Friday, November 11, 2011

An Epic Journey part 5

Assalamualaikum wbt.

Continuation from last part, this part will explain about types of dreams.


True dreams can be classified as requiring :
An interpretation due to obscurity of the symbolism in the dream or because of the ignorance of the dreamer

No interpretation because of the clarity of the dream or because of the obvious meaning of the symbols

Only the prophets….
…knew with certainty that their dreams were true before the dream was realized.
All other people have to wait for the dream to come true in reality to realize that the dream was true


1b) Divine Dreams : Good Pleasant Dreams
Al-Bukhari reports:
Abu Said al Khudri (RA) narrated that he heard the Prophet (SAW) say, “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.’ [Al-Bukhari, vol 9, p.114]

The Prophet SAW refer to good dreams….
…as an aspect of prophecy that will remain among mankind until the Last day.
Al-Tirmidhi records that Anas b. Malik (RA) related that the Prophet said, 

“Indeed, risalah [messengership] and nabuwwah [prophethood] have ended, so there will be no messenger or prophet after me.” He (Anas) said: The people found it difficult to bear, so the prophet added, “except glad tidings.” They asked, “O Messenger of Allah, what are glad tidings?” He replied, “The dream of a Muslim. It is one of the parts of prophethood.” [al-Tirmidhi, 1853]

The prophet specified the dream of a Muslim which is a part of prophethood is a good dream, “Nothing is left of prophethood except glad tidings, ” They asked, “What are glad tidings?” He replied, “Good dreams.” [al-Bukhari]


Principles regarding good dreams
1.       Good dreams are from Allah (SWT)
2.       Good dreams may be shared with others in the same way as good news is shared. However, the prophet (SAW) explain to us that we should not share good dreams with everyone.

Abu Qatadah heard the prophet say, “Good dreams are from Allah, so if anyone of you sees that which he likes, he should not disclose it to anyone but whom he loves. [Muslim]

2) Satanic Dreams
Bad dreams are….
…a consequence of evil jinns interfering in our dreaming state,
Just as evil jinns can introduce evil thoughts into the human mind while we are awake, so they are able to do so while we sleep.

Muslim reports:
Abu Salamah said, “I used to see dreams which caused me to shiver, but I did not cover myself with a cloak, [this continues to happen] until I met Abu Qatadah and told him about it. He quoted the prophet saying, “A good dream comes from Allah and a bad dream from the devil. So when one of you sees a dream which he does not like he should spit on his left side and seek refuge from Allah from its evil; then it will not harm him.”

Satanic dreams may create sadness
The prophet said, “There are 3 types of dreams; a righteous dream that is glad tidings from Allah; the dreams that causes sadness is from Shaytan; and a dream that is from the ramblings of one’s own mind.”
In relation to Shaytan’s desire to create sadness among humans, Allah says;

Private conversation is only from Shaytan’s that he may grieve those who have believed, but he will not harm them at all except by the permission of Allah, and upon Allah let the believers rely. [ Surah al-Mujadilah, 58:10]

Principles and steps one should take in relation to bad dreams

All dreams with evil contents are from Shaytan and no interpretation of them should be sought.
1.       One who experience satanic dreams should spit 3 times and seek refuge in Allah SWT 3 times. Jabir RA narrated that the Prophet SAW said “ if any of you sees in a dream something he dislikes, he should spit thrice to his left, seek refuge with Allah from Shaytan thrice, and change the side in which he is lying [i.e turn over].” [Muslim]

The following supplication may be said for protection. ’Amr b. Shu’ayb narrates via his grandfather  that Allah’s Messenger used to teach them the following words for protection against panic (due to nightmare) : “ I seek refuge in the perfect word of Allah from His anger, the evil of His servants, and from the evil suggestions of the devils and their presence.” [Sunan Abu Dawud, 3884: Muwatta’ Imam Malik, 1710]

2.       It is also recommended to get up and pray 2 raka’at or more of voluntary prayer. Abu Hurayrah said that he heard the Prophet says, “There are 3 types of dreams; ramblings of the mind, frightening thoughts from Shaytan, and glad tidings from Allah. So if anyone of you sees a dream which he does not like, he should stand up and offer prayer.”

3.       A Satanic dream should not be divulged to others. Abu Sa’id al-Khudri narrated that the Prophet SAW said, “if any of you has a dream that he likes, then it is from Allah. He should thank Allah for it and narrate it to others. If he has a dream that he dislikes, then it is from Shaytan. He should seek refuge with Allah from its evil, and he should not mention it to anybody; then it will not harm him.” [Al-Bukhari]

Jabir related that a Bedouin once came to the Prophet and said, “O Messenger of Allah, I saw in my sleep that I was beheaded, after which my head rolled away and I was running after it.” The Prophet replied, “Do not tell people about the games Shaytan plays with you in your sleep.” Jabir also said: “I later heard the Prophet say in sermon, ‘None of you should ever relate the games Shaytan plays on you in your dreams.’.”[Muslim]

3) Human Cognitive Thoughts: Mental Reflection
Dreams of the human mind’s working….
Is usually a succession of images, thoughts, sounds, or emotions passing through the mind during their sleep from their waking experience, past or present, imaginary or real. In Sunan b. Majah there is a report that ’Awf b. Malik quoted the Prophet a saying, “Indeed there are 3 types of dreams: horrors from Shaytan to make the children of Adam sad; that which is important to a person when he is awake, so he sees it in his dreams; and that which is one of forty-sixth parts of prophethood.”

Such dreams are meaningless; they are neither glad tiding from Allah nor evil suggestions from Shaytan. They are merely mental reflection, and as such a product of the brain.

One does not need to seek interpretations for such dreams

Such dreams should be considered a blessing from Allah


Dreams and istikharah: a common misconception. Istikharah is to calm ourselves towards making a decision. The guide will not necessarily be given via dreams.

Wallahu a'lam...

1 comment:

“Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will not forget you." ~ William Arthur Ward...

So what say you? ;)