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DREAMS BASED ON QUR'AN AND AHADITH (updated 20 May, 2024)
Throughout human history, dreams have provided guidance, created inspiration through an event visualising reality. It has led to realisation, discovery and a means of illuminating the heart and soul of mankind. Whether it was Niels Bohr (the father of quantum mechanics) or Elias Howe (sewing machine) or Albert Einstein (theory of relativity), they all saw it in a dream.
However, dreams have led many astray. Narrated Anas: The Prophet (s.a.w.) said, "Whoever has seen me in a dream, then no doubt, he has seen me, for Satan cannot imitate my shape,” [Sahih Bukhari]. What this signifies is that Satan can impersonate anyone else except Muhammad (s.a.w.).
Narrated Abu
Hurairah (r.a.): The Prophet (s.a.w.) said: “When the end of time draws
near, the dream of a believer can hardly be false, and the dream of a
believer is one part from forty-six parts of prophet-hood.” In another
narration, the Prophet (s.a.w.) said: “Those of you who have the most
truthful dreams are those who are the most truthful in speech,” [Sahih Bukhari
and Muslim].
Narrated Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri: The Prophet (s.a.w.) 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 Bukhari].
GOOD DREAMS AND BAD DREAMS
From the Qur’an we know the story of Yusuf (Joseph). His father, Prophet Yaqub (Jacob) warned him not to tell his brothers that he’d dreamed of eleven stars and the sun and the moon bowing to him. He said, “O my son, do not relate your vision to your brothers or they will contrive against you a plan. Indeed Satan, to man, is a manifest enemy,” [Surah Yusuf 12:5]. This is proof that one should only disclose dreams to trustworthy individuals, because those with bad intentions towards you will hamper the goodness you saw from reaching you.
SYMBOLISM IN DREAMS
Then there is the dream of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) concerning sacrificing his son: And when he reached with him [the age of] exertion, he said, "O my son, indeed I have seen in a dream that I [must] sacrifice you, so see what you think." He said, "O my father, do as you are commanded. You will find me, if Allah wills, of the steadfast," [Surah Safat 37:102]. Note: One needs to be mindful of interpreting dreams. Symbolism is a common feature in all dreams and if viewed only in a literal sense can be wrong interpreted.
LEVELS IN DREAMS
A’ishah
(r.a.) narrated: The Prophet (s.a.w.) said, “The Pen has been lifted from
three: from the sleeping person until he wakes up, from the minor until he
grows up, and from the insane person until he comes to his senses,” [Abu
Dawood, Nisaa’i and Ibn Majah; classified sahih by Albani in Sahih Abu Dawood].
There are several levels to dreams. Ibnu Khaldun, in his work “An Introduction to History” (1332-1402), classified three types of dreams:
1). Dreams from Allah, which are clear and unmistakable in their meaning and content.
2). Dreams from Angels, which are received in the form of allegory and require interpretation; and
3) Dreams from
Satan, which are confused dreams that are futile. He postulated that Allah
created sleep as an opportunity for humans to “lift the veil of the senses” and
gain access to divine realities and higher forms of knowing. So, when sleep
becomes deeper, the soul can be liberated from the constraints of the external
sensations and receive reflections from the unseen spiritual world. When that
veil is lifted, the soul is ready to learn the things it desires to. At times,
it catches a glimpse of what it seeks. The clearer the reflections, the more
literal the dream would be, [Commentary on “Spiritual and religious imagery in
dreams: A cross cultural analysis“ by Mohamed O. Salem].
Another Islamic scholar, Al-Qurtubi
(1214-1273 C.E.), noted that true dreams are visions experienced while the soul
is separated from the body during sleep, whereas nightmares and lying dreams
occur when the soul has returned to the body, but before it has again taken
firm root.
Dream visions may be evident and
require no interpretation, because they are clear and distinct, or because (the
ideas) perceived in them may be very similar to (the pictures) by which they
are represented. Therefore, in the collection of Ahadith it has been stated
that are three kinds of dreams. There are dreams or visions from Allah; Dream
visions from Angels, and dream visions from Satan. Dreams or visions from Allah
are those that are evident and need no explanation. Dreams or visions from an
angel are true dreams that require interpretation, and dreams or visions of
carnal desires and confused dreams are from Satan. [4].
Dreams begin at the first level of sleep. It deals with the fulfilment of desires and as such are not considered true dreams in Islam. The second level of dream is Satanic; the third level is Angelic (pleasant and beautiful), and the fourth level is the true dream, the valid dream. It usually occurs before Salatul-Fajr (Subuh Prayer).
There is a need to be mindful over interpreting the presence of saintly people in dreams because Satan can impersonate them. The only person he cannot impersonate is Muhammad (s.a.w.). Most, who have dreamt of the Prophet (s.a.w.), will tell you that they did not see him but felt his presence.
According to Ahadith, good dreams are valid and a blessing. They can take place in a semi-state of wakefulness and sleep. I have experienced several of this nature. In one, I received a gift (ointment) from Hadrat Syed Zauqi Shah (rahimullah alaik). This incident took place after Asr Prayer during muraqabah (contemplation). On another occasion, I was totally engrossed in contemplation at the Prophet’s Mosque at Madinah, that I felt a hand reaching out and getting hold of mine. It was black in colour and looked real. I was startled and immediately returned to the present.
I hold the view that one should avoid viewing dreams out of context. Many have the tendency to justify their dreams, interpreting them to suit their whims and fancies. Avoid assumptions and speculations. One approach would be to make a supplication to God for clarity. To avoid controversy and confusion, good dreams should be received in good faith and not spread around. According to Ahadith their blessings could be lost due to envy and jealousy.
It is interesting to note that Abu Bakr as-Sidiq (r.a.) or ‘Umar Ibnul Khattab (r.a.) did receive any dream over who should be appointed Caliph from Allah or His Messenger in Ahadith.
Ma’qil Ibnu Yasar (r.a.) reported, “I departed with Abu Bakr (r.a.) to meet the Prophet (s.a.w.) and the Prophet said, “O
Abu Bakr, there is idolatry among you more hidden than the crawling of
an ant.” Abu Bakr said, “Is there idolatry other than to make a god
alongside God?” The Prophet (s.a.w.) replied, “By the One in whose hand
is my soul, there is idolatry more hidden than the crawling of an ant.
Shall I not tell you something to say to rid you of it, both minor and
major? Say: O God, I seek refuge in You that I associate partners with
You while I know, and I seek Your forgiveness for what I do not know.” (Bukhari: 715).
Reference
1. https://understandquran.com/what-does-the-quran-say-about-dreams-cc/
3. “Commentary on “Spiritual and religious imagery in dreams: A cross cultural analysis“ by Mohamed O. Salem].
4. http://www.deenislam.co.uk/dreams/scienceofdreaminterpretation.htm
5. https://www.abuaminaelias.com/dailyhadithonline/2017/02/06/minor-idolatry-hidden-crawling-ant/
