 1135 - Events: Reflections on the Dream Traditions of IslamMeaning of Dreams in Islam
Few Western dream researchers have any familiarity with the rich dream traditions of Islam. The Muslim faith first emerged in seventh
century B.C.E. Arabia as a profound revisioning of early Jewish and Christian
beliefs and practices. One theme the Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) drew from the
scriptures of those two religions was a reverence for dreaming. In the Quran,
as in the Jewish Torah and the Christian New Testament, dreams serve as a vital
medium by which God communicates with humans. Dreams offer divine guidance and
comfort, warn people of impending danger, and offer prophetic glimpses of the
future. Although the three religions drastically differ on many other topics,
they find substantial agreement on this particular point: dreaming is a
valuable source of wisdom, understanding, and inspiration. Indeed, as I will
propose in this brief essay, Islam has historically shown greater interest in
dreams than either of the other two traditions, and has done more to weave
dreaming into the daily lives of its members. From the first revelatory visions
of Muhammed to the myriad dream practices of present-day Muslims, Islam has developed and sustained a complex, multifaceted tradition of
active engagement with the dreaming imagination.
Read more here: » Meaning of Dreams in Islam: Reflections on the Dream Traditions of Islam |
