The Art of Dream Interpretation

The Quran and Sunnah are full of discussions regarding dreams. Dreams are a firm part of the human experience. The most famous discussion regarding dream interpretation is vividly portrayed through the life mission of the great Prophet Yusuf (Joseph) . Yusuf in fact was strengthened by Allah with the ability to interpret visions. Allah says in the Quran (12:21):

“Thus did We establish Yusuf (Joseph) in the land, that We might teach him the interpretation of events. And Allah has full power and control over His Affairs, but most of men know not. And when he [Yusuf (Joseph)] attained his full manhood, We gave him wisdom and knowledge, thus We reward the Muhsinun (doers of good).”

Aisha says, “The commencement of the Divine Inspiration to Allah’s Apostle was  in the form of visions which came true like bright day light, and then the love of seclusion was bestowed upon him…” Bukhari #3

Ibn Umar , “Some men amongst the companions of the Prophet were shown in their dreams that the night of Qadr was in the last seven nights of Ramadan. Allah’s Apostle r said, “It seems that all your dreams agree that (the Night of Qadr) is in the last seven nights, and whoever wants to search for it (i.e. the Night of Qadr) should search in the last seven (nights of Ramadan).” Bukhari

We see in the two preceding hadith that the Prophet (r) and companions would see visions during their sleep sessions and they would freely relay them to each other.

Abu Hurayrah narrates that the Prophet said, “Nothing is left of Prophethood except Al-Mubashshirat.” They asked, “What are Al-Mubashshirat?” He replied, “Truthful visions (that conveys glad tidings).” Bukhari

He also narrates that the Prophet said, “Allah’s Apostle said, “The (good) dream of a faithful believer is a part of the forty-six parts of prophecy.” Bukhari

Abi Saeed al-Khudari, Abu Qatada, Anas all report the Prophet saying, “”Whoever sees me (in a dream) then he indeed has seen the truth, as Satan cannot appear in my shape.” Bukhari

Ibn Saad says in his Tabaqaat 5:93 –
Al-Imam Saeed ibn al-Musayib (rahimullah) was amongst the best of dream interpreters. He received his knowledge from Asma, the daughter of Abu Bakr. She, in turn, received it from her father Abu Bakr .
On the other hand, in the Hilyah (9:146) of Abu Nu’aym al-Imam ash-Shafi ‘ee states:
“I have left behind in Iraq something that the zanadiqah (heretics) concocted, calling it dream interpretation. It is with it, rather than the Quran, that they occupy themselves.”

Ibn Abbas narrates:

A man came to Allah’s Apostle and said, “I saw in a dream, a cloud having shade. Butter and honey were dropping from it and I saw the people gathering it in their hands, some gathering much and some a little. And behold, there was a rope extending from the earth to the sky, and I saw that you (the Prophet) held it and went up, and then another man held it and went up and (after that) another (third) held it and went up, and then after another (fourth) man held it, but it broke and then got connected again.”

Abu Bakr said, “O Allah’s Apostle! Let my father be sacrificed for you! Allow me to interpret this dream.” The Prophet said to him, “Interpret it.”

Abu Bakr said, “The cloud with shade symbolizes Islam, and the butter and honey dropping from it, symbolizes the Quran, its sweetness dropping and some people learning much of the Qur’an and some a little. The rope, which is extended from the sky to the earth, is the Truth, which you (the Prophet) are following. You follow it and Allah will raise you high with it, and then another man will follow it and will rise up with it and another person will follow it and then another man will follow it but it will break and then it will be connected for him and he will rise up with it.”

O Allah’s Apostle! Let my father be sacrificed for you! Am I right or wrong?” The Prophet r replied, “You are right in some of it and wrong in some.” Abu Bakr said, “O Allah’s Prophet! By Allah, you must tell me in what I was wrong.” The Prophet said, “Do not swear by Allah.” Bukhari

Abu Hurayrah narrates that Allah’s Apostle r said, “When the Day of Resurrection approaches, the dreams of a believer will hardly fail to come true. A vision of a believer is one of forty-six parts of Prophecy, and whatever belongs to Prophecy can never be false.” Muhammad bin Sirin (narrating from Abu Hurayrah) said, “But I say this.” He said, “It used to be said, ‘There are three types of dreams: The reflection of one’s thoughts and experiences one has during wakefulness, what is suggested by Satan to frighten the dreamer, or glad tidings from Allah. So, if someone has a dream which he dislikes, he should not tell it to others, but get up and offer a prayer.”

Ibn Sirin added, “He (Abu Huraira) hated to see a Ghul (i.e., an iron collar around his neck in a dream) and people liked to see fetters (on their feet in a dream). The fetters on the feet symbolize one’s constant and firm adherence to religion.” And Abu ‘Abdullah said, “Ghul (iron collars) are used only for necks.” Bukhari

Muhammed Ibn Sirin was born 34H during the life of Uthman his mother was initially a slave of Abu Bakr and his father was a freed slave of Umar . Although partially deaf he was a prominent narrator of hadith and a firm reporter of high integrity, devotion and piety. He died in 110H –Rahimahullah. (see siyar of Dhahabi 4:606-22, tahdhib 5:139-41)

He was also blessed with deep insight into dream interpretation. Sadly, today people have claimed his name on documents, books that were never authored by him. Without a doubt, Ibn Sirin did not write a dream manual that has been preserved.

Nonetheless, he and others in the early generation of Muslims were very active in the study of dream interpretation. The knowledge of interpreting dreams was never readily accessible as it was with other Islamic disciplines.

The work of the great scholar, Imam, muhaddith and judge – Imam Ibn Qutaybah (213H) is one of the earliest surviving, extant manuals of dream interpretation.

Al-Imam al-Qayrawani has works that are summaries and explanations of Ibn Qutaybah’s work and others. In the next installment our focus will be, “A methodological approach to ancient Sunni Dream