The dream that kept me awake
Last week, I had a very strange dream.
I dreamed that I was in a desert, and there was a mosque with three camels standing at the entrance. They weren’t just standing there, but were bent over, gnawing on a pocket watch—one of those old-fashioned ones with a cover. The chain had been bitten through, and the time was stuck at 3:17.
I stood there watching, feeling extremely anxious, but I couldn’t move.
After I woke up, the image kept replaying in my mind.
I know that in Islamic culture, dreams sometimes have meaning, especially those that leave a deep impression.
I wanted to find someone to interpret it, but it was the middle of the night and I couldn’t find a scholar who could interpret dreams.
Call a friend? They’re probably sleeping too.
I thought to myself: There are so many AI chat tools nowadays. Could one of them help me interpret this dream?
I wasn’t particularly convinced by AI, but I had no one else to ask, so I decided to give it a try.
2. The first website I tried was full of “nonsense”
First, I searched for “Islamic dream interpretation websites” and clicked on a few that looked legitimate.
What was the result?
I entered “dreaming of a camel in a mosque,” and it replied, “Camels represent wealth. It’s a good dream.”
That was it.
I tried another one, which said, “A mosque in the desert symbolizes strong faith.”
It sounded plausible, but it had nothing to do with the “camel eating a bell” in my dream.
These answers were like those “daily horoscopes”—
“You’ll have good luck today,” “Be careful with your relationships”…
Anyone could say that, but no one could understand it.
I realized that these websites weren’t interpreting dreams, they were just reciting templates.
3. I tried a different approach: I asked serious questions using an AI chat tool
I stopped using those specialized dream interpretation websites and opened an AI tool that allowed free conversation (the kind of chatbot that can write articles and answer questions).
I carefully wrote down my dream:
“I dreamed of a mosque in the desert, with three camels chewing on a pocket watch, and I felt anxious. Please explain this dream from an Islamic perspective, and if there are any relevant hadiths or interpretations by Ibn al-Sina, please let me know.”
I hit send.
The first response was still no good:
“Camels symbolize patience and long journeys in Islam.”
It was another generic answer that had nothing to do with my dream.
But I didn’t give up and continued to ask:
“Please refer to Ibn Sirin’s Dream Interpretation or authentic hadith sources. Don’t make things up.”
This time, the AI’s response changed.
It said:
- In Ibn Sirin’s book, it is mentioned that the appearance of animals in a mosque may indicate people’s neglect of their religious duties.
- A broken or damaged clock may symbolize wasted time or important matters being delayed.
- Three camels: the number “three” in many dreams represents repeated trials or three chances.
- The desert represents loneliness or spiritual thirst.
This answer made me feel that it was getting somewhere.
Although it was not 100% certain, at least it was based on something, not just random talk.
4. Why am I willing to use AI? These are the ways it has really helped me
After several attempts, I found that although AI cannot replace real scholars, it is indeed useful in certain situations. This is especially true for people like me who wake up in the middle of the night feeling anxious.
1. It is always available, no waiting
If you have a question, you can ask it at any time.
Unlike finding a scholar, you don’t have to make an appointment or wait for a reply.
This is especially true when you have a scary dream and want to understand it right away. AI can respond immediately.
2. It can handle multiple languages
I wrote a simple description of my dream in Arabic (even though my Arabic is very poor), and AI was able to understand it and explain it in Chinese.
This is very convenient for many bilingual users.
3. It can find patterns
I later entered five dreams related to mosques that others had written on a forum, such as getting lost in a mosque, the lights going out, and the door closing…
The AI summarized in seconds that most of these dreams were related to “religious anxiety” or “worries about not doing enough.”
This ability to find commonalities is something that ordinary search engines cannot do.
5. But AI also has its shortcomings and cannot be trusted completely
I tried three times before I got a useful answer.
The first two times, it just made things up, such as:
- “A camel gnawing on a bell means you will win the lottery.”
- “Dreaming about a broken watch means you need to change jobs.”
These statements sound like they were pieced together from other sources and have no basis in fact.
The biggest problem with AI is that it doesn’t know when it’s wrong.
It will use a very confident tone to recite non-existent “sacred texts” or “content from books,” which sound real but are actually made up.
Therefore, AI cannot be an authority; it can only be a “first reference.”
6. How do I use AI to interpret dreams? My four steps
If you want to try it too, I can share my method. It’s very simple, and anyone can do it:
1. Write down your dream immediately upon waking, don’t wait
Grab a pen and paper or your phone and write down your dream:
- Where did it take place? (Desert, home, mosque…)
- What objects were present? (Camels, clocks, water, people…)
- What was your mood? (Scared? Anxious? Happy?)
Remember to write down the “strange parts,” such as “the clock was being eaten” — these are often the key points.
2. Use an AI tool that can have a conversation, not a dream interpretation website
Find a chatbot that can handle long sentences and have back-and-forth conversations.
Don’t use websites that give answers based on keywords — they’re too rigid.
3. Ask specific questions and provide context
Don’t just write “What does it mean to dream about a camel?”
Be clear:
“Please explain from an Islamic perspective, citing Ibn Sina or the Hadith if possible.”
This will help the AI give you a more informed answer.
4. Always confirm with a real person
If the dream makes you feel particularly uneasy, or if you think it may have an important meaning, be sure to ask a real scholar or someone who understands.
AI is only there to help you “take a first look”; it cannot replace guidance on matters of faith.
7. My conclusion: AI is a tool, not an answer
Now I no longer think of AI as a “magic box.”
It has helped me, but it also has its limitations.
The dream about the camel gnawing at the clock made me realize that
I have indeed been very busy lately, rushing to finish work every day, feeling like I don’t have enough time, and even postponing my weekly routine.
The “broken clock” in the dream may have been reminding me: Are you neglecting the most important things?
AI helped me open up this line of thinking, but I am still the one who truly understands the dream.
8. A word of advice for those who want to try it
If you have a dream that leaves a deep impression on you and you have no one to ask,
you can try using AI.
But remember:
What it says may not necessarily be “right.” Your own feelings and beliefs are the most important reference.
Dreams are the voice of the heart, and AI is just a translator.
In the end, it is you who must understand it.
