Actions and situations
Dreaming of drowning 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, drowning may signify being destined for the Fire, committing many sins, or being threatened with disbelief or religious innovation; drowning in clear water means being overwhelmed by abundant wealth.
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
في المنام أنه غرق فهو في النار لقوله تعالى: {مما خطيئاتهم أغرقوا فأدخلوا نارا} . والغرق أمر ليس لله تعالى فيه رضا.
[Whoever sees himself] drowned in a dream is in the Fire, according to the words of the Most High: “Because of their sins, they were drowned and then admitted into a Fire.” Drowning is something that does not please Allah, Exalted is He.
أنه غريق فإنه يخطئ بارتكاب ذنوب كثيرة وإن مات في غرقه فإنه يخاف عليه الكفر أو يغرق في بدعة
[Whoever sees himself] drowning commits many sins; if he dies by drowning, disbelief or falling into a religious innovation is feared for him.
والغرق في الماء الصافي غرق في مال كثير.
Drowning in clear water means being overwhelmed by abundant wealth.
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
- SeaThe sea stands for a king or anyone with authority over people; seeing it means obtaining what one hoped for. Swimming means overcoming an opponent; walking on water, firm faith.
- FloodFor al-Nabulusi a torrent is first an enemy’s attack; but clear, calm water from which people benefit announces successive blessings, and seeing a torrent may herald rain.
- SwimmingFor al-Nabulusi, swimming can signify contending with an adversary and overcoming him; swimming in the sea may also relate to seeking knowledge, an important undertaking, or a trial, depending on the circumstances.
All the symbols in the dictionary