Dreams and Visions in the World of Islam

Elizabeth Sirriyeh is Senior Lecturer in Religious Studies at the University of Leeds. Her previous books include Sufis and Anti-Sufis: The Defence, Rethinking and Rejection of Sufism in the Modern World (2000) and Sufism: A Guide for the Perplexed (2012).

• Preface Introduction1. Seeing Gods and Angels before the Rise of Islam2. The Prophet as Model Visionary3. Scholars and Saints in the Path of the Prophet4. The Dream Must Be Interpreted5. Muslims Dreaming of Christians, Christians Dreaming of Muslims6. 'And if a Woman Dreams'7. Envisioning God and His Prophet8. Contacting the Righteous Dead9. Visionary Traditions and the Impact of ModernityNotesBiblographyIndex

'Elizabeth Sirriyeh's authoritative book on dreams and visions in the Islamic tradition concerns what might be termed "mysticism", and as such relates to the very heart of the Sufi tradition. It provides a comprehensive and lucid account that commences in the pre-Islamic period and brings readers up to the present era with discussions of the topic within the contemporary Middle East. For students of Sufism and Islamic spirituality this book is indispensible, because it provides a clear account of the potency and significance that dreams and visions have had, and continue to have, in the region.' -Lloyd Ridgeon, Reader in Theology and Religious Studies, University of Glasgow 'To study the history of Muslim dreaming is to enter an enthralling meta-world in which believers sought authenticity, authority and salvation through their nocturnal encounters with the Prophets and Saints. Elizabeth Sirriyeh is a judicious and expert guide to over twelve centuries of deliberations on the credibility and meaning of dreams. Her book will appeal to anyone interested in this under-studied topic.' -Nile Green, Professor of History, UCLA, author of Sufism: A Global History