something they dislike, they immediately seek out an interpretation—visiting dream-readers or consulting books to learn what that distressing vision means. Yet once it is interpreted, it often unfolds in the very manner they feared. If, however, a person seeks refuge with Allah from Satan’s evil and from the evil of what he has seen, and tells it to no one, it will not harm him—whatever it may have been. This is an easy remedy: show patience, keep the dream to yourself, and ask Allah’s protection from the Devil and from the dream’s evil so that it never comes to pass.

The third category comprises dreams that have no particular aim. At times they arise from one’s own thoughts: the heart is attached to something, a person keeps pondering it, becomes preoccupied with it, and then sees it while asleep. At other times Satan simply toys with the sleeper, showing him images that carry no meaning. A man once told the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—“Messenger of Allah, I saw in my dream that my head was cut off, and my head began to run while I chased after it.” The Prophet replied, “Do not tell people about the Devil amusing himself with you in your sleep; that has no meaning.” A head being severed and then running off while the body chases after it—this has no meaning whatsoever.