Nature and elements
Dreaming of rain in Islam
In short
Rain that does no damage is, for both books, good, provision and Allah’s mercy, and relief for the indebted or worried; a rain of blood or stones stands for sins.
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
(مطر) هو في المنام إذا لم يحصل منه ضرر فإنه خير ورزق ورحمة
Rain in a dream, if it causes no harm, is good, provision and mercy.
(ومن رأى) مطرا عاما يحيا له أمر ميت وينال خيرا ونعمة وبركة وإن كان مغموما أو مديونا فرج عنه
Whoever sees widespread rain: a dead matter comes back to life for him, he gains good, favour and blessing; if he is worried or in debt, he is relieved.
وإن كان المطر عاما مؤذيا مثل أن تمطر السماء دما أو حجارة فإنه يدل على الذنوب والمعاصي
If the rain is widespread and harmful — for instance if the sky rains blood or stones — it indicates sins and disobedience.
Muntakhab al-Kalām fī Tafsīr al-Aḥlām (attributed to Ibn Sirin)
Attribution to Ibn Sirin rejected: why
(المطر) يدل على رحمة الله تعالى ودينه وفرجه وعونه وعلى العلم والقرآن والحكمة
Rain stands for Allah’s mercy, His religion, His relief and His help, and for knowledge, the Quran and wisdom.
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
- WaterFor both books clear water is life, knowledge and ease, and drinking it is a good sign. Al-Nabulusi also reports the view attributed to Ibn Sirin: water can be a trial in religion.
- 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.
- StarsFor al-Nabulusi a star stands for a noble person; bright stars gathered in one’s home announce notable visitors, and a star in one’s hand, a noble child. The Quran also recounts Joseph’s dream of eleven stars bowing to him.
All the symbols in the dictionary