The dreams of Husayn Ibn 'Alī and his family in Shī'ite Maqātil literature

The article discusses the dreams that appear in the Shiite maqātil literature, especially the dreams of Husayn Ibn 'Alī and of his family, as well as those of other persons who accompanied him on his journey from the city of Mecca to Karbalā', where he met his death. The functions that these dreams fulfill are considered, especially the dreams of Husayn Ibn 'Alī. They show him events that are still to happen, and they reveal his preordained fate being killed in the battle of Karbalā'. Each dream is described separately, and classified according to content as a verbal or a symbolic dream, and according to the time and place it occurred. The article attempts to show that the dreams in the maqātil literature, like dreams in classical Islamic literature, have the power of showing the future, so much so that at times they may change the course of history.