soul.

When he looked at me… I had no words.
Nothing to say.
I just stood there, speechless.

I looked straight into his eyes… the eyes of the one I love more than anyone in this world.
I didn’t say a word… and he didn’t either.

But that moment—that gaze—was everything.
And then, just like that… the dream ended. I woke up.

But that brief glimpse… that blessed face…
I can never forget it. I will never forget it.

He was wearing a white turban—simple, made from a clean cloth, gently wrapped around his noble head.

His mustache was short, and his beard wasn’t too long or too short—it curved slightly toward the back. Most of the hair in his beard and mustache was white, with some black strands here and there.

There were lines on his forehead—like the kind you see when someone is deep in thought. His eyes… beautifully shaped. The color of his skin was not too pale, but a graceful blend of white and a light yellowish tone.

The hair in his beard was mostly white, while the mustache was mixed.
And that face… that blessed, noble face… is forever engraved in my memory.

But the thing that pierced my heart the most—the one thing I carry deep within me—was that moment when his eyes met mine.

That eye contact… just for a second…
Was the most unforgettable moment of my life.

Waking Up with Tears and the Overwhelming Love for Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

As soon as I woke up…
I couldn’t hold back my tears.
I started crying—out of pure joy, pure love.

I immediately told my wife, who was still busy sewing. I was so emotional, I could barely speak. I felt frozen—like I was still half in the dream, half awake.

Then I ran to my mother’s room, woke her up, and told her everything.

I couldn’t handle the joy. It was too much. My heart felt light. It felt peaceful. It felt full.
It honestly felt like I had really met Prophet Muhammad ﷺ… like I had just returned from seeing my Prophet.

But even as my eyes had just opened… regret slowly crept in again.
A longing began—When will I get to see him again?
Why was the dream so short?

Yes, it was brief.
But what a gift it was…
My Prophet Muhammad ﷺ saw me.
And I saw him.

He raised his blessed head… and looked right at me.

That one glance is now the most treasured memory of my life.

Regret and the Desire to Greet Prophet Muhammad ﷺ Properly

Then, regret set in.
I realized I hadn’t even greeted him with salaam.

As I saw the tears in my wife’s eyes, I couldn’t hold mine back either. I couldn’t put into words what that moment had been for me.

I felt a deep sense of shame—how could I have stood before him and not even spoken to him? Not offered him a greeting?
What kind of Ummah am I?

I wished, with all my heart, that I had spoken to him. That I had offered him my salaam.
How could I not have done that?

Suddenly, I had this overwhelming desire to die, to somehow be in a place where I could meet him again.
Or just to be able to look at him forever…
To never be far from him again.

There was such peace in that moment, such tranquility.
Whenever I think back on that vision, a calmness fills my heart.
My heart becomes happy, and the tears still come.

It became clear to me…
That my Prophet Muhammad ﷺ had looked at me.
I found myself thinking, What if He never looks at me again?

What if He never notices me?
Would I ever have the privilege of His gaze again?

But that very night, His gaze fell upon me.
He looked in my direction.

I am so grateful to Allah for blessing me with such a moment, for allowing me to experience this.
I pray that Allah grants us all the opportunity to visit His Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and to live our lives in accordance with his teachings.
May Allah grant us the strength to follow His blessed path, and may we walk with His light, always in His righteous footsteps.

A Sign of Hope: A Promise to Meet Prophet Muhammad ﷺ Again

Even after that, Allah did not let me feel hopeless.
As I mentioned earlier, I prayed that I would meet Prophet Muhammad ﷺ again.
A few days later, a man appeared in my dream. He looked to be between 55 and 65 years old, wearing a high cap like those worn by scholars, with a long beard.

He placed both hands on my shoulders and said, “They are saying that soon you will meet again.”

And with that, I woke up.
Ever since that moment, I’ve been waiting with patience and hope.

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ Encounter: A Prayer for Guidance and Blessings

I truly believe that this elderly figure is a good omen, and that my second meeting with my beloved Prophet ﷺ will come to pass, inshaAllah.
May Allah guide us all, and may He make us a source of goodness and blessing for others.
Ameen.

I also pray that Allah increases everyone’s provisions, especially those struggling with career confusion or who haven’t yet found a way to earn.
May Allah help them, and may we all find success and clarity in our paths.

To gain deeper insights into leadership through the lens of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, explore these 11 Eye-Opening Realities About Leadership from Surah Taha, and complement your understanding by studying the detailed Seerah of the Prophet ﷺ for historical and spiritual context.