Are there any Shari'ah guidelines for interpreting visions and dreams, or does it depend on the person's innate ability?
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The questioner : Your Eminence, what is your opinion of those who say that dream interpretation depends on the person's innate ability, or are there Shari'ah guidelines for interpreting visions and dreams?
The Shaykh : Yes, that is correct. The interpretation of a vision is not an acquired skill, but rather something that Allah casts into the heart of a person. That is why you find some interpreters who are ignorant and know nothing of the religion, yet they still interpret dreams. With practice, it can become an acquired skill, but there are no fixed rules for a person to follow, because he may make many errors in application. The image of a vision may be the same, yet it differs greatly depending on the dreamer and his circumstances. It varies, but what I advise our brothers is not to pay too much attention to this matter, because if they pay too much attention to it, Satan will play with them in their sleep, showing them a vision every night that frightens them, and then they seek someone to interpret it. Turning away from this is much better. If he sees something he dislikes, he should not try to have it interpreted, but rather do as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded: spit to his left three times and say, "I seek refuge in Allah from the evil of Satan and from the evil of what I saw," and he should not tell anyone about it. In that case, it will not harm him in any way.
The Shaykh : Yes, that is correct. The interpretation of a vision is not an acquired skill, but rather something that Allah casts into the heart of a person. That is why you find some interpreters who are ignorant and know nothing of the religion, yet they still interpret dreams. With practice, it can become an acquired skill, but there are no fixed rules for a person to follow, because he may make many errors in application. The image of a vision may be the same, yet it differs greatly depending on the dreamer and his circumstances. It varies, but what I advise our brothers is not to pay too much attention to this matter, because if they pay too much attention to it, Satan will play with them in their sleep, showing them a vision every night that frightens them, and then they seek someone to interpret it. Turning away from this is much better. If he sees something he dislikes, he should not try to have it interpreted, but rather do as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded: spit to his left three times and say, "I seek refuge in Allah from the evil of Satan and from the evil of what I saw," and he should not tell anyone about it. In that case, it will not harm him in any way.