Bad Dreams After Fajr

Answer: Wa’alaykum assalam, I pray you’re well insha’Allah.

There is no harm in sleeping after fajr if one needs to. Perhaps the following will prevent the bad dreams:
Things to avoid before going to sleep (at night or after Fajr):

Looking at screens

-Watching or reading very vivid, engrossing, disturbing things

-Eating just before sleep

-Going to bed too late

-Avoid too much entertainment in general

Lifestyle changes:

-Exercise regularly, with a mix of strength, cardio, and stretching

-Limit junk food and eat wholesome foods

-Seek out lawful food only, avoid doubtful or unlawful foods

-Keep away from any sins

-If you have stresses in your life, find practical ways to alleviate this. Seek help if necessary.

Things to do when going back to sleep after Fajr:

-After Fajr, recite Quran, even if a little

-After Fajr, have a light amount of dhikr that you do

-Stay on Wudu when sleeping if possible

-When you get back into bed, spend a couple of minutes in ‘meditation’ with controlled breathing, through the nose and using your diaphragm and stomach. Close your eyes and imagine your day going exactly the way you want it to go: that you’re going to have a refreshing sleep now, that you will have pleasant, warm dreams, that you’re going to wake up refreshed and ready to get the day started, that you have a pleasant journey to work, you have a successful day of work and relationships … until the end of the day. Alternatively, or additionally, close your eyes and imagine a warm light running from the top of your head down to your spine, gently passing and enveloping each vertebrae, one by one, as it goes all the way down to the bottom of your spine.

-Seek refuge from the devil in Allah, say the Quls and Ayatul Kursi, send salutations on the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), recite the sunna supplications before sleeping, and blow on yourself three times, and lie down.

-As you’re going back to sleep, breathe through the nose as above, relaxing at each exhalation.

-If it helps, listen to the Quran with earphones on, and the sound low, as you go back to sleep.

Insha’Allah, the above steps will help you sleep better and not be disturbed by bad dreams. It may take a week or so to take effect. If however, the bad dreams continue, then I would encourage you to seek help from a natural therapist. Homeopathy is particularly adept in treating any subconscious reasons and fears that may underlie such conditions.

Warmest salams,

[Shaykh] Jamir Meah

Shaykh Jamir Meah grew up in Hampstead, London. In 2007, he traveled to Tarim, Yemen, where he spent nine years studying the Islamic sciences on a one-to-one basis under the foremost scholars of the Ribaat, Tarim, with a main specialization and focus on Shafi’i fiqh. In early 2016, he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continues advanced studies in a range of Islamic sciences, as well as teaching. Jamir is a qualified homeopath.