Dreams and their interpretations

We all see dreams. Sometimes they are good and sometimes they are not. The frequency of seeing dreams varies with individuals. Sometimes we see strange things like dead friends/relatives, new places and information/warning future events and sometimes these are only the reflection of our day long activities and desires.

Many people do not give any importance at all to dreams but others consider it an important tool of getting knowledge and learning as they find some or most of their dreams becoming true. It is a fact that some dreams are true and people get information about happenings of future based on which they try to set their course of action.

Seeing true dreams is a Blessing of Allah Almighty as it is a channel of communication by which man can learn and get information which he cannot get from other material sources. Interpreting dreams however, requires knowledge and experience.

In the Holy Quran, there are many examples of seeing dreams and their interpretations by Holy Prophets. When the king of Egypt saw a dream, he asked his courtiers to interpret that dream but no one was able to do it. His dream was then interpreted by Hazrat Yousaf (AS). In the Holy Quran, the event has been narrated in Surah 12. Yusuf(AS)

12:43. The king (of Egypt) said: “I do see (in a vision) seven fat kine, whom seven lean ones devour, and seven green ears of corn, and seven (others) withered. O ye chiefs! Expound to me my vision if it be that ye can interpret visions.”

44. They said: “A confused medley of dreams: and we are not skilled in the interpretation of dreams.”

45. But the man who had been released, one of the two (who had been in prison) and who now bethought him after (so long) a space of time, said: “I will tell you the truth of its interpretation: send ye me (therefore).”

46. “O Joseph!” (he said) “O man of truth! Expound to us (the dream) of seven fat kine whom seven lean ones devour, and of seven green ears of corn and (seven) others withered: that I may return to the people, and that they may understand.”

47. (Joseph) said: “For seven years shall ye diligently sow as is your wont: and the harvests that ye reap, ye shall leave them in the ear,- except a little, of which ye shall eat.

48. “Then will come after that (period) seven dreadful (years), which will devour what ye shall have laid by in advance for them,- (all) except a little which ye shall have (specially) guarded.

49. “Then will come after that (period) a year in which the people will have abundant water, and in which they will press (wine and oil).”

True dreams are also sort of warning about coming things from Allah Almighty so that people can alter their course and stay safe. Egypt was saved when Hazrat Yousaf (AS) not only interpreted the dream of the King but also gave suggestion of overcoming this problem by appointing a wise man to govern Egypt in these times so that he can collect and save the harvest in good times for the coming bad times. The King was impressed by hearing the wise interpretation of Hazrat Yousaf (AS) and chose him to take the responsibility.

12: 54. So the king said: “Bring him unto me; I will take him specially to serve about my own person.” Therefore when he had spoken to him, he said: “Be assured this day, thou art, before our own presence, with rank firmly established, and fidelity fully proved!

55. (Joseph) said: “Set me over the store-houses of the land: I will indeed guard them, as one that knows (their importance).”

56. Thus did We give established power to Joseph in the land, to take possession therein as, when, or where he pleased. We bestow of our Mercy on whom We please, and We suffer not, to be lost, the reward of those who do good.

57. But verily the reward of the Hereafter is the best, for those who believe, and are constant in righteousness.

Dreams seen by other Prophets have also been given in Holy Quran like the dream seen by Hazrat Ibrahim (AS). The difference between dreams of common people and dreams of Holy Prophets (p.b.u.h) is due to difference between their spiritual strengths. Since spiritual powers of Holy Prophets are very high, there dreams are always from Allah Almighty and always true. Frequency of true dreams in common people depend on the spiritual status of individuals.

There are other examples of dreams seen by pious men.e.g. Once Mullah Wajih ud Din who was a pious person and living in the suburbs of Uch Sharif (a town in Bahawalpur division), saw in dream that a Buzrag (saint) is addressing large number of people and saying “One who preferred affairs of the world over affairs of Akhira, spoiled both of them”. When Mullah Wajih ud Din woke up, he asked people if there is someone in the area who guides people towards Allah Almighty. People told him about Hazrat Makhdoom Jahanian Jahan Gasht (RA) (Jalal ud din Hussain Bukhari) who used to preach in Uch Sharif. He went to meet the saint and recognized him as soon as he saw him because the saint was one whom Mullah Wajih ud Din has seen in his dream. Makhdoom Sahib said to him, “One should not prefer worldly affairs over the affairs of the Akhira”.

On hearing this Mullah Wajih ud Din became Murid of Makhdoom Sahib.

In this type of dream, a connection was established between two persons and helped them to meet each other. This form of dream may come under lucid dreaming. Lucid Dreaming is knowing that one is dreaming while one is doing it. When one knows that he is dreaming, he can also alter the dream course. It is like having control of the dream scenario. In lucid dreaming, there is possibility of sharing dreams and traveling in time and space and meeting with other people intentionally. This happens when one acquires adequate control over his dreams. In this mode, one can learn many things which he cannot learn normally, can travel intentionally to places of his interest, can travel in time (both future and past) and meet with other people. This thing can be acquired and different people give different mode of exercises but in spirituality, most important way of getting this through concentration / meditation.

It is said that if one sees a good dream, then he should narrate it to a pious person or his own close friend and not to everybody while one who sees bad dream should not narrate it to any one. One who sees bad dream (about himself) he should seek forgiveness and protection by praying from Allah Almighty. If there is some warning then he should try to alter his course. But seeing bad dreams while one is sleeping on his left side has no meaning as normally when we sleep on the left side, it puts pressure over heart and may result in bad dreams. Seeing bad dreams in extreme temperatures like sleeping in shivering cold also has no meaning.

Moreover, Satan cannot imitate the forms of Holy Kaaba, Holy Quran and Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) so any dreams in which one sees Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), says Kalima Tayyab, recites verses of holy quran or Azan, then its also true. If one sees other things, it might be true or false depending on various situations.

Usually, different things seem in dreams have different meanings. For example, If one sees himself dressed in fine clothing, he may acquire an elevated place among his peers, stained clothes represent bad reputation and worn out clothes show poverty. White colour dress represents happiness and success especially of Akhira. If one sees crossing the river successfully, he may overcome the problems, seeing being drowned shows failure. Seeing Fire is good, while seeing Mango or pomegranate may mean having a son. Seeing earthquake, red sky is bad for the people. If one sees himself taking a bath and he is sick, the dream indicates of his recovery and gaining health. Seeing climbing the stairs upwards represents progress while downwards is considered bad. Snakes represent enemies and if one kills the snake in dream, it represents victory over the enemy. If one sees Holy Kaaba or Madina Munnawara, its good for Akhira and he may perform Hajj/Umrah.

But in any circumstances, if one sees/hears something which is against the teachings of Islam, then the dream is FALSE.


32 thoughts on “Dreams and their interpretations”

  1. Asalamalikum,

    I practiced istikhara a week ago for a week, and i saw two dreams.
    One in which i was arguing with my sister about her cheating in an exam wen in reality she hadn’t.she was wearing white. wen i turned after arguing a lot i saw that my cuzn from Canada was standing there in black clothes.i was quiet shocked wen i saw him cuz i didn’t expect him to be where i was.
    The Second one i had was i went to a shop and bought 2 white candles for my mother,because she sent me to a shop and told me to get her 2 white candles, but i saw black candles near by. so i bought 2 black and 2 white candles.
    The reason i did it was because my mother wants me to marry her first cuzn, who is also my fathers first cuzn, but i dont want to marry him.
    We both did istikhara but we both got confusing answers.She did istikhara. and in one dream she saw a baby boy laughing.but he was an English baby.in the second one she saw that she was crossing a road and on the road she saw 5red apples on the pedestrian crossing.
    We are both lost in what the meaning of the four dreams mean.The first dream i had, i had the same dream twice in a row.Im in desperate need for some one to interpret it.As far as i know about istikharay is that black/red mean bad and white/green mean good.I dont know nymore than that.and i have no idea how exactly to interpret it.If you or ny1 could please help me i would be greatful.

    Reply
  2. You act like some dream interpreter, and then you come here with your initial asking for your own dream to be interpreted?

    @ Chowrangi: Dreams can only be interpreted by people who have a deep insight in this subject. There are very few people on earth who can interpret dreams correctly. At the same time, I have also heard that bad dreams should not be narrated. I heard that a person once narrated a bad dream and it came true. I personally don’t know how much truth there is in this story, but better to be safe than sorry. And no interpreting dreams or getting them interpreted! Dreams can be due to satans and they can also be a result of what in on the mind.

    Reply
  3. Hello,

    My father expired in 2004 and my mother is still alive. I had a strange dream as under. Help appreciated in digging out the meaning. Thanks!

    I dreamt that we are putting my father in a shroud (Urdu: kafan) but he is still alive and I am saying that my father is not dead and he we should not bury him because he is breathing. I then saw we are also putting my mother in a shroud and we put her hand with my father’s hand and again I say that my mother is alive and we should not bury her because she is breathing. In the same dream, I also saw we are putting my daughter (who is just 2 months old) in to the shroud and she has her eyes open and I am again saying we should not bury her as she is alive.

    Reply
  4. Assalam-u-alaikum all!recently i had a dream the dream was that i saw there was a earthquake and im in my home ,im holding my younger child in my arms and saying to my wife that lets all get out of the house and im scared and i can feel the earthquake.and i didnt read ayatul kursi before sleeping.

    Reply
  5. Shakir Lakhani: No Offense, but do you NOT believe in hadiths. Asking a psychologist is out of the question when it comes to the religion. I myself is a doctor and there are many things which are unanswerable in science or medical science or psychology when it comes to religion. There is stuff people see in dreams which they have never seen before. and here we are not even talking about an ordinary person.

    Similarly, we believe in Allah swt and we have never seen Him, how does psychology/psychiatry explains that..pls DONT mix psych with religion, it will be a long discussion if I continue..but I will leave it here.

    Reply
  6. Assalam-u-alaikum all!
    To answer the above question mentioned by br. Shakir Lakhani, people can see Prophet SAW in dreams and if they see him then indeed it’s him. Satan can NEVER take his form and here is the hadith:

    Abu Huraira (ra) narrates: The Prophet (pbuh) said: “Whoever has seen me in a dream, has in fact seen me, for Satan does not appear in my form” (Sahih Muslim, vol. 4 p 1225 no 5635)

    Reply
  7. Sobia:

    Dream 1:
    I’d interpret that your cousin is about to get into some legal problems or into litigation over money or property. I am not sure about your cousin’s background or age, but I’d say that he will be requesting you/your family for loan against which you will not be able to say “no”

    Dream 2:
    Note sure if I should write here or not, but oranges in dream mean increased sexual desires and/or a short but unforgettable love affair. Keep an eye on your hubby or give him time if you are not doing so.

    Reply

Leave a Reply