Table of Contents
Bad dreams
If a Muslim sees a bad dream (nightmare), he should do the following:
He should spit (dryly) to his left three times
He should seek refuge in Allah from Shaytaan three times
He should seek refuge in Allah from the evil of the dream
He should stand up and pray
He should change the side on which he was sleeping if he wants to continue to sleep, even if that means turning onto his left side
He should not inform anyone
He should neither interpret it himself nor ask anyone else to interpret it.
The evidence for this is the narration of Jaabir (may Allaah be pleased with him) that: “The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘If any one of you sees a dream that he dislikes, he should spit to his left three times, seek refuge in Allah from the Shaytaan, and turn over on to his other side.’” (Saheeh Muslim, no. 2262)
According to another report, the wording is: “He should seek refuge in Allah from its evil, so that it does not harm him.”
The narrator of this hadeeth said: “I used to see dreams that weighed heavier on me than a mountain, but as soon as I heard this hadeeth, so I never worried about it again.” (Saheeh Muslim, no. 2261)
Jaabir (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that a Bedouin came to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and said: “O Prophet of Allah, I saw a dream that my head was chopped off and rolled away, and I ran after it.” The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to him: “Do not tell people the Shaytaan is playing with you in your dreams.” (Saheeh Muslim, no. 2268)
According to another report, the wording is:
“If anyone sees something he dislikes, he should get up and pray.” (Jaami‘ al-Tirmidhi, no. 2280; Saheeh al-Jaami‘, no. 3533)