As part of its participation in the 66th Beirut Arab International Book Fair, AUB Press hosted an enriching panel discussion titled Indeed I Saw in a Dream: Dream Interpretation Books in Arab Literature, which brought together Lebanese scholar Dr. Lina Jammal and Dr. Bilal Orfali to explore the rich tradition of dream interpretation in Arabic literary and scholarly heritage. The event was supported by the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Chair and organized in collaboration with the Center for Arts and Humanities at the American University of Beirut (AUB).
Dr. Lina Jammal, who holds a PhD in Arabic Literature from the American University of Beirut (2021), specializes in the relationship between dreams and architectural space and place in classical Arabic texts. Her academic work stands at the intersection of scholarship and the literary eye. Jammal has previously served as a Research Assistant at New York University Abu Dhabi and is currently Associate Editor of Al Markaz: Journal of Arabic Studies, published by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre and Brill. She has also translated numerous academic works from English into Arabic, further contributing to accessibility and knowledge in the Arab world.
In this conversation, Jammal and Orfali revisited the evolution of dream interpretation literature from early Islamic texts to the compilations of the Abbasid period and beyond. The discussion centered around foundational works such as Al-Qadir fi al-Taʾbīr, the most notable surviving Arabic text on dream interpretation, and explored how dreams have functioned as both narrative and epistemological tools throughout centuries of Arab-Islamic thought.
Jammal’s work approaches dreams not only as historical texts but as living visions, fusing the lens of the rigorous academic with the creative imagination of the writer. In her book, Indeed I Saw in a Dream, she guides her readers through the world of dreams hidden within classical manuscripts and the pages of literary tradition.
Through this dialogue, the audience was invited to consider the enduring cultural, religious, and intellectual significance of dreams in shaping perceptions of the unseen, fate, and human consciousness. The session also addressed the challenges modern scholars face in editing, interpreting, and contextualizing these works, which remain deeply embedded in the literary and spiritual imagination of the Arab world.
The discussion concluded with an engaging Q&A session, during which the audience directed insightful questions to Lina Jammal. She explained that numerous hadiths affirm the value of dreams, particularly those experienced by righteous individuals and explained their role in healing tangible illnesses.
Visit AUB Press on YouTube to watch the full discussion.
About AUB
Founded in 1866, the American University of Beirut bases its educational philosophy, standards, and practices on the American liberal arts model of higher education. A teaching-centered research university, AUB has more than 790 full-time faculty members and a student body of over 9000 students. AUB currently offers more than 140 programs leading to bachelor’s, master’s, MD, and PhD degrees. It provides medical education and training to students from throughout the region at its Medical Center that includes a full-service 365-bed hospital.
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