INTRODUCTION TO THE SCIENCE OF DREAM INTERPRETATION
by Shaykh Dan Tafa
In the Muqaddimatun fī ‘Ilmi al-Marā’ī wa at-Ta’bīr (The Introduction Regarding the Science of Dreams and Interpretations), the grandson of Shehu Uthman ibn Fūdī; Shaykh Abdalqadir ibn Mustafa (known as Shaykh Dan Tafa) covers the essential principles for interpreters, including:
[1] fundamental symbols: Common dream elements are categorized (e.g., certain animals represent men, specific colors indicate religious or worldly matters, numbers have symbolic meanings);
[2] factors influencing truthfulness: A vision’s clarity depends on the dreamer’s piety, the time of night (visions near dawn are most accurate), the season, and even the sleeping position (on the right side is best);
[3] the act of interpretation: Interpretation is a skill derived from the Qur’an, ḥādith, and Arabic language. When a vision is interpreted, its meaning is actualized in the external world.
The Muqaddimatun emphasizes the spiritual significance of dreams, stating they are a remaining vestige of prophecy and a means for divine communication after the final Prophet. It concludes with practical examples from famous interpreters like Ibn Sirin to illustrate the application of these principles.
In it, Shaykh Dan Tafa said:
“Realize that sleep is an expression referring to the return of the sense perceptions directing themselves to the world of the sensory. These then enter the interior of the heart by means of an ascending mist to the brain. There then emerge natural events in a locus of appearance called the ‘khayāl’ (conceptualized vision) in the anterior of the brain; where the forms of living things take shape in that locus of appearance. Thus, every type of sensory perception which thought has substantiated is seen. What is understood from this is that the ‘khayāl’ (conceptualized vision) is an interjecting realm between the world of meanings and the sensory world. A part of its judgment and wisdom is that in it every meaning takes corporeal form as its substitute. This rule is unvarying in all existence, be it necessary existent, possible existent or impossible existent. There descends in its meanings clothed in the form of similitudes, which in reality have no fixidity at the same time. When these imaginary forms are not corroborated by the sensory; or when these result from the suggestions of the lower self; then these are confused dreams that have no judgment in the world of dream interpolation. As for what humanity knows to be in his soul and he has sought the good in it; then he will see it in his sleep. This type of vision is not from confused dreams, but rather from genuine knowledge transmission; so, understand.”
Shaykh Dan Tafa goes on to describe in this concise work how meanings descend and take on corporeal form in the ‘khayāl’ (conceptualized vision) and how sleep for the illuminated is a realm for the transmission of knowledge. In the Muqaddimatun, he discusses the symbiotic relationship between the animal soul (nafs ḥayawānī) and the corporeal forms (haykal jismāni) during sleep; and the resemblance of this state to death. He demarcates the physical, emotional and spiritual advantages of the world of sleep to the heart. He said that a human is never afflicted with good or evil except that he sees it in his dream before it actually occurs. This is based upon the words of the Prophet, ﷺ who said: ‘There is no one except that he sees in his sleep what he will see in the waking state. Among you are those who know it, and those who are ignorant of it’.”
The Muqaddimatun is rooted in the Fudiyawa Sufi-oriented worldview, emphasizing that dream interpretation is a spiritual science requiring divine guidance (tawfīq). It connects the clarity of one’s visions to the purity of one’s heart and deeds, framing the subject within a larger context of spiritual development. Shaykh Dan Tafa’s inclusion of numerous case studies, primarily attributed to the renowned interpreter Imam Ibn Sirin, serves as a powerful pedagogical tool. These examples demonstrate the application of the book’s principles in real-world scenarios, showing how abstract symbols are woven into a coherent narrative based on the dreamer’s life.
In summary, the key advantage of the Muqaddimatun fī ‘Ilmi al-Marā’ī wa at-Ta’bīr (The Introduction Regarding the Science of Dreams and Interpretations) is its successful integration of profound metaphysical theory with practical, structured methodology. It elevates dream interpretation from mere superstition or simple symbol-matching to a disciplined science of the soul, grounded in Islamic theology and psychology. It serves as both an introductory guide for students and a reflective text for scholars regarding the methodology of dream interpretation established by Shehu Uthman ibn Fūdī and transmitted intergenerationally to his Fudiyawa disciples, such as his son Shaykh Muhammad Sanbu to the author of this fundamental text, Shaykh Abdalqadir Dan Tafa, may Allah ta`ala be pleased with all them as long as dreams and visions of the Prophet ﷺ are yearned for and craved after.
Shaykh Muhammad Shareef bin Farid
7th Rabi`a al-Thani, 1447 [9-29-2025]
Bamako, Mali