Dreams

Dreams are broken into three parts according to the Sunnah:

1: Ru'yaa - good visions (dreams)
2: Hulum - bad dreams
3: Dreams from one's self.

Abu Hurayrah (R.A) narrated Muhammad (Sallalahu alayhe wassalam) said: "There are three types of dreams: a righteous dream which is glad tidings from Allah, the dream which causes sadness is from Shaitan, and a dream from the ramblings of the mind."
[Sahih Muslim]

TRUE/GOOD DREAMS:

We can see true dreams are from Allah Ta'aala as Muhammad (Sallalahu Alayhe Wassalam) said: "True dreams are from Allah, and bad dreams are from Shaitan."
[Sahih Al-Bukhari]

True Dreams are more likely to happen to those who are truthful in their lives as Muhammad (Sallalahu Alayhe Wassalam) said: "Those of you with the truest dreams will be those who are most truthful in speech."
[Sahih Muslim]

Good dreams are also from Allah Ta'aala. Prophet Muhammad (Sallalahu Alayhe Wassalam) said: "If anyone of you has a dream that he likes then it is from Allah. He should thank Allah for it and narrate it to others."
[Sahih Al-Bukhari]

One should share their dreams with those they like as Muhammad (Sallalahu Alayhe wassalam) said: "If one sees a good dream, let him expect good, and not tell it except to those he likes."
[Muslim]

An example of this is Yaqoob (AS) telling his son, Yusuf (AS) concerning his dream about eleven stars and the sun and the moon prostrating to him (scholars have said the eleven stars were his brothers, and the sun and the moon represented his mother and father):
"He said: "O my son! Relate not your vision to your brothers lest they arrange a plot against you. Verily! Satan is to man an open enemy." (Surah Yusuf 12:5)
We know the half-brothers of Yusuf were jealous of him to begin with so telling them the dream would probably only serve to increase the jealousy.

Hazrat Muhammad (Sallalalhu Alayhe Wassalam) also told us: ""Nothing is left of prophethood except glad tidings." Those with him asked: "What are glad tidings?". He (Sallalahu Alayhe Wassalam) replied: "Good dreams." 
[Sahih Al-Bukhari]


BAD DREAMS:

As stated above bad dreams are from Shaitan. Muhammad (Sallalahu alayhe wassalam) told us what to do upon seeing a bad dream.: "So when one of you sees a dream which he does not like, he should spit on his left side three times, seek refuge with Allah from Shaitan thrice, and change the side which he was lying." [Sahih Muslim] in another narration in Muslim, Muhammad (Sallalahu Alayhe Wassalam) told us if we spit three times and seek refuge from Allah then it (the dream) will not harm them." 
[Sahih Muslim]

Muhammad (Sallalahu Alayhe Wassalam) also told us that if we saw a bad dream to "stand up and offer prayer." [Sahih Muslim]

Bad Dreams Should Not Be Disclosed.

Muhammad (Sallalahu Alayhe Wassalam) said: ...If he has a dream that he dislikes, then it is from Shaitan. He should seek refuge with Allah from its evil, and he SHOULD NOT MENTION IT TO ANYBODY, then it will not harm him." 
[Sahih Al-Bukhari]

If one does tell somebody about the bad dream then there could be the chance that some harm will come out of it.


DREAMS FROM ONE'S SELF:

These dreams come from one's thoughts and are neither from Allah or Shaitan.

Lying About Dreams:

Prophet Muhammad (Sallalahu Alayhe Wassalam) said: "Indeed the worst of lies is that of a person who falsely claims to have dream."
[Sahih Al-Bukhari]
also 'Whoever claims to have dream which he did not have, will be ordered to tie two barley grains together, which he will never be able to do; and if somebody eavesdrop on some people's conversation which they didn't want him to hear or they tried to keep away from him, then molten lead will be poured into his ears on the Day of Resurrection; and whosoever makes a picture (of a being with a soul) will be punished on the Day of Resurrection and (will) be ordered to put a soul in it, which he will not be able to do." 
[Sahih Al-Bukhari]

In Quran we can find 6 dreams which are mentioned in 14 different verses.

1. Dream of Prophet Mohammad S.A.W. at the time of Badr Gazwa (battle)

2. Dream of Yusuf AS when he was young.

3. Dream of Prisoner 1 in Jail with Yusuf AS

4. Dream of Prisoner 1 in Jail with Yusuf AS

5. Dream of Egyptian Ruler narrated to Yusuf AS

6. Dream of Ibrahim AS sacrificing his son

The details of the verses are:

(1)(And remember) when Allah showed them to you as few in your (i.e. Muhammad's صلى الله عليه وسلم) dream; if He had shown them to you as many, you would surely have been discouraged, and you would surely have disputed in making a decision. But Allah saved (you). Certainly, He is the All-Knower of what is in the breasts. 
(  سورة الأنفال  , Al-Anfal, Chapter #8, Verse #43)
 (2) (Remember) when Yusuf (Joseph) said to his father: "O my father! Verily, I saw (in a dream) eleven stars and the sun and the moon - I saw them prostrating themselves to me." 
(  سورة يوسف  , Yusuf, Chapter #12, Verse #4)
 (3) "Thus will your Lord choose you and teach you the interpretation of dreams (and other things) and perfect His Favour on you and on the offspring of Ya'qub (Jacob), as He perfected it on your fathers, Ibrahim (Abraham) and Ishaq (Isaac) aforetime! Verily, your Lord is All-Knowing, All-Wise." 
(  سورة يوسف  , Yusuf, Chapter #12, Verse #6)
(4) And there entered with him two young men in the prison. One of them said: "Verily, I saw myself (in a dream) pressing wine." The other said: "Verily, I saw myself (in a dream) carrying bread on my head and birds were eating thereof." (They said): "Inform us of the interpretation of this. Verily, we think you are one of the Muhsinun (doers of good)." 
(  سورة يوسف  , Yusuf, Chapter #12, Verse #36)
(5) He said: "No food will come to you (in wakefulness or in dream) as your provision, but I will inform (in wakefulness) its interpretation before it (the food) comes. This is of that which my Lord has taught me. Verily, I have abandoned the religion of a people that believe not in Allah and are disbelievers in the Hereafter (i.e. the Kan'anyyun of Egypt who were polytheists and used to worship sun and other false deities). 
(  سورة يوسف  , Yusuf, Chapter #12, Verse #37)
(6) And the king (of Egypt) said: "Verily, I saw (in a dream) seven fat cows, whom even lean ones were devouring, and seven green ears of corn, and (seven) others dry. O notables! Explain to me my dream, if it be that you can interpret dreams." 
(  سورة يوسف  , Yusuf, Chapter #12, Verse #43)
(7) They said: "Mixed up false dreams and we are not skilled in the interpretation of dreams." 
(  سورة يوسف  , Yusuf, Chapter #12, Verse #44)
(8) (He said): "O Yusuf (Joseph), the man of truth! Explain to us (the dream) of seven fat cows whom seven lean ones were devouring, and of seven green ears of corn, and (seven) others dry, that I may return to the people, and that they may know." 
(  سورة يوسف  , Yusuf, Chapter #12, Verse #46)
(9) And he raised his parents to the throne and they fell down before him prostrate. And he said: "O my father! This is the interpretation of my dream aforetime! My Lord has made it come true! He was indeed good to me, when He took me out of the prison, and brought you (all here) out of the bedouin-life, after Shaitan (Satan) had sown enmity between me and my brothers. Certainly, my Lord is the Most Courteous and Kind unto whom He wills. Truly He! Only He is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. 
(  سورة يوسف  , Yusuf, Chapter #12, Verse #100)
(10) "My Lord! You have indeed bestowed on me of the sovereignty, and taught me something of the interpretation of dreams - the (Only) Creator of the heavens and the earth! You are my Wali (Protector, Helper, Supporter, Guardian, God, Lord.) in this world and in the Hereafter. Cause me to die as a Muslim (the one submitting to Your Will), and join me with the righteous." 
(  سورة يوسف  , Yusuf, Chapter #12, Verse #101)
(11)  Nay, they say: "These (revelations of the Qur'an which are revealed to Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) are mixed up false dreams! Nay, he has invented them! - Nay, he is a poet! Let him then bring us an Ayah (sign as a proof) like the ones (Prophets) the former were sent (with)!" 
(  سورة الأنبياء  , Al-Anbiya, Chapter #21, Verse #5)
(12) And, when he (his son) was old enough to walk with him, he said: "O my son! I have seen in a dream that I am slaughtering you (offering you in sacrifice to Allah). So look what you think!" He said: "O my father! Do that which you are commanded, Insha' Allah (if Allah wills), you shall find me of As-Sabirun (the patient)." 
(  سورة الصافات  , As-Saaffat, Chapter #37, Verse #102)
(13) You have fulfilled the dream!" Verily thus do We reward the Muhsinun (good-doers - See 2:112). 
(  سورة الصافات  , As-Saaffat, Chapter #37, Verse #105)
(14) Indeed Allah shall fulfil the true vision which He showed to His Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) [i.e. the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم saw a dream
(  سورة الفتح  , Al-Fath, Chapter #48, Verse #27)

that he has entered Makkah along with his Companions, having their (head) hair shaved and cut short] in very truth. Certainly, you shall enter Al-Masjid-al-Haram, if Allah wills, secure, (some) having your heads shaved, and (some) having your head hair cut short, having no fear. He knew what you knew not, and He granted besides that a near victory. 

This is only a short article, but it is hoped that it will be beneficial to all who reads, and it will erase some misconceptions people have about dreams. It is also hoped that it will stop some wrong practices that people do upon seeing good or bad dreams which are not found in the Qur'an or Sunnah.

Anything correct is from Allah Ta'aala and anything incorrect is from myself.

 

Most people walk in and out of your life,

but only TRUE FRIENDS leave footprints in our heart.

May Allah SWT guide us all towards His right path; grant us a place closest to Him in Jannah.
May Allah SWT keep us alive only in the folds of Islam and give us death only in the best state of Imaan.

Your Brother in faith,