Dreams of Renewed Magic: What Should You Do?
Practical guidance from Shaykh Khalid al-Hibshi’s two-part discussion.
Some ruqyah patients dream that someone is feeding them, giving them something to drink or placing something in their mouths. They may wake up frightened, believing that magic (sihr) has been renewed against them—a common interpretation.
1. Does every such dream mean magic has been renewed?
No. Not every dream is evidence that magic has been renewed.
The Shaykh identifies three situations specifically relating to ruqyah patients:
A dream without physical traces: You dream that someone feeds you food, gives you milk or juice to drink, or places something unpleasant in your mouth, such as blood or filth. However, when you wake up, you find no physical evidence.
A dream with a lingering taste or smell: You experience a similar dream, but wake up with the taste or smell of the substance still present. However, you find no physical traces.
A dream with physical traces: You dream that someone feeds you or gives you something to drink. Upon waking, you find physical traces on your face, mouth or clothing. For example, you might dream of drinking juice and wake up to find its colour and taste in your mouth or clothes.
How should these experiences be understood?
In the first situation, the dream may be a true dream revealing that magic is being renewed against you. However, it could also be a disturbing dream or satanic whispering intended to frighten you. It could also be other than that. The dream alone is therefore insufficient to establish that magic has been renewed.
The second and third situations are more difficult to explain away or dismiss, and they provide stronger grounds for considering the possibility of renewed magic, especially when the patient insists that the substance is not even present in their home.
The Shaykh discusses such experiences as potentially significant, while also acknowledging possible natural and non-ruqyah related explanations.
He therefore emphasises the importance of conducting a ruqyah assessment and examining the patient’s wider symptoms and experiences to help distinguish between these possibilities, rather than relying on the dream alone.
Important: Not every such dream indicates renewed magic. The dream should be carefully assessed, and you should never accuse someone of practising magic simply because they appeared in your dream.
2. What should you do when you wake up from such a dream?
Follow the Prophetic guidance concerning disturbing dreams:
Spit lightly towards your left three times.
Seek refuge in Allah from the evil of what you have seen.
Avoid dwelling on the dream or becoming consumed by fear.
Do not retell the disturbing dream to others (unless required).
You may say:
أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا رَأَيْتُ
"I seek refuge in Allah from the evil of what I have seen."
The Shaykh describes patients who followed this guidance and found that the dreams no longer caused them significant distress.
Do not spend the rest of your day analysing every detail of the dream. Seek refuge in Allah and continue with your normal activities.
3. Strengthen your daily protection
Before searching for ruqyah treatments, the Shaykh encourages patients to examine their basic religious practices.
Are you praying regularly? Are you observing your morning and evening remembrances? Are you maintaining your bedtime adhkar?
He particularly recommends the following before sleeping:
Perform wudu and sleep in a state of ritual purity.
Recite Ayat al-Kursi.
Recite Surah al-Ikhlas, al-Falaq and al-Nas thrice, blow lightly into your hands and wipe over your body.
Recite the prescribed bedtime remembrances.
Ask Allah to protect you from every form of harm.
You can also make a simple supplication:
"O Allah, protect me from every evil, prevent any harm intended against me and grant me complete healing."
These practices should form part of your daily routine, not something you turn to only when frightened.
4. Are there other ruqyah treatments you can try?
The Shaykh discusses several additional practices, including:
Drinking recited water and spraying it around the bedroom.
Applying recited olive oil to the body.
Eating Ajwah dates in the morning and before sleeping.
Drinking Zamzam water.
He also mentions reciting verses concerning Allah's protection, the defeat of falsehood or magic, and the weakness of Satan's schemes.
5. What if you are already doing all of this?
Some patients pray, recite their remembrances and regularly perform ruqyah, yet continue experiencing the same dreams.
The Shaykh offers an important piece of advice: Examine your relationship with Allah.
Are there sins you need to abandon? Are you neglecting any religious obligations?
He encourages patients to repent and improve their religious practice.
6. Why am I still suffering despite protecting myself?
The Shaykh reminds us that even the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was afflicted by magic despite his exceptional faith and observance of protective measures.
Protecting yourself through prayer, adhkar and ruqyah does not mean you will never experience hardship. This life is a test, and even the most righteous of Allah’s servants are tested.
If your symptoms persist, do not assume that your worship has failed or that Allah has abandoned you. Your efforts are never wasted.
Through your difficulties, Allah forgives your sins, multiplies your rewards and elevates your rank in the Hereafter.
Continue seeking healing, maintain your protective practices and place your trust in Allah.
Remember, the purpose of worship is not merely to remove an affliction, but to draw closer to Allah through both ease and hardship.
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