Differentiating Between Dreams from Allah سبحانه و تعالى , Shaitan and Nafs
Posted by Mohammad Awais Tahir
C- Subcategories Within Different Types Of Dreams:
(1)Dreams from Allah سبحانه و تعالى: It is not possible to give a finite number of types of dreams within the categories.Scholars who have written about dreams have mentioned different sub-categories. In type 1 dreams, the diversity of dreams makes it impossible to give a finite list of subcategories which encompass all the dreams seen by the Sahaba, Tabi'een and the pious predecessors which were surely dreams from Allah سبحانه و تعالى. Nevertheless, Al Muhallab رحمه الله has given two broad sub-categories of dreams from Allahسبحانه و تعالى:
(a)Direct dream: something one would see in a dream and the exact scene repeats itself in day-time when you are awake and this dream does not need interpretation.
(b) A dream the comes in symbols and it needs to be interpreted.(Fath ul Baari) Different examples of dreams from Allah within type (a) are :
(i) True Dreams ( رؤيا صادق): Dreams that become a reality. These are the dreams which are the 46 part of prophethood, for the prophet Muhammad had these dreams continously for six months and the total period of his prophethood was 23 years, which makes it 46th part of the total. Different prophets has different periods of Prophethood, but as prophet Muhammad's prophethood was the most complete, hence it is referred to as the 46th part of prophethood, and Allah Knows best.
(ii) Meeting the Arwaah of the Dead in dreams
(iii) Meeting the Arwaah of the living in dreams : Is it possible for two living person's ruh to meet in dreams? This is a subject of difference amongst scholars and Ibn al Qayyim has quoted the various opinions in his book Kitab ur Ruh.
(iv) Glad tidings (مبشرات): A glad tiding for some victory or fulfillment of wish in near or distant future. (See Reference # 9)etc.
Dream from type (b) are actually: Tamseelat (تمثيلات); Dreams which don't convey a clear cut meaning. They are messages in a code superior to that which the brain can cope with. These have to be interpreted through the knowledge of Ta'beer. Within Tamseelat we can have dream which inform us of some near future happening. One can also have dreams that are for distant future (like the dream of Yusuf AS, See reference # 2). Also,these dreams might serve as an encouragement or some warning sometimes.
Note:The sleep of Prophets is unique. As we know the Prophet Muhammad informed us that his 'heart' remained awake even when he slept, so he didn't need to redo ablution on waking up from sleep. Also, he informed us that Allah سبحانه و تعالى fed him during the night, for that reason he kept 'Sawm Al Wisal', which is forbidden for others. So, though prophets are human beings like us but in some regards 'none of us is like them'. Also, Prophet Muhammad informed us that there is a shaitan (jinn) with everyone, but he made the jinn with him a Muslim, by the grace of Allah سبحانه و تعالى. So, the dreams the Prophet had always used to be from Allah. Also, the dreams of Prophets used to be an order from Allah, and were of a legal importance unlike the dream of anyone of us (See Reference # 5).
(2) Dreams from Shaitan: These can be further categorized as:
(a) Dreams which try to make one worried by evoking some fear
(b) Dreams which try to make one worried by evoking hopelessness
(c) Dreams which contain indecency etc.
(3)Dreams from Nafs: Dreams from Nafs also can be categorized as either those who are clear-cut or those who appear in the form of symbols and signs.
(a) As a result of some fear
(b) As a result of constant thinking on some subject
(c) As a result of some extreme pending wish
(d) As a result of some experience you had in near or distant past
(e) Some embedded thought or feeling in corner of mind taking some random shape during dream
(g) As a result of some extreme love or hatred towards someone
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