I used to see (such horrible dreams) that I fell ill. I saw Abu Qatada who also said: I used to see dreams which made me sick until I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: Good dreams are from Allah, so if any one of you sees which he likes he should not disclose it to one but whom he loves, but if he sees something which he does not like he should spit on his left side thrice and seek refuge with Allah from the mischief of the Satan and its mischief (i.e. of the dream), and he should not relate it to anyone, then it would not harm him.
The Book of Dreams - Sahih Muslim 2261g
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. All praise is to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and peace and blessings upon His final Prophet Muhammad.
The Nature of Dreams
The narration reveals three types of dreams: true dreams from Allah, disturbing dreams from Satan, and dreams arising from one's own thoughts. The companions' experience demonstrates how Satanic dreams can physically affect believers, causing genuine illness due to their disturbing nature.
Prophetic Guidance for Good Dreams
When one experiences a pleasing dream recognized as being from Allah, the Prophet instructed to share it only with those who love you and possess wisdom. This prevents envy (hasad) and preserves the dream's blessing. The scholar Ibn Hajar notes that sharing with the wrong person may cause the dream's goodness to be lost.
Remedy for Disturbing Dreams
For unpleasant dreams, the Prophet prescribed: 1) Spitting lightly to one's left side three times - this represents rejection of Satan's whispers; 2) Seeking refuge in Allah from Satan's evil; 3) Changing one's sleeping position; 4) Not narrating the dream to anyone. Imam Nawawi explains that these actions collectively break Satan's influence.
Spiritual Protection
The practice of seeking refuge with Allah demonstrates complete dependence on divine protection. Scholars emphasize that dreams have no power to harm except what Allah permits. By following this prophetic guidance, the believer transforms a potential source of distress into an opportunity for spiritual growth and reliance upon Allah.