Dreams in Arabic Culture: A Window to the Soul and Beyond

Dreams hold deep significance in Arabic culture, reflecting complex ideas about the nature of the soul and perception. According to some beliefs, sleep is a preoccupation of the soul, during which it detaches itself from external realities and focuses on internal experiences. In this state, the five senses stop perceiving the external world and turn inward, allowing the dreamer to experience vivid inner events. These events are perceived as real by the soul and presented to the dreamer's mind as if they were being sensed during waking hours.

The Soul's Freedom in Dreams

It is believed that during sleep, the soul is liberated from the physical constraints of the body and can roam freely over everything it desires, a freedom it lacks in the waking state. Upon awakening, dreamers retain the memory of these vivid and often fantastical images. However, traditional belief holds that the clarity and truth of dreams depend on the purity of the dreamer's soul. A blemished soul may experience delusive dreams, while a pure soul sees truth in their dreams.

Humors and Temperaments in Dreams

Another important perspective in traditional Arab belief is that dreams are influenced by the fundamental humors of the human body. Individuals dream in accordance with their temperaments, and the content of their dreams reflects their internal balance of these humors. In some cases, perception is believed to be entirely separate from the visible body, allowing individuals to leave their bodies during sleep and observe the world with heightened lucidity—a notion supported by certain verses of the Qur'an.

See Also: Soul, Dreams, Temperaments, Humors, Qur'an.