When the king of Egypt told his dream to the officials, they said that the king's dream was a dream of nonsense (أَضغاث٠أَØلامÙ). But when told to Prophet Joseph who had knowledge about it, then the dream was a message that saved the future of the Egyptian people. Therefore, to interpret dreams, not just anyone can do it. He needs to have specific qualities and criteria as mentioned in the Quran:
- Has reached the rank of Muhsinin
The dream interpreter must be trustworthy, honest and sincere. This is based on the word of Allah about the story of the two young men who asked Prophet Joseph to interpret their dreams;
We see you among the doers of good.
" We found you (Joseph) among the doers of good ." (Yusuf: 36)
- Corroborative
The interpreter of dreams must be a person who is truthful in his actions, speech and intentions. This is based on the word of Allah (when the king of Egypt said);
Joseph, O righteous man
" O Joseph, you are a very truthful person (in all matters) ." (Yusuf: 46)
- Researching and Understanding the Situation of Someone Asking for Dream Interpretation
A dream interpreter must be wise and thorough in interpreting a dream. He cannot recklessly interpret a dream without knowing the person's background or the surrounding atmosphere. This is based on the use of the word “نَبÙّئنا” in verse 36 of Surah Yusuf which refers to 2 young men (commoners) who asked about their fate. While the word used by the king is “Ø£ÙŽÙÙنا ” or “ give us guidance (fatwa) ” in Surah Yusuf verse 46 referring to the position of the king who acts for the benefit of the people.
To explain this, the story that happened between the most famous dream interpreters in Islam, Sheikh Muhammad bin Sirin and Sheikh Hasan Al-Basri, is a good example. One night, Sheikh Hasan al-Basri dreamed that he was in an animal pen, naked, holding a stick. Since he had a bit of a conflict with Ibn Sirin, he asked his student to ask Ibn Sirin what the interpretation of his dream was. After the student told him the dream, Ibn Sirin continued to say that the student did not deserve to have such a dream. He then told the student to tell the owner of the dream to come to see him in person. Finally, Sheikh Hasan al-Basri was forced to come and tell him his dream. Ibn Sirin interpreted that the animal pen referred to the dirty world, the nakedness referred to Sheikh Hasan who had abandoned all desires for the dirty world, while the stick was a sign that Sheikh Hasan was a guide to the right path and the savior of the people. Ibn Sirin stated that no one deserves to have such a dream except a righteous person like Hasan al-Basri.
- Dream interpretation must be in line with the Quran or Hadith
Allah Almighty says:
So if you disagree about anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is better and more suitable for final outcome.
“If you differ in anything, refer it to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger, if you believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is better for you and a better guide.” (An-Nisa': 59)
In interpreting dreams, the best reference is the Quran and the hadith of the Prophet SAW. This is among the things that Sheikh Ibn Sirin did. One day, he was approached by 2 men who dreamed the same thing, namely that they heard the call to prayer. Ibn Sirin stated that the first man was going to perform Hajj while the second man would be slandered as a thief. After both of them left, his students asked why the dream was the same but the interpretation was different. So Ibn Sirin stated that the first man was a pious and good-natured person. So according to his dream, with the words of Allah SWT:
And proclaim to mankind the Hajj [pilgrimage]; they will come to you on foot and on every leg.
“And call upon mankind to perform the Hajj, they will come to you (the House of God) on foot…” (Al-Hajj: 27)
Meanwhile, the second man was a wicked man with bad character. So his situation is in accordance with his dream based on the words of Allah SWT;
Then a crier called out, “O caravan, you are surely thieves.”
Then a crier called out: "O people of this caravan, indeed you are thieves." (Yusuf: 70)
