The Beauty Of Opposing Views (pt.3)

Turn Your Dreams Into Reality.

I read a provocative and compelling blog today, from the Internal Happiness Blog, that quoted the words of Walt Disney. It spoke to the transformative power of belief and action, particularly in the pursuit of dreams. It emphasized the importance of courage in taking bold steps to make dreams a reality.

With that shared, Islamic traditions, including a reported saying attributed to Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), expresses the idea that “Sleep is the Sister of Death.”

This statement underscores the concept that sleep resembles a form of death, highlighting the transient nature of life and the separation of the soul from the body. Additionally, the Qur’anic verse in Surat al-Zumar (39:42) states, “Allah (i.e. God) takes the souls at the time of their death, and those that do not die [He takes] during their sleep.” This verse points to the connection between the soul, death, and sleep, suggesting a similarity between the two states. So, what does that really mean as far as dreams are concerned?

The similarities that can be abstracted from the aforementioned blog and the Islamic tradition and Qur’anic verse include the acknowledgment of the transient nature of life and the concept of a soul experiencing a form of departure in the form of dreams. Both highlight the idea that sleep is akin to a temporary state of departure from the body, echoing the reminder of mortality.

As for an opposing view, if we are compelled to contemplate on one, someone could argue that while the temporary nature of sleep is acknowledged, the focus should be on utilizing wakeful life to pursue meaningful actions and positive endeavors, as opposed to simply viewing it as a period resembling death. This perspective emphasizes the importance of using waking life to actively work towards beneficial goals in alignment with one’s spiritual teachings, while acknowledging the value of sleep as a natural and necessary aspect of human existence.

What do you think? Leave your comments.

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