Dreams have had great importance in people’s lives before and after Islam. The Holy Quran told us about the dreams of Hazrat Yusuf (AS), Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) which disturbed many great people or came as glad tidings for others. It means that Islam appreciates the significance of dreams as reported in different hadiths of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).
Narrated Anas bin Malik: Allah’s Apostle (PBUH) said, “A good dream (that comes true) of a righteous man is one of forty-six parts of prophetism” – Sahih al-Bukhari Book 87 Hadith 112
What Are Dreams?
Source: New Scientist
Allah states in the Quran that,
Allah takes the souls at the time of their death, and those that do not die [He takes] during their sleep. Then He keeps those for which He has decreed death and releases the others for a specified term. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought – Surah Zumar, verse 42
It means that dreams are the tools by which Allah speaks to His closed ones. He gives signs or hints to particular people at a particular time for some reason as He sent clues in form of dreams to the prophets.
Types Of Dreams
Source: ISPAR
The dreams are of three types according to hadiths.
Holy Prophet (PBUH) said, “The dreams are of three types: one good dream which is a sort of good tidings from Allah; the evil dream which causes pain is from the satan; and the third one is a suggestion of one’s own mind” – Sahih Muslim Book 29 Hadith 5621
What Is A Nightmare?
Source: Nerdist
If someone sees a dream that he dislikes or it made him terrified, it is a nightmare which came from Satan. As a hadith quotes,
Narrated Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri: The Prophet (PBUH) said, “If anyone of you sees a dream that he likes, then it is from Allah, and he should thank Allah for it and narrate it to others; but if he sees something else, i.e., a dream that he dislikes, then it is from Satan, and he should seek refuge with Allah from its evil, and he should not mention it to anybody, for it will not harm him” – Sahih al-Bukhari Book 87 Hadith 114
What To Do After Seeing A Nightmare?
Source: islami.co
The Prophet (PBUH) said, “A good dream that comes true is from Allah, and a bad dream is from Satan, so if anyone of you sees a bad dream, he should seek refuge with Allah from Satan and should spit on the left, for the bad dream will not harm him” – Sahih al-Bukhari Book 87 Hadith 115
Once a companion of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) came and said, “I have nightmares.” The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said to him, “Say, ‘I seek refuge with the complete words of Allah from His anger and His punishment and the evil of His slaves, and from the evil suggestions of the Satan and from their being present (at death) [Audhu bi kalimati’ llahi’t-tammati min ghadabihi wa iqabihi wa sharri ibadihi wa min hamazati’ sh-shayatin wa an yahdurun] – Muwatta Imam Malik Book 51 Hadith 9
What Allah Says About Sharing A False Dream Or Nightmare With Others
Source: Premier Christianity
It was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas that the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said: “Whoever tells of a false dream, will be ordered (on the Day of Resurrection) to tie two grains of barley together, and he will be punished for that” – Sunan Ibn Majah Book 35 Hadith 3916
May Allah bless us with restful sleep and keep away the nightmares from us, Ameen!
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