Classification of Dreams in Islam - DREAMS IN ISLAM

Classification of Dreams in Islam

Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Apostle said: “When the Day of Resurrection approaches, the dreams of a believer will hardly fail to come true, and a dream of a believer is one of forty-six parts of prophethood, and whatever belongs to prophethood can never be false.”   

Muhammad bin Sirin said: “But I say this.” He said: “It used to be said that there are three types of dreams: 
i) the reflection of one’s thoughts and experiences which one has during wakefulness; 
ii) what is suggested by Satan to frighten the dreamer; 
iii) or glad tidings from Allah. 

So, if someone has a dream which he dislikes, he should not tell it to others, but get up and offer a prayer.” He added: “He (Abu Huraira) hated to see a Ghul (i.e., iron collar around his neck in a dream) and people liked to see fetters (on their feet in a dream). The fetters on the feet symbolizes one’s constant and firm adherence to religion.” And Abu ‘Abdullah said: “Ghuls (iron collars) are used only for necks.” 

 (Bukhari)

The same hadith, recorded in Sahih Muslim, is as follows:

“Abu Huraira reported that Allah’s Messenger had said: When the time (al-Zaman) draws near (i.e., when the end of the world draws near) a believer’s dream can hardly be false.  And the truest vision (i.e., dream) will be of the one who is truest in speech, for the vision of a Muslim is one forty-fifth part of prophethood (al-Nabuwwah), and dreams are of three types: 

• one, ‘good’ dreams which are a sort of good tidings (Bushra) from Allah; 
• the evil dream which causes pain is from Satan; and 
• the third one is a suggestion of one’s own mind.   

 So if any one of you sees a dream which he dislikes he should stand up and offer prayer and should not narrate it to the people; and he said I would love to see fetters (in a dream) but I dislike wearing of necklace, for the fetters are (indication of) one’s steadfastness in religion.  The narrator said: I do not know whether this is a part of the hadith or the words of Ibn Seerin.”

 (Muslim)

The above hadith describes three kinds of dreams: - good and true dreams, which come from Allah Most High, - evil dreams, which come from Satan, - and dreams which come from our own selves.  But we are not certain whether this is the classification given by the Prophet sallalahu ‘alaihi wa sallam  himself, or by Imam Muhammad Ibn Sireen. 

Let us now examine the three different kinds of dreams:

Source: Dreams in Islam by Imran Hosein
To be continued ....