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E- Differentiating between the three types of dreams
Ibn Qutaybah ad-Dinawari ﻪﻣﺣﺭﷲ says in his book about dream interpretations, "There is nothing in which people deal with from the different sciences that is more obscure, delicate, exalted, noble, difficult and problematic than dreams because they are a type of revelation and type of Prophethood."
We are living in an age where the knowledge of the material world is increasing exponentially, rendering it impossible for a person to grasp even a tiny portion of it in totality. And as for the knowledge of metaphysical dimensions, we are far behind the people of the past.
We see Yaqub ﻪﻳﻠﻋﻡﻼﺳﻟﺍ forbidding Yusuf ﻪﻳﻠﻋﻡﻼﺳﻟﺍ to narrate his dream to his brothers, because even those deviant kids had knowledge to take out some meaning from the dream (See Reference # 2). And in the age of ours, we tend to wobble at even the first step of interpretation,that is to know whether the dream needs an interpretation or not, which used to be a child play in the times that have passed. As elaborated above one needs to know whether the dream is meaningful or a meaningless one because one's reaction to the dream depends on this. Realizing, the importance of the topic we will try to list down mandatory and probable characteristics of the three types of dreams. Before we go on with the list few points are to be clarified :
1- We are not discussing the topic of interpretation of dreams, rather, we are dealing with a topic, a satisfactory grasp of which is a must have for interpretation. Hence, we are dealing with a prerequisite of science of interpretation of dreams.
2- We will try to list down mandatory and probable characteristics of the three types of dreams. For a dream to belong to a particular type it should possess all the mandatory characteristics but it may or may not possess all the probable characteristics. Hence, instead of getting confused on comparing one's dream to few of the listed characteristics. One should go through the whole list to have conviction on his filtration.
3- Books written on the topics of interpretation of dreams do mention the characteristics of the three types of dreams, but all the characteristics are mentioned as mandatory ones, which might not be the case always. Hence, the set of rules given fails some times, and makes the dreamer confused. The idea of mandatory and probable characteristics is unique in this regard.
4- The purpose of this list is not to be able to identify any dream as type 1, 2 or 3. Rather, the main idea is to be able to filter out dreams of type 1 from the remaining two.
5- Many ahadith mention only two types of dreams that is ﺎﻳﺅﺭﻟﺍ and ﻡﻠﺣﻟﺍ , and do not draw any line between type2 and type 3. The reason being, the thin differentiating line between these two types. Many a times dreams are so jumbled out that one can't figure out different between type 2 and type 3. Also, it is needless to differentiate between type 2 and type 3 as both are meaningless.
6- Nevertheless, we will mention all the characteristics for the three under different headings. For our ease in future, we should take them just as characteristics of true (type 1) and false (type 2 and 3) dreams in future. One should develop his own two column table of these characteristics. This exercise is left to the individuals because dreams have a lot to do with one's own orientation and thinking and sleeping patterns.
7- As a rule, one should ponder over, care for and relate only those dreams which pass through the complete filter (the list you tabulated yourself), and the dreamer has conviction that this surely was a true dream (type1).
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
This is a list of Ayaat of Holy
Qur'an and the Ahadith of Prophet Muhammad SAW. This set of references will aid
us in understanding the subject of dreams better. This set of references has
been collected in order to understand better how to differentiate between the
different types of dreams.
(11) Ata
ibn Yasar narrated: A man from Egypt asked Sayyidina Abu Darda (RA) about those
words of Allah the Majestic, the Glorious: 'For them are glad tidings in the
life of this world.' (10: 64) He said, "No one besides you and one other
man has asked me to explain this verse since I had asked Allah's Messenger
(SAW) about it. When I had asked him, Allah Messenger (SAW) also disclosed that
no one has asked him besides me since the verse was revealed. It means good
dreams that a Muslim sees or is shown them".
(Jami
Tirmidhi , Classified as Sahih by Al-Albani)
(12)
Narrated 'Aisha: The commencement of the Divine Inspiration to Allah's Apostle
was in the form of good righteous (true) dreams in his sleep. He never had a
dream but that it came true like bright day light.
(Sahih Al
Bukhari)
(13)
Narrated Anas bin Malik: Allah's Apostle said, "A good dream (ﺔﻧﺳﺣﻟﺍﺎﻳﺅﺭﻟﺍ) of a righteous man is one of forty-six
parts of prophetism."
(Sahih Al
Bukhari)
(14)
Narrated Abu Qatada: The Prophet said, "A true good dream (ﺔﻗﺩﺎﺻﻟﺍﺎﻳﺅﺭﻟﺍ) is from Allah, and a bad dream (ﻡﻠﺣﻟﺍ) is from Satan ."
(Sahih Al
Bukhari)
(15)
Narrated Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri: The Prophet 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 should not mention it to anybody, for it will not harm him."
(Sahih Al
Bukhari)
(16)
Narrated Abu Qatada: The Prophet said, "A good dream that comes true is
from Allah, and a bad dream is from Satan, so if anyone of you sees a bad
dream, he should seek refuge with Allah from Satan and should spit on the left,
for the bad dream will not harm him."
Sahih Al
Bukhari)
(17)
Narrated 'Ubada bin As-Samit: The Prophet said, "The (good) dreams (ﻥﻣﺅﻣﻟﺍﺎﻳﺅﺭ) of a faithful believer are a part of the forty-six
parts of prophetism"
(Sahih Al
Bukhari)
(18)
Narrated Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri: I heard Allah's Apostle saying, "A good
dream (ﺔﺣﻟﺎﺻﻟﺍﺎﻳﺅﺭﻟﺍ) is a part of the forty six parts of
prophetism."
(Sahih Al
Bukhari)
(19)
Narrated Abu Huraira: I heard Allah's Apostle saying, "Nothing is left of
the prophetism except Al-Mubashshirat." They asked, "What are
Al-Mubashshirat?" He replied, "The true good dreams (that conveys
glad tidings) (ﺔﺣِﻟﺎﺻﻟﺍﺎﻳﺅﺭﻟﺍ)".
(Sahih Al
Bukhari)
(20)
Sayyidina Abu Razin Uqayli (RA) reported that Allah's Messenger (SAW) said, the
dream of the believer is a part of the forty parts of Prophet Hood. It is at
the feet of a bird as long as he does not speak about it. When be speaks about
it, it settles". The narrator thought that the Prophet (SAW) said,
"Talk not about it except to an intelligent person or to a friend".
(Jami
Tirmidhi , Classified as Sahih by Al-Albani )
(21)
Sayyidina Abu Razin Uqayli (RA) reported that the Prophet (SAW) said, "A
Muslim's dream is a part of the forty six parts of Prophet Hood. It is on the
foot of a bird as long as he does not relate it. But when he relates it, it
settles".
(Jami
Tirmidhi , Classified as Sahih by Al-Albani )
(22)
Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that Allah's Messenger (SAW) said, "As
the time draws near, the dream of a believer will not be false and the truest
dream will be of one who is truest in speech. And, the dream of the Muslim is a
portion of the forty-six portions of Prophet Hood. And dreams are of three
kinds: good dreams are glad tidings from Allah, sad dreams are from the devil
and there are dreams about what man experiences with himself. So, when one of
you sees a dream that he does not like then he must stand up and spit (out to a
side) and he must not mention it to the people". He also said, "I
love to see a chain in my dream because the noblest fetters are to be steadfast
in religion and I hate the fetters in the neck".
(Jami Tirmidhi)
(23)
Sayyidina Anas ibn Malik (RA) reported that Allah's Messenger said,
"Indeed, messenger ship and Prophet Hood have ceased. So, there is no
Messenger after me and no Prophet (SAW)". That seemed hard on the people.
So he added, "But the mubashirat (glad tidings)". The sahabah said,
"O Messenger of Allah, (SAW) and what are the mubashirat (glad
tidings)?" He said, "Dreams of a Muslim and they are a portion of the
portions of Prophet Hood".
(Jami
Tirmidhi, Classified as Sahih by Al-Albani)
(24)
Sayyidina Abu Sa'eed reported that the Prophet (SAW) said, 'The truest of
dreams are those seen a little before dawn'.
(Jami
Tirmidhi , Classified as Da'eef by Al-Albani)
(25)
Sayyidina Abdullah (RA) reported that the Prophet (SAW) said, "He who sees
me in a dream has indeed seen me, for the devil does not take up my
appearance".
(Jami
Tirmidhi , Classified as Da'eef by Al-Albani)
(26) Narrated
Abu Qatada: The Prophet said, "A good dream is from Allah, and a bad dream
is from Satan. So whoever has seen (in a dream) something he dislike, then he should
spit without saliva, thrice on his left and seek refuge with Allah from Satan,
for it will not harm him, and Satan cannot appear in my shape ."
(Sahih Al
Bukhari)
(27) Narrated
Abu Huraira: I heard the Prophet saying, "Whoever sees me in a dream will
see me in his wakefulness, and Satan cannot imitate me in shape." Abu
'Abdullah said, "Ibn Sirin said, 'Only if he sees the Prophet in his
(real) shape.'"
(Sahih Al
Bukhari)
(28)
Narrated Abu Qatada: The Prophet said, "Whoever sees me (in a dream) then
he indeed has seen the truth."
(Sahih Al
Bukhari)
(29) Abu
Huraira reported: I heard Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying:
He who saw me in a dream would soon see me in the state of wakefulness, or as
if he saw me in a state of wakefulness, for the satan does not appear in my
form.
(Sahih Al
Muslim)
(30) Jabir
reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: He who saw me in
sleep in fact saw me, for it is not possible for the satan to appear in my
form; and he also said: When any one of you sees a hulm (dream) he should not
inform anyone, for it is a sort of vain sport of devil in the state of sleep.
(Sahih Al
Muslim)
(31)
Narrated Abu Salama: 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 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 whom he loves, and if he saw a dream which he disliked, then
he should seek refuge with Allah from its evil and from the evil of Satan, and
spit three times (on his left) and should not tell it to anybody, for it will
not harm him. "
(Sahih Al
Bukhari)
(32) Abu
Qatada reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: A good
vision is from Allah and a bad dream (hulm) is from the satan; so if one of you
sees anything in a dream which he dislikes, he should spit on his left side
thrice and seek refuge with Allah from its evil, and then it will never harm
him. Abu Salama said: I used to see dreams weighing more heavily upon me than a
mountain; but since I heard this hadith I don't care for it (its burden).
(Sahih Al
Muslim)
(33) Abu
Salama reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: I used to
see dreams, but the hadith transmitted on the authority of Laith b. Nu'man, the
words of Abu Salama at the concluding part of the hadith are not mentioned. Ibn
Rumh has reported in the hadith: "He (one who sleeps) should change the side
on which he had been lying before."
(Sahih Al
Muslim)
(34) Abu
Qatada reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: 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 should feel pleased but
should not disclose it to anyone but whom one loves.
(Sahih Al
Muslim)
(35) Abu
Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: When the
time draws near (when the Resurrection is near) a believer's dream can hardly
be false. And the truest vision will be of one who is himself the most truthful
in speech, for the vision of a Muslim is the forty-fifth part of Prophecy, and
dreams are of three types: one good dream which is a sort of good tidings from
Allah; the evil dream which causes pain is from the satan; and the third one is
a suggestion of one's own mind; so if any one of you sees a dream which he does
not like he should stand up and offer prayer and he should not relate it to
people.
(Sahih Al
Muslim)
(36) Jabir
reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: There came to him
(the Holy Prophet) a desert Arab and said: I saw in a dream that I had been
beheaded and I had been following it (the severed head). Allah's Apostle (may
peace be upon him) reprimanded him saying: Do not inform about the vain
sporting of devil with you during the night.
(Sahih Al
Muslim)
(37) Samura
b. Jundab reported that when Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) had
performed his dawn prayer he turned his face towards them (that is towards his
Companions) and said: Did any one of you see any vision last night?
(Sahih Al
Muslim)
(38)
Narrated ibn e Abbas that Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said: "O
People! Nothing is left from the Prophethood except good dreams which a Muslim
sees or someone sees for him "
(Sunan ibn
e Majah)
(39)
Narrated Abu Dharr that Prophet Muhammad said: "… True dream is 46th part
of prophet-hood, it should be mentioned in front of someone you love or a wise
person"
(Sunan ibn
e Majah)
(40) Hazrat
Anas bin Malik narrated that Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) said:
"Interpret dreams after knowing one's name and kunyah, and dream happens
according to the first interpretation"
(Sunan ibn
e Majah, Classified as Da'eef by al-Albani)
