What should you do after a bad dream in Islam?

The four schools agree on this.

Explanation

The Prophet ﷺ said that a good dream is from Allah and a bad dream (hulm) is from Shaytan. When you see something you dislike, blow to your left three times, seek refuge in Allah from its evil, and do not tell anyone, for then it will not harm you. In Sahih Muslim he added: turn away from the side you were sleeping on. Another narration says to get up and pray.

Step by step:

1. Blow lightly to your left three times, a dry spit with a little breath.
2. Say A'udhu billahi min ash-shaytan ir-rajim three times, and ask Allah to protect you from the dream's harm.
3. Turn over onto your other side.
4. Do not tell anyone, and do not look up its 'meaning'.
5. If you wish, make wudu and pray two rak'ahs.

Nightmares about death, hell, being chased, losing teeth or a loved one dying are common. They do not mean that thing will happen. Most frightening dreams come from Shaytan trying to sadden you, or from what you watched, ate or worried about before sleeping. Abu Qatada said a dream used to make him ill until he heard this hadith, and then it no longer troubled him.

To sleep better: make wudu before bed, read Ayat al-Kursi and the last three surahs, and say the dua before sleeping. Avoid horror films at night. If nightmares are frequent or linked to trauma, speak to a doctor as well. A wet dream is a separate matter; see ghusl after a wet dream. More in Dreams in Islam. The four schools agree on these steps.

The evidence

Where the ruling is recorded

• Sharh Sahih Muslim (Nawawi), Kitab al-Ru'ya. Combines the narrations into the steps to take after a bad dream.

Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.