Imam

Seeing in a dream the imam charged with duty in a mosque or masjid signifies governors, district governors, and persons employed in administrative affairs. The imam of the greatest mosque of a place signifies the notables and high-ranking administrators of that town or country; every kind of good condition observed in persons engaged in religious services signifies the goodness of the rulers’ circumstances and administration; and the adverse conditions observed in them signify the adverse works and actions of those in positions of authority.

To see oneself acting as imam for a congregation or community and leading the prayer to completion signifies joining a congregation from whom good is hoped, or standing surety for them in a matter. (To see oneself as an imam in a dream signifies commanding good and forbidding evil, a master, one’s parents, affairs that bring responsibility, and a respected and honourable profession. Imamate signifies governorship for those qualified for it, and guiding people in the affairs of this world and the Hereafter.

To see oneself as an imam in a dream and leading the congregation in prayer toward a direction other than the qiblah signifies leading the people into error, originating innovations, or undertaking a reprehensible affair.

To see oneself in a dream as imam of an unknown congregation in an unknown place, while not knowing what one is reciting during the prayer, signifies dying a good death; for a woman to see herself leading men in prayer signifies her death; and for a man to see himself leading women in prayer signifies taking upon himself the affairs of a wretched community.

Whoever sees an imam in his dream will rise in his working life and attain a good position. Whoever sees himself as an imam in his dream will gain the respect of those around him and rise to a high rank.

Seeing men of religion, such as a teacher or imam, in a dream is always deemed auspicious. It is the glad tidings of good days.

Seeing the imam of a mosque or masjid in a dream is interpreted as referring to persons such as a governor, president, or director; and seeing the imam of one’s neighbourhood is interpreted as referring among the people to those charged with attending to the people’s affairs. In every case, seeing an imam in a dream is auspicious and fortunate.

To see oneself serving as imam in a mosque in a dream signifies that, according to the size of the mosque, one will assume a great office such as that of governor, judge, magistrate, director, or president; and if not, one will become a person esteemed and influential among the people. Whoever sees himself serving as imam in mosques built by sultans will become close to the state or receive a great benefit from the state.

Whoever sees himself serving as imam in the mosque of a neighbourhood or village will become beloved, respected, and influential among the people of that neighbourhood or village. Whoever sees himself as the imam of any congregation and leading them in prayer will enter upon work through which he will serve the people; if he is poor, his circumstances will improve; and if he is wealthy, his property will increase. To see oneself as imam, leading the prayer according to its proper manner and completing it, signifies entering upon work from which the people will benefit. (To recite the Qur’an aloud while leading the prayer as imam in a dream signifies that the person will succeed in his new work; but to become confused and begin to stammer while reciting the Qur’an aloud signifies that he will not succeed in his new work.

Whoever cannot complete the prayer that he began as imam in a dream, or becomes silent after forgetting the surah he began reciting and seeing that he cannot continue its recitation, will be unable to complete a task he has begun. According to one account, he will fall ill; according to another, his appointed time has drawn near. If a woman sees herself becoming imam, stepping before a congregation, and leading the prayer, or if another person sees a woman acting as imam in a dream, the death of that woman is certain. If the one who sees this dream is a man, his appointed time too has drawn near.

The interpretation of a woman’s death being certain in this matter arises from the fact that a woman only acquires the right to stand before men upon the prayer bier after her death. To see a child acting as imam in a dream signifies that the child will later attain a great position.

According to Kirmani: Seeing an imam in a dream is interpreted as relating to an affair belonging to the state. To see oneself speaking with an imam signifies that there is some matter involving the government in one’s neighbourhood or home.

To see the imam take one by the arm and lead one toward the mosque signifies that one will be summoned to testify in court; and to see oneself shake the imam’s hand and depart from him signifies that some information concerning a matter will be obtained from him.

According to another account: To see the imam leading the congregation in prayer in a dream is related to standing surety for something. At times this dream signifies fear, and at times the exaltation of one’s rank, worth, and name. It enjoins people to draw near to goodness and to fulfil their duty by refraining from evil.

If a person sees in a dream that he is an imam, in a state of beautiful ritual purity, facing the qiblah, and leading the congregation in prayer without excess or deficiency, his wish and request will be fulfilled. Whoever sees himself praying toward a direction other than the qiblah betrays his companions and originates an innovation. At times he also commits a reprehensible and forbidden deed.

If a person sees himself leading a people in prayer in a dream, he will become a governor and succeed in administering justice there. To see oneself acting as imam for an unknown congregation in an unknown place, while not knowing which surah one is reciting in the prayer, indicates that the approach of one’s death with a good end is near.

If a woman sees herself acting as imam for men in a dream, she will die. If a person sees himself acting as imam for a people while he is standing and the congregation is seated, this indicates that he observes the rights of the congregation, whereas the congregation does not observe his rights.

Whoever sees himself acting as imam for them while he is seated, with some of the congregation standing and some seated, will duly fulfil the duty entrusted to him. If he sees himself leading a nation in prayer while standing, he will assist in the affairs of the poor and the rich. If he sees himself acting as imam while both he and the congregation are seated, they will be afflicted with hardship and severity.

Whoever sees himself leading women in prayer in a dream will be charged with attending to the affairs of a weak people. Whoever sees himself acting as imam for people while lying on his side or face-down, clothed in white, not knowing in which neighbourhood he is, and neither reciting in the prayer nor pronouncing the takbir, will die. Whoever sees himself praying alone, and the members of the congregation also praying one by one, this means that the members of that congregation are rebellious and tyrannical. If he sees himself performing a supererogatory prayer, he will enter into an undertaking and will suffer no harm from it.

To see oneself appointed imam by a group in a dream signifies that an inheritance will come into one’s hand. To see oneself made imam over people, while in fact being unable to recite the Qur’an, signifies that the person will not succeed in obtaining what he desires.

If a person sees himself leading a congregation in prayer upon a roof in a dream, he will do good to the people of the country, and because of money he has lent or alms he has given, he will be mentioned among the people with fine words and will acquire renown.

Ibn Sirin: To see oneself building a prison in a dream signifies meeting a righteous person or an imam who will guide one to the straight path. The imam also signifies the spiritual leader of all Muslims.

Ibn Sirin: To see Mecca in a dream signifies the imam, security, and the centre of Islam. To see oneself in Mecca signifies goodness and blessing, and denotes the forgiveness of sins.

With the right perspective, it can signify restoring balance, recovery, and developing a new understanding.

Uncertainty, indecision, or a tendency to take on excessive burden may be observed.

In the interpretation, the themes of work and responsibility, success and reputation, the emotional tone in the dream, and how the symbol concludes in the dream should be evaluated together.