42/0. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2261g — Dream Etiquette
The Book of Dreams
Dream Etiquette in Islam: What to Do with Good and Bad Dreams
Sahih Muslim : 2261g
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2261g
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ خَلاَّدٍ الْبَاهِلِيُّ، وَأَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ، بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ عَبْدِ رَبِّهِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، قَالَ إِنْ كُنْتُ لأَرَى الرُّؤْيَا تُمْرِضُنِي - قَالَ - فَلَقِيتُ أَبَا قَتَادَةَ فَقَالَ وَأَنَا كُنْتُ لأَرَى الرُّؤْيَا فَتُمْرِضُنِي حَتَّى سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " الرُّؤْيَا الصَّالِحَةُ مِنَ اللَّهِ فَإِذَا رَأَى أَحَدُكُمْ مَا يُحِبُّ فَلاَ يُحَدِّثُ بِهَا إِلاَّ مَنْ يُحِبُّ وَإِنْ رَأَى مَا يَكْرَهُ فَلْيَتْفِلْ عَنْ يَسَارِهِ ثَلاَثًا وَلْيَتَعَوَّذْ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ شَرِّ الشَّيْطَانِ وَشَرِّهَا وَلاَ يُحَدِّثْ بِهَا أَحَدًا فَإِنَّهَا لَنْ تَضُرَّهُ " .
Abu Salama Narrated from:
I used to see (such horrible dreams) that I fell ill. I saw Abu Qatada who also said: I used to see dreams which made me sick until I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: Good dreams are from Allah, so if any one of you sees which he likes he should not disclose it to one but whom he loves, but if he sees something which he does not like he should spit on his left side thrice and seek refuge with Allah from the mischief of the Satan and its mischief (i.e. of the dream), and he should not relate it to anyone, then it would not harm him.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2261gIn-book reference : Book 42, Hadith 7USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 29, Hadith 5619
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2261g
This Hadith about dreams shows how the Prophetic teaching brought relief to both Abu Salama and Abu Qatada. Abu Salama says he used to see dreams that made him ill. Abu Qatada said he also used to have dreams that made him sick until he heard Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم explain the matter. Good dreams are from Allah. If someone sees what he likes, he should not tell it except to someone he loves. If he sees what he dislikes, he should spit to his left three times, seek refuge with Allah from the evil of Satan and from the evil of the dream, and not relate it to anyone. The Hadith says it will not harm him. For bad dream in Islam searches, this is one of the clearest step-by-step narrations.
What we learn from this hadith
- Good dreams should be shared only with someone one loves.
- Disliked dreams should not be told to anyone.
- After a bad dream, one should spit left three times.
- One should seek refuge with Allah from Satan’s evil and the dream’s evil.
