What is the difference between a vision and a dream, and what is your opinion of books on dream interpretation?
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The questioner : This questioner, Abd al-Rahman, asks for clarification on the difference between a vision (ru'ya) and a dream (hulm), and what your opinion is of books on dream interpretation.
The Shaykh : A vision is one of forty-six parts of prophecy, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) informed us. A dream is from Shaytan. A dream is from Shaytan; he strikes examples for the sleeper that he sees in his sleep.
The general rule is that whatever a person dislikes in what he sees in his sleep is from Shaytan. Shaytan strikes examples for the sleeper in matters that disturb him and that he dislikes, in order to bring him sadness and grief. This is because Shaytan is an enemy, and an enemy loves what harms his enemy. The evidence for this is the saying of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He:[Fatir 35:6] and the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Al-Mujadila 58:10] The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) informed us that a dream is from Shaytan and commanded the one who sees what he dislikes to spit to his left three times, seek refuge in Allah from the evil of what he saw and from the evil of Shaytan, turn over to the other side, and not tell anyone about it. He informed us that if he does this, what he saw in his sleep will not harm him.
So if you see a dream and you see that it has no basis, no origin, and no purpose, or you see that it saddens you, know that it is from Shaytan. A man mentioned to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that he saw in his sleep that his head had been cut off and that he went running hard after his head, meaning his head was cut off and the head ran away while he was running after it. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: because this is not reasonable and has no purpose. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : A vision is one of forty-six parts of prophecy, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) informed us. A dream is from Shaytan. A dream is from Shaytan; he strikes examples for the sleeper that he sees in his sleep.
The general rule is that whatever a person dislikes in what he sees in his sleep is from Shaytan. Shaytan strikes examples for the sleeper in matters that disturb him and that he dislikes, in order to bring him sadness and grief. This is because Shaytan is an enemy, and an enemy loves what harms his enemy. The evidence for this is the saying of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He:
Indeed, Satan is an enemy to you; so take him as an enemy.
إن الشيطان لكم عدو فاتخذوه عدواPrivate conversation is only from Satan that he may grieve those who have believed
إنما النجوى من الشيطان ليحزن الذين ءامنواSo if you see a dream and you see that it has no basis, no origin, and no purpose, or you see that it saddens you, know that it is from Shaytan. A man mentioned to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that he saw in his sleep that his head had been cut off and that he went running hard after his head, meaning his head was cut off and the head ran away while he was running after it. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Do not tell people about Satan’s play with you in your sleep
لا تحدّث الناس بتلاعب الشيطان بك في منامكThe questioner : May Allah bless you.