Dreams and Interpretations in Islam Book Meaning Explained Step by Step

The dream that I couldn’t forget even after waking up

Last Tuesday morning, I opened my eyes and could still clearly remember the dream I had last night: I was standing by a large body of water. The water was clear, and the sunlight shone on it, making it sparkle. I was holding an old key in my hand, but I didn’t know which door to open it for. I wanted to move forward, but I was a little afraid.

This dream felt so real, unlike the usual chaotic dreams I had. I started wondering: Could this be some kind of sign? Is it trying to tell me something?

I had never believed that dreams had any meaning before, but this time was different. I decided to take it seriously and see if I could find an answer.

2. The first book was too difficult to read, and I almost gave up

I dug out a book my uncle had given me a few years ago called “Ibn Sirin’s Dream Interpretation.” I heard that he was a famous dream interpreter in ancient times, and many Muslims refer to his book.

I took the book out, wiped off the dust, and opened the first page. But as soon as I looked at it, I was completely lost—it was all formal, ancient Arabic translated into Chinese, with long, convoluted sentences that were as hard to swallow as a piece of dry bread.

I gave up after reading two paragraphs. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to learn; I simply couldn’t understand it. Just the entry for “dreaming of water” took up half a page and used many unfamiliar terms like “auspicious sign,” “ominous sign,” and “pure heart”… I had no idea what any of those words meant.

At that moment, I realized that good books are not necessarily suitable for everyone, especially beginners.

3. I went online to find out how ordinary people interpret dreams

Since I couldn’t understand the book, I went online to see how other people do it. I found a WeChat group for Muslim mothers, where many people shared their dreams.

Someone dreamed of a snake and was too scared to go out.
Someone said they had dreamed of losing their teeth for several days in a row and was worried that something bad was going to happen.
Someone else dreamed of flying in the sky, and everyone argued whether it was a good or bad thing.

As I read through them, I noticed a common thread: When interpreting dreams, they didn’t just look at “what was in the dream,” but also asked, “What have you been thinking about lately? How are you feeling? Is there anything bothering you in your life?”

For example, one person dreamed of a snake, and the book said that “snakes represent enemies,” but she had just had a fight with her neighbor, so everyone thought that this dream was warning her to be careful in her relationships.

This made me realize that dreams are not fixed codes; they are connected to your life.

4. I started using the “three-step method” to interpret my own dreams

I decided to try this method, step by step.

Step 1: Write it down immediately after waking up

I no longer lay there staring blankly, but immediately grabbed a pen and paper and wrote down everything I could remember from the dream:

• The water was clear, like lake water
• The key was made of iron and a little rusty
• My feeling: I wanted to open the door, but I was afraid there was something behind it

Even if it was messy, I had to remember the images and feelings clearly. Because dreams are like smoke; they dissipate within ten minutes.

Step 2: Look up the meanings in the book, but don’t take everything at face value

I flipped through the book Ibn Sirin again, this time only looking up “water” and “keys.”

The book said:

• Clear water represents a peaceful life or good news
• Muddy water represents trouble or anxiety
• Keys represent solutions or finding a way out

These explanations gave me direction, but they weren’t enough.

Step 3: Connect it to your real life

This is the most important step.

I asked myself, “What have I been worried about lately?”

I immediately remembered—my job is unstable, and my boss said there might be layoffs.I haven’t told my family, but I’m under a lot of pressure. The “key” may be the solution I’m looking for, and the “water” may be my hope for a peaceful life.

Putting it all together, the dream became clear: I’m not afraid of anything specific, but I want to find a way out and stabilize my life.

5. I also helped my wife interpret her dream

The next day, my wife said she dreamed of a swarm of bees flying in our yard.

I looked it up in a book, which said, “Bees represent hardworking people and cooperation within the community.”

But I knew she had recently argued with her sister because a neighbor had gossiped, and she had joined in. She was feeling a little regretful.

So I told her, “This dream doesn’t mean you should start keeping bees. It’s reminding you to be careful what you say and not to get involved in gossip.”

She nodded and said, “No wonder the bee in my dream kept chasing me.”

6. Summary: Dream interpretation is not guessing riddles, it’s understanding yourself

Now I understand that dream interpretation isn’t like looking up a dictionary— “dreaming of a snake = you have enemies,” “dreaming of flying = you’ll get a promotion.”

The truly useful method is:

1. Immediately record the content of the dream, especially the feelings and details.
2. Look up traditional interpretations, but don’t memorize them.
3. Most importantly: look at your recent life. What are you worried about? What are you unable to let go of? Dreams often reflect these things.

Many people skip step three and only look at the surface of the dream, resulting in completely wrong interpretations. For example, someone dreams of a lion and says, “You will become a leader,” but in fact, he just went to the zoo the day before—the dream may just be because he saw too many pictures of lions during the day.

7. Finally: Dreams are the whisperings of the heart

I no longer fear strange dreams. Even if I dreamed last night that I was riding a large rooster through the streets (and still haven’t figured out what it means), I wouldn’t panic.

Because I know that dreams aren’t here to scare me; they’re here to remind me.
They’re like a friend whispering in my heart: “Hey, have you been too tired lately? Is there something you’ve been putting off?”

As long as you’re willing to listen, they’ll keep talking.
All you have to do is quiet down and think carefully.