Dream interpretation is related to both, the dream itself and the person having those visualizations. Acquiring knowledge on this subject should be aimed at attaining the ability to correctly interpret dreams. Though the foundation of all knowledge is Allah Almighty; society recognizes the person who first introduces it to the world. In the same context, Hazrat Yousaf is considered founder of the knowledge of dream interpretation, as he was the first person to be given this knowledge by Allah Almighty. Allah says in the Holy Quran:
وَکَزٰلِکَ یَجْتَبِیْکَ رَبُّکَ وَیُعَلِّمُکَ مِنْ تَاْوِیْلِ اْلاَ حَادِیْثِ
Thus Will your lord choose you and teach you the interpretation of dreams (and other things).
(Yousaf 6/12)
In this verse, Hazrat Yousaf has been promised the knowledge of dream interpretation and then this promise was also fulfilled; which Hazrat Yousuf acknowledges in this verse:
رَبِّ قَدْ اٰ تَیْتَنِیْ مِنَ الْمُلْکِ وَعَلَّمْتَنِیْ مِنْ تَاْ وِیْلِ الْاَ حَادِیْثِ
My lord! You have indeed bestowed on me of the sovereignty, and taught me the interpretation of dreams
(Yousaf 101/12)
The Holy Prophet said that one should not narrate one’s dream to anyone else other than a righteous friend, knowledgeable scholar or a good person by heart; as these people will give a good interpretation of the dream.
Hazrat Imam Jafar Sadiq r said that it is not wise to ask interpretation of a dream from the undermentioned four types of people as It is feared that they may give a bad interpretation of the dream. A dream is manifested in reality as it has been interpreted:
1. Non Muslims
2. Women 1
3. Ignorant people
4. Enemies
When a person sees a bad dream, he should seek refuge in Allah Almighty from the evil of this dream and Satan. If such a dream is not narrated to anyone, it will have no effect on the dreamer. The Holy Prophet
said:
٤
اَلرُّؤْیَا عَلٰی رِجْلِ طَائِرٍ مَّالَمْ یُحَدِّ ثْ بِھَا فَاِذَ ا حَدَّثَ بِھَا وَقَعَتْ
A dream hovers over a man so long as it is not interpreted, then when it is interpreted it is fulfilled.
Narrating a bad dream has been prohibited because someone may give a bad/ wrong interpretation to the dream. It has generally been observed that a dream manifests itself by Allah’s will, the way it has been interpreted.
Hazrat Ibn Sirin r said that one of the wonders of dreams is that whether a person sees good, benefit and relief in a dream, or evil and calamity in a dream; he sees the same while awake. The second wonder is that many people don’t have good understanding or clarity in speech. They cannot recite long verses or poems; however, memorize it by reading it in their dreams. Many illiterate people narrate words of wisdom that they have remembered in a dream; which no scholar has been able to explain.
Hazrat Jabar Maghribi r said that another wonder of a dream is that interpretation of a dreamer may fall on his child or brother. The Prophet saw in a dream that Abu Jahl had become a Muslim; however, Hazrat Ikramah, the son of Abu Jahl converted to Islam. It also happens that the interpretation of a child's dream falls on the mother and that of a slave's dream falls on the master.
Although many Islamic scholars have knowledge of dream interpretation; the following six scholars are particularly famous and considered experts on the subject of dream interpretation:
1. Hazrat Danial r
2. Hazrat Imam Jaffar Sadiq r
3. Hazrat Imam Muhammad Bin Sirin r
4. Hazrat Imam Jabbir Maghrabi r
5. Hazrat Imam Ibrahim Kirmani r
6. Hazrat Imam Ismail Bin Ashas r