English Translation

Ishaq ibn Yusuf narrated to us, Ibn 'Awn narrated to us from Muhammad from Qays ibn 'Abbad who said: I was in the mosque when a man came in whose face bore signs of humility. He entered and prayed two rak'ahs, making them brief. The people said, "This is a man of the people of Paradise." When he left, I followed him until he entered his house, and I entered with him and spoke with him. When he felt at ease, I said to him, "When you entered the mosque earlier, the people said such-and-such." He said, "Glory be to God! It is not fitting for anyone to say what he does not know. I will tell you why: I saw a dream in the time of the Messenger of God, peace and blessings be upon him, and I related it to him. I saw as if I were in a green meadow." Ibn 'Awn said: he mentioned its greenness and its vastness. In the middle of it was an iron pillar, its base in the earth and its top in the sky, and at its top was a loop/handhold. It was said to me, "Climb it." I said, "I cannot." Then an attendant came to me -- Ibn 'Awn said: that is, a young servant -- and lifted my garment from behind me and said, "Climb it." So I climbed until I took hold of the loop, and he said, "Hold fast to the loop." Then I woke up, and it was still in my hand. He said: So I went to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and related it to him, and he said, "As for the meadow, it is the meadow of Islam; as for the pillar, it is the pillar of Islam; and as for the loop, it is the firmest handhold -- you will remain upon Islam until you die." He said: And he was 'Abdullah ibn Salam.