Science of Dream Interpretation in Islam:

An important branch of Ulum al Khafiyyah

By: Qazi Dr. Shaikh Abbas Borhany

PhD (USA), NDI, Shahadat al A’alamiyyah (Najaf, Iraq), MA, LLM (Shariah) Mushir: Federal Shariat Court of Pakistan

Member: Ulama Council of Pakistan

Published in MAG Weekly on 10-12-2005, in Daily News, Pakistan on 03-07-2009 & in Yemen Times

1. Dream Interpretation:

To believe Qur’an as a miracle is a common fact, but on the other hand this divine book is a “universe of intellectual miracles”, as it contains treasures of secret sciences. In this treasure of secret sciences one can find wonderful precious gems, and the science of dream is one of them. Dreams portray several indications. In the spiritual world its similarity is like an X-Ray system. It is a divine bounty upon human that He (Allah) alerts any forthcoming issue, through the faculty of dream. One can learn problems, physical or spiritual, through an expert who can decode your dreams. External science is on its peak but it has no access to the internal sciences; and thus interpretation of dreams is beyond their ability. Dreams also extend invitation to the observer to think and improve. Scientific inventions have an array of sophisticated equipments that discover secrets and hidden matters, but have not succeeded in entering the world of dream. Learned writer of “Tabir ar Ruya” transmitted a Tradition: [1]

“If anyone suffers with a nightmare than he should never discuss it with others, but wake up, perform Wazu and offer Sal’aat. Do Istaghf’ar, recite Dua, and Zikar (Tasabih), and give Sadaqah”. These are the best weapons of protection. Some Ulama refers to a Hadith:

“A bad dream, as long as it is not told, flies above you, but falls down and becomes true when it is told”.

Friends of Allah may alter destiny through a Dua, even if he is warned through a nightmare.

The learned writer of “Majmuah Yamaniyah” has discussed that Imam Jafar Assadiq divided dreams in three categories: [2]

Tiding for believer and warning for sinner Harassment of the Shait’an

To confuse and puzzle in any matter Imam Sadiq explained: [3]

“The dream which one observes in the beginning phase of the night is value-less, because it is the time when evil forces spread their powers. That evil spirit harasses the people through dreams. The true dreams can be seen in the final phase of the night, prior to the beginning of the sign of morning. This is the time when Malaek descend”.

Normally the dreams which people observe in the later time are true, but the person should be in a clean condition, not in Junub, when bath of Sunnah is compulsory and he is punctual of Sal’aat. According to the learned writer of “Qaratis Yamaniyah”, Syedi Wajhiyuddin: [4]

“Science of dream interpretation is one of the most difficult subjects and is exclusively with the chosen ones of Allah”.

Abi Jafar Imam Muhammad al Baqir has instructed the Ummah to discuss dreams only with the one who maintains Taqwa. [5] Because a dream remains suspended between the sky and the earth until an interpreter explains its meaning. Therefore, it is below intelligence to discuss a dream among the non-competent and Taqwa-less class.