INTRODUCTION TO ISLAMIC DREAM MEANINGS & DREAMS INTERPRETATIONS
Most dream interpretation on myIslamicDream.com is attributed to Muhammad Ibn
Siren (653-729 CE). However, Ibn Siren, without a
shadow of a doubt, did not write any book on dream
interpretation. He did, however, write a compilation of
Abu Huraira's (ra) narrations from the Prophet (pbuh)
along with the opinions of Abu Huraira (ra). This text
was kept by his brother, Yahyaa Ibn Siren, because
Muhammed Ibn Siren, in his later days, did not like to
keep books.
In the below narrations there was mention of the
Prophets (pbuh), may the peace and blessings of Allah be
upon them all; mentioning of the companions (male and
female), may Allah be pleased with them; and of course
mentioning of dreams. We should be careful to realise
that in many of the explanations above the reference is
to 'may', that is, seeing such a thing in a dream 'MAY'
indicate that 'such and such' was seen. Thus as none of
us have the fortune of being a Prophet, nor do we have
the fortune of being in the company of Prophet Joseph -
who excelled in dream interpretation - we should
consider the matters above with caution.
It should be noted that when relating a dream it should
be done without adding anything to it or subtracting
anything from it. If a person does this he spoils and
corrupts the dream. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) has strongly
prohibited anyone from doing this.
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said, "Indeed the worst of lies is
that of a person who falsely claims to have dream." (Sahih
Al-Bukhari). Also 'Whoever claims to have dream which he
did not have, will be ordered to tie two barley grains
together, which he will never be able to do; and if
somebody eavesdrop on some people's conversation which
they didn't want him to hear or 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) will be punished on the
Day of Resurrection and (will) be ordered to put a soul
in it, which he will not be able to do." (Sahih Al-Bukhari).
His also reported as saying that anyone who invents a
lie linking it to him or his own father or friend, he
will not even smell the sweet fragrance of Jannah.
His also reported as saying: �There are three persons
whom Allah will punish severely on the Day of Qiyaamah:
- A person who relates a false dream, he will be made to tie a knot between two grains of barley which he will never be able to do.
- A man who paints a picture of animate objects; he will be made to put life into them which he will never be able to do.
- A man who leads a people in Saalah while they dislike him�.
It is advisable for a person who sees an unpleasant or
disturbing dream that he spits thrice on his left side
as soon as he wakes up and thereafter seek Allah's
protection from the accursed devil. Prophet Muhammad
(pbuh) and his followers used to do likewise.
THE THREE TYPES OF ISLAMIC DREAMS
Dreams are broken into three parts according to the
Sunnah:
- Ru'yaa - good visions (dreams)
- Hulum - bad dreams
- Dreams from one's self
Abu Hurayrah narrated Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said, "There are
three types of dreams: a righteous dream which is glad
tidings from Allah, the dream which causes sadness is
from Shaitan, and a dream from the ramblings of the
mind. (Sahih Muslim).
True or Good Dreams
We can see true dreams are from Allah Ta'aala as
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said, "True dreams are from Allah, and bad
dreams are from Shaitan." (Sahih Al-Bukhari).
True believers are more likely to happen to those who
are truthful in their lives as Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said, "Those
of you with the truest dreams will be those who are most
truthful in speech" (Sahih Muslim).
Good dreams are also from Allah Ta'aala. Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh) said, "If anyone of you has a dream that he
likes then it is from Allah. He should thank Allah for
it and narrate it to others." (Sahih Al-Bukhari) Good
deeds consist of people doing Halaal (lawful) acts.
One should share their dreams with those they like as
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said, "If one sees a good dream, let him
expect good, and not tell it except to those he likes."
(Muslim) An example of this is Yaqoob (AS) telling his
son, Yusuf (AS) concerning his dream about eleven stars
and the sun and the moon prostrating to him (scholars
have said the eleven stars were his brothers, and the
sun and the moon represented his mother and father): "He
said, "O my son! Relate not your vision to your brothers
lest they arrange a plot against you. Verily! Satan is
to man an open enemy." (Surah Yusuf 12:5) We know the
half-brothers of Yusuf were jealous of him to begin with
so telling them the dream would probably only serve to
increase the jealousy.
Muhammad (S) also told us, "Nothing is left of
prophethood except glad tidings." Those with him asked,
"What are glad tidings?" He (S) replied, "Good dreams."
(Sahih Al-Bukhari)
Bad Dreams
As stated above bad dreams are from Shaitan. Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh) told us what to do upon seeing a bad dream. "So when
one of you sees a dream which he does not like, he
should spit on his left side three times, seek refuge
with Allah from Shaitan thrice, and change the side
which he was lying (Sahih Muslim) and in another
narration in Muslim, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) told us if we spit
three times and seek refuge from Allah then it (the
dream) will not harm them." (Sahih Muslim).
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) also told us that if we saw a bad dream to
"stand up and offer prayer." (Sahih Muslim).
Bad Dreams Should Not Be Disclosed
Muhammad (S) said, ...If he has a dream that he
dislikes, then it is from Shaitan. He should seek refuge
with Allah from its evil, and he SHOULD NOT MENTION IT
TO ANYBODY, then it will not harm him." (Sahih
Al-Bukhari). If one does tell somebody about the bad
dream then there could be the chance that some harm will
come out of it.
Dreams from One's Self
These dreams come from one's thoughts and are neither
from Allah or Shaitan.