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 Allah be pleased with him) that:

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah 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.” (Reported by 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.” (Reported by Saheeh Muslim, no. 2261)

Jaabir (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that a Bedouin came to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah 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 Allah be upon him) said to him: “Do not tell people the Shaytaan is playing with you in your dreams.” (Reported by Saheeh Muslim, no. 2268)

According to another report, the wording is: “If anyone sees something he dislikes, he should get up and pray.” (Reported by Jaami’ al-Tirmidhi, no. 2280; Saheeh al-Jaami’, no. 3533)