Question:
I had a dream where I was chased by snakes and eaten by a crocodile and tiger. Is my dream just a dream or disturbance from the shaytan?
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the many countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
Sorry, but we don’t know the meaning of dreams where one is chased by snakes or being eaten by crocodile and tiger.
As for the dream of seeing a tiger, we include the opinion of al-Imam ‘Abd al-Ghani al-Nabulsi:
“Whoever sees a tiger in his dream, he should recite istighfar and repent to Allah SWT for all his sins. The evidence is that it symbolizes the pious kings of Persia. Tiger is also a symbol of strength and humans are scared of it. It may also mean a multifaceted person.” [1] In our opinion, it refers to the greatness of a person. Thus, istighfar is an encouragement in order to reflect on a person’s weakness and removing arrogance.
While, if one dreams of meeting a crocodile, Imam ‘Abd al-Ghani al-Nabulsi said:
“Seeing a crocodile is symbolic to police. Crocodile in water refers to an untrustworthy person, whether he is a friend or foe. The crocodile could also refer to a cruel and dishonest businessman. Whoever sees a crocodile, then the crocodile catches him, hauling him in water and kill him. Then surely, he will be captured by the police who will seize his property and kill him. If he is safe from it, then he will be saved.
Seeing a crocodile also means impertinence, sin, unlawful income according to syarak, fear and pressure. It also means the death of someone, where he will be portrayed as drowning. Seeing a crocodile means disaster and seeing it on land showed the weakness and debility of it. If the crocodile drags a person in water in a dream, then it means a person of authority will force him to do something that he hates. If a person dreams, he is eating the flesh of a crocodile or him dragging a crocodile out of water, then it means he will be able to overcome his enemy.” [2]
Basically, Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalani divided dreams into two:
- True dreams (al-sadiqah). These are the dreams of the prophets and pious people. It rarely happens to anyone other than them. It happens when one is conscious (yaqazah) the same as what happens in the dream.
- It is described by the term al-adghath. It just happens without reason. It may come in several forms:
- Disturbance from shaytan making him sad or anxious.
- Seeing an angel instructing him to do something that is prohibited or impossible to do.
- Something that a person thinks about when he was awake and later, he dreams about it. This is what usually happens. [2]
Among some guides for anyone who had a nightmare are:
- Spit three times on the left side
The Prophet PBUH said:
إِذَا رَأَى أَحَدُكُمُ الرُّؤْيَا يَكْرَهُهَا، فَلْيَبْصُقْ عَنْ يَسَارِهِ ثَلَاثًا وَلْيَسْتَعِذْ بِاللهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ ثَلَاثًا، وَلْيَتَحَوَّلْ عَنْ جَنْبِهِ الَّذِي كَانَ عَلَيْهِ
“If anyone sees a dream which he does not like, he should spit on his left side three times, and seek refuge with Allah from the Satan three times, and let him turn over from the side on which he was sleeping.”
Sahih Muslim (2262)
- Does not tell anyone about it and perform prayer
The Prophet PBUH said:
الرُّؤْيَا ثَلاَثٌ: حَدِيثُ النَّفْسِ، وَتَخْوِيفُ الشَّيْطَانِ، وَبُشْرَى مِنَ اللَّهِ، فَمَنْ رَأَى شَيْئًا يَكْرَهُهُ فَلاَ يَقُصَّهُ عَلَى أَحَدٍ وَلْيَقُمْ فَلْيُصَلِّ
“So, if someone has a dream which he dislikes, he should not tell it to others, but get up and offer a prayer."
Sahih al-Bukhari (7017)
Lastly, we suggest that you should refer to renown books and scholars who are knowledgeable in the interpretation of dreams. It should be asked to those who are pious to avoid getting a deviant and wrong interpretation of one’s dreams. Allah SWT revelation for the Prophet PBUH are in the form of dreams. The Prophet PBUH said:
رُؤْيَا المُؤْمِنِ جُزْءٌ مِنْ سِتَّةٍ وَأَرْبَعِينَ جُزْءًا مِنَ النُّبُوَّةِ
“Verily the vision of a believer is one of the forty-sixth part of Prophecy.”
Sahih al-Bukhari (6987)
Indeed, the dream of a believer at the end of times will give a positive effect in his life and society. Hopefully, this explanation will give us understanding in this issue.
Endnotes:
[1] Al-Nabulsi, ‘Abd al-Ghani. Ta’tir al-Anam fi Ta’bir al-Manam, pg. 360.
[2] Al-Nabulsi, ‘Abd al-Ghani. Ta’tir al-Anam fi Ta’bir al-Manam, pg. 53.
[3] Al-Asqalani, Ibn Hajar. Fath al-Bari Syarh Sahih al-Bukhari, 12/354.