Lately I’ve been dreaming constantly, and each one is crazier than the last. The day before yesterday, I dreamed I was flying above clouds with endless snow-capped mountains beneath my feet. The next day, I dreamed I was being chased by a dark shadow I couldn’t shake off. Waking up, my mind was filled with questions: What exactly are these dreams trying to tell me? Are they omens? Warnings? Or just my brain overreacting to too many TV shows before bed?
I decided to stop guessing and instead study the matter seriously—using Islamic dream interpretation methods. Not for fortune-telling, but to see how the Prophet and ancient scholars understood the phenomenon of “dreams.”
Step One: Don’t Rush to Search Online—First Understand “What Dreams Are in Islam”
At first, like most people, I opened my browser and searched “Islamic dream interpretation.” The results were all those fast-food interpretations like “dreaming of water = wealth” or “dreaming of snakes = enemies.” Too vague—utterly useless to me.
I realized: If I truly wanted to understand, I had to start at the source—what did the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) say about dreams?
So I headed to the small library at my local mosque—that dusty, rarely visited corner with bookshelves gathering dust. After digging through the stacks, I found two old books:
- One was Dreams in the Hadith, compiling the Prophet’s teachings on dreams;
- The other was a dream interpretation commentary by early scholars (like Ibn Sirin).
Cross-legged on the floor, I turned the pages. Honestly, some terms stumped me, like:
- “Ru’ya” (رؤيا): A “true dream,” typically from Allah, bringing glad tidings or warnings;
- ‘Hulum’ (حلم): A “chaotic dream,” possibly stemming from stress, overthinking, or even negative forces;
- “Hadith al-Nafs”: Dreams ‘projected’ from excessive self-reflection, generally not to be taken seriously.
I quickly sought the imam’s help to explain these terms. He smiled and said, “You’re not the first to be confused by these words. The key isn’t memorizing terminology, but understanding the ‘source’ and ‘purpose’ of dreams.”
—This statement awakened me.
Step Two: Watch Videos, Take Notes—Dreams Must Be “Connected to Life” to Be Understood
Back home, I searched YouTube for videos by Islamic scholars discussing dreams, especially the story of Prophet Yusuf (Joseph) in the Quran—he dreamed of the sun, moon, and stars bowing to him, and later this dream came true.
The scholars explained in detail: The same symbol can mean completely different things for different people in different circumstances.
While watching, I took notes and distilled several key principles:
✅ Emotions in dreams matter more than visuals
— Are you afraid? Anxious? Calm? Joyful? These feelings are often the “keys” to interpreting dreams.
✅ Symbols aren’t fixed answers—they depend on your recent life
—Dreaming of water could symbolize knowledge, a test, or emotional overflow, depending on what you’ve been experiencing.
✅ Common symbols can serve as “reference points” (but don’t memorize them rigidly)
- Water → Knowledge, purity, or emotional overflow
- Snake → Hidden issues, adversaries, or inner fears
- Tree → People, growth, or foundational beliefs
- Flying → Freedom, liberation, or escapism
These aren’t “standard answers,” but “directions for thought.”
Step Three: Analyze Your Own Dreams—Flying Over Snowy Mountains? Chased by Shadows? Clues Are Everywhere!
I started using this method to revisit two recent dreams.
Dream One: Flying Over Snowy Mountains, Feeling Incredibly Euphoric
Before, I’d just say: “Wow, I’m flying! So cool!”
Now I ask myself:
- Was I relaxed or tense while flying? → Extremely relaxed, like a weight had been lifted
- What do the snow-capped mountains symbolize? → The book says “mountains = difficulties,” “flying over = overcoming”
- Have I “climbed over a mountain” in real life recently? → Last week I finally wrapped up a project that had dragged on for three months, and my boss even praised me
Putting it all together—this dream likely reflects: “You’ve recently released pressure, overcome a hurdle, and feel lighthearted inside.”
It’s not a prophecy, but “psychological feedback.”
Dream Two: Chased by a Shadow, Unable to Shake It No Matter How Fast I Run
This dream woke me up in the middle of the night, heart racing. Before, I’d think, “Oh no, bad luck is coming.”
Now I try to analyze calmly:
- What does the shadow feel like? → Blurred, oppressive, inescapable
- Any recent situations where you “wanted to escape but couldn’t”? → Yes! A conflict with a friend I kept avoiding. Every time my phone rings, I panic
- Scholars say such dreams often relate to “unresolved issues” or “inner guilt.”
Plus, the Prophet taught: When encountering nightmares, recite the “Seeking Protection Supplication” immediately upon waking, turn to your left side, and don’t share details with others.
I followed this advice and proactively reached out to that friend to talk things through. Amazingly—I never had a chasing dream again.
Step Four: What helped me? What still confuses me?
✅ What truly helped:
- No longer viewing dreams as “fortune-telling omens,” but as “inner barometers”;
- Learning to first ask “What’s been going on with me lately?” before examining “What happened in the dream?”;
- Knowing nightmares aren’t scary when you have concrete coping methods (reciting prayers, not sharing them, promptly resolving real-life issues);
- The habit of recording dreams helped me understand my emotional rhythms better.
❓ What I still don’t get:
For example, last month I dreamed of “a broken clock” with its hands spinning wildly. I scoured resources but found no definitive explanation.
Then I wondered: Could it be because I was pulling all-nighters, messing up my schedule, and constantly running late back then? — Maybe the dream was just complaining about my life.
Scholars have also said: Not every dream has “divine meaning.” Some are just the brain sorting through fragments, or your stomach growling, or stress building up, or watching too many TV dramas.
Letting yourself off the hook is crucial.
Step Five: How do I apply this method now? — Simple, practical, no mystique
I’ve developed a small habit:
- Create a “Dream Journal” category in my phone’s notes. Every morning upon waking, I record:
- What I dreamed (even if I only remember one image)
- How I felt at the time (happy? scared? awkward?)
- Major events from the previous day (arguments? Overtime? Good news?)
- Only look up references for vivid or recurring dreams
— First check “emotions,” then “symbols,” and finally ask: “Am I experiencing something similar lately?” - Don’t share or dwell on nightmares. Recite prayers upon waking + tackle real-life issues.
- Ordinary, chaotic dreams? Ignore them outright. — Like cats piloting planes or toilets singing… Most likely just your brain setting off fireworks. No need to analyze.
Final thought: This isn’t magic—it’s a “method for talking to yourself.”
Studying Islamic dream interpretation, my greatest takeaway isn’t “predicting the future,” but—
I’ve learned to take my emotions seriously and no longer ignore those subtle reminders hidden in dreams.
The Prophet’s teachings aren’t about memorizing formulas like “Dream A = Event B,” but about:
- Distinguishing which dreams warrant attention and which can be dismissed;
- Connect dreams to real life, not make wild guesses detached from reality;
- Respond to a dream’s message with faith and action, not panic or superstition.
Now, when a strange dream appears, I don’t panic or rush to search “dream interpretation guides” online. I first calm down and ask myself:
“Have I been too tired lately?”
“Is there something I’ve been putting off?”
“What do I truly desire or fear deep down?”
—Dreams, it turns out, are letters I write to myself, just using strange images and symbols.
Islamic wisdom on dream interpretation teaches me how to read these letters.
You don’t need to be an expert or memorize scriptures. If you’re willing to listen, dreams will tell you what you truly need to know.
