Sources & References

We believe in transparency and scholarly honesty — every piece of information on our site has a verifiable source

This page clarifies the primary sources relied upon by A7lamy in producing its content. We list these sources in detail because we believe readers have the right to know the sources of what they read, and because scholarly honesty in attribution is an ethical and religious obligation.

Part 1: Classical Islamic Sources

1

Muhammad Ibn Sirin

(33 AH — 110 AH | 653 — 729 CE)

Book: Tabeer Al-Ru'ya (also known as Muntakhab Al-Kalam fi Tafseer Al-Ahlam)

Ibn Sirin is a venerable successor (tabi'i) and Islamic scholar considered the most prominent figure in the science of dream interpretation in Islamic tradition. He established the foundations of this science based on the Quran, Prophetic hadiths, and sayings of the Companions. His book is cited in the vast majority of later interpretation works.

Importance: The primary and foundational reference in Islamic dream interpretation
2

Abd Al-Ghani Al-Nabulsi

(1050 AH — 1143 AH | 1641 — 1731 CE)

Book: Ta'teer Al-Anam fi Tabeer Al-Manam

Al-Nabulsi is an encyclopedic Syrian Islamic scholar and Sufi. His book 'Ta'teer Al-Anam' is considered one of the most comprehensive and extensive encyclopedias of dream interpretation in Islamic tradition, containing thousands of interpreted symbols. It combines classical Islamic interpretation with cultural and environmental factors of his era.

Importance: The most comprehensive encyclopedia of Islamic dream interpretation symbols
3

Khalil Ibn Shahin Al-Zahiri

(d. 872 AH | 1468 CE)

Book: Al-Isharat fi 'Ilm Al-'Ibarat (Kitab Al-Manam)

Ibn Shahin was an Egyptian prolific author who lived in the ninth hijri century. His dream interpretation book combines Ibn Sirin's approach with other interpretive schools, and is considered an important supplementary reference cited for symbols not covered in detail by Ibn Sirin.

Importance: Important supplementary reference especially for symbols not covered in detail by Ibn Sirin

Part 2: The Holy Quran and Prophetic Hadith

The Holy Quran

True visions and dream rulings are mentioned in the Holy Quran, most notably the story of Prophet Yusuf (Joseph) and his interpretation of the King's dream and the dreams of his fellow prisoners (Surah Yusuf). This Quranic story is the primary foundation of the science of dream interpretation in Islam.

The Prophetic Hadith

Numerous hadiths in Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Sunan Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, and others relate to visions, their etiquette, and rulings. Among them: 'A righteous dream is from Allah' (Bukhari), and 'Dreams are one forty-sixth of prophethood' (Bukhari and Muslim).

Part 3: Psychological References (For Comparison Only)

⚠️ Note: We mention these psychological references for comparison and scholarly analysis only, not as an alternative to Islamic interpretation. The Islamic methodology for dream interpretation is independent and based on revelation, not human theories.

Sigmund Freud

The Interpretation of Dreams (Die Traumdeutung, 1899)

The foundational work in psychoanalytic dream interpretation. We reference it to present the Western psychological perspective in comparison to the traditional Islamic perspective, noting the limitations of this approach and points of difference.

Carl Jung

Jung's works on the psychology of the unconscious (1912 onwards)

Jung's works on dreams, symbols, and archetypes are mentioned when discussing the universal psychological aspect of dream symbols, noting that his approach differs fundamentally from Islamic interpretation methodology.

How We Cite Sources

  • We cite the book name and author for every direct quote.
  • Prophetic hadiths are cited with their authenticity grade and source book.
  • Interpretations derived from scholars' books are attributed to their source.
  • We distinguish between quoted text and modern interpretation.
  • Links to digital sources are added whenever possible.
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