Comparative Study of Dream and Fantasy in Views of Mulla Sadra and Allame Tabatabai

In light of their transcendental approach to the world of dreams, Sadr-ol-Mote'allehin Shirazi and Allameh Tabatabai have considered dream world as one of the undeniable realms of existence, while adopting an interpretive and philosophical outlook in discussing its nature.  According to this approach, the world in which one enters during dream is called Barzakh or imaginal world, which is spiritual in nature. As human senses represent apertures to the visible world, the imagination faculty of man serve as a window to this world. However, the separation of the soul from body and the roaming of the soul in the imaginal world or reason proportionate to its value and potentials, are the most important features cited by Allameh in explaining the process of sleep. He raises it as a proof for the otherness of the soul and body and the abstract nature of the material and dream world. Allameh has discussed this issue in his interpretation of Quranic verses.