How authentic are dream interpretation books, such as Ibn Sirin's book of dream interpretation, especially given that they link dreams to matters of lifespan, sustenance, good, and
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The questioner : The listener M.J.A. from Jordan says: After thanking Allah (Mighty and Majestic), I thank you for this beneficial program. I would like to inquire about the following: First, I would like to ask about the authenticity of dream interpretation books, such as Ibn Sirin's book of dream interpretation, especially given that they link dreams to matters of lifespan, sustenance, good, and evil. What is the ruling on believing in and dealing with these books, knowing that they contain and rely, in some cases, on verses from the Qur'an and hadiths from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)?
The Shaykh : The answer to this is that I advise my Muslim brothers to avoid these books; they should not acquire them nor read them, because they are not revealed revelation, but rather opinions that may be correct or may be incorrect. Furthermore, visions may share the same form but differ in their reality depending on who saw them, the time, and the place. If we see a vision with a specific form, it does not mean that every time we see a vision with that form, its interpretation will be the same as the first vision. Rather, it differs. We might interpret a vision for one person as such, and interpret the same vision for another person in a way that contradicts that. If this is the case, I advise my Muslim brothers to avoid acquiring these books and reading them. I say: If a person has a vision, let him follow what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) guided him to. If he sees a good vision that he likes and interprets it as good, let him tell it to those he loves, such as seeing a vision where a man says to him, "Rejoice in Paradise," or something similar; let him tell it to those he loves. If he sees a vision he dislikes, let him say, "I seek refuge in Allah from the evil of Satan and from the evil of what I saw," and let him not tell it to anyone, whether a passerby or not. Let him turn to the other side if he wakes up. If he does what the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded regarding a disliked vision, it will never harm him. For this reason, the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) would see visions they disliked and would be afflicted by them until the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) narrated this hadith to them, and may Allah reward him well for his Ummah. So they acted according to what the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) guided them to, and they were safe from its evil. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : The answer to this is that I advise my Muslim brothers to avoid these books; they should not acquire them nor read them, because they are not revealed revelation, but rather opinions that may be correct or may be incorrect. Furthermore, visions may share the same form but differ in their reality depending on who saw them, the time, and the place. If we see a vision with a specific form, it does not mean that every time we see a vision with that form, its interpretation will be the same as the first vision. Rather, it differs. We might interpret a vision for one person as such, and interpret the same vision for another person in a way that contradicts that. If this is the case, I advise my Muslim brothers to avoid acquiring these books and reading them. I say: If a person has a vision, let him follow what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) guided him to. If he sees a good vision that he likes and interprets it as good, let him tell it to those he loves, such as seeing a vision where a man says to him, "Rejoice in Paradise," or something similar; let him tell it to those he loves. If he sees a vision he dislikes, let him say, "I seek refuge in Allah from the evil of Satan and from the evil of what I saw," and let him not tell it to anyone, whether a passerby or not. Let him turn to the other side if he wakes up. If he does what the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded regarding a disliked vision, it will never harm him. For this reason, the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) would see visions they disliked and would be afflicted by them until the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) narrated this hadith to them, and may Allah reward him well for his Ummah. So they acted according to what the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) guided them to, and they were safe from its evil. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.