While this is a common interpretation of a hadith in Tirmidhi (2278), it doesn’t appear to be the most accurate representation of dream interpretation. [Thread] https://twitter.com/aamullanee/status/1332330798008201216

In Sahih al-Bukhari (7046), we find a hadith where the great companion Abu Bakr attempted to interpret a dream. The Prophet ﷺ said, “You are correct in some parts and erred in others.”

We don’t have evidence to suggeststhe incorrect interpretations materialised. Instead, one understands from the hadith that destiny is not subject to man’s interpretation. Rather, an interpretation being right or wrong means it is congruent or incongruent with reality.

Thus, dream interpretation isn’t a supernatural concept. The dream doesn’t determine destiny. It only gives a clue about it. Interpreters may err, but only what Allah has destined will occur.

As for the hadith in Tirmidhi (2278) that the dream is “on the foot of a bird[…]”, it appears to mean that destiny is on the verge of occurring (as always), and only once interpreted will someone keep an eye out and recognise that X event is the materialisation of their dream.

This appears to be in line with Imam Suyuti’s explanation of the hadith, who linked the interpretation with destiny in his Qut al-Mughtadhi. And Allah knows best.

P.S. The great companion Abu Bakr might have made some errors in the hadith of Bukhari, but this does not affect his ability to interpret dreams. He was certainly a competent muʿabbir.

We learn this from an athar in the Muwattaʾ (546), where his daughter ʿAʾishah had a dream about three moons setting in her lap. When the Prophet ﷺ passed away and was buried in her chamber, Abu Bakr said to her, “This is one of your moons, and he was the best of them.”

Thus, it is evident that Abu Bakr understood the dream to mean that the Prophet ﷺ, Abu Bakr and ʿUmar would be buried in the chamber of his beloved daughter ʿAʾishah. And Allah knows best.

رضي الله عنهم وعنا معهم.