Prophetic Insights on Dreams: Teachings and Interpretations from the Hadith
Introduction to Prophetic Teachings on Dreams
Numerous hadiths and traditions exist about dreams and their interpretation, though covering them all in this brief document is not feasible. Here, we focus on those mentioned by Allama Abdul Ghani Nablusi (may Allah have mercy on him) in his book Ta’teer al-Anam.
The Importance of Believing in Righteous Dreams
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
“من لم يؤمن بالرؤيا الصالحة لم يؤمن بالله و اليوم الآخر”
“Whoever does not believe in righteous dreams does not believe in Allah and the Last Day.”
Prophet’s Prediction About Abu Bakr al-Siddiq’s Life
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said to Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him):
“You and I ascended to a level, and I moved two steps ahead of you.”
Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) responded, “Allah will call you to Himself two and a half years before me, and I will live that amount of time after you.”
Interpretation: This is precisely what happened, as Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) lived two and a half years after the Prophet’s passing.
The End of Prophethood and the Continuation of Glad Tidings
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“ذهب النبوة و بقى المبشرات”
“Prophethood has ended, but glad tidings (mubashirat) remain.”
Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) asked, “What are these glad tidings?” The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied, “When believers see themselves in good character, and others perceive them as virtuous.”
The Relationship Between Dreams and Prophethood
Another narration states:
“Dreams are one forty-sixth part of Prophethood.”
The interpretation is that while dreams are a part of spiritual insight, they do not equate to prophethood.
The Dream of Waraqa ibn Nawfal
In the beginning of Sahih Bukhari, he is mentioned as one who confirmed the truthfulness of the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) first revelation.
Lady Khadija (may Allah be pleased with her) saw Waraqa in a dream wearing bright white garments, indicating a state of happiness.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) remarked that if Waraqa had been destined for Hell, he would not have appeared in that attire in her dream. He was righteous and assured Lady Khadija of the Prophet’s truthfulness, affirming that Muslims should pursue truthfulness.
The Truthfulness of Morning Dreams
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“The most truthful dreams are those seen in the early morning, as morning dreams stem from the light of Allah.”
He emphasised that dreams seen by individuals of noble character and beloved by people tend to be true.
The First Dream of Prophet Adam (peace be upon him)
According to the Prophet, the first dream ever seen was by Prophet Adam (peace be upon him), who, upon waking, found Lady Hawa (Eve) beside him.
Allah asked Adam, “Who is this?” He replied, “This is Hawa, whom I saw in my dream.”