All du'as
The Sunnah of sleep

After a dream.

What the Sunnah teaches about good and bad dreams. Drawn from al-Jibali's Dreamer's Handbook — every entry has the Arabic and the English translation, with a hadith citation where one is recorded.

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After a dream

What the Sunnah teaches about good and bad dreams.

AlláH Creates All Dreams

Qur'an

As we mentioned above, dreams are visions and thoughts that Allah (#) decrees and creates, just as He creates everything else. He (ig) says: Fath ul-Bart 12:442. Fath ul-Bart 12:442 and al-Minhaj 15:20.

اللَّهُ خَالِقُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ ۖ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَكِيلٌ (٢) الزمر ٦٢

"Allah is the Creator of all things, and He is in charge of all things."

al-Jibali · The Dreamer's Handbook · p. 129

Satan'S Play

Grading not verified
إذا لَعِبَ الشَّيطانُ بَأَحَدِكَمْ فِي مَنامِهِ، فَلا يُحَدِّثْ بِهِ النّاسَ.) إذا لَعِبَ الشَّيطانُ بَأَحَدِكَمْ فِي مَنامِهِ، فَلا يُحَدِّثْ بِهِ النّاسَ.

"When Satan makes fun of you during your sleep, do Fath ul-Bart 12:463. 2 Al-Minhaj 15:20. "Al-Muhallab said, ' Bad dreams are attributed to Satan because they are created in his likeness (of evil) ...' Aba 'Abd il-Malik said, '(A bad dream) is attributed to Satan because it is according to his desire and goal.' Ibn ul-Baqillani said, '... Allah creates an unpleasant dream in the presence of Satan (i.c., while he is present with the dreamer). This is why it is attributed to him.' And others say that it is attributed to him because he insinuates it.' " 1 An-Nawawi () said: "Al-Maziri said, 'Allah (dg) creates dreams that are indicators of harm in the presence of Satan. They are metaphorically attributed to Satan because he witnesses them - even though he does not really make them.' ... Others said, 'Both pleasant and unpleasant dreams are created, arranged, and willed by Allah (68). Satan has no doing in regard to either, but he witnesses an unpleasant dream, accepts it, and is pleased with it.' " 2 In addition to bad and terrifying dreams, there are absurd dreams that can be caused by Satan. Jabir Bin 'Abdillah (v) reported that a Bedouin came to the Prophet (E4) and said, "I saw in my dream that my throat was cut, and my head fell off and started rolling, so I ran after it, retrieved it, and put it back in its place." The Prophet (4) smiled, and, addressing the man and the people next to him, said: When Satan makes fun of you during your sleep, do Fath ul-Bart 12:463. 2 Al-Minhaj 15:20. not tell people about it."

al-Jibali · The Dreamer's Handbook · p. 131

Wet Dreams

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Wet dreams are associated with the ejection of seminal fluid during sleep. They often include visions of prohibited actions or interactions that are instigated by Satan. In some cases, they may also be an echo of a person's thoughts during wakefulness. Even though wet dreams are…

نعَم، تَربَت يمينُكِ! فيمَ يُشبهُها وَلَدُها؟

"Yes, may your right hand be prosperous! How then does her child resemble her?"

al-Jibali · The Dreamer's Handbook · p. 131

Satan'S Limitation

Qur'an

A believer should always remember that Allah's (3g) power is boundless and prevailing, whereas Satan's schemes are restricted by Allah's (88) permission and wisdom. Therefore, when a believer is distressed or alarmed by Satan's spurring, he should turn to Allah (E1g) who can easi…

وَإِمَّا يَنزَغَنَّكَ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ نَزْغٌ فَاسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ (٢ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا إِذَا مَسَّهُمْ طَائِفٌ مِّنَ الشَّيْطَانِ تَذَكَّرُوا فَإِذَا هُم مُّبْصِرُونَ (٢) الأعراف ٢٠٠-٢٠١

"And if an (evil) provocation touches you from Satan, seek refuge with Allah, for, indeed, He is all- hearing, all-knowing. Indeed, those who possess taqwa - when an image (or impulse) touches them from Satan — they remember (Allah) and, immediately, regain insight."

al-Jibali · The Dreamer's Handbook · p. 132

Reports Regarding Dream Categories

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Abu Salamah 2 () reported that he used to have dreams that made him ill (from fear or worry) — until he heard Abu Qatadah (4) mention that he had the same problem, so Allah's Messenger (Ha) told him: 1 AL-A'raf 7:200-201. He was the son of 'Abd ur-Rahman Bin 'Awf (4), and was bor…

الرّؤْيا الْحَسَنَةُ (الصالِحَةُ - الصادِقَةُ ) مِن اللهِ، والرّؤيا السّوءُ (الحُلمُ ) من الشَّيطانِ، فإذا رأى أحدُكُم رؤيا حَسَنَةُ (ما يُحِبُ فلْيُبْشِرْ، ولا يُخْبرْ (يُحَدِّث ) بها إلاّ مَن يُحِبُّ، وإذا رأى رؤيا فكَرهَ مِنها شيْئاً ، فلْيَتَعَوّذْ باللهِ مِن شَرّها ومن شرّ الشيطانِ وَلَيَتْفِلْ (ينفُثْ - يَبصُقْ ) عَنْ يَسارِهِ ثلاثا، ولا يُخْبِرُ (يُحَدِّث ) بِها أحدا ، فإنّها لن تَضُرَّهُ.

"A pleasant (or good, or truthful) dream is from Allah, and a bad dream is from Satan. When one of you has a good dream (that he likes), let him expect good, and avoid relating it except to those whom he likes. And when he has a dream and dislikes any part of it, let him seek Allah's protection from its evil and from Satan's evil, and let him lightly spit — three times — on his left side, and avoid relating it to anyone. Indeed, it will then not harm him."

al-Jibali · The Dreamer's Handbook · p. 133

Reports Regarding Dream Categories

Grading not verified

Abu SaTd al-Khudri (4de) reported that he heard the Prophet (la) say:

إذا رَأى أحَدُ كم الرُّؤيا يحِبُّها فإِنما هِيَ مِنَ اللهِ، فليحمَدِ اللّهَ عليها وليحدث بها، وإذا رأى غيرَ ذٰلِكَ مما يَكرهُ فإنما هِيَ مِنَ الشَّيطانِ، فَليَستعِذ مِن شرها وَلا يَذكرها لأِحَد، فإنها لا تَضُرُّهُ.

"When one of you has a dream that he likes - indeed, it is only from Allah, so let him praise Allah for it and relate it (to his beloved ones). Otherwise, when one has a dream that he hates — indeed, it is only from Satan, so let him seek Allah's protection from its evil, and let him not mention it to anyone: I This is combined from narrations recorded by al-Bukhart (3292, 5747, 6984, 6986, 6995, 7005, 7044), Muslim (2261), and others. We use two parenthesis to indicate alternative words appearing in different narrations. it will then not harm him."

al-Jibali · The Dreamer's Handbook · p. 134

Reports Regarding Dream Categories

Grading not verified

Abu Hurayrah (4e) reported that the Prophet (b) said:

الرّؤيا ثلاثةٌ: فالرؤيا الصالِحَةُ بُشْرى مِنَ اللهِ، ورُؤيا تَحْويفِ مِنَ الشّيطان، ورُؤيا مِمّا يُحَدِّثُ المرْءُ نَفْسَه. فإن رأى أحَدُكُم ما يَكْرهُ، فلْيَقُمْ فَلْيُصَل، ولا يُحَدِّثْ بِها الناسَ.

"Dreams are of three categories: a good dream that has glad tidings from Allah, a terrifying dream from Satan, and a dream about what concerns a person. When one of you has a dream that he dislikes, let him rise from sleep and pray, and let him not relate it to other people."

al-Jibali · The Dreamer's Handbook · p. 134

Reports Regarding Dream Categories

Grading not verified

Abu Hurayrah () also reported that the Prophet (8) said:

إذا رأى أحدُكُم الرّؤيا تُعْجِبُه، فلْيذكَرْها ولْيُفَسِّرْها ، وإذا رأى أحدُكُم الرّؤيا تسوؤه، فلا يذكُرْها ولا يفسّرْها.

"When one of' you has a dream that he likes, let him narrate it (to his beloved ones) and interpret it; and when one of you has a dream that he dislikes, let him neither narrate it nor interpret it."

al-Jibali · The Dreamer's Handbook · p. 134

Reports Regarding Dream Categories

Grading not verified

Jabir Bin 'Abdillah (4) reported that Allah's Messenger (i) said:

إذا رأى أحدُكُم الرّؤيا يَكرهُها فَليَبصُقْ عَنْ يَساره ثَلاثاً ، وليسْتَعذ بالله منَ الشيْطان ثلاثا ، ولْيتَحولْ عَنْ جَنْبه الذي كانَ عَليْه.

"When one of you has a dream that he dislikes, let Recorded by al-Bukhari (6985, 7045), at-Tirmithl, and others. 2 Recorded by al-Bukhari (7017), Muslim (2263), and others. 3 Recorded by Ibn 'Abd il-Bart. Verified to be authentic by al-Albani (as-Sahihah no. 1340). him spit (lightly) three times on his left side, ask Allah three times to shelter him from Satan, and turn over from the side on which he was sleeping."

al-Jibali · The Dreamer's Handbook · p. 135

Reports Regarding Dream Categories

Grading not verified

And 'Awf Bin Malik (4) reported that the Prophet (i4) said:

الرّؤيا ثلاثٌ: منها أهاويل منَ الشيطان لِيَحْزُنَ بها آبنَ آدَمَ، ومِنْها ما يَهُمُّ بهِ الرّجُلُ فِي يقْظَتِه فَيراهُ فِي مَنامِه، ومِنها جُزْء مِن سِتّةٍ وأربَعين جُزْءا مِنَ النُّبُوَّةِ.

"Dreams are of three categories: scary dreams from Satan - to depress the human being, things that concern a person during his wakefulness, so he sees them in his dream, and dreams that are a part of forty six parts of prophethood."

al-Jibali · The Dreamer's Handbook · p. 135

Taawwuth

Qur'an

Tá'awwuth (or isti'athah) means seeking Allah's protection or refuge. A believer is always required to ask Allah for this, as Allah (#) says:

فَاسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ ٱلْبَصِيرُ (٢) غافر ٥٦

"So seek refuge with Allah (only). Verily, He is the Hearer, the Seer."

al-Jibali · The Dreamer's Handbook · p. 142

Taawwuth

Qur'an

Ta'awwuth is particularly important when we feel the influence of Satan's whispers. Allah (38) says:

وَإِمَّا يَنزَغَنَّكَ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ نَزْغٌ فَاسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ (٢) فصلت ٣٦

"And if an evil whisper from Satan comes to you, seek refuge with Allah. Verily, He is the Hearer, the Knower."

al-Jibali · The Dreamer's Handbook · p. 142