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Dreams in Islam: meaning and interpretation of dreams
In Islam, some dreams are glad tidings from Allah, others come from Satan or from our own thoughts. Here is how to tell them apart.
The three kinds of dreams
| Type | Origin | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Ru’ya (good dream) | Allah | Praise Allah, tell it to someone you love |
| Hulm (bad dream) | Satan | Seek refuge, do not tell it |
| Hadith an-nafs | The day’s thoughts | No particular meaning |
What to do after a bad dream
- Say three times: A‘udhu billahi mina ash-shaytani ar-rajim.
- Spit lightly (blow) three times to your left.
- Turn onto your other side.
- Tell it to no one.
- Get up and pray two rak‘ahs if you wish.
Before sleeping, reciting Ayat al-Kursi and the evening supplications (Hisnul Muslim) protects the night.
The meaning of the most common dreams
Scholars such as Ibn Sirin remind us that the same dream does not mean the same thing for two people. The ideas below are traditional interpretations, not certainties.
| Dream | Interpretation often given |
|---|---|
| The Kaaba, a mosque | Religion, uprightness, pilgrimage |
| Reading the Quran | Good, guidance, elevation |
| Clear water, rain | Mercy, provision, knowledge |
| Losing your teeth | Worry about family, long life according to some |
| Being pregnant | A worry or new responsibility, or good to come |
| A snake | An enemy or a danger |
| Milk, honey | Knowledge, religion, healing |
Yusuf, the prophet of dreams
Surah Yusuf begins with a dream: eleven stars, the sun and the moon prostrating to him (12:4). Allah taught him the interpretation of dreams, which he applied in prison and then for the king of Egypt. Read the story of the prophet Yusuf.
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You may be wondering…
What are the three kinds of dreams in Islam?
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Dreams are of three kinds: a good dream, which is glad tidings from Allah; a sad dream, which comes from Satan; and what a person tells himself” (Sahih Muslim, 2263). So there is the ru’ya (true vision), the hulm (bad dream) and the dream coming from the day’s thoughts.
What should you do after a bad dream?
According to the hadiths: spit lightly three times to your left, seek refuge in Allah from Satan (a‘udhu billahi mina ash-shaytani ar-rajim) three times, turn onto the other side, tell no one, and you may get up and pray (Sahih Muslim, 2261-2263). It will then not harm you.
Can you tell someone your dream?
A good dream may be told to someone you love or to a knowledgeable, kind person. A bad dream is not to be told (Sahih al-Bukhari, 7044).
What does it mean to dream of the Kaaba or of the Prophet ﷺ?
Dreaming of the Kaaba is often understood as a sign of good, religion or pilgrimage. As for the Prophet ﷺ, he said: “Whoever sees me in a dream has truly seen me, for Satan cannot take my form” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 6994), provided the description matches the one reported in the hadiths.
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