What should we to do to see our deceased people in our dreams? How do our deceased appear to us in our dreams and how can I know it is really them?

The Details of the Question

What should we to do to see our deceased people in our dreams? How can I know if a dream is Satanic (gibberish) or divine? How do our deceased appear to us in our dreams, how can I know it is really the dreams and how can I know it is really them?

The Answer

Dear Brother / Sister,

In order to see our deceased people in a dream, we can only ask Allah for it through prayer (dua). We cannot know for sure whether the person we see in our dreams is really him or whether it is a Satanic dream. However, Satanic dreams can be known by some of their characteristics. For example, dreams that are contrary to Islamic principles, dreams that cause despair and sadness, dreams that lead to temptation, etc. However, we cannot say that every distressing dream is Satanic.

Since dreams need interpretation, it is very difficult to make a clear statement about dreams. Dreams can be shaped according to the mood of the person at that moment. Even what you dream about or experience during the day can be reflected in your dreams in different ways at night.

According to Islam, there are three kinds of dreams:

1- Salih (benign) dream
2- Dream from the Satan

3- Dream caused by events one experiences

Trustable dream is the state of penetrating the events yet to happen before they occur through natural ability. The Prophet, peace and blessings upon him, say about this:

“The dream of believers is one part of the forty six parts of prophethood.” (Muslim, Ruya; Bukhari, Tabir 3)

The dream from the Satan is the apprehension that the Satan inspires in man's heart during sleep in order to scare and cause man to despair. The Prophet says:

“If one of you has a dream that s/he likes, it is from Allah. Let him/her offer thanks to Allah for that and let him/her tell his/her dream. If s/he has a dream that s/he doesn't like, it is from the Satan. Let him/her seek refuge in Allah from its harm; and let him/her not mention it to anyone. Otherwise it will harm him/her.” (Bukhari, Tabir 3)

As for the dream caused by one's experiences; when one busies oneself with something and cares much about it, one will have dreams about it. The Prophet says in one of his hadiths:

“Dream is of three kinds: The salih (benign) dream from Allah which gives glad tidings; the dream from the Satan which causes sorrow; the dream caused by man's talking to himself about something and imagining.” (Ibn Majah, Ruya, 3)

The verse mentioned in Yusuf Surah about Joseph's dream, peace be upon him, and the hadiths mentioned above express that meaning. There are rightful ones in dreams. But it cannot be said that every dream is right and every interpretation is correct. It is not right to act in accordance with dreams and to base one's decisions and actions on them. Even the books of fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence) express:

Although the Satan cannot assume the image of The Prophet, even if The Prophet commanded in one's dream on the 29th of Shaban that "the next day was the first day of Ramadan, so one should fast"; even in that case one cannot act in accordance with that dream. This is because, dream is neither knowledge, nor can it be grasped. (Halil GÜNENÇ, Günümüz Meselelerine Fetvalar, II. 300)

Acting in Accordance with Dream and Inspiration

Dreams and inspirations can be from Allah; or from the Satan and the evil commanding soul. Therefore, they must be well differentiated. The scholars of Islam state that in such matters, if the following conditions are met, one can act accordingly, but that it is not right to force anybody.

1- The dream or the inspiration must not be of the kind which waives a command of our religion or which makes a prohibition of our religion lawful; in other words, it must not be against the religion and the sunnat.

2- The dream or the inspiration must be from such people as Abu Hanifa, Shafii, Imam Rabbani, Imam Gazali whom everybody trusts. Everybody should accept that that person does not ever tell lies and that he knows and follows the principles of the religion thoroughly.

3- The knowledge obtained from dreams or inspirations must not be accepted as commands of the religion. They can only be accepted as advice. Dreams and inspirations are warnings and guidance. They cannot be binding and forcing. Just as those who comply with dream and inspiration cannot be blamed, those who do not comply with it cannot be blamed, either.

Questions on Islam

Was this answer helpful?
Author:
Questions on Islam
Subject Categories:
Read 3 times
In order to make a comment, please login or register