the deed for his own sake, and people praise him for it.’
He replied, ‘That is the believer’s immediate glad tidings.’” (1)
A dream may be from Allah, arise from one’s own thoughts, or be from Satan. When the believers’ dreams concur regarding something, it is true, just as when their reports or views concur. (2) A single individual (3) may err or lie, may be mistaken in his judgment, (4) or may deliberately pursue falsehood. But when they come together, they do not collectively agree upon misguidance. When reports are transmitted through numerous independent chains, (5) they yield certain knowledge; the same applies to dreams. (6)
The Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said:
“I see that your dreams concur that it falls within the last seven nights. Whoever among you is seeking it (7) should therefore seek it during the last seven nights.” (8)
(1) The hadith, with some variation in wording, is narrated from Abū Dharr al-Ghifārī—may Allah be pleased with him—in Muslim, 4/2034–2035 (Book of Virtue, Maintaining Ties, and Manners, chapter: When a Righteous Person Is Praised, It Is Glad Tidings and Does No Harm); Sunan Ibn Mājah, 2/1412 (Book of Asceticism, chapter: Commendation); and al-Musnad (al-Halabī ed.), 5/156, 157, 168.
(2) (A) reads: “their dreams or their dream”; (B) reads: “their vision.”
(3) (A) and (B) read: “the man.”
(4) (A) and (B) read: “the dream.”
(5) (A) reads: “reports”; (B) reads: “dreams.”
(6) (B) reads: “Thus, the same applies to the dream”; (W) reads: “Likewise, the same applies to dreams.”
(7) (N) reads: *mutajarrihā*; (A) and (B) read: “seeking [it].”
(8) The hadith is narrated from Ibn Umar—may Allah be pleased with them both—in al-Bukhārī, 3/46 (Book of the Virtue of the Night of Decree, chapter: Seeking the Night of Decree during the Last Seven Nights); Muslim, 2/822 (Book of Fasting, chapter: The Virtue of the Night of Decree); al-Muwatta’, 1/321 (Book of Spiritual Retreat, chapter: Reports concerning the Night of Decree); and al-Musnad (al-Ma‘ārif ed.), 6/231.