islamic dream interpretation
INTRODUCTION TO ISLAMIC DREAM MEANINGS & INTERPRETATIONS OF DREAMS
Muhammad Ibn Siren is credited for the majority of dream interpretations on barkateraza.com (653-729 CE). However, there is no doubt that Ibn Siren did not publish a treatise on dream interpretation. He did, however, compile a collection of Abu Huraira’s (ra) narrations from the Prophet (pbuh) as well as Abu Huraira’s (ra) viewpoints (ra). This document was retained by his brother, Yahyaa Ibn Siren, because Muhammed Ibn Siren did not like to keep books in his later years.
There was mention of the Prophets (pbuh), may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon them all; mention of the companions (male and female), may Allah be pleased with them; and reference of visions. We should be aware that in many of the explanations above, the word’may’ is used; that is, seeing such and such in a dream ‘MAY’ suggest that’such and such’ was seen. As none of us have the fortune of becoming a Prophet, nor do we have the fortune of being in the company of Prophet Joseph, who excelled in dream interpretation, we should proceed with caution in considering the topics raised above.
It should be mentioned that when telling a dream, it should be done without adding or eliminating anything. When someone does this, he ruins and corrupts the dream. Anyone who does this is strictly condemned by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
“Indeed, the worst of lies is that of a person who falsely claims to have dreamed,” remarked Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). (Al-Bukhari, Sahih). Also, whoever claims to have had a dream that he did not have will be ordered to tie two barley grains together, which he will never be able to do; and if somebody eavesdrops on some people’s conversation that they didn’t want him to hear or that they tried to keep away from him, then molten lead will be poured into his ears on the Day of Resurrection; and whosoever makes a picture (of a being with a soul)” (Al-Bukhari, Sahih).
He was also quoted as saying that anyone who invents a fiction attributing it to him, his father, or a friend will not even be able to smell the lovely aroma of Jannah.
“There are three people whom Allah will severely punish on the Day of Qiyaamah: a person who tells a false dream, he will be made to make a knot between two grains of barley, which he will never be able to do.”
A man who paints a picture of an animate item will be forced to give it life, which he will never be able to achieve.
A guy who leads a people in Saalah even though they despise him.”
If a person has a bad or distressing dream, he should spit three times on his left side as soon as he wakes up and then seek Allah’s protection from the accursed devil. Similarly, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and his followers used to do.
ISLAMIC DREAMS COME IN THREE TYPES
According to the Sunnah, dreams are divided into three categories:
Ru’yaa – beautiful visions (dreams)
Hulum – nightmares
Self-created dreams
According to Abu Hurayrah, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said, “There are three kinds of dreams: righteous dreams that bring good news from Allah, sad dreams that come from Shaitan, and wandering of the mind. (Muslim Sahih)
True or False Dreams
True dreams come from Allah Ta’aala, as Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) stated, “True dreams come from Allah, and evil dreams come from Shaitan.” (Al-Bukhari, Sahih).
As Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) stated, “Those among you with the truest dreams will be those who are most sincere in speech” (Sahih Muslim).
Good dreams come from Allah Ta’aala as well. According to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), “If any of you gets a pleasant dream, it is a gift from Allah. He should praise Allah for it and tell others about it.” (According to Al-Bukhari) People performing Halaal (lawful) acts constitute good deeds.
As Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said, “If one sees a good dream, let him expect good and not mention it save to people he likes.” (Muslim) Yaqoob (AS) telling his son, Yusuf (AS), about his dream of eleven stars and the sun and moon prostrating before him (scholars say the eleven stars represented his brothers, and the sun and moon represented his mother and father): “He said, “O my son! Do not tell your brothers about your vision, lest they plan against you. Verily! Satan is man’s open adversary.” 12:5 (Surah Yusuf) We already know Yusuf’s half-brothers were envious of him, so telling them about the dream would most likely exacerbate their enmity.
“Nothing remains of prophethood save pleasant tidings,” Muhammad (S) said. “What are happy tidings?” those with him inquired. “Good dreams,” he (S) said. (According to Al-Bukhari)
Dreams of Doom
As previously established, terrible nightmares are the work of Shaitan. When we see a bad dream, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) tells us what to do. “So, when one of you sees a dream that he does not like, he should spit three times on his left side, seek refuge with Allah from Shaitan three times, and change the side on which he was lying (Sahih Muslim), and in another narration in Muslim, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) told us that if we spit three times and seek refuge from Allah, it (the dream) will not harm them.” (Muslim Sahih)
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) also advised us to “rise up and perform prayer” if we had an unpleasant dream. (Muslim Sahih)
Bad Dreams Should Not Be Revealed
According to Muhammad (S), “if he has a dream that he dislikes, it is from Shaitan.” He should seek shelter with Allah from its evil, and he SHOULD NOT TELL ANYONE ABOUT IT, so that it does not affect him.” (Al-Bukhari, Sahih). If one does tell someone about the horrible dream, there is a potential that some harm will result.
Dreams from Within
These dreams are the result of one’s own ideas and are not the result of Allah or Shaitan.