Interpretation of Dreams

[Islamic Revival]

As-salam alaikum,

Does anyone have any knowledge of whether we can interpret our dreams or not?

I previously thought that this was something which was not allowed as there was no evidence from Quran or Sunnah. However, I've been doing some research and have found many hadith where the Prophet (saw) used to discuss his dreams and the meanings of his dreams with the Sahaba. People used to come to him frequently telling their dreams and asking for interpretations.

The story of Yusuf (as) is in the Quran where Allah (swt) gave him the knowledge to interpret dreams.

From hadith, I have read that dreams are of 3 types. One type is just our thoughts from the day which come at night. One type is from Shaytan which should not be told to anyone. And a third type are the good dreams which are from Allah (swt) and can be told to others.

But I can also see how this could be potentially dangerous since if people say (as some sufis do) that they receive some special knowledge/wahi in their dreams, then people can come out with all sorts of things, e.g. someone says 'I had a dream that I am the new prophet', or 'I had a dream where my friends must all give me money', or something crazy like that. So I would assume that we can't be given some special knowledge which others don't have. Or that we are not supposed to act on what we see in our dreams?

So it seems clear to me that there is a 'science' of dream interpretation and the Prophet Muhammad (saw) used to practice this.

In one hadith, a man came and told his dream to the Prophet (saw). Abu Bakr was there with him and asked if he could interpret the dream instead. The Prophet (saw) gave him permission to do this. Then he gave his interpretation and asked if he was correct or not. Rasul Allah (saw) said that there was some part which was correct and some which was wrong, but on asking, he wouldn't tell which parts.

However, the questions I have unanswered for now are:

1. Can we interpret our dreams?

2. Have we been given tools to do this?i.e. what something in particular means?

3. Can our dreams be about a future event?i.e. that something will or will not happen, when we also know that no-one, including the Prophet (saw) had knowledge of the future.

4. Should we act on these dreams, e.g. if we fear something will happen to us on a certain day, then should we avoid going out on that day.


Would appreciate some feedback on this.

wa salam.

[Bint Mohammed]

Walakumsalam

In Islam there is such a thing called sciences of interpreting dreams. And this had been practise of many of scholars of the past, inshallah I will look up thier names and works if time permitt.

In asnwer to your questions:

1> We cannot interpret our own dreams, there are certain rules and principles and natural intuition required for doing so. I believe this knowledge has also been passed down thru isnad.

2> There are certain tools, requires deep knowledge of life hereafter from questioning in grave to Jannatul Firdous. Our dreams are menifestation of our action and and dreams contain warnings about life. An interpretor would have to be very wise, experiences and highly knowledgeable person, who uderstands phyics of life and the divine knowledge.

3> They could be about future events, but the interpretor cannot determine this, as his knowledge is human based, but there is definitly a warning attached.

4> We can take heed from the dreams and do all Halal actions as necessary, since by sitting at home in one position, we cannot alter the divine fate or destiny. Our dreams are natural part of our life, they may mean something or may not but they are reflective of our actions.

This is just from my own limited knowledge on this subject. I hope it clarifies some issues.

[Islamic Revival]

JazakAllah khair Sister,

When you say 'they could be about future related events', does this entail telling of the future? I remember reading a hadith that the one who says he can tell the future is a liar.

And what does Islam say about altering one's actions due to a dream, e.g. not going out on a specific day because one has seen a dream of something bad happening on that day?

wa salam.

[maruf]

4. Remember that hadith, we are suppose to seek refuge with Allah from an evil dream. There is a du'a I think and you are suppose to lightly spit over your, I think it is left shoulder after the bad dream and not tell others.

This is what little I remember, I guess we have not had any bad dreams lately? Audhubillah minish Shaytanir Rajeem, and Al Hamdulillah for that.

Also reciting surahs before we go to bed at night is a good practice.

was-salaam

[Bint Mohammed]

Due to our limited knowledge we cannot establish anything conclusive from the dreams. There isnt any evidence to denoate dreams can fortell the future, however they can be indications that we may keep in mind. Only some dreams are meaningful and true. Some are just born of our thoughts, worries, grief or anything else stressful in our life. The Prophet (saw) said: "The most truthful dreams are seen before dawn" (Tirmidhi). Bad dreams or nightmares are from the Shaytan (as mentioned by the Messenger [upon him be peace]) and serve just to frighten, hence, they should not be told to anyone and one should seek protection in Allah from the Shaytan and try to forget them.

One can end up being very superstitious by not doing certain action or as you said not going out on a certain day. Fact of the matter is we dont know if the indication from the dream was good or bad, maybe something bad that we saw happening to us was someting good.

I think its Ayatul Kursi from Surah al-Baqarah that we are suppose to blow on ourselves, and Surah Al-Naass is a good one to read before sleep.

I read a book on this a long time ago, I think it was by Ibn Qayyim Jawziyy, I ll send the title and author as soon as I find it. Insha'Allah./

Waslaam

[Ebrahim]

True dreams are a part of Prophethood, as it was reported that the Prophet said: “True dreams are one of the forty-six parts of Prophethood.”
(al-Bukhaari, 6472; Muslim, 4201)

The truthfulness of the dream is related to the sincerity of the dreamer. Those who have the most truthful dreams are those who are the most truthful in speech. (Muslim, 4200)

Towards the end of time, hardly any dreams will be untrue. The Prophet said: “That will be because the Prophethood and its effects will be so far away in time, so the believers will be given some compensation in the form of dreams which will bring them some good news or will help them to be patient and steadfast in their faith.” (al-Bukhaari, 6499; Muslim, 4200)

Dreams are of three types:

1. Rahmaani (those that come from Allaah),
2. Nafsaani (psychological, they come from within a person)
3. Shaytaani (those that come from the Shaytaan).

The Prophet said: “Dreams are of three types: a dream from Allaah, a dream which causes distress and which comes from the Shaytaan, and a dream which comes from what a person thinks about when he is awake, and he sees it when he is asleep.” (al-Bukhaari, 6499; Muslim, 4200)

The dreams of people other than the Prophets are to be examined in the light of the clear Wahy [i.e., the Qur’aan and Sunnah]. If they are in accordance with the Qur’aan and Sunnah, all well and good; otherwise, they should not be acted upon. This is a very serious matter indeed, for many of the innovators among the Sufis and others have gone astray because of this.

The most truthful of dreams are those that are seen at the time of suhoor [just before dawn], for this is the time when Allaah descends and when mercy and forgiveness are close. It is also the time when the devils are quiet, unlike the time of darkness just after sunset, when the devils and devilish souls spread out. (See Madaarij al-Saalikeen, 1/50-52)

Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri said: the Prophet said: “If any one of you sees a dream that he likes, this is from Allaah, so let him praise Allaah for it and talk about it to others. If he sees other than that, a dream that he dislikes, this is from the Shaytaan, so let him seek refuge with Allaah from its evil and not mention it to anyone, for it will not harm him.” (Narrated by al- Bukhaari, 6584, and Muslim, 5862).

It was reported from Jaabir that the Prophet said: “If any one of you sees a dream that he dislikes, let him spit to his left three times, and seek refuge with Allaah from the Shaytaan three times, and turn over from the side on which he was sleeping.” (Narrated by Muslim, 5864)

Imaam al-Baghawi said: Know that the interpretation of dreams falls into various categories. Dreams may be interpreted in the light of the Qur’aan or in the light of the Sunnah, or by means of the proverbs that are current among people, or by names and metaphors, or in terms of opposites. (Sharh al-Sunnah, 12/220) He gave examples of this, such as: Interpretation in the light of the Qur’aan: such as a rope meaning a covenant, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allaah…”
[Aal ‘Imraan 3:103]

Interpretation in the light of the Sunnah: such as the crow representing an immoral man (faasiq), because the Prophet called it such.

Interpretation by means of proverbs: such a digging a hole meaning a plot, because people say “Whoever digs a hole will fall in it.”<br>
Interpretation by means of names: such as seeing a man called Raashid meaning wisdom.

Interpretation by means of opposites: such as fear meaning safety, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “And He will surely give them in exchange a safe security after their fear” [al-Noor 24:55]

The Best Book written on the subject at present is "DREAM INTERPRETATION ACCORDING TO THE QUR'AN AND SUNNAH" By Dr. Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips Dar al-Fatah Printing and Publication

[Islamic Revival]

I have been asked by someone if people who die can then actually appear in our dreams. I know there is a hadith about Rasul Allah (saw) coming in our dreams, but what about other people we know?


Does anyone have the answer?