Ants in a dream: meaning in Ibn Sirin, al-Nabulsi and Ibn Shahin

59 passages from 4 sources, quoted as written, every one linked to its page.

Abd al-Ghani al-Nabulsi, Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam

In dreams they are weak people possessed of greed, and they are interpreted as soldiers, as family, and as a long life.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 357–358

So whoever sees ants entering a village, then soldiers will enter it.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 357–358

(And whoever sees) that ants are upon his bed, his children will become numerous.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 357–358

And whoever sees them going out of his house, the number of his household will decrease.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 357–358

And whoever sees them flying from a place in which there is a sick person, then he will die; or a group of people will travel from that place and will meet with hardship.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 357–358

And it indicates fertility and provision, because they are found only in a place in which there is provision.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 357–358

Ibn Shahin al-Zahiri, al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat

As for ants, they are interpreted in several ways. It is said that an abundance of ants is interpreted as a multitude of people, so whoever sees that there are many ants in his house, then his household will increase.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 224

And whoever sees ants in some item of food, then it is interpreted as a rise in the price of that item, or its being in demand.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 224

And al-Kirmani said: seeing many ants is interpreted as wealth and blessing.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 224

And whoever sees ants carrying something out of his house, there is no good in it; and if they carry something into his house, then it is the opposite.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 224

And whoever sees that ants come out of his mouth or his nose, then it is interpreted as his death. And it is said that seeing ants is interpreted as thieves.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 224

So whoever sees ants entering his house, let him be on guard against them.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 224

attributed to Ibn Sirin, Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam

As for many ants, they are an army, and seeing them on the bed means children.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 421–425

Seeing ants indicates the very person of the dreamer, and it is said it indicates his relatives.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 421–425

And it is said that the ants coming out of their hole is grief.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 421–425

Seeing ants indicates the death of the sick person.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 421–425

And knowing the speech of ants is authority, on account of the story of Solomon, peace be upon him.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 421–425

Whoever sees ants entering his house carrying food, the good of his house will increase.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 421–425

Artemidorus of Daldis, Oneirocritica (1644 English translation)

TO sée Ants with wings is not good, for it argues hurt or a dangerous voyage,

Oneirocritica (1644 English translation), The Third Booke of Artimedorus His Exposition of Dreames.

other Ants which are diligent and industrious, are good for plough-men, for they signifie fertility. For where there is no grain, there you can finde no Ants:

Oneirocritica (1644 English translation), The Third Booke of Artimedorus His Exposition of Dreames.

they are also good for such as live upon the common good, and reape profit by many, and to the sick, when they come near the body, for they are called industrious, and cease not to labour; which is proper to such as live:

Oneirocritica (1644 English translation), The Third Booke of Artimedorus His Exposition of Dreames.

but when they range about the bodies of the patients, it is death: because they are the daughters of the earth, and cold, and black.

Oneirocritica (1644 English translation), The Third Booke of Artimedorus His Exposition of Dreames.

Kinds and conditions of Ants

Tiny ants (motes)

Abd al-Ghani al-Nabulsi, Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam

Whoever sees in a dream that he is counting motes (tiny ants) or taking them, then it indicates injustice, hostility, and strife coming upon him.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 124

Motes in sleep are attributed to offspring, soldiers, wealth, and length of life.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 124

ants entering the ears

Artemidorus of Daldis, Oneirocritica (1644 English translation)

TO Dreame of Emmeis getting into the eares, is good onely to Sophisters. Philosophers, and Schoole-masters. For the Emmets represent children which will give audience to Sophisters.

Oneirocritica (1644 English translation), The first Booke of Artimedorus His Exposition of Dreames.

To others it foretels death: For they are daughters of the earth and go again to the earth.

Oneirocritica (1644 English translation), The first Booke of Artimedorus His Exposition of Dreames.

33 more passages on this symbol are in the database and used by the interpreter.