A person may see some disturbing dreams while sleeping and see some people he knows; is this Satan taking the form of these people?
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The questioner : This questioner says: A person may see some disturbing dreams while sleeping and see some people he knows; is this Satan taking the form of these people? Then what should one do if he sees in a dream that he committed a sin, or a major one among the major sins?
The Shaykh : Yes, visions are of three types: a type from Allah the Exalted, a type from Satan, and a type from the talk of the self.
As for those from Allah the Exalted, they are the true vision, which has a meaning and points to something. These are from Allah the Exalted. They may be a warning to a person about something he is doing that is forbidden, or a stirring of his soul, resolve, and strength if he is neglecting an obligatory duty.
As for those from Satan, they are those that are not appropriate and cannot happen, or are disturbing and terrifying.
An example of the first is what one of the Companions related to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), where he said: "O Messenger of Allah, I saw in a dream that my head was cut off and it went running, so I went after it, running after it—this is not reasonable—so the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:."
Also included in this is seeing very terrifying things that have no basis; this is also from Satan, because Satan loves to bring sadness, worry, and grief upon the children of Adam. Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Mujadila 58:10].
As for that which is from the talk of the self, this happens often. A person often talks himself into something, or deals with something, and then sees in a dream that he did it. This is from the talk of the self and has no ruling.
In the first case, regarding the vision from Allah, a person acts according to its implications. He is pleased by it if it is good news, and he is alert if it is a warning.
In the second case, if he sees what he dislikes, let him 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; he does not present it to anyone to interpret and explain it, but rather he forgets it.
As for the third, which is idle talk, this is idle talk with no ruling. It is what a person sees in his sleep from what passes through his day or his night.
The Shaykh : Yes, visions are of three types: a type from Allah the Exalted, a type from Satan, and a type from the talk of the self.
As for those from Allah the Exalted, they are the true vision, which has a meaning and points to something. These are from Allah the Exalted. They may be a warning to a person about something he is doing that is forbidden, or a stirring of his soul, resolve, and strength if he is neglecting an obligatory duty.
As for those from Satan, they are those that are not appropriate and cannot happen, or are disturbing and terrifying.
An example of the first is what one of the Companions related to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), where he said: "O Messenger of Allah, I saw in a dream that my head was cut off and it went running, so I went after it, running after it—this is not reasonable—so the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Do not tell people about Satan’s playing with you in your sleep.
لا تحدث الناس بتلاعب الشيطان بك في منامكAlso included in this is seeing very terrifying things that have no basis; this is also from Satan, because Satan loves to bring sadness, worry, and grief upon the children of Adam. Allah the Exalted said:
Private conversation is only from Satan that he may grieve those who have believed, but he will not harm them at all except by permission of Allah
إنما النجوى من الشيطان ليحزن الذين آمنوا وليس بضارهم شيئا إلا بإذن اللهAs for that which is from the talk of the self, this happens often. A person often talks himself into something, or deals with something, and then sees in a dream that he did it. This is from the talk of the self and has no ruling.
In the first case, regarding the vision from Allah, a person acts according to its implications. He is pleased by it if it is good news, and he is alert if it is a warning.
In the second case, if he sees what he dislikes, let him 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; he does not present it to anyone to interpret and explain it, but rather he forgets it.
As for the third, which is idle talk, this is idle talk with no ruling. It is what a person sees in his sleep from what passes through his day or his night.