The Incredible Story of “The Lamp”

My father once narrated [a story to me] about an old man who had a
dream. In this dream, he met Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah in one of
the markets of 'Unayzah; It was one of the markets which leads to the
assembly (a gathering place) – a well known placein 'Unayzah.
During this meeting, Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah handed a lamp to
this old man.
When the old man [later] enquired about the [meaning of his] dream, he
was told that he will have a child who would [grow up to] be pious
(saalih) andhe would have [an elevated] stature in [islaamic]
knowledge.
So, a child was born to this old man, and he was set upon naming him
Saalih, inthe hope that his dream would be true and specific to this
child.
So, Saalih was religious anddevout, and loved the people, [just] as
they loved him [too]. He would recite the Qur.aan and stand the night
in prayer, however, he was not a student of knowledge.
Saalih then got married and had a son, whom he named Muhammad; He was
Muhammad ibn Saalih al-'Uthaymeen. ♥
And in reality – and we consider him as such – he was the lamp which
Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah had given the old man [in the dream].
And [as for] this old man, [well, he] was the grandfather of Shaykh
Ibn 'Uthaymeen – may Allaah have mercy upon him.
~Narrated by: The Shaykh'sson, 'Abdullaah ibn Muhammad ibn Saalih al-'Uthaymeen