It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that once a man saw a dream. He came to the service of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: I saw in my dream a canopy from which honey and ghee were dripping, and people were coming and taking these things, some taking less, some more, and some in between. Then I felt that there was a rope which reached up to the sky. You (the Prophet) came and held it and ascended upwards until Allah raised you to great heights. Then another man came, he also held that rope and ascended until Allah, the Lord of Honor, raised him to a high place. Then after you both, another man came, he also held that rope and started to ascend, and Allah raised him up as well. After that, another man came, and when he held the rope and started to ascend, the rope broke. After a while, the rope was joined again, and that man also started to ascend through it until Allah raised him up as well.

Upon hearing this dream, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) said: O Messenger of Allah! If you permit, may I interpret this dream? Upon being granted permission, he said: The canopy refers to Islam, the honey and ghee refer to the sweetness of the Qur’an, which some receive less, some more, and some in between. As for the rope, it refers to the path upon which you are, by which Allah raises you to great heights. After you, a person comes who also follows your way and path until Allah raises him up as well. The same happens with the third man, and when the fourth man comes, his path is cut off, but later it is joined again, and Allah raises him up as well. O Messenger of Allah! Have I interpreted correctly? He (the Prophet) said:“You have interpreted some correctly and made a mistake in some.”He (Abu Bakr) said: O Messenger of Allah! I ask you by Allah to inform me (where I made a mistake). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:“Do not swear.”