Dream about deceased father feeding people meaning Islam

Answer (based on Qur’an, authentic Sunnah, and the understanding of the Salaf)

Wa ‘alaykum as-salām wa raḥmatu llāhi wa barakātuh.

Dreams are of three types as mentioned by the Prophet ﷺ:

1. A true dream from Allah (good news).
2. A dream from Shayṭān (to cause distress).
3. A reflection of one’s own thoughts and daily concerns.
   (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 7018, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2261)

The Salaf (including Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah, Ibn al-Qayyim, and contemporary scholars like Ibn Bāz and al-Albānī) taught that not every dream requires interpretation, and one should not become anxious or seek fortune-tellers. The best course is to ignore random dreams and, if a dream is good, praise Allah and speak of it only to a knowledgeable person. If it is bad, seek refuge in Allah from Shayṭān and do not narrate it.

1. Your father’s dream – seeing his deceased father feeding people

• There is no specific Islamic interpretation for this exact scene in the Qur’an or authentic Sunnah.
• However, according to Ibn al-Qayyim (in Madārij al-Sālikīn) and other scholars, seeing a deceased person in a dream may be a true vision if the deceased appears in a state of righteousness and doing good. Feeding others is a virtuous deed.
• This could be a reminder for the living to give charity on behalf of the deceased, as the Prophet ﷺ said:
  “When a person dies, his deeds come to an end except for three: ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge, or a righteous child who prays for him.” (Muslim 1631)
• Advice: Your father should not dwell on the dream. He can make du‘ā’ for his deceased father, give ṣadaqah on his behalf, and pray for his forgiveness. The dream itself does not change any Islamic ruling.

2. Your dream – vomiting black substance

• Vomiting in dreams can have several meanings in classical dream interpretation literature (Ibn Sīrīn and others), but such interpretations are not binding in religion and are based on experience, not revelation.
• Black colour sometimes symbolises sin or impurity in general. Vomiting can symbolise repentance – expelling evil from within.
• However, the correct approach is given by the Prophet ﷺ: “If one of you sees a dream that he dislikes, let him spit dryly to his left three times, seek refuge in Allah from Shayṭān three times, and change the side he is lying on.” (Muslim 2262)
• Advice: Do not worry about this dream. It is likely from Shayṭān or from your own thoughts. Perform the prescribed actions, and ask Allah to keep you firm on repentance and purity.

General Ruling on Seeking Dream Interpretations

• The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever lies about his dream will be ordered to tie two barley grains together on the Day of Resurrection, and he will never be able to do so.” (Bukhārī 7043) – this shows that dreams are serious, but not every dream needs interpretation.
• Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymīn (rahimahullāh) said: “Interpreting dreams is not a science that can be relied upon unless the interpreter is a righteous person who knows the Qur’an and Sunnah and has experience. The average person should not seek interpretation for every dream.”

Final advice:

• Do not ask dream interpreters or fortune-tellers.
• If a dream causes anxiety, seek refuge in Allah and ignore it.
• Continue to perform good deeds, give charity for the deceased, and repent from sins.
• Trust in Allah and do not let dreams affect your faith or daily life.

Wa Allāhu A‘lam (And Allah knows best).

References:

• Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Book of Dreams
• Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Book of Dreams
• Majmū‘ al-Fatāwā, Ibn Taymiyyah (vol. 4, dream-related rulings)
• Fatāwā Ibn Bāz (vol. 9, dreams and their rulings)
• Sharḥ al-‘Aqīdah al-Wāsiṭiyyah, Ibn ‘Uthaymīn