Great Book of Interpretation of Dreams

The typology of categorization of dreams in Arabic literature of dream-interpretation is noted for it close adherence to orthodox theological categories, and assumes an intimate relationship between dreaming and conventional expressions of devotional religious piety. (This sort of typology is in rather marked contrast to categorizations of dreams traditional to Europe and elsewhere, which do not place such overwhelming emphasis on conventional religious devotion in their methods for dream-interpretation.) Indeed, traditional Arabic books of dream-interpretation are all composed by theologians, as in the following typical example:

The Great Book of Interpretation of Dreams (Tafsirul Ahlam al-Kabir), by Ibn Sirin, is in 59^[1] chapters, thus:

• 1 Seeing God Almighty
• 2 Seeing the prophets
• 3 Seeing archangels and angels
• 4 Seeing the Prophet's companions
• 5 The various chapters of the Holy Qur>an
• 6 Islam
• 7 Saluting and shaking hands
• 8 Cleanliness
• 9 Call for prayers; praying
• 10 Rites
• 11 Seeing the mosque, the prayer niche, or the minaret
• 12 Seeing alms-giving and the feeding of the poor
• 13 Fasting and breaking the fast
• 14 Pilgrimage
• 15 Jihad
• 16 Death, the dead, tombs
• 17 Day of Resurrection; the Judgement; the Balance of the Last Day
• 18 Hell
• 19 Paradise
• 20 Genies
• 21 People, old and young
• 22 Parts of the body
• 23 Bodily secretions and excrements
• 24 Sounds and languages of animals
• 25 Pains and diseases
• 26 Remedies, medicines, potions
• 27 Food, cooking utensils, dining tables
• 28 Harps, cups, games, perfumes
• 29 Clothes
• 30 Sultans, kings and their courts
• 31 Warfare and weapons
• 32 Craftsmen
• 33 Horses and livestock
• 34 Wild beasts
• 35 Birds
• 36 Traps, fishing hooks, snares
• 37 Pests, insects
• 38 Breeze, wind, rain, earthquakes, lightning, rainbow, etc.
• 40 Metals, minerals, petroleum
• 41 Sea, rivers, wells
• 42 Fire
• 43 trees
• 44 Grain, legumes, melons, cucumber
• 45 Pens, ink, writing
• 46 Idols
• 47 Rugs, beds, canopies, curtains, tents
• 48 Riders, saddles, stirrups, reins, bridles
• 49 Spinning, weaving, ropes
• 50 Sleeping; servants and slaves
• 51 Drinking and eating
• 52 Calamities
• 53 Pairs of opposite qualities
• 54 Marriage and adultery
• 55 Traveling
• 56 Selling, lending, borrowing
• 57 Disputes
• 58 Scattered dreams
• 59 Stories by holy men

Footnotes