Paralysis If the index or the middle finger are paralyzed in a dream, it means that one may suffer because of his sister. If one sees his ring finger paralyzed in the dream, it means that he will suffer pain and difficulties because of an ailment that will befall his mother or a female relative. If one sees his little finger paralyzed in a dream, it means that he may suffer because of a daughter. Dream Interpreter: Ibn Sirin
Asylum The asylum, or mental institution, symbolizes frequent travel, asceticism, the heeding of God and reading of the Holy Quran, the stoppage of income, the end of wedlock, the abandoning of children, repentances, the return of religious faith, relief from worries, and sometimes diphtheria (the suffocation disease, to borrow the expression of Al-Nabulsi). It could also represent the bathroom, as madness was believed by the ancient Arabs to be associated with demons and because, like the bathroom, the mental institution is a place where people take off their clothes, show their private parts, and exhibit repulsive manners. For some interpreters, the madhouse refers to the school, because, there, the inpatients were educated by force, in ancient times, and taught to read and write and know the Quran. Dream Interpreter: Various Islamic Scholars
Kohl This is a sort of eye powder or powder of antimony, a preparation of soot and other ingredients, to darken edges of eyelids. It is extensively used by veiled Arab Bedouin women, whose eyes are the only thing seen of their body, which renders them very attractive. It is also used for newly born Muslims and by certain Muslim men. Kohl and its usual container made of silver or the kohl bottle symbolize women. They also refer to the sharp eye. Seeing a devout Muslim with kohl on his eyelids is regarded as a good dream. But it is not so if the kohl is used by a corrupt man. Dream Interpreter: Various Islamic Scholars
Mare • A horseman stepping down from a mare for some adventitious matter and keeping back without unsaddling her: His wife has her menses, and he will stay away from her temporarily. But if he had stepped down to ride another mare, he will have a second woman. If he had turned his face after stepping down, he would stay away from his wife for some time. If, after stepping down, he pissed blood, he is indulging in adultery (because, according to the ancient Arabs, the soil [earth] is a woman and pissing is sex, while blood symbolizes what is prohibited). • Drinking mare milk: Benefits will come from the ruler. The female draft horse should be treated in the interpretation of dreams as an ordinary mare. Anyway, she symbolizes a girl, a slave girl, or an honest free woman. Dream Interpreter: Various Islamic Scholars
Palm Tree The date palm symbolizes the knowledgeable man and his children, tribe, or folk. It specifically refers to a noble, honest, and esteemed Arab who likes to benefit people, perhaps a scholar. It also means long life. However, the trunk of a palm is a bad augury. It symbolizes torture in view of a Quranic verse: “ (Pharaoh) said: Ye put faith in him before I give you leave. Lo! he is your chief who taught you magic. Now surely I shall cut off your hands and your feet alternately, and I shall crucify you on the trunks of palm tree, and ye shall know for certain which of us hath sterner and more lasting punishment.” (“Ta-Ha,” verse 71.) Dream Interpreter: Various Islamic Scholars
Stone Stones of a structure or on the ground symbolize the dead, the ignorant, the idle, and the atheists. Arab wise men used to describe the people of the pre-Islamic era as stones. • Turning into stone: Will disobey God and lose faith, have a stone heart, or become crippled. • Seizing, buying, or standing on stones: Will triumph over a man or marry a woman showing similarities to such a stone. • Stones falling from the sky: Calamities brought about by a tyrant. Removing stones or mountains: Is attempting something difficult. • Hitting a stone with a stick to see water coming out of it: Will get rich. If already wealthy, will become richer. Dream Interpreter: Various Islamic Scholars
Beekeeper (Apiculturist; Apiarist) In a dream, a beekeeper represents a struggle, a caprice, taking the short road, wearing a mask, or it could mean hardships. (Also see Beehive) Dream Interpreter: Ibn Sirin
Saleh Saleh is an Arab prophet from the tribe of Thamud whose folk are named after their grandfather Thamud, brother of Jeddis. Their father was Aather ibn (son of) Aram ibn Sam ibn Nuh (Hoah). They came from Areba and lived in Al-Hijr, between Al-Hijaz and Tabuk. The Muslims Holy Prophet passed by them when he was on his way to Tabuk. Their traces can be found in Saudi Arabia in a place called Madain (the cities of) Saleh. The story of the Prophet Saleh is related in the chapter called “Al-Aaraf’ (The Heights) in the Holy Quran. Dream Interpreter: Various Islamic Scholars
Sheep • Passing by sheep: A reference to people like herds of sheep without any ambitions or dreams. • Being met by sheep: Will be met by men who will challenge the dreamer to fight them, and he will emerge victorious. • Following a ewe that presses ahead, making it impossible for the dreamer to reach her: Everything will be stalled, that year, and desires will not be fulfilled. • She goats refer to: Noble men. A slave girl or a corrupt woman, because her private parts are uncovered and she has no tail. A fat she-goat would refer to a booty, a lean one to a poor woman. • A she-goat hardly one year old: An Arab woman. Dream Interpreter: Various Islamic Scholars
Tree Ancient Arab dream interpreters said that whereas the tree referred to the man’s deeds, religion, or ego, its leaves symbolizes his character, its beauty his nice shape and clothing, its branches his brothers, relatives, folk, and beliefs, its heart his hidden essence and his secrets, its bark his appearance, skin, and all that he uses to adorn himself with, and its semen his faith, piety, assets, and life. The tree also represents the female kind, for it is irrigated; it bears (fruits) and delivers. It also refers to various places and persons associated with food, money, and wealth, like shops, warehouses, banquets, slaves, servants, and cattle. Dream Interpreter: Various Islamic Scholars
Incest Also see Sex and Sodomy. • A reference to an illegitimate birth. • Marrying a relative whom Islam prohibits: Will prevail over one’s family. • Sodomizing one’s father: Will oust him from the country or be hostile to him. • Having sex with one’s father or mother without ejaculation: Will be good to him or her. If the dream had ended with an orgasm, it would mean the reverse. • A man dreaming or someone dreaming of him that he is having sex with his mother, sister, brother, or similar prohibited relations seen as dead in the dream: He is not supporting them as he should, but will change his attitude and become fair. It could also mean trouble and worries or, on the contrary, benefit to both parties. If they are seen to be alive in the dream, he does not have much affection for them. In case he dreamed that the act took place during the Muslims sacred months, he would go to Mecca (Makkah) for the pilgrimage. Dream Interpreter: Various Islamic Scholars
A Woollen or Cotton Turban Wearing a turban made of wool or cotton means the person will yield power of a profitable nature. It will profit him in both Deeni and Worldly matters. Dream Interpreter: Ibn Sirin
Mirror • Looking in the mirror to find someone else’s image: The dreamer will lose his money and/or mind. • Seeing one’s image reflected in a mirror or in water: The dreamer will have a son who will resemble him or her and practice the same craft or profession. If a youngster, will have a brother or sister of the same gender. • Seeing the image of a young man reflected in the mirror, instead of the dreamer’s image: An enemy. • The image of an old man: A helpful friend. • A pregnant woman seeing her image reflected in the mirror: Will have a girl. • A nonpregnant woman seeing herself in the mirror: Husband will take a second wife. • A prisoner seeing his face in the mirror: Will be released from jail. • Dreaming of having become a mirror without looking at it: People will slander and despise you. Dream Interpreter: Various Islamic Scholars
Cow • A cow with a piebald flank: Hardships in the middle of the year. • A cow with a piebald posterior part: Hardships toward the end of the year. • A skinned cow: Tragedy will befall relatives. • A cow half-skinned: Tragedy will befall a sister or a daughter. • One-quarter of the cow’s meat: Tragedy will befall the dreamer’s woman. • A small portion of the cow’s meat: Tragedy will befall all relatives. • Eating beef: Honest earnings during the year. • A cow’s horns: Years of abundance. • A notable buying a fat cow: Will be allotted a wealthy province to govern or given a farm as a gift from an aristocrat. Dream Interpreter: Various Islamic Scholars
Silver The bracelet and the anklet symbolize the husband or marriage, in particular. For men they represent sorrow. Lady’s jewels could also refer to their children, since mothers are proud of them. Gold is a reference to boys and silver to girls. Likewise, whatever is masculine refers to boys and anything feminine to girls. Certain interpreters hate to hear about silver in view of the etymology of the word—in Arabic feddah from fadd or yafeddo, meaning “to disperse” or “to deflower.” In general, silver is hoarded money. An alloy of silver and gold is a beautiful white girl or slave girl (or servant in the modern sense), because silver is part of the essence of women (according to the ancient Arabs). Whoever dreams of having acquired such an alloy will seduce a pretty woman. If the piece is big, he will find a treasure. Dream Interpreter: Various Islamic Scholars
Incident - Abdullah bin Omar wanting to see a dream Do not merely talk!" The angels then took him to visit hell-fire, which was folded up like a well. In it he saw some people he knew, but the angels pulled him away from them to the right. When Abdullah woke up, he told his dream to his sister Hafsa, the wife of Prophet Muhammad, Sallallaahu-Alayhi-wasallam. In turn, Hafsa, God be pleased with her, related the dream to Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu-Alayhi-wasallam) who commented: "Indeed, Abdullah is a righteous man. It will be good for him if he increases his prayers at night." Consequently, Abdullah was more regular about his night prayers. Dream Interpreter: Ibn Sirin
Dog According to Ibn Siren, dream interpreters disagree on what a dog represents in dreams. Some of them regard it as a slave or a servant, others as a despot, a terrible person, and a slanderer, if it barks. The black dog is an Arab. On the other hand, a dog could also mean a weak enemy with little chivalry, if any. The she-dog is a mean woman. If she bites, such a woman would harm the dreamer. If a dog tears the dreamer’s clothes, it would mean that a low man would backbite him. For Al-Nabulsi, the dog symbolizes a policeman of low rank, a gate-man, or a guardian, a niggardly person, a weak enemy, and a stupid, profligate, and aggressive man who never hesitates to commit foolish or criminal acts, especially if it barks; it would mean that he has an awful temper, that he is terrible. Dream Interpreter: Various Islamic Scholars
Linen (Clothing) Wearing a linen shirt in a dream means living an honorable life, earning lawful money and savings. (Also see Clothing) Dream Interpreter: Ibn Sirin
Book (Decree; Flyer; Letter; Publication; Public announcement; Record; Scroll; Write; Writing) Holding a book or a letter in one's hand in a dream signifies power. A book or a letter in a dream also signifies fame or public knowledge. If one sees himself carrying a sealed letter in a dream, then it means that he will receive confidential news or a report. If a book or a letter is carried by a child in a dream, it means glad tidings. If it is carried by a servant or a housekeeper, then it means glad tidings and good news. If a letter is carried by a woman, then one could expect a quick relief from his trouble. If the letter which the woman is carrying in the dream is an open letter, and if the woman is wearing a veil, it means that the news she is bringing must be treated carefully. If the woman is wearing perfume, then one could expect good news and a commendation for his work. Dream Interpreter: Ibn Sirin
Slaughter • Seeing parents eating their young boy grilled: They will share his prosperity and benefit from his bounty. • A ruler slaying a man and putting him, decapitated, on the dreamer’s neck: The ruler will commit an injustice toward the victim, asking him impossible things and requesting the dreamer as well to pay a heavy sum that he cannot afford, exactly like the burden that the slain person felt. A man told Ibn Siren, “I saw a woman in my dream, last night, butchered in her house and lying in her blood.” “She must have had sex in her bed last night,” said the interpreter. The man left Ibn Siren's house fuming, because the woman in question was his sister and he knew her husband was away. When he arrived at her place, he discovered that her husband had returned the previous day and uttered a sigh of relief. Dream Interpreter: Various Islamic Scholars
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