Skip to content

notifications_active Weekly Meshkat-e Noor Session: Thursdays at 20:30 at Haj Reza Mosque

languageEN
login Login
Question No. 2942 31 August 2022 Official answer by Master Ali Saei (Abdullah Meshkat) verified Content level: Intermediate

Why Do I Dream of Demons Despite Performing Recommended Acts of Worship?

Primary reference: See the answer text 20 views 23 explanatory notes and annotations
Verified answer Documented and evidence-based
Dear questioner, Master Ali Saei
Tracking code: #Q-2942

Dear Professor, when I increase my performance of recommended acts of worship to protect myself from demons, I immediately begin having frightening dreams in which demons appear and even threaten me. This has happened many times, going back to my teenage years, and they seem to be trying to discourage me from worship. These experiences have never stopped me from continuing my worship, however. Do these dreams indicate weak faith? (I certainly have a long way to go before attaining perfect faith.) Why is it so easy for me to dream of demons?
Thank you.

The essence and first answer at a glance (60-word summary)

Frightening dreams in which demons appear, even after you have performed recommended acts of worship, may be a sign that your worship is having an effect and that Satan is trying to discourage you in this way. To counter this, continue your worship steadfastly and seek protection from Satan through supplications and specific spiritual practices. Reciting the seventeenth supplication of al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya, the Munajat al-Shakin (Whispered Prayer of the Complaining), the four Quls, Ayat al-Kursi, and certain Quranic verses may be helpful.

Answer by Master Ali Saei (Abdullah Meshkat)

Teacher and researcher in the intellectual tradition of wisdom and the Ahl al-Bayt | Soroush Bamdadān Cultural Center

Because of the remarkable effects of your worship and its outward influence, Satan has set his sights on you. By behaving this way, he aims to make you lose hope. You should respond with resolve by increasing your voluntary acts of worship, and so leave Satan with no hope of getting the better of you. Through supplications and special spiritual disciplines, you can easily ward off Satan’s evil.

Duʿāʾ 17 of al-Ṣaḥīfa al-Sajjādiyya and the Fifteen Whispered Prayers have a miraculous effect in this regard. The “Four Quls,” Āyat al-Kursī, and similar verses also rebuke Satan.

Al-Muʾminūn 23:97: و قل رب أعوذ بک من همزات الشیاطین

Al-Muʾminūn 23:98: و أعوذ بک رب أن یحضرون

Recite blessings upon the Prophet alongside the invocation «لا حول و لا فوه الا بالله العلی العظیم».

If you have a frightening dream, turn over from one side to the other and recite this supplication. You can keep it above your head, or record it and recite along as you listen:

إنما النجوى‏ من الشیطان لیحزن الذین آمنوا و لیس بضارهم شیئا إلا بإذن الله‏

أعوذ بالله و بما عاذت به ملائکه الله المقربون و أنبیاؤه المرسلون و الأئمه الراشدون المهدیون و عباده الصالحون من شر ما رأیت و من شر رؤیای أن تضرنی فی دینی أو دنیای و من الشیطان الرجیم‏

Also:

Al-Aʿrāf 7:54: إن ربکم الله الذی خلق السماوات و الأرض فی‏ سته أیام ثم استوى‏ على العرش یغشی اللیل النهار یطلبه حثیثا و الشمس و القمر و النجوم مسخرات بأمره ألا له الخلق و الأمر تبارک الله رب العالمین

Al-Aʿrāf 7:55: ادعوا ربکم تضرعا و خفیه إنه لا یحب المعتدین

Al-Aʿrāf 7:56: و لا تفسدوا فی الأرض بعد إصلاحها و ادعوه خوفا و طمعا إن رحمت الله قریب من المحسنین

(اللهم) و أعذنی و ذریتی من الشیطان الرجیم، و من شر السامه و الهامه و العامه و اللامه، و من شر کل شیطان

لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شریک له- له الملک و له الحمد یحیی و یمیت و هو حی لا یموت بیده الخیر- و هو على‏ کل شی‏ء قدیر ثم یقول- أعوذ بالله الذی یمسک السماء أن تقع على الأرض إلا بإذنه من شر ما خلق و ذرأ و برأ و أنشأ و صور و من شر الشیطان و شرکه و نزغه و من شر شیاطین الإنس و الجن و أعوذ بکلمات الله التامه و من شر السامه و الهامه و اللامه و الخاصه و العامه و من شر ما ینزل من السماء و ما یعرج فیها و من شر ما یلج فی الأرض و ما یخرج منها و من شر طوارق اللیل و النهار إلا طارقا یطرق بخیر بالله الرحمن استعنت و على الله توکلت و هو حسبی و نعم الوکیل‏

و صلى الله على محمد و على أهل بیته الطاهرین الأخیار الأتقیاء الأبرار الذین أذهب الله عنهم الرجس و طهرهم تطهیرا- و أفوض أمری‏ إلى الله و ما توفیقی إلا بالله علیه توکلت و من یتوکل على الله فهو حسبه إن الله بالغ أمره ما شاء الله کان حسبنا الله و نعم الوکیل و أعوذ بالله السمیع العلیم من الشیطان الرجیم و من همزات الشیاطین و أعوذ بک رب أن یحضرون و لا حول و لا قوه إلا بالله العلی العظیم- الحمد لله رب العالمین کثیرا

Did you find this answer illuminating? Your feedback helps us refine our responses and organize future sessions.
Audio attachment: This question currently has no audio file; the answer is provided in written form, with supporting arguments.

Related questions

Official answers
Question #3100
How Can Food-Based Sorcery Be Undone?
Critique of Doubts • 31 August 2022
Question #3099
How Can We Visit the House of God from Afar?
Jurisprudence and Rulings • 31 August 2022
Question #3101
Question #3424
Question #3166
How Does God Respond to Those Who Cause Harm?
Ethics and Spirituality • 31 August 2022