Saturday 10 May 2008

Dreams

"Dreams are messenger to us from the unknown. They are voices from our collective sub-conscious, warners of deep inner disturbance in the individual psyche, bearer of glad tidings of good things to come, or echoes of happy or sad and long hidden memories..."

(Source: Forward to 'Ibn Seerin's Dictionary of Dreams')

I have been seeing a lot of dreams recently. Passing these off as nothing in a blanket fashion I think is a bit nonsensical, so I have got myself this book as a starting point, not necessarily to find answers to my dreams, more so to increase my appreciation for the science of dream interpretation and to understand a little better what dreams are, where dreams come from and how dreams can (and have) play(ed) a positive part in peoples' - including mine - lives.

Any thoughts, dear readers, on this matter? Rarely does consultation disappoint so I would love to hear your take and experiences on this subject. Jazaakumullahu Khairan.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

As a deep sleeper, I hardly dream and remember. Nevertheless, it's a good feeling, a link with the unseen. Depends on whether the dream brings glad tidings/warnings of things. I haven't met anyone who says they know how to interpret dreams though... I bought a book to help, it helps me get into the frame of mind of seeing the messages but its not detailed enough to give interpretations. Allahu a'lam

adil said...

JK for the comment. It is indeed a great feeling to dream a good vivid sensical dream and remember it upon waking up. A big shame that I hardly see dreams these days. Maybe if I somehow cleared my mind, my dreams would clear up as well?

I have noticed that when I travel, I am more likely to see dreams and remember them upon waking up. Maybe that is what I need, a timeout to hit the mountains and clear the mind? Or maybe I'tikaaf in the Masjid for a few days this Ramadan?

Anonymous said...

It's ok when dreams are pleasant but nightmares are literally a nightmare to get over. I think I'd rather never dream than have another nightmare. There is adab that teaches us how to sleep well and avoid nightmares so perhaps there is the opposite for pleasant dreams.

Any progress with the dream interpretation?

adil said...

Al7amdulillah I rarely ever see nightmares. Nightmares are from Shaytaan. Knowing this, I have vowed: "If you make me see a bad dream, which I dislike to see, I will get up, make ablution and perform two Raka'ats, which you dislike to see." Maybe this thwarts bad dreams? And Allah knows best.

About the dream interpretation, I haven't got past the Foreward of the book (yet) but what I have started doing is: Ensuring that the very last thing I do before going to sleep at night is to make Wudhu, pray by my sleeping place (sometimes Witr, or if I prayed my Witr earlier, two Raka'ats of Istikhaarah), praise Allah, send salutations upon His final Messenger, make Du'a (including the Du'a for sleeping) and then recite the Verse of the Throne (Qur'an, 2:254), the final two verses of al-Baqara (Qur'an, 2:285-286) and the last three Surahs of the Qur'an, followed by lightly spitting on my hands and passing them over my body (starting from my head downwards). As a result, my dreams are slowly starting to clear up, wal7amdulillah.

Get this book: 'Reflections of Pearls' - A Concise and Comprehensive Collection of Prophetic Invocations and Prayers.

Anonymous said...

Insha Allah, I will try that. Jazak Allah

Anonymous said...

By the way, I think psychologists do dream interpretation. I might try a pschology book, since the islamic books I have read so far on this are not as thorough.

adil said...

Hmmm... interesting. Let me know how you get on, though I would advise against expending a lot of energy on nonsensical blurred dreams. As for good meaningful dreams, in addition to the psychology books, probably best to go to God-fearing persons of good (Islamic) knowledge. But where to find them!?

Anonymous said...

If you don't know then I have little chance.

Anonymous said...

I found one!! There is a sheikh that comes onto mbc in a programme called 'good mornign arabs' he offers dream interpretation and it appears to be islamic (says when he doesnt know, and when its just random dream as opposed to a real one).

adil said...

Interesting. Saw a good dream yesterday. Very clear. Very uplifting. Alhamdulillah.