Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem
سلسلة علّمني ديني
By: Shaykh Muhammad bin Umar BÄzmÅ«l –hafidhahullah–
Translations and Annotations by Misbaah Olagunju (Abu Aamaal)
[7] My Religion Taught Me:
My religion taught me that dream is a fraction from the forty six (46) fractions of prophethood, and that whoever interprets it will either be accurate or erring, and then muddle things up in an attempt to do that, it is as if it is hanging down a bird's wing, if it is given a correct exposition it will manifest according to the meaning read to its interpretation;
عَنْ ÙˆÙŽÙƒÙيع٠بْن٠عÙدÙس٠، عَنْ عَمّÙه٠أَبÙÙŠ رَزÙين٠قَالَ : قَالَ رَسÙول٠اللَّه٠صَلَّى اللَّه٠عَلَيْه٠وَسَلَّمَ : " الرّÙؤْيَا عَلَى رÙجْل٠طَائÙر٠مَا لَمْ تÙعَبَّرْ، ÙÙŽØ¥Ùذَا عÙبّÙرَتْ وَقَعَتْ ". قَالَ : ÙˆÙŽØ£ÙŽØْسÙبÙه٠قَالَ : " وَلَا تَقÙصَّهَا Ø¥Ùلَّا عَلَى وَادّ٠أَوْ Ø°ÙÙŠ رَأْي٠".
Waki' bin 'Udus narrated from his uncle Abee Razin that he said:
"The Messenger of Allaah –Allaah raise his rank and grant him peace– said: "Dream is on the leg of a bird, as long as it is not spoken of. But when it is spoken of it drops." I think he said: "And it should not be discussed except with a beloved one or an intelligent one."" - [reported by Ahmad, Abee Daawud:5020, Tirmidhi and authenticated by Ibn Hibaan]
And the two Shaykhs (Bukhari and Muslim) reported from Ibn Abbaas –Allaah be pleased with him and his father–:
أَنَّ ابْنَ عَبَّاس٠ـ رضى الله عنهما: أَنَّ رَجÙلاً أَتَى رَسÙولَ اللَّه٠صلى الله عليه وسلم Ùَقَالَ Ø¥ÙنّÙÙŠ رَأَيْت٠اللَّيْلَةَ ÙÙÙŠ الْمَنَام٠ظÙلَّةً تَنْطÙÙ٠السَّمْنَ وَالْعَسَلَ، Ùَأَرَى النَّاسَ يَتَكَÙÙ‘ÙŽÙÙونَ Ù…Ùنْهَا ÙَالْمÙسْتَكْثÙر٠وَالْمÙسْتَقÙلّÙØŒ ÙˆÙŽØ¥Ùذَا سَبَبٌ وَاصÙÙ„ÙŒ Ù…ÙÙ†ÙŽ الأَرْض٠إÙÙ„ÙŽÙ‰ السَّمَاءÙØŒ Ùَأَرَاكَ أَخَذْتَ بÙÙ‡Ù Ùَعَلَوْتَ، Ø«Ùمَّ أَخَذَ بÙه٠رَجÙÙ„ÙŒ آخَر٠Ùَعَلاَ بÙÙ‡ÙØŒ Ø«Ùمَّ أَخَذَ بÙه٠رَجÙÙ„ÙŒ آخَر٠Ùَعَلاَ بÙÙ‡Ù Ø«Ùمَّ أَخَذَ بÙه٠رَجÙÙ„ÙŒ آخَر٠Ùَانْقَطَعَ Ø«Ùمَّ ÙˆÙصÙÙ„ÙŽâ€.†Ùَقَالَ أَبÙÙˆ بَكْر٠يَا رَسÙولَ اللَّه٠بÙأَبÙÙŠ أَنْتَ وَاللَّه٠لَتَدَعَنّÙÙŠ ÙَأَعْبÙرَهَاâ€.†Ùَقَالَ النَّبÙيّ٠صلى الله عليه وسلم â€â€ اعْبÙرْ â€.†قَالَ أَمَّا الظّÙلَّة٠ÙَالإÙسْلاَمÙØŒ وَأَمَّا الَّذÙÙŠ يَنْطÙÙÙ Ù…ÙÙ†ÙŽ الْعَسَل٠وَالسَّمْن٠ÙَالْقÙرْآن٠ØَلاَوَتÙه٠تَنْطÙÙÙØŒ ÙَالْمÙسْتَكْثÙر٠مÙÙ†ÙŽ الْقÙرْآن٠وَالْمÙسْتَقÙلّÙØŒ وَأَمَّا السَّبَب٠الْوَاصÙÙ„Ù Ù…ÙÙ†ÙŽ السَّمَاء٠إÙÙ„ÙŽÙ‰ الأَرْض٠ÙَالْØَقّ٠الَّذÙÙŠ أَنْتَ عَلَيْه٠تَأْخÙذ٠بÙÙ‡Ù ÙÙŽÙŠÙعْلÙيكَ اللَّهÙØŒ Ø«Ùمَّ يَأْخÙذ٠بÙه٠رَجÙÙ„ÙŒ Ù…Ùنْ بَعْدÙÙƒÙŽ ÙَيَعْلÙÙˆ بÙÙ‡ÙØŒ Ø«Ùمَّ يَأْخÙذ٠رَجÙÙ„ÙŒ آخَر٠ÙَيَعْلÙÙˆ بÙÙ‡ÙØŒ Ø«Ùمَّ يَأْخÙØ°Ùه٠رَجÙÙ„ÙŒ آخَر٠ÙَيَنْقَطÙع٠بÙÙ‡Ù Ø«Ùمَّ ÙŠÙوَصَّل٠لَه٠ÙَيَعْلÙÙˆ بÙÙ‡ÙØŒ ÙَأَخْبÙرْنÙÙŠ يَا رَسÙولَ اللَّه٠بÙأَبÙÙŠ أَنْتَ أَصَبْت٠أَمْ أَخْطَأْتÙâ€.†قَالَ النَّبÙيّ٠صلى الله عليه وسلم أَصَبْتَ بَعْضًا وَأَخْطَأْتَ بَعْضًا. قَالَ Ùَوَاللَّه٠لَتÙØَدّÙثَنّÙÙŠ بÙالَّذÙÙŠ أَخْطَأْتÙâ€.†قَالَ â€Ù„اَ تÙقْسÙمْ.
A man came to Allaah's Messenger and said, "I saw in a dream, a cloud having shade. Butter and honey were dropping from it and I saw the people gathering it in their hands, some gathering much and some a little. And behold, there was a rope extending from the earth to the sky, and I saw that you (the Prophet) held it and went up, and then another man held it and went up and (after that) another (third) held it and went up, and then after another (fourth) man held it, but it broke and then got connected again." Abu Bakr said, "O Allaah1's Messenger! Let my father be sacrificed for you! Allow me to interpret this dream." The Prophet said to him, "Interpret it." Abu Bakr said, "The cloud with shade symbolizes Islam, and the butter and honey dropping from it, symbolizes the Qur'an, its sweetness dropping and some people learning much of the Qur'an and some a little. The rope which is extended from the sky to the earth is the Truth which you (the Prophet) are following. You follow it and Allaah will raise you high with it, and then another man will follow it and will rise up with it and another person will follow it and then another man will follow it but it will break and then it will be connected for him and he will rise up with it. O Allaah's Messenger! Let my father be sacrificed for you! Am I right or wrong?" The Prophet replied, "You are right in some of it and wrong in some." Abu Bakr said, "O Allaah's Prophet! By Allaah, you must tell me in what I was wrong." The Prophet said, "Do not swear." - [Sahih al-Bukhari 7046]
Certainly in this report is a text alluding to the fact that some parts of the interpretation of a dream can be correct while others parts are not. If the meaning was that; dream manifests according to whatever interpretation is given to it by whoever interprets it, then there will be no benefit in his statement –Allaah raise his rank and grant him peace–; "You are right in some of it and wrong in some." Once again what is then the benefit in going to a dream interpreter if dream always manifest according to whatever interpretation given to it by whoever interprets it.
Translator's notes:
The Shaykh's statement here regarding dream being a section from the 46 sections of prophethood is in reference to true dreams (Ar-Ruuyaa), this is because it is considered to be a kind of inspiration and good tidings from Allaah to the believers who see them or concerning whom they were seen. The prophet – Allaah raise his rank and grant him peace– said:
Øَدَّثَنَا Ù…ÙØَمَّد٠بْن٠سÙيرÙينَ، أَنَّه٠سَمÙعَ أَبَا Ù‡Ùرَيْرَةَ، ÙŠÙŽÙ‚Ùول٠قَالَ رَسÙول٠اللَّه٠صلى الله عليه وسلم â€
†إÙذَا اقْتَرَبَ الزَّمَان٠لَمْ تَكَدْ تَكْذÙب٠رÙؤْيَا الْمÙؤْمÙÙ†ÙØŒ وَرÙؤْيَا الْمÙؤْمÙن٠جÙزْءٌ Ù…Ùنْ سÙتَّة٠وَأَرْبَعÙينَ جÙزْءًا Ù…ÙÙ†ÙŽ النّÙبÙوَّةÙâ€
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allaah's Messenger - sallaallahu alahyi wa sallam - said, "When the Day of Resurrection approaches, the dreams of a believer will hardly fail to come true, and a dream of a believer is one of forty-six parts of prophetism" - [Sahih Al-Bukhari: 7017]
As for bad dream then it is from shaytaan and it is referred to as Hulm as opposed to good dreams (Ruuyaa), according to Ibn Hajar in Fathul, Al-QÄdi Abu Bakr ibn Arabi said: "dreams are reflections which Allaah instill in a person's mind upon the hands of the angels and the shayateen" [Fathul Baari: 12/442].
And according to Ibn Sireen –Rahimahullah–, dreams are of three (3) types:
†قَالَ Ù…ÙØَمَّدٌ وَأَنَا Ø£ÙŽÙ‚Ùول٠هَذÙه٠قَالَ وَكَانَ ÙŠÙقَال٠الرّÙؤْيَا ثَلاَثٌ ØَدÙيث٠النَّÙْسÙØŒ وَتَخْوÙÙŠÙ٠الشَّيْطَانÙØŒ وَبÙشْرَى Ù…ÙÙ†ÙŽ اللَّهÙØŒ Ùَمَنْ رَأَى شَيْئًا يَكْرَهÙÙ‡Ù Ùَلاَ ÙŠÙŽÙ‚ÙصّÙه٠عَلَى Ø£ÙŽØَدÙØŒ وَلْيَقÙمْ ÙَلْيÙصَل
Muhammad bin Sireen said, "But I say this." He said, "It used to be said, 'There are three types of dreams: The reflection of one's thoughts and experiences one has during wakefulness, what is suggested by shaytaan to frighten the dreamer, or glad tidings from Allaah. So, if someone has a dream which he dislikes, he should not tell it to others, but get up and offer a prayer." - [Sahih al-Bukhari: 7017]
And the etiquettes to be observed when one sees a bad dream is as reported above; refuge should be sought from its evil and it should not be narrated to anyone. And also from the guidance of Rasul –Allaah raise his rank and grant him peace– in this is what Imam Muslim has reported in his sahih on the authority of Abu Salama:
عَنْ أَبÙÙŠ سَلَمَةَ، قَالَ ÙƒÙنْت٠أَرَى الرّÙؤْيَا Ø£Ùعْرَى Ù…Ùنْهَا غَيْرَ أَنّÙÙŠ لاَ Ø£Ùزَمَّل٠Øَتَّى Ù„ÙŽÙ‚Ùيت٠أَبَا قَتَادَةَ Ùَذَكَرْت٠ذَلÙÙƒÙŽ Ù„ÙŽÙ‡Ù Ùَقَالَ سَمÙعْت٠رَسÙولَ اللَّه٠صلى الله عليه وسلم ÙŠÙŽÙ‚Ùول٠â€
†الرّÙؤْيَا Ù…ÙÙ†ÙŽ اللَّه٠وَالْØÙلْم٠مÙÙ†ÙŽ الشَّيْطَان٠ÙÙŽØ¥Ùذَا ØÙŽÙ„ÙŽÙ…ÙŽ Ø£ÙŽØَدÙÙƒÙمْ ØÙلْمًا يَكْرَهÙÙ‡Ù ÙَلْيَنْÙÙثْ عَنْ يَسَارÙه٠ثَلاَثًا وَلْيَتَعَوَّذْ بÙاللَّه٠مÙنْ شَرّÙهَا ÙÙŽØ¥Ùنَّهَا لَنْ تَضÙرَّهÙ
Abu Salama reported:
"I used to see dreams (and was so much perturbed) that I began to quiver and have temperature, but did not cover myself with a mantle. I met Abu Qatadah and made a mention of that to him. He said: I heard Allaah's Messenger as saying: "A good vision (ruuyaa) comes from Allaah and a bad dream (hulm) from devil. So when one of you sees a bad dream (hulm) which he does not like, he should spit on his left side thrice and seek refuge with Allaah from its evil; then it will not harm him"" – [Sahih Muslim: 2261a]
Also the prophet –Allaah raise his rank and grant him peace– recommended the following supplication for when one is frightened during sleep:
أَعÙوذ٠بÙÙƒÙŽÙ„Ùمَات٠اللَّه٠التَّامَّة٠مÙنْ غَضَبÙه٠وَعÙقَابÙه٠وَشَرّ٠عÙبَادÙÙ‡Ù ÙˆÙŽÙ…Ùنْ هَمَزَات٠الشَّيَاطÙين٠وَأَنْ ÙŠÙŽØْضÙرÙونÙ
'(A`Å«dhu bikalimÄtillÄhit-tÄmmati min ghaá¸abihÄ« wa `iqÄbihÄ« wa sharri `ibÄdih, wa min hamazÄtish-shayÄá¹Ä«n wa an yaḥá¸urÅ«n)'
'I seek refuge in Allaah’s Perfect Words from His anger, His punishment, and the evil of His creatures, from the whisperings of the Shayaateen, and that they should harm me.’ [Saheehu Tirmidhi 3/171]
And the last kind of dream from Ibn Sireen's interpretation is that which occurs as a projection of thoughts and experiences had during wakefulness, these are often mumbled and meaningless and the dreamer will hardly remember most parts of it when he wakes up. Al-Ihtilaam (erotic dream) often come under this category and at other times as hulm according to Al-Baghawi in Sharhu-Sunnah.
And concerning dream interpretation, the Shaykh successfully established that the interpreter could either be right or wrong with his interpretation, and there in no confusion regarding this with a lot of people because dreams are symbolic and few people are blessed with the knowledge of it's interpretation. But an aspect where there may be confusion is in its manifestation because of the misconception of reports about it, and this is why the shaykh was emphatic in his declaration that dream doesn't necessarily manifest according to whatever interpretation is given to it, rather it will manifest according to its accurate interpretation. And the shaykh successfully established this textually from the ahaadith of Ibn Abbas above and that of Waki' ibn 'Udus, and logically by the fact that seeking correct interpretation for dreams will be unnecessary if it will manifest according to whatever interpretation is given to its meaning, since this would require no knowledge about the meaning of dreams symbolism, then anyone would have been able to do it.
Once again my religion taught me that true dreams seen by believers is a portion from the forty-six (46) parts of prophethood, and that whoever interprets it can either be accurate or wrong, and that it is as if it is hanging down a bird's foot and will only manifest when it is spoken of, and only according to its correct interpretation.
And that ends the seventh lesson.
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