His warning came following a growing trend among the people of getting their dreams interpreted by “experts” on radio or television.
“Most of these interpreters (of the dreams) do not have sufficient and correct knowledge of Islam,” he said in his Friday sermon at Riyadh's Imam Tuki bin Abdullah Mosque.
The mufti noted that a growing number of people were following these programs and cautioned them against doing so.
“People listen so intently to the dream explainers, with some believing these explanations wholeheartedly, as if what they are saying is heavenly revelation,” he said.
Al-Asheikh asked people to adhere strongly to the Prophet's Sunnah in this respect, which is to refrain from telling their bad or fearful dreams to others.
“If people want good explanation for what they see during their sleep, they should go to scholars with deep knowledge of the religion,” he said.
The mufti accused the dream explainers on radio and TV programs of exploiting the opportunity to spy on listeners and viewers, swindle them of money and mislead them.
There are a number of programs on TV channels, radios and the Internet on the interpretation of dreams.
In addition, the exponents promote themselves and their trade through text messages, thereby making money for themselves and the communication companies.
According to unofficial statistics, about 75 percent of the TV viewers follow these programs and most of them believe what the interpreters say. Such programs are not allowed on Saudi radio or television networks.
The summary court in Riyadh last July sentenced a man, who claimed ability to interpret dreams, to two years imprisonment and 300 lashes. The man was found guilty of trying to start a relationship with a woman who had come to him seeking an explanation to a dream she had.
