35/6. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 3914 — Dream Interpretation in Islam
If a dream is interpreted and it comes to pass (in that manner), he should not tell anyone about it except one whom he loves
Dream Interpretation in Islam: Tell Dreams to Someone Loved or Wise
Sunan Ibn Majah : 3914
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 3914
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا هُشَيْمٌ، عَنْ يَعْلَى بْنِ عَطَاءٍ، عَنْ وَكِيعِ بْنِ عُدُسٍ الْعُقَيْلِيِّ، عَنْ عَمِّهِ أَبِي رَزِينٍ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ النَّبِيَّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ يَقُولُ " الرُّؤْيَا عَلَى رِجْلِ طَائِرٍ مَا لَمْ تُعْبَرْ فَإِذَا عُبِرَتْ وَقَعَتْ " . قَالَ " وَالرُّؤْيَا جُزْءٌ مِنْ سِتَّةٍ وَأَرْبَعِينَ جُزْءًا مِنَ النُّبُوَّةِ " . قَالَ وَأَحْسِبُهُ قَالَ " لاَ يَقُصُّهَا إِلاَّ عَلَى وَادٍّ أَوْ ذِي رَأْىٍ " .
Abu Razin Narrated from:
It was narrated from Abu Razin that he heard the Prophet (ﷺ) say: “Dreams are attached to the foot of a bird* until they are interpreted, then when they are interpreted they come to pass.” He said: “And dreams are one of the forty-six parts of prophecy.” He (the narrator) said: “And I think he said: ‘(A person) should not tell them except to one whom he loves or one who is wise.’”
[1] It is said that this is a parable, and its meaning is that they are not settled. (Sindi)Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 3914In-book reference : Book 35, Hadith 22English translation : Vol. 5, Book 35, Hadith 3914
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 3914
This hadith is a key narration for the search term “dream interpretation in Islam.” The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) says that dreams are attached to the foot of a bird until they are interpreted; when they are interpreted, they come to pass. He also says that dreams are one of the forty-six parts of prophecy. The narrator adds that he thinks the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said a person should not tell a dream except to someone he loves or someone wise. The text teaches care before sharing dreams. It does not encourage careless interpretation or public guessing. The main lesson is to treat dreams seriously and speak about them with the right person.
What we learn from this hadith
- Dreams should be treated carefully before they are interpreted.
- Dreams are described as one of the forty-six parts of prophecy.
- A person should tell dreams only to someone loved or wise, as mentioned by the narrator.
