Why did Allah create dreams, what is their purpose, and what is the ruling on visions?

We do not know the complete wisdom behind everything Allah creates, but some wisdom regarding visions may become clear from what Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated, that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Visions are of three types: a righteous vision is a glad tiding from Allah, a vision causing sorrow is from Satan, and a vision is what a person talks himself into."

From this hadith and others, it is understood that among the reasons and wisdom behind visions are: 1. Glad tidings from Allah Almighty: For the beholder or for whom the vision is seen, which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) called "Al-Mubashshirat" (the glad tidings). 2. Warning: To alert a person to something, and it is true, shown by Allah to the believer out of compassion, so that he may prepare or avoid harm. 3. Trial for the believer: Due to what some visions may cause in terms of Satan's saddening a person, showing him what he dislikes and frightens him.

Scholars have differentiated between a "Ru'ya" (vision) and a "Hulm" (dream); they reserve "Ru'ya" for the righteous, glad-tiding visions, and "Hulm" for what involves Satan's manipulation, as indicated by the hadith: "Visions are from Allah, and dreams are from Satan."

No specific legal rulings are derived from visions themselves; they do not permit what is disliked or forbidden, nor do they necessitate what is permissible or recommended.