Food and drink
Dreaming of honey in Islam
In short
In a dream told to the Prophet ﷺ, Abu Bakr interpreted honey dripping from a cloud as the Quran and its sweetness (al-Bukhari, Muslim). For al-Nabulusi honey is lawful wealth, and for people of religion the sweetness of faith and recitation of the Quran.
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.
In the Sunnah
A man told the Prophet ﷺ he had seen a cloud dripping ghee and honey. Abu Bakr interpreted it: the cloud is Islam, and what drips from it, the Quran and its sweetness. The Prophet ﷺ told him: “You were right in part and wrong in part.” (al-Bukhari 7046 and Muslim 2269)
What the interpretation books say
al-Nabulusi — Taʿṭīr al-Anām fī Taʿbīr al-Manām
(عسل) هو في المنام مال من ميراث حلال أو مال من غنيمة أو شركة والعسل لأهل الدين حلاوة الدين وتلاوة القرآن وأعمال البر ولأهل الدنيا إصابة غنيمة من غير تعب
Honey in a dream is wealth from a lawful inheritance, from spoils or a partnership; for people of religion it is the sweetness of faith, recitation of the Quran and good deeds; for worldly people, a gain obtained without toil.
فإن رأى أن السماء أمطرت عسلا دل على صلاح الدين وعموم البركة
If he sees the sky raining honey, it indicates soundness of religion and widespread blessing.
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
- MilkThe Prophet ﷺ interpreted the milk he drank in a dream as knowledge (al-Bukhari, Muslim). For al-Nabulusi milk is the innate nature of Islam and lawful wealth gained without toil.
- BreadWhite bread is, for al-Nabulusi, pleasant provision; bread also stands for knowledge and Islam, the pillar of religion. Receiving bread from a deceased person announces provision from where one did not expect.
- QuranReciting the Quran in a dream is honour, joy and victory. Interpreters look at the meaning of the passage: a verse of mercy is mercy, a warning is a call to amend oneself. Al-Fatiha, al-Falaq and an-Nas are protections.
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