Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalaamoalaikum brother,

i am a bit confused with the dreams i get. these dreams especially come whenever i take a short nap after my sahur during fasting time, whether it be ramadan or other nafl fasts. i always feel a human form of man approaching and sitting besides my bedside. he tries to strangle my throat and i get choked. i try to move my hands and body but cant. i then start reciting the ayahs of Holy Quran within my heart and after few minutes things are normal. i was fasting yesterday and today also. unfortunately i got the same type of dreams both the days after sahur. and this time i got an eerie feeling that that human form is trying to molest me. as a result my sexual feeling aroused in my sleep. i again started reciting ayat al kursi in my heart and after few minutes all was normal and i opened my eyes. though i did not get wet not there was any discharge. but i am still feeling bad about it. does this invalidate my fast? i read all the Quls and Aayat al Qursi before everytime i go to sleep. but these bad dreams are becoming a problem. what can this exactly be ? can you tell me some wazifa for getting rid of such dreams. alternatively i have decided to stay awake after my sahur henceforth.

PLEASE ANSWER AT THE EARLIEST AND KEEP MY NAME AND EMAIL ID UNDISCLOSED.

JAZAAKALLAH

Your sister in Islam.

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Wet dream fast

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 9.144 Narrated by Abu Huraira

Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "When the Day of Resurrection approaches, the dreams of a true believer will hardly fail to come true, and a dream of a believer is one of forty-six parts of Prophetism, and whatever belongs to Prothetism can never be false." Muhammad bin Sirin said, "But I say this." He said, "It used to be said, 'There are three types of dreams:

1. The reflection of one's thoughts and experiences one has during wakefulness,
2. what is suggested by the Shaytaan to frighten the dreamer,
3. or glad tidings from Allah.

So, if someone has a dream which he dislikes, he should not tell it to others, but get up and offer a prayer.'"

In light of the above hadith, if one has a good dream then it is always from Allah Subhanah in the form of good tidings. Whenever one experiences good dreams and good tidings, one must be grateful to Allah Subhanah and redouble his efforts in doing good righteous deeds to make himself more deserving of the honor which their Lord Most Merciful has bestowed upon them.

If one has an evil or frightening dream, it is, without an iota of a doubt, from the accursed Shaytaan. One should immediately take refuge in Allah from the accursed Shaytaan, disregard the dream and never mention the dream to anyone, for it will never be able to harm him.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 9.168 Narrated by Abu Salama

I used to see a dream which would make me sick till I heard Abu Qatada saying, "I too, used to see a dream which would make me sick till I heard the Prophet (saws) saying, "A good dream is from Allah, so if anyone of you saw a dream which he liked, he should not tell it to anybody except to the one whom he loves, and if he saw a dream which he disliked, then he should seek refuge with Allah from its evil and from the evil of the Shaytaan, and spit three times (on his left) and should not tell it to anybody, for it will not harm him."

Dear and beloved Sister in Islam, from the contents of the dream it is evident that the dream you experienced are evil dreams with which the Shaytaan tries to despair, frighten, and scare mankind. All you need to do is keep your full and absolute trust and belief in your Lord Most Merciful, remain constant in seeking refuge in your Lord Most High from the evil of the accursed Shaytaan, strive to recite the ‘Muawidaat’ (113^th Surah Al-Falaq and the 112^th Surah An-Naas), and the ‘Aayat-ul-Kursi (Baqarah 255) as often as you can and especially when you go to bed…...it is expected that your Lord Most High, Most Majestic will protect you and your family from every harm and every evil.

Your Question: though i did not get wet not there was any discharge. but i am still feeling bad about it. does this invalidate my fast?

Although intentional ejaculation (sexual intercourse, masturbation, etc.) does indeed invalidate one’s fast, un-intentional ejaculation (or wet-dream) does not invalidate one’s fast in Shariah.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3.153 Narrated by Abu Bakr bin Abdur Rahman

My father and I went to 'Aisha and she said, "I testify that Allah's Messenger (saws), at times, used to get up in the morning in a state of ‘Janaba’ (major ceremonial impurity) from sexual intercourse, not from a wet dream, and then he (saws) would fast that day." Then he went to Um Salama and she also narrated a similar thing.

Although being in the state of purity is an absolute pre-condition before one offers their prayer, being in the state of ceremonial purity is not a pre-condition for starting a fast in Shariah. If one has sexual intercourse in the night, or experiences a wet-dream during one’s sleep at night, and only wakes up after the time of ‘fajr’ is due, there is absolutely no harm in maintaining and continuing their fast.

If one experiences a wet-dream while sleeping, wakes up and takes the ‘suhoor’ meal, and performs the ‘ghusl’ or full bath of purification after the time of ‘fajr’ is due…the fast of such a person would be absolutely valid and acceptable in the Sight of Allah Subhanah, Insha Allah.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan