Home, wealth, objects
Dreaming of henna in Islam
In short
Henna is, for al-Nabulusi, an adornment in wealth and family; dyeing grey hair with henna is following the Sunna. Hennaed hands, however, warn of a risk to one’s wealth or trade.
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
(حناء) هي في المنام عدة الرجل لعمله الذي يعمله والحناء زينة في المال والعيال
Henna in a dream is a man’s preparation for the work he does; henna is an adornment in wealth and family.
وخضاب الشيب قوة وبطش وجاه فإن رأى أن خضبها بالحناء وقبل الخضاب فإنه على سنة رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم
Dyeing grey hair is strength, vigour and standing; if he sees himself dyeing it with henna and the dye takes, he is following the Sunna of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
(ومن رأى) يديه مخضوبتين فقد أشرف على هلاك ما في يده من مال أو صنعة
Whoever sees his hands dyed [with henna] is close to losing what is in his hands, wealth or craft.
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)
If this dream upset you: what the Sunnah asks
The Prophet ﷺ taught that an unpleasant dream comes from Satan, and that it does not harm the one who does the following. (al-Bukhari 7045 · al-Bukhari 3292)
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)
Related symbols
- Marriage, weddingIn al-Nabulusi, marriage in a dream has contrasting meanings: Allah’s care, a repaid debt and relief for the worried, but also a burdensome commitment or a worry.
- HairHair is, for al-Nabulusi, wealth and long life: hair growing longer announces a long life. Shaving the head is fulfilling a trust and being safe; for a woman, hair cut outside the pilgrimage announces a quarrel with her husband.
- Gold, jewelleryFor both authors gold is not a good sign for a man — its name, dhahab, evokes what goes away — with exceptions: a bracelet worn is an inheritance, a large piece received is authority. For women, wearing jewellery is praiseworthy adornment.
All the symbols in the dictionary