Introduction
Wet dream, also known as nocturnal emission, is a spontaneous ejaculation during sleep which often occurs among young men after the age of puberty.
In Islam, wet dreams do not carry sin but they require purification. This means that if you have had a wet dream, then ghusl becomes mandatory for you. As mentioned earlier, these dreams do not carry sin, yet Islam encourages believers to adopt practices that promote purity and discipline in all aspects of life, including sleep.
By following the sleeping etiquettes taught by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), one can minimize the occurrence of wet dreams and maintain spiritual cleanliness.
The Importance of Sleep in Islam:
Sleep is a blessing from Allah that helps us restore our energy and keep our mind and body refreshed. Islam provides comprehensive guidance on sleep as part of a balanced life. The Quran acknowledges sleep as a sign of Allah’s mercy:
"And We made your sleep [a means for] rest." (Surah An-Naba 78:9)
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) also emphasized the importance of sleep and its etiquettes, showing that proper rest is essential for both physical and spiritual well-being.
Causes and Prevention of Wet Dreams:
It is true that wet dreams are natural physiological responses, but it is also true that they are triggered by certain actions. Hence, certain habits can increase or decrease their frequency. Some factors that may contribute to increased frequency of wet dreams include:
- Engaging in impure thoughts or looking at inappropriate content.
- Lustfully gazing towards other gender.
- Overeating just before bedtime.
- Sleeping in an undisciplined manner without following Islamic guidance.
To reduce the likelihood of experiencing wet dreams, one should:
- Guard their gaze, both online and offline throughout the day.
- Avoid lustful and impure thoughts.
- Avoid consuming heavy meals or excessive liquids before sleeping.
- Go for a short walk after dinner to help digestion.
- Engage in acts of worship that purify the soul before bedtime.
- Wear loose clothes.
Islamic Etiquettes of Sleep:
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught numerous sleeping etiquettes that protect believers from spiritual and physical harm. Some of these include:
Performing Wudu (Ablution) Before Sleeping:
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"When you go to bed, perform ablution as you would for prayer." (Sahih Muslim 2710)
Although his hadith does not state that sleeping in a state of purity helps in minimizing unwanted nocturnal emissions but it can be understood as protection against dreams from shaitan, which may trigger wet dreams.
Performing ablution and attaining spiritual cleanliness can be a better alternative of going to bed without ablution and a burden of sexual thoughts.
Reciting Specific Supplications:
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught several supplications to recite before sleeping. These supplications are a protection against any harm either physical or spiritual, so they may surely protect us from wet dreams.
- "With Your Name, O Allah, I die and I live." (Sahih Al-Bukhari 6324)
- Reciting Ayat-ul-Kursi (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:255) before sleeping is also highly recommended as it provides divine protection throughout the night.
- "The Prophet (peace be upon him) would, when he went to his bed every night, put his palms together, blow into them, recite Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad (Surah Al-Ikhlas), Qul A'udhu bi Rabbil-Falaq (Surah Al-Falaq), and Qul A'udhu bi Rabbin-Nas (Surah An-Nas), then wipe over whatever he could of his body, starting with his head and face and the front of his body. He would do that three times." (Sahih Al-Bukhari 5017, Sahih Muslim 2192)
Sleeping Position:
The Prophet (PBUH) recommended starting our sleep on the right side:
"When you go to bed, perform ablution as for prayer, then lie down on your right side…" (Sahih Al-Bukhari 6311, Sahih Muslim 2710)
This posture is not only a Sunnah but also medically beneficial for gut health because it improves digestion and circulation of gases.
Furthermore, the Prophet (PBUH) saw a man lying on his stomach and said:
"This is a posture that Allah dislikes." (Sunan Abi Dawood 5040)
Lying on stomach should be avoided because it can trigger wet dreams as it increases pressure on genitals.
Preventing Frequent Wet Dreams:
Although we don't have any authentic hadith that talks about preventing wet dreams, but Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) has provided us guidance on practices that help control desires and can be helpful in prevent nocturnal emissions as well.
As per teachings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), fasting helps in controlling desires and hence can be helpful in reducing the likelihood of wet dreams by decreasing bodily urges. Below is the hadith that talks about how fasting can be helpful against sexual desires:
"O young men, whoever among you can afford marriage, let him marry, for it is more effective in lowering the gaze and guarding chastity. And whoever is not able to, let him fast, for it will be a shield for him." (Sahih Al-Bukhari 5066, Sahih Muslim 1400)
Another hadith states:
"When one of you becomes angry or feels a strong desire, let him perform ablution, for water extinguishes fire." (Sunan Abi Dawood 4784)
This hadith suggests that making wudu helps in calming desires and maintaining purity. Hence, to prevent wet dreams, one should perform ablution before going to sleep.
The fact that the concepts of fasting and cold showers are very popular in semen retention community tells a volume about their effectiveness. The people aren't coming from these hadith yet they are able to talk about the benefits of fasting and use of water from their own individual experiences.
What do I do if I had a Wet Dream?
If one experiences a wet dream, it is mandatory to perform ghusl before engaging in acts of worship such as prayer. The Prophet (PBUH) said:
"The water is for the water." (Sahih Muslim 343, Sunan Abi Dawood 236)
This means that if semen is emitted due to a dream, then full-body purification is required. However, it is important to note that there is no sin on the person because wet dreams occur involuntarily.
Wet dreams can happen to both men and women. Below hadith talks about the requirement of ghusl and what constitutes a wet dream in case of women:
Umm Sulaym (may Allah be pleased with her) asked, "O Messenger of Allah, does a woman have to perform ghusl if she has a wet dream?" He replied, "Yes, if she sees water." (Sahih Muslim 313)
Conclusion
Although wet dreams carry no sin, still one can prevent the occurrence of wet dreams by following the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Implementing proper sleeping etiquettes, maintaining a pure heart and mind, fasting, and making sincere supplications can help a person maintain their purity and righteousness even during the sleep.