[Q 728] Sharing Bad Dreams

Question

It is said that we should not tell anyone about a bad dream. What does it exactly mean? We can’t tell that we had a bad dream or we can’t share the contents? Can’t we even tell our loved ones that we had a bad dream without sharing the contents of the dream?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
الجواب بعون الملك الوهاب اللهم هداية الحق والصواب

Answer

It has been instructed in blessed Ahadith regarding a bad dream that it should not be narrated to anyone. Therefore, one should try neither to describe the details of the dream nor to say that ‘I had a bad dream’. Yes, if due to some Shar’i or genuine need, one wishes to seek interpretation from an ‘alim (religious scholar), or consultation from an expert, then it can be mentioned to the extent of the need.

The Holy Prophet ﷺ stated:

It is mentioned in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim that the Holy Prophet ﷺ stated: “A good dream is from Allah Ta’ala. When any of you sees a dream he likes, he should narrate it only to one whom he loves. And if he sees a dream which he dislikes, he should seek refuge from its evil and from the evil of Shaytan, and spit (lightly) three times (to his left side), and not narrate that dream to anyone; then it will not harm him.”

(Al-Sahih Al-Bukhari, Kitab Al-Ta’bir, Bab Ma idha ra’a ma yakrahu…, vol. 4, p. 423, Dar Al-Kutub Al-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut)

(Sirat Al-Jinan, vol. 4, p. 526, Maktabat Al-Madinah, Karachi)

Mufti Ahmad Yar Khan Na’imi writes:

“This practice is very effective. No matter how dangerous a dream you see, perform this practice, and InshaAllah, it will never manifest. A good dream is a blessing from Allah; publicize it, ‘وَ اَمَّا بِنِعۡمَۃِ رَبِّکَ فَحَدِّثۡ’. And a bad dream is a trial and test; be patient over it, do not tell anyone, and present your plea to your Lord, and InshaAllah, it will be averted.”

(Mirqat)

Answered by: Tabaruk Madani (AskMufti Scholar)
Verified by: Mufti Sajid Attari
Translated answer
Date: 1st October 2026