When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) experienced a bad dream, he would take specific actions as a means to seek refuge and protection from any potential harm associated with the dream.
Actions the Prophet Took for Bad Dreams
Based on the provided reference, the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) instructed the following actions when experiencing a bad dream:
- Spitting on the Left Side: He would spit lightly on his left side three times. This is a symbolic action to reject the negativity associated with the bad dream.
- Seeking Refuge in Allah: He would then seek refuge with Allah (God) from the evil of the dream. This involves verbally asking for Allah's protection from any harm that the dream might represent. The specific supplication would be “Audhu billahi min ash-shaytaan ir-rajeem” which means "I seek refuge in Allah from the cursed Satan."
Explanation and Practical Application
These actions are prescribed as a way to mitigate the negative effects of bad dreams. The belief is that bad dreams come from the devil, and by performing these actions, one is actively seeking Allah's protection and nullifying any potential harm the dream might carry.
| Action | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Spit on left side thrice | Symbolic rejection of the dream's negativity. |
| Seek refuge in Allah | Seeking divine protection from the dream's evil. |
Why These Specific Actions?
- Spitting (Lightly) Left: The left side is traditionally associated with evil or negative influences. Spitting lightly to the left symbolically disposes of the bad dream's negative impact.
- Seeking Refuge with Allah: This is a fundamental act of faith, recognizing Allah as the ultimate protector and seeking His divine help against the evil of the dream.
Reference Inclusion
According to the Hadith: "He said: I heard Allah's Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) as saying: A good vision comes from Allah and a (bad) dream (hulm) from devil. So when one of you sees a bad dream (hulm) which he does not like, he should spit on his left side thrice and seek refuge with Allah from its evil; then it will not harm him."
This reference provides the explicit instructions given by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) on dealing with bad dreams.
In summary, when the Prophet had a bad dream, he would spit on his left side three times and seek refuge with Allah from the evil associated with it. This serves as a comprehensive approach to seeking protection and minimizing any potential harm from the dream.
