The Hadeeth teaches us that bad dreams are from Shayṭān. Islam provides us with clear guidance on what to do when we experience such dreams and how to protect ourselves from them.
عن أبي سلمة، قال: إن كنت لأرى الرؤيا تمرضني، قال: فلقيت أبا قتادة، فقال: وأنا كنت لأرى الرؤيا فتمرضني، حتى سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: «الرؤيا الصالحة من الله، فإذا رأى أحدكم ما يحب، فلا يحدث بها إلا من يحب، وإن رأى ما يكره فليتفل عن يساره ثلاثا وليتعوذ بالله من شر الشيطان وشرها، ولا يحدث بها أحدا فإنها لن تضره (صحيح مسلم ، الرقم: 2261)
Abu Salamah (رضي الله عنه) Narrates:
“I used to see dreams that would make me ill. Then I met Abu Qatadah (رضي الله عنه), and he said: I too used to see dreams that would make me ill, until I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: ‘A good dream is from Allah Ta’alah. So if any of you sees something that he likes, let him not tell it except to someone whom he loves. But if he sees something he dislikes, let him spit lightly to his left three times and seek refuge with Allah from the evil of Shayṭān and from its evil, and not tell anyone about it — for indeed, it will not harm him.’”
عن جابر، عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أنه قال: «إذا رأى أحدكم الرؤيا يكرهها، فليبصق عن يساره ثلاثا وليستعذ بالله من الشيطان ثلاثا، وليتحول عن جنبه الذي كان عليه (صحيح مسلم ، الرقم: 2262)
Jābir (رضي الله عنه) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“If anyone of you sees a dream which he dislikes, let him spit lightly to his left three times, Recite Ta’wwuz three times, and turn over from the side on which he was lying.”
From the above we learn:
If a person experiences a bad or frightening dream, he should:
1. Recite the Ta‘awwudh three times
2. Spit lightly to the left side three times — very fine droplets should come out of the mouth.
3. Change his sleeping position.
4. Do not tell anyone about the bad dream.
Additionally, one should make a habit to perform the following before sleeping:
1. Sleep in the state of Wudhu
2. Recite Durood Shareef, Surah Al-Fātiḥah, Āyatul Kursī, The Four Quls (Surah Al-Kāfirūn, Al-Ikhlāṣ, Al-Falaq, An-Nās) and Durood Shareef again. Blow on the palms and wipe over the face and the entire body.
Hereunder are a few Amals one can do to safeguard oneself from frightful dreams
Amal #1
لَهُمُ الْبُشْرَىٰ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ ۚ لَا تَبْدِيلَ لِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ (يونس: 64)
“For them are glad tidings in this worldly life and in the Hereafter; there is no changing the Words of Allah — that is the supreme success.” Write this verse on a blank piece of paper (preferably with a black pen) and wear as a ta‘wīz around the neck while sleeping. Also read the verse a few times before sleeping.
Amal #2
Recite the Manzil and blow on pure cold pressed olive oil. Before sleeping, drop a little into each nostril.
Amal #3
Recite 21 times يا مُتَكَبِّر before retiring to bed. Do not talk thereafter.
Amal #4
Recite Surah Ma’aarij of the 29th Para (سَأَلَ سَائِلٌ بِعَذَابٍ وَاقِعٍ ) before sleeping.
Amal #5
Hafiz Ibn Hajar Asqalani (Rahimahullah) mentions in Fath ul Bari (12/433):
Before sleeping one should read Surah ٍShams, Surah Layl, Surah Teen and the 3 Qulz. One should also make the following Dua:
اَللَّهُمَّ اِنِّيْ أَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ سَيِّء الْأَحْلَامِ
وَأَسْتَجِيرُ بِكَ مِنْ تَلَاعُبِ الشَّيْطَانِ فِي الْيَقَظَةِ وَالْمَنَامِ
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ رُؤْيَا صَالِحَةً صَادِقَةً نَافِعَةً حَافِظَةً غَيْرَ مَنْسِيَّةٍ
اللَّهُمَّ أَرِنِي فِي مَنَامِي مَا أُحِبُّ
O Allah, I seek refuge in You from evil dreams,
and I seek Your protection from the tricks of Shayṭān in wakefulness and in sleep.
O Allah, I ask You for a good, true, beneficial, and memorable dream that will not be forgotten.
O Allah, show me in my dream that which I love.