I failed in the baccalaureate exams and this caused me a great deal of grief. One night after I had been crying my eyes out, I saw a man with light on his face looking at me. What is the interpretation of this?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and messenger.

Believers are tried with good and evil in this worldly life as Allaah Says (what means):{And We test you with evil and with good as trial; and to Us you will be returned.}[Quran 21:35]

Therefore, he is obliged to be patient when afflicted and must know that this was predestined by Allaah The Almighty. In fact, believing in the Predestination brings peace of mind, patience, and contentment. Allaah Says (what means):{No disaster strikes except by permission of Allaah. And whoever believes in Allaah - He will guide his heart. And Allaah is Knowing of all things.}[Quran 64:11]

Qataadah mentioned that the above-mentioned verse refers to a man who is afflicted and he knows that it is predestined by Allaah, so he submits himself to the Will of Allaah. In fact, it may be that what appears to be evil is really good for you while you do not know. How do you know that succeeding in these exams is good for you, at least this year? It could have been a reason for ruining you and perhaps Allaah The Almighty wanted to protect you from that evil for He Says (what means):{But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allaah Knows, while you know not.}[Quran 2:216]

As regards what you saw, if this was in a dream, then the matter is easy, and it appears that it is a good dream. However, if this happened while you were awake, then we cannot exactly say what it was. It could be a jinn or a devil who wanted to seize the opportunity of your stress and inflict you with some kind of harm.

Anyway, nothing will harm you, Allaah Willing, if you recite the Quran frequently, especially chapter Al-Baqarah [the 2nd chapter of Quran], and if you regularly recite the Morning and Evening mention of Allaah, the bedtime supplications and those that are recited when entering the house, leaving the house and when entering the toilets.

Allaah Knows best.