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Dreams in Islam: what the sources say
Only what the Quran and the authentic hadith say about dreams, with the reference for each, and what to do when a dream stays with you.
No symbol dictionary · no guesses · a reference for every statement
Dreams in Islam: start here
Three numbers to remember
- 4 steps to take after a bad dream Sahih Muslim 2261, 2262
- 3 times to seek refuge in Allah from it Sahih Muslim 2262
- 0 symbol dictionaries on this site Our about page
Some dreams are true
The Quran tells of dreams that came to pass. Yusuf saw eleven stars, the sun and the moon bowing to him, and years later it came true (Quran 12:4, 12:100). Ibrahim saw that he was sacrificing his son, and both submitted to Allah (Quran 37:102). The Prophet ﷺ was shown the believers entering Masjid al-Haram in safety (Quran 48:27).
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And many simply aren’t
Not every dream is a message. The king’s advisers called his dream “a mixture of false dreams” (Quran 12:44), and the Sunnah teaches that a bad dream should be met with refuge in Allah and kept to yourself, not worried over (Sahih Muslim 2261). Often the mind is just working through the day.
What to do after a dream
Thanks for a good one, refuge from a bad one.
- After a good dream, thank Allah for it.
- After a bad dream, follow the four steps: spit lightly to the left, seek refuge, tell no one, turn over (Sahih Muslim 2261, 2262).
- Before sleep, say the bedtime adhkar; Dhikr List has them with a counter.
Dreams in Islam: questions people ask
Do dreams come true in Islam?
Some do: the Quran tells of true dreams that came to pass, such as Yusuf’s (Quran 12:4, 12:100). But not every dream is a message, and a bad dream should be met with the steps the Sunnah teaches and set aside (Sahih Muslim 2261).
Can you interpret my dream?
No. We don’t interpret dreams, because a symbol list can’t know your life, and the Quran presents interpretation as knowledge given to particular people (Quran 12:37). Speak to someone knowledgeable you trust.
Should I tell people my bad dream?
No. The hadith say not to tell anyone about a bad dream; seek refuge in Allah from it instead (Sahih Muslim 2261).