Understanding dreams in Islamic thought: The journey of the soul

DREAMS WISDOM / NEW YORK, USA 

In Islamic thought, a dream is not merely a psychological phenomenon but a metaphysical process where the soul detaches from the material world to contact the "World of Images" (Alam al-Mithal). Thinkers ranging from Quranic exegetes to Sufis and philosophers define dreams as events seen by the soul and perceived by the intellect as a series of truths.

Based on the Quranic verse (Az-Zumar 39/42), Islamic scholars explain dreams as the things shown to the soul during its partial separation from the body during sleep. This perspective views the dream state as a spiritual window where the heart receives divine communications or inspirations.

Philosophical and Sufi synthesis of dreams

Sufis describe dreams as the soul's observation of the "World of Images" while asleep, which the individual remembers upon waking. Ibn Arabi argues that the faculty of imagination remains fully active during sleep, sometimes processing daily events and at other times receiving information from the "Preserved Tablet" (Lawh al-Mahfuz). Similarly, Imam Al-Ghazali defines dreams as the lifting of the veil between the soul and the divine tablet, reflecting written truths directly into the human heart. Philosophers like Al-Kindi, Al-Farabi, and Ibn Sina avoided reducing dreams to pure psychology, treating them as phenomena above natural sciences.

Classification of Rahmani, Shaitani, and Nafsani dreams

Islamic sources frequently categorize dreams into three types based on the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). These include Rahmani (divine/true) dreams, which are tidings from God; Shaitani dreams, which involve sadness or fear caused by the devil; and Nafsani dreams, which stem from an individual's own daily preoccupations and thoughts. While the Mu'tazila school argued that dreams are largely imagination due to a lack of full perception during sleep, the majority of scholars maintain their spiritual significance.

True dreams and their link to Prophethood

Divine dreams are referred to as Mubashshirat, or "glad tidings." The Prophet (PBUH) indicated their spiritual value by stating, "A believer's dream is one of the forty-six parts of prophethood." Historically, the process of revelation began with "true dreams" (Salih dreams), which played a central role in the lives of prophets like Abraham and Joseph. Modern research continues to interpret this deep heritage as a spiritual window opening into the unknown for mankind.

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