Includes bibliographical references (pages 195-231) and index.

Introduction -- Seeing gods and angels before the rise of Islam -- The prophet as model visionary -- Scholars and saints in the path of the prophet -- The dream must be interpreted -- Muslims dreaming of Christians, Christians dreaming of Muslims -- 'And if a woman dreams' -- Envisioning God and his prophet -- Contacting the righteous dead -- Visionary traditions and the impact of modernity.

Elizabeth Sirriyeh offers the first concerted history of the rise of dream interpretation in Islamic culture, from medieval times to the present. Central to the book is the figure of the Prophet Muhammad - seen to represent for Muslims the perfect dreamer, visionary and interpreter of dreams. Less benignly, dreams have been exploited in the propaganda of Islamic militants in Afghanistan, and in apocalyptic visions relating to the 9/11 attacks. This timely volume gives an important, fascinating and overlooked subject the exploration it has long deserved.--Provided by publisher.