Thursday, July 9, 2020

Note: On The Topic Of Good Dreams

💐 In The Name Of Allah The Most Gracious The Most Merciful
💌 Several years ago when I went to Saudi Arabia to renew my visa, while my husband remained in the Philippines, I remember seeing him in an unforgettable dream with a strange woman carrying a baby. I recall anxiously questioning her, wondering who she was, and then waking up almost crying as though I was worried that my return to Riyadh city would tempt my husband to remarry, although I was actually fine with polygyny. Some years later when I was around 26 years old, I found out that my husband had a second wife, and already with a toddler whom he named Yusuf, knowing that Yusuf was one of the names that I liked for a baby boy. I find it odd how I stayed calm on hearing the news through some relatives that my husband had another woman. It's as if I felt that one day for sure my husband would show interest in marrying again, once I explained to him that it's his right as a Muslim to be married to up to four wives.
"Don't tell him you're okay with it, otherwise he'll really remarry" was one of the advice I often received from those who were admittedly concerned about my marriage life. Nevertheless I still showed my husband that I'm accepting of polygyny, believing that I'm not in a position to prohibit what Allah the Most Wise made halal/lawful. Polygyny is a permission, not an obligation, granted by Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala to His male servants who are financially stable, emotionally responsible, and physically capable to support large Muslim families. It is not a privilege which ignorant and irresponsible boys can misuse to satisfy their selfish cravings.
Anyhow, Alhamdulillah what I want to share is that certain dreams can certainly come true. Memorable dreams oftentimes carry useful signs, portents and messages from Allah the Most Merciful. A dream that is hard to forget may hold significant meanings which you should try to analyze and decipher, without requiring untrustworthy strangers to interpret what you saw.
🔸 To be among those whom Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala blesses with good dreams, many of which bring important warnings or news to comfort you:
1] Maintain a strong connection with Allah the Almighty, strive to do more of what He Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala loves, such as praying Qiyaam Al-Layl Tahajjud at night and fasting Sunnah fasts regularly.
2] Say lots of Adhkaar and Du'as, particularly pray to Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala to grant you good dreams as part of Allah's Guidance. Saying Du'a on Fridays before Salat Al-Maghreb, saying Du'a during rainfall, or when treated unjustly, are some of the many instances when Du'as are guaranteed to be answered
Inn-sha-Allah at the most befitting time.
3] Avoid purposely telling lies. Speak truthfully as much as possible. Stay away from falsehood and people who are known to be chronic liars.
4] Make it a habit of saying the Adhkaar and reciting the Surahs which are recommended to recite before sleeping, particularly Ayatul Kursi and Surah Al-Mulk.
5] Sleep on your right side if you can, preferably facing towards the Qiblah.
Never lay flat on your stomach. Sleeping on your belly or back, especially after a heavy meal, facing the ceiling while forgetting to say Dhikr can likely result in nightmares, "sleep paralysis" or the possibility of being possessed by jinn/s.
🔸 Ways to figure out if a dream is from Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala or from our nafs:
1] If you wake up from a dream smiling or crying tears of joy, feeling better or more motivated than before, it is probably a good dream from Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala.
2] If you can clearly remember the overall message of that dream, no matter how weird it seemed, and it's easy to narrate it to someone whom you trust, then it may be a prophetic dream from Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala.
3] If you get up from a disturbing dream feeling dirty, confused or more depressed, then such a nightmare could come from your nafs or from the evil suggestions of shaytan. If you have doubts regarding whether or not you should inform it to others, then it is better to cancel sharing that distraction, in order to preserve your faith/Imaan and dignity.
Only those whom we are truly close to deserve to know our dreams, unless narrating a dream is helpful for the general public. Jealous haters may plot against you if they're notified of a pleasant dream you had, just as the half-brothers of the Prophet Yusuf 'alaihis salaam couldn't control acting out of jealousy upon discovering how special he was.
📖 Abu Huraira RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "When the end of time approaches (before the Day of Judgment), the dream of a believer can hardly be false. The dream of a believer is one of forty-six parts of prophecy and whatever is from prophecy cannot be false."
In another narration, the Prophet Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "The most truthful of you are those with the truest dreams. There are three types of vision (dream). The righteous vision is glad tidings from Allah, the distressful vision (nightmare) is from shaytan, and the vision arising from oneself (from one's nafs or frequent thoughts). If one of you sees something that he dislikes, let him stand to pray and not speak to people about it."
Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari 6614
Sahih Muslim 2263
Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi (Authenticity agreed upon) according to Al-Bukhari and Muslim