Should you tell anyone your dream? The etiquette of sharing dreams in Islam

Whether you should share a dream depends on the kind of dream and who you would tell. The Sunnah teaches a clear etiquette.

A good dream: tell only those who love you

"A good dream is from Allah. If one of you sees what he loves, let him tell it only to one he loves" (Sahih al-Bukhari 7044). In Muslim's narration, the one who sees a good dream is advised to rejoice and tell only those he loves (Sahih Muslim 2261f).

The wisdom of this appears in the story of Yusuf. When Yusuf saw eleven stars, the sun and the moon bowing to him, his father Yaqub said: "My son, do not tell your dream to your brothers, lest they plot against you" (Quran 12:4-5). A good dream is not told to people who may envy you.

A bad dream: tell no one

If you saw a dream you dislike, seek refuge in Allah from its harm and tell no one; then it will not harm you (Sahih al-Bukhari 6985). The Prophet told people not to speak of how Satan played with them in their sleep (Sahih Muslim 2268d). See What to do after a bad dream.

Who should interpret your dream?

A narration in Abu Dawud and al-Tirmidhi advises telling a dream only to someone you love or to a wise, knowledgeable person. The person you ask should have:

• Good will: someone who loves you and wishes you well.
• Knowledge: someone who knows the principles of interpretation and the classical sources.
• Balance: someone who does not make certain claims or frighten you, and can say "Allah knows best".

Inventing a dream is a grave sin

"Whoever claims to have seen a dream he did not see will be charged on the Day of Judgement with tying two barley grains together, which he will never be able to do" (Sahih al-Bukhari 7042). Claiming to have seen what one did not see is counted among the worst of lies (Sahih al-Bukhari 7043). A dream is never invented or embellished to impress anyone.

Sharing dreams on social media

Posting a good dream publicly does not fit the advice to tell only those who love you; it also reaches the envious and ill-intentioned. Posting a bad dream does exactly what the hadith asks us not to do. It is best to share dreams only with people you trust and, when needed, a knowledgeable interpreter.

In short

• Good dream: praise Allah and tell only those who love you.
• Bad dream: seek refuge in Allah and tell no one.
• For interpretation: choose someone well-meaning and knowledgeable.
• Never: describe a dream you did not see.

Allah knows best the truth of dreams.