The ruling on interpreting dreams in the media for a fee
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
Honorable Shaykh, this person asks and says: As for the dream interpreters in the media, they have multiplied in our time. Is it permissible for them to also specify these dreams, determining when their interpretation will occur and where, while being paid for it?
Answer:
This is nonsense and bad conduct. They have engaged in dream interpretation just as they have engaged in issuing fatwas, so issuing fatwas has become a game for them, and they compete to do it. Likewise, dream interpretation has become something they compete to do, or they take greed from the websites or radio stations—media outlets—taking greed in exchange for it, because the caller is charged a fee for the call.
So this call yields profit for them and for the owners of these radio stations or these media outlets. It has become a trade and a manipulation of the dream, which is a true dream. Some of it is self-talk. Some of it is from Satan. Not every dream has an interpretation. The dream must be respected. And it must not be interpreted except by one who is qualified for it.
It is not permissible to make it a source of income, or for boasting, or for the display of the personalities of those who interpret dreams, who want to display their personalities to the people. This is a field in which it is not permissible to manipulate. Also, there is a danger in this, which is causing confusion among the people. People are afflicted with obsessive doubts, and everyone who sees a dream goes to have it interpreted, and perhaps it is interpreted with a frightening interpretation, so panic occurs among the people and fear is instilled in them. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you.
Honorable Shaykh, this person asks and says: As for the dream interpreters in the media, they have multiplied in our time. Is it permissible for them to also specify these dreams, determining when their interpretation will occur and where, while being paid for it?
Answer:
This is nonsense and bad conduct. They have engaged in dream interpretation just as they have engaged in issuing fatwas, so issuing fatwas has become a game for them, and they compete to do it. Likewise, dream interpretation has become something they compete to do, or they take greed from the websites or radio stations—media outlets—taking greed in exchange for it, because the caller is charged a fee for the call.
So this call yields profit for them and for the owners of these radio stations or these media outlets. It has become a trade and a manipulation of the dream, which is a true dream. Some of it is self-talk. Some of it is from Satan. Not every dream has an interpretation. The dream must be respected. And it must not be interpreted except by one who is qualified for it.
It is not permissible to make it a source of income, or for boasting, or for the display of the personalities of those who interpret dreams, who want to display their personalities to the people. This is a field in which it is not permissible to manipulate. Also, there is a danger in this, which is causing confusion among the people. People are afflicted with obsessive doubts, and everyone who sees a dream goes to have it interpreted, and perhaps it is interpreted with a frightening interpretation, so panic occurs among the people and fear is instilled in them. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you.
Source
نور على الدرب - الفوزان - 02/245 — archive.org (2:31)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.