What to do if you see a bad dream in Islam?

When we see a nightmare, we get scared of its meaning and its implication for our future. In many hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, he has told us 5 things to do when we see a bad dream.

Types of Dreams

According to one Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, there are 3 types of dreams in Islam;

• Good dreams come from Allah.
• Bad dreams come from Shaytan.
• A suggestion of one’s own mind.
• Sahih Muslim 2263a.

What to do if you see a bad dream?

A Muslim should perform all or most of these acts as soon as he gets up from sleeping after seeing a bad dream to avoid its negative impact on the future.

1. Offer 2 Nafal prayers.
2. Recite dua: لا حول ولا قوة إلا بالله three times.
3. Spit dryly to his left three times.
4. Turn over onto his other side.
5. Do not tell your dream to anyone else.

The above-mentioned acts are supported by different Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ as quoted below.

Hadith related to Bad Dreams

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: If any one of you see a bad dream, stand up and offer prayer and do not relate it to people – Sahih Muslim 2263a.

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: If anyone of you sees a bad dream, he should seek refuge with Allah from its evil, and he should not mention it to anybody, for it will not harm him. – Sahih al-Bukhari 6985

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: If anyone of you sees a bad dream;

• Let him spit dryly to his left three times.
• Seek refuge with Allah from Satan three times.
• Turn over onto his other side.
• Sunan Ibn Majah 3908.