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Sahih al-BukhariInterpretation of Dreams

If any of you sees a vision he likes, it is from Allah. So, let him praise Allah for it, and let him recount it. If he sees something else that he dislikes, it is from the devil. So, let him seek refuge from its evil and mention it to no one, for it will not harm him

Chapter: A bad dream should not be told to anybody

Authentic hadith of Sahih al-Bukhari Sahih al-Bukhari 7045

Narrator:Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri

حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ حَمْزَةَ، حَدَّثَنِي ابْنُ أَبِي حَازِمٍ، وَالدَّرَاوَرْدِيُّ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ خَبَّابٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ‏"‏

إِذَا رَأَى أَحَدُكُمُ الرُّؤْيَا يُحِبُّهَا، فَإِنَّهَا مِنَ اللَّهِ، فَلْيَحْمَدِ اللَّهَ عَلَيْهَا، وَلْيُحَدِّثْ بِهَا، وَإِذَا رَأَى غَيْرَ ذَلِكَ مِمَّا يَكْرَهُ، فَإِنَّمَا هِيَ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ، فَلْيَسْتَعِذْ مِنْ شَرِّهَا، وَلاَ يَذْكُرْهَا لأَحَدٍ، فَإِنَّهَا لَنْ تَضُرَّهُ ‏"

Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that he heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) say:

"If any of you sees a vision he likes, it is from Allah. So, let him praise Allah for it, and let him recount it. If he sees something else that he dislikes, it is from the devil. So, let him seek refuge from its evil and mention it to no one, for it will not harm him."

Reported by Al-Bukhari (No. 7045, 6985), At-Tirmidhi (No. 3453) and Ahmad (No. 10632).

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Explanation

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informed that a good and delightful vision during sleep is from Allah. He advised us to praise Allah for it and tell about it. However, if one sees what he dislikes and what is saddening, then it is from the devil. In this case, he should seek refuge with Allah from its evil without mentioning it to anyone, and it will not harm him as Allah has made what is mentioned a means of protection against the harm resulting from such a vision.

Lessons

  • Types of visions: 1- Good vision: This is a true dream and glad tidings from Allah that one sees or that is seen for him. 2- Self-talk: This is something about which one talks to himself when awake. 3- Divilish vision: The devil's attempts to sadden, frighten, and horrify the son of Adam and cause him to experience grief.
  • Based on what is mentioned about the types of good vision, one should do three things: praise Allah for it, take it as a good omen, and talk about it to those he likes, not to those he dislikes.
  • Based on what is mentioned about the etiquette of the disliked vision, one should do five things: seek refuge with Allah from its evil and from the devil's evil, spit three times on his left upon getting up, never mention it to anyone, and in case he wants to go back to sleep, he should sleep on his other side and it will not harm him.
  • Ibn Hajar said: The rationale behind this is that if one recounts the good vision to someone he does not like, that person may interpret it for him in a manner that he dislikes either out of hatred or envy, and it may occur as interpreted, or he may hasten to himself sadness and grief therefrom. Hence, one is commanded not to recount his good vision to those he dislikes.
  • Praising Allah for His blessings and favors, as this leads to their continuity.

Explanation in Arabic

أَخْبَرَ النبيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أنَّ الرؤيا الصالحةَ المُفرِحة في المنام من الله، وأرشد بأنْ يَحمد الله عليها، ويخبر بها، وإذا رأى ما يَكره ويُحزن فإنما هي من الشيطان؛ فليستعذ بالله من شرها، ولا يذكرها لأحد؛ فإنها لا تضره حيث جعل الله ما ذُكر سببًا للسلامة من المكروه المترتِّب على الرؤيا.

  • أقسام الرؤيا: 1- الرؤيا الصالحة، وهي رؤيا حق وبشرى من الله يراها أو تُرى له، 2- حديث النفس وهي ما يحدِّث بها الرجل نفسه في اليقظة، 3- تحزين وتخويف الشيطان وأهاويل منه ليحزن ابن آدم.
  • حاصل ما ذكر من أبواب الرؤيا الصالحة ثلاثة أشياء: أن يحمد الله عليها، وأن يستبشر بها، وأن يتحدث بها لكن لمن يحب دون من يكره.
  • حاصل ما ذكر من أدب الرؤيا المكروهة خمسة أشياء: أن يتعوَّذ بالله من شرها، ومن شر الشيطان، وأن يتفل حين يهب من نومه عن يساره ثلاثا، ولا يذكرها لأحد أصلًا، وإذا أراد أن يرجع لنومه يتحوّل عن جنبه الذي كان عليه؛ فإنها لا تضره.
  • قال ابن حجر: الحكمة فيه أنه إذا حدَّث بالرؤيا الحسنة من لا يحب قد يفسِّرها له بما لا يحب إما بُغضًا وإما حسدًا، فقد تقع على تلك الصفة أو يتعجّل لنفسه من ذلك حُزنًا ونكدًا، فأمر بترك تحديث مَن لا يُحِب بسبب ذلك.
  • الحمد عند حدوث النِّعَم، وتجدد المنن، فذلك سبب لدوامها.

Classical commentary

Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani — Fath al-Bari

قَوْله ( حَدَّثَنَا اِبْن أَبِي حَازِم وَالدَّرَاوَرْدِيّ ) تَقَدَّمَ فِي ( بَاب الرُّؤْيَا مِنْ اللَّهِ ) أَنَّ اِسْم كُلّ مِنْهُمَا عَبْد الْعَزِيز. قَوْله ( حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيد بْن عَبْد اللَّه ) زَادَ فِي رِوَايَة الْمُسْتَمْلِيّ " اِبْن أُسَامَة بْن الْهَادِ اللَّيْثِيِّ " وَقَدْ تَقَدَّمَ شَرْح الْحَدِيث فِي الْبَاب الْمُشَارِ إِلَيْهِ.…

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Scholars’ grades

Grade taken from the status of the collection (Sahih al-Bukhari).

Other versions

Authentic Sahih al-Bukhari 6985

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "If anyone of you sees a dream that he likes, then it is from Allah, and he should thank Allah for it and narrate it to others; but if he sees something else, i.e., a dream that he dislikes, then it is from Satan, and he should seek refuge with Allah from its evil, and he…

إِذَا رَأَى أَحَدُكُمْ رُؤْيَا يُحِبُّهَا فَإِنَّمَا هِيَ مِنَ اللَّهِ، فَلْيَحْمَدِ اللَّهَ عَلَيْهَا، وَلْيُحَدِّثْ بِهَا، وَإِذَا رَأَى غَيْرَ ذَلِكَ مِمَّا يَكْرَهُ، فَإِنَّمَا هِيَ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ، فَلْيَسْتَعِذْ…

Narrated by Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri

Authentic Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3453

He heard the Prophet saying: “When one of you sees a dream that he likes, then it is from Allah, so let him praise Allah for it, and speak concerning what he saw. And when he sees other than that of what he dislikes, then it is from Shaitan, so let him seek refuge in Allah from its evil, and not…

"‏ إِذَا رَأَى أَحَدُكُمُ الرُّؤْيَا يُحِبُّهَا فَإِنَّمَا هِيَ مِنَ اللَّهِ فَلْيَحْمَدِ اللَّهَ عَلَيْهَا وَلْيُحَدِّثْ بِمَا رَأَى وَإِذَا رَأَى غَيْرَ ذَلِكَ مِمَّا يَكْرَهُ فَإِنَّمَا هِيَ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ…

Narrated by Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri

Not graded Riyad as-Salihin 840

I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) saying, "When one of you sees a dream that he likes, then it is from Allah. He should praise Allah for it and relate it to (others)." Another narration adds: Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) said, "He should not report it except to those whom he loves. And if he sees one which he…

"‏إذا رأى أحدكم رؤيا يحبها، فإنما هي من الله تعالى، فليحمد الله عليها، وليحدث بها -وفى رواية، فلا يحدث بها إلا من يحب- وإذا رأى غير ذلك مما يكره، فإنما هي من الشيطان، فليستعذ من شرها، ولا يذكرها لأحد، فإنها لا تضره‏"

Narrated by Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri

Also reported by… (5)
  • السنن الكبرى للنسائي (7347)إِذَا رَأَى أَحَدُكُمُ الرُّؤْيَا يُحِبُّهَا ، فَإِنَّما هِيَ مِنَ اللَّهِ ، فَلْيَحْمَدِ اللَّهَ عَلَيْها ، وَلْيُحَدِّثْ بِها ، وَإِنْ رَأَى غَيْرَ ذَلِكَ مِمَّا يَكْرَهُ ، فَإِنَّمَا هِيَ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ ، فَلْيَسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ شَرِّهَا ، وَلا يَذْكُرْهَا لأَحَدٍ ، فَإِنَّهَا لا تَضُرُّ
  • السنن الكبرى للنسائي (10243)إِذَا رَأَى أَحَدُكُمُ الرُّؤْيَا يُحِبُّهَا فَإِنَّمَا هِيَ مِنَ اللَّهِ ، فَلْيَحْمَدِ اللَّهَ عَلَيْهَا ، وَلْيُحَدِّثْ بِهَا ، وَإِذَا رَأَى غَيْرَ ذَلِكَ مِمَّا يَكْرَهُهُ ، فَإِنَّمَا هِيَ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ ، فَلْيَسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ شَرِّهَا ، وَلا يَذْكُرْهَا لأَحَدٍ ، فَإِنَّهَا لا تَض
  • المستدرك على الصحيحين (8251)إِذَا رَأَى أَحَدُكُمُ الرُّؤْيَا يُحِبُّهَا ، فَإِنَّمَا هِيَ مِنَ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى ، فَلْيَحْمَدِ اللَّهَ عَلَيْهَا ، وَلْيُحَدِّثْ بِمَا رَأَى ، وَإِذَا رَأَى غَيْرَ ذَلِكَ مِمَّا يَكْرَهُ ، فَإِنَّمَا هِيَ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ ، فَلْيَسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ شَرِّهَا ، وَلا يَذْكُرْهَا لأَحَدٍ ، فَ
  • عمل اليوم والليلة لابن السني (762)إِذَا رَأَى أَحَدُكُمُ الرُّؤْيَايُحِبُّهَا فَإِنَّمَا هِيَ مِنَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ ، فَلْيَحْمَدِ اللَّهَ عَلَيْهَا ، وَلْيُحَدِّثْ بِهَا ، فَإِذَا رَأَى غَيْرَ ذَلِكَ مِمَّا يَكْرَهُ فَإِنَّمَا هِيَ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ ، فَلْيَسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ شَرِّهَا ، وَلا يَذْكُرْهَا لأَحَدٍ ، فَإِنَّه
  • مسند أبي يعلى الموصلي (1355)إِذَا رَأَى أَحَدُكُمْ رُؤْيَا يُحِبُّهَا فَإِنَّهَا مِنَ اللَّهِ ، فَلْيَحْمَدِ اللَّهَ عَلَيْهَا وَلْيُحَدِّثْ بِهَا ، وَإِذَا رَأَى غَيرَ ذَلِكَ مِمَّا يَكْرَهُ فَإِنَّهَا مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ فَلْيَسْتَعِذْ مِنْ شَرِّهَا ، وَلا يَذْكُرْهَا لأَحَدٍ فَإِنَّهَا لَنْ تَضُرَّهُ

On the same subject

Not graded Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Riyad as-Salihin 841

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "A good vision (dream) is from Allah and a bad dream is from the Satan. He who sees something in a dream that he dislikes, should blow thrice on his left, must seek Allah's Refuge from the evil of the Satan (i.e., by saying: A'udhu billahi minash-Shaitanir-Rajim). Then it will…

"‏الرؤيا الصالحة -وفى رواية‏:‏ الرؤيا الحسنة- من الله، والحلم من الشيطان، فمن رأى شيئاً يكره فلينفث عن شماله ثلاثاً، وليتعوذ من الشيطان فإنها لا تضره‏"

Narrated by Abu Qatāda + 19 other versions

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 7044

I used to see a dream which would make me sick till I heard Abu Qatada saying, "I too, used to see a dream which would make me sick till I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) saying, "A good dream is from Allah, so if anyone of you saw a dream which he liked, he should not tell it to anybody except to the one…

الرُّؤْيَا الْحَسَنَةُ مِنَ اللَّهِ، فَإِذَا رَأَى أَحَدُكُمْ مَا يُحِبُّ فَلاَ يُحَدِّثْ بِهِ إِلاَّ مَنْ يُحِبُّ، وَإِذَا رَأَى مَا يَكْرَهُ فَلْيَتَعَوَّذْ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ شَرِّهَا، وَمِنْ شَرِّ الشَّيْطَانِ…

Narrated by Abu Qatāda + 4 other versions

Authentic Sahih Muslim 2261f

The good vision are from Allah and the evil dreams are from the satan. If one sees a dream which one does not like, one should spit on one's left side and seek the refuge of Allah from the satan; it will not do one any harm, and one should not disclose it to anyone and if one sees a good vision one…

الرُّؤْيَا الصَّالِحَةُ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَالرُّؤْيَا السَّوْءُ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ فَمَنْ رَأَى رُؤْيَا فَكَرِهَ مِنْهَا شَيْئًا فَلْيَنْفِثْ عَنْ يَسَارِهِ وَلْيَتَعَوَّذْ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ لاَ تَضُرُّهُ وَلاَ…

Narrated by Abu Qatāda

Authentic Sunan Ibn Majah 3906

“Dreams are of three types: Glad tidings from Allah, what is on a person’s mind, and frightening dreams from Satan. If any of you sees a dream that he likes, let him tell others of it if he wishes, but if he sees something that he dislikes, he should not tell anyone about it, and he should get up…

"‏ الرُّؤْيَا ثَلاَثٌ فَبُشْرَى مِنَ اللَّهِ وَحَدِيثُ النَّفْسِ وَتَخْوِيفٌ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ فَإِذَا رَأَى أَحَدُكُمْ رُؤْيَا تُعْجِبُهُ فَلْيَقُصَّهَا إِنْ شَاءَ وَإِنْ رَأَى شَيْئًا يَكْرَهُهُ فَلاَ يَقُصَّهُ عَلَى…

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah + 1 other version

Authentic Sunan Ibn Majah 3907

“Dreams are of three types: Some are terrifying things from Satan, aimed at causing grief to the son of Adam; some are things that a person is concerned with when he is awake, so he sees them in his dreams; and some are a part of the forty-six parts of prophecy.” He said: “I said to him: ‘Did you…

"‏ إِنَّ الرُّؤْيَا ثَلاَثٌ مِنْهَا أَهَاوِيلُ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ لِيَحْزُنَ بِهَا ابْنَ آدَمَ وَمِنْهَا مَا يَهُمُّ بِهِ الرَّجُلُ فِي يَقَظَتِهِ فَيَرَاهُ فِي مَنَامِهِ وَمِنْهَا جُزْءٌ مِنْ سِتَّةٍ وَأَرْبَعِينَ…

Narrated by Awf ibn Mālik

Authentic Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2280

"Dreams are of three types: The true dream, dreams about something that has happened to the man himself, and dreams in which the Shaitan frightens someone. So whoever sees what he dislikes, then he should get up and perform Salah." And he would say: "I like fetters and I dislike the iron collar."…

"‏ الرُّؤْيَا ثَلاَثٌ فَرُؤْيَا حَقٌّ وَرُؤْيَا يُحَدِّثُ بِهَا الرَّجُلُ نَفْسَهُ وَرُؤْيَا تَحْزِينٌ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ فَمَنْ رَأَى مَا يَكْرَهُ فَلْيَقُمْ فَلْيُصَلِّ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

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