What is the criterion for interpreting dreams?
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The questioner : The first question is about dreams.
The Shaykh : As for dreams, the criterion in them is what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) guided us to: if a person sees something that pleases him, he should tell it to someone he loves and not tell it to someone he does not love, because they might plot against him, just as the brothers of Yusuf plotted against Yusuf. And if he sees something he dislikes, he should get up, spit to his left three times, and say: "O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the evil of Shaytan and from the evil of what I saw." Then he should turn over to his other side and not tell anyone about it, for it will not harm him. So these are four things: spitting to the left, seeking refuge in Allah from the evil of Shaytan and the evil of what he saw, turning over to the other side, and not telling anyone about it. Because if he tells someone about it and then they interpret it, meaning they explain it, it will come to pass. For as long as a vision is not interpreted, it does not come to pass except by the permission of Allah. But once it is interpreted, it comes to pass.
So I fear that someone among the people might interpret it in a disliked manner, and then it will come to pass.
The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) said: due to the severity of its effect on them. When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) told them this hadith and mentioned this remedy to them, they were relieved. So when a person sees something he dislikes, he acts according to what the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) guided him to, and he is relieved.
And let him know that Shaytan takes the form of a person while he is sleeping, showing him what he dislikes and telling him things he dislikes in order to bring sadness upon him. This is because Shaytan loves to bring sadness and gloom upon a person and not to let a person be pleased with anything, because he is an enemy. Allah the Exalted said:[Fatir 35:6].
So if he is an enemy who loves what makes the children of Adam miserable and dislikes what pleases them, and he is able to take the form of a person in his sleep, then he will take the form of a person in his sleep showing him what he dislikes until he becomes sad.
But praise be to Allah, Allah the Exalted has not sent down a disease except that He has made a cure for it. The cure for a disliked dream is what I mentioned just now: that he should get up, spit to his left three times, and say: "I seek refuge in Allah from the evil of Shaytan and from the evil of what I saw." Then he should turn over to the other side—peace be upon you—and not tell anyone. Yes.
The questioner : The question, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The Shaykh : As for dreams, the criterion in them is what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) guided us to: if a person sees something that pleases him, he should tell it to someone he loves and not tell it to someone he does not love, because they might plot against him, just as the brothers of Yusuf plotted against Yusuf. And if he sees something he dislikes, he should get up, spit to his left three times, and say: "O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the evil of Shaytan and from the evil of what I saw." Then he should turn over to his other side and not tell anyone about it, for it will not harm him. So these are four things: spitting to the left, seeking refuge in Allah from the evil of Shaytan and the evil of what he saw, turning over to the other side, and not telling anyone about it. Because if he tells someone about it and then they interpret it, meaning they explain it, it will come to pass. For as long as a vision is not interpreted, it does not come to pass except by the permission of Allah. But once it is interpreted, it comes to pass.
So I fear that someone among the people might interpret it in a disliked manner, and then it will come to pass.
The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) said:
We used to see dreams and we would be afflicted for days
كنا نرى الرؤيا فنُمرَض أياماAnd let him know that Shaytan takes the form of a person while he is sleeping, showing him what he dislikes and telling him things he dislikes in order to bring sadness upon him. This is because Shaytan loves to bring sadness and gloom upon a person and not to let a person be pleased with anything, because he is an enemy. Allah the Exalted said:
Indeed, Satan is an enemy to you; so take him as an enemy. He only invites his party to be among the companions of the Blaze.
إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ فَاتَّخِذُوهُ عَدُوّاً إِنَّمَا يَدْعُو حِزْبَهُ لِيَكُونُوا مِنْ أَصْحَابِ السَّعِيرِSo if he is an enemy who loves what makes the children of Adam miserable and dislikes what pleases them, and he is able to take the form of a person in his sleep, then he will take the form of a person in his sleep showing him what he dislikes until he becomes sad.
But praise be to Allah, Allah the Exalted has not sent down a disease except that He has made a cure for it. The cure for a disliked dream is what I mentioned just now: that he should get up, spit to his left three times, and say: "I seek refuge in Allah from the evil of Shaytan and from the evil of what I saw." Then he should turn over to the other side—peace be upon you—and not tell anyone. Yes.
The questioner : The question, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Yes.