What are dreams and where do they come from, are commonly asked questions but their answers are not common. People are trying to solve the mystery behind dreams since centuries but none has succeeded completely. To some extent the mystery behind dreams can be described on the basis of human experience but nothing is final or absolute.

Some experts are of the view that dreams reflect our feelings, emotions, aspirations and desires. Why do we see dreams and what is the objective of dreams? Let us try and find answers to these questions in the light of Islam. Let us see how Islam defines and explains dreams?

According to famous religious scholar and intellectual Dr Khalid Zaheer, dreams are a source of communication that Allah (God) uses to talk to His messengers or prophets. Prophet Ibrahim (AS) saw in his dreams that he was slaughtering his beloved son Hazrat Ismael (AS). Hazrat Ibrahim discussed his dream with his son Hazrat Ismael and both concluded that it was a message from Allah.

Allah Almighty (God) has described two dreams in The Holy Quran’s Sura-e-Yousaf. In one dream Prophet Yousaf (AS) sees eleven stars, the sun and the moon bowing before him. Hazrat Yousaf described this dream to his father Hazrat Yaqoob (AS). Hazrat Yaqoob (AS), while interpreting the dream, said Allah was giving good news to you (Yousaf) that He will make you (Yousaf) His messenger (prophet).

In Sura-e-Yousaf, there is another dream that has been described by Allah Almighty. The dream is about the King who sees seven weak cows eating seven fat cows. The King also sees seven green grains and seven dry grains. The King asks people around him the interpretation of that dream but none was able to understand the message being given in that dream. Meanwhile a man who was in the captivity along with Hazrat Yousaf (AS) told the King that a wise man in captivity (Hazrat Yousaf) can interpret his dream. The King called Hazrat Yousaf (AS) from captivity and told his dream. Hazrat Yousaf (AS) interpreted the dream and the King was satisfied and happy. Later the King gave a very high and respectable position to Hazrat Yousaf (AS) in his kingdom.

So here we come to know that dreams that Prophets see are messages from God and they do have a definite meaning.

There are different types of dreams: good dreams or bad dreams. Bad dreams are also called nightmares.

Some of our dreams are disturbing and they somehow reflect our own worries or depression. In other words worries and sometime depression cause bad dreams or nightmares but not every time do bad dreams come due to our own problems. Sometime bad dreams come for no obvious reason and in that case it is quite normal but if one sees the same bad dream more than once then naturally it is disturbing but as I said in our case nothing is definite. Remember to never let bad dreams or nightmares disturb your life but if they do then consult some expert or psychologist or a spiritual leader if necessary.

Do the dead people come in dreams? The answer is yes they do. It is quite possible that your loved ones who died sometime back come in your dream. Sometime they just come and go but sometime they also talk to you and in the latter case they actually want to convey something to you. There is also a conception that dreams after Fajr are true dreams. Here once again I would repeat myself that in our case nothing is obvious or definite.

In nutshell, it can be said that dreams are reality but no one knows the mystery behind that reality completely. Though questions like what is the meaning of dreams, what is a dream, why do we have dreams, what are types of dreams, what causes dreams and why do we have nightmares, have been answered to the best of human research and experience yet we can’t say anything with full conviction. Despite being part of imaginary world, dreams are reality. Dreams are not knowledge but a secret like other secrets of God and it is up to Him that how much He opens that secret for someone.