Actions and situations
Dreaming of war in Islam
Did this dream upset you?Seek Allah’s protection, blow lightly three times to your left, turn onto your other side, pray if you can, and tell no one: “it will not harm you”.Details and sources
Seek Allah’s protection, three times
Against the evil of this dream and against Satan. The wording given by al-Nawawi: “aʿūdhu billāhi mina sh-shayṭāni wa min sharrihā” — I seek refuge with Allah from Satan and from the evil of this dream. (al-Bukhari 7044 · Muslim 2262 · al-Nawawi, Sharh Sahih Muslim 15/18)
Blow lightly three times to your left
The narrations say “blow” (nafth), “spit lightly” (tafl) or “spit” (basq): a light breath, to drive Satan away. (Muslim 2261 · al-Bukhari 7044 · Muslim 2262)
Turn over onto your other side
Change the side you were sleeping on. (Muslim 2262)
Get up and pray
If you can; al-Nawawi recommends two units of prayer (rakʿa). (Muslim 2263 · al-Nawawi, Sharh Sahih Muslim 15/18)
Tell no one about it
Neither recount it nor seek to have it interpreted. A Bedouin dreamt that his head was cut off; the Prophet ﷺ told him: “Do not tell of how Satan toys with you in your sleep.” (al-Bukhari 7045 · Muslim 2263 · Muslim 2268 · al-Nawawi, Sharh Sahih Muslim 15/18)
“It will not harm him”: that is the promise of the hadith. Al-Nawawi adds that doing only some of these acts is enough, by Allah’s leave. (al-Bukhari 7045 · al-Nawawi, Sharh Sahih Muslim 15/18)
In short
For al-Nabulusi, war indicates rising prices, turmoil, sedition, an epidemic, or plague; war between the ruler and his subjects foretells rising food prices, while weapons and occupations connected with reform bode well for those who practice them. The Muntakhab attributed to Ibn Sirin associates war between rulers with sedition or an epidemic, war between the ruler and his subjects with lower food prices, and war among the subjects with higher prices.
A summary of the passages quoted below. These are authors’ interpretations, not a prediction: a dream is understood through the dreamer and all its details.
What the interpretation books say
al-Nabulusi — Taʿṭīr al-Anām fī Taʿbīr al-Manām
والحرب بين السلاطين يدل على فتنة أو وباء والحرب بين السلطان والرعية يدل على غلاء الطعام والحرب اضطرب أو فتنة ووباء أو طاعون والحرب وما يعمل فيها دليل على اضطراب لجميع الناس ودليل حزن لهم ما خلا القواد وأصحاب الجيش ومن كان عمله بالسلاح أو بسبب الصلاح فإنه لهم دليل خير ويسار.
War between rulers indicates sedition or an epidemic, and war between the ruler and his subjects indicates rising food prices. War indicates turmoil, sedition, an epidemic, or plague. War and what is done in it indicate turmoil for all people and sorrow for them, except for commanders, members of the army, and those whose work concerns weapons or reform: for them, it is a sign of good and prosperity.
Muntakhab al-Kalām fī Tafsīr al-Aḥlām (attributed to Ibn Sirin)
Attribution to Ibn Sirin rejected: why
الحرب في المنام على ثلاثة أضرب أحدها بين سلطانين والثاني بين السلطان والرعيه والثالث بين الرعية فأما الحرب بين السلطانين فيدل على فتنة أو وباء نعوذ بالله منها وإذا كان الحرب بين السلطانين والرعية دلت على رخص الطعام وإذا كانت الحرب بين الرعية دلت على غلاء الطعام وقدوم العسكر بلده دليل المطر
War in a dream is of three kinds: the first is between two rulers, the second between the ruler and his subjects, and the third among the subjects. War between two rulers indicates sedition or an epidemic, from which we seek refuge with Allah. When war is between the ruler and his subjects, it indicates lower food prices; when war is among the subjects, it indicates higher food prices. The arrival of the army in a town is a sign of rain.
Keep in mind
- An interpretation is a human effort: Abu Bakr himself was partly wrong before the Prophet ﷺ. (al-Bukhari 7046 and Muslim 2269)
- Appearances deceive: an unpleasant-looking dream may be interpreted as good, and vice versa. (al-Nawawi, Sharh Sahih Muslim 15/18)
- A dream is not a fatwa: make no serious decision on its strength alone. (al-Nawawi, Sharh Sahih Muslim 1/115)
Related symbols
- KillingFor al-Nabulusi, killing someone in a dream indicates a grave sin, while being killed announces a long life and much good. The Muntakhab attributed to Ibn Sirin associates fleeing death or murder with the nearness of one’s appointed time.
- FireFire has opposite meanings: power, trial or sin, but also guidance and knowledge, since one is guided by its light. Fire in the heart is, for al-Nabulusi, intense love.
- KingFor al-Nabulusi, becoming a king may signify sovereignty, power, and authority, but also a swift death for someone unfit for it. The Muntakhab attributed to Ibn Sirin associates seeing Solomon with kingship, knowledge, and religious understanding.
All the symbols in the dictionary