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

56 passages from 5 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 a dream it indicates children and those with beautiful faces.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 49

The apple is a man's aspiration and what he strives for, and it is according to the measure of the aspiration of the one who sees it.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 49

So if he is a ruler, then seeing apples is his dominion.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 49

And if he is a merchant, then the apples are his trade.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 49

And if he is a cultivator, then seeing apples is his cultivation.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 49

Likewise the apple, for whoever sees it, is his aspiration. So if he sees that he has obtained apples or eaten them, then he attains of that aspiration according to the measure I have described.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 49

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

Ibn Sirin said: Whoever sees green apples, then it indicates a child; and if they were red, then a benefit from the direction of the king; and if they were white, then a benefit from the direction of trade; and if they were yellow or sour, then illness and weakness of strength.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, pp. 134–135

And whoever sees that he is picking apples not from a tree, then he makes a covenant with someone which the one covenanted with does not fulfil.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, pp. 135–136

And whoever sees that he divided an apple into two halves, then it indicates the separation of two partners.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, pp. 134–135

And whoever sees that a king gave him apples, then it is interpreted as his sending a messenger to him concerning that very matter.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, pp. 135–136

And whoever sees that he plucked a red apple from a tree and ate it, then he will be granted a daughter.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, pp. 134–135

Al-Kirmani said: Whoever sees that sour apples were given to him, then it indicates his enmity; and if they were sweet, it indicates [the opposite].

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, pp. 134–135

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

(The apple) is a man's ambition and what he strives for, and it is in proportion to the ambition of the one who sees it. So if he is a king, then his seeing the apple is his kingship; and if he is a merchant, then the apple is his trade; and if he is a ploughman, then seeing the apple is his cultivation.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 624–628

Likewise the apple, for whoever sees it, is his concern which preoccupies him. So if he sees that he has obtained apples, or eaten them, or possessed them, then he attains of that concern in the measure I have described.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 624–628

And it is said: the sweet apple is lawful provision, and the sour one is unlawful.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 624–628

And whoever is thrown an apple by the sultan, then he is a messenger in whom is his wish.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 624–628

And the apple tree is a believing man who is close to the people. So whoever sees that he is planting an apple tree, then he will raise an orphan.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 624–628

And whoever sees that he is eating an apple, then he will consume wealth at which the people look.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 624–628

Freud and Jung, a separate view

He associated the apple with the scene in Paradise,

Carl Jung, Psychology of the Unconscious (1916) / Collected Papers (1917), Collected Papers, ch. XII The Psychology of Dreams

The connecting associative material shows that the apple episode is palpably meant for an erotic scene.

Carl Jung, Psychology of the Unconscious (1916) / Collected Papers (1917), Collected Papers, ch. XII The Psychology of Dreams

The apple scene recalls vividly the sense of guilt, at the same time disguising the real deed of our first parents.

Carl Jung, Psychology of the Unconscious (1916) / Collected Papers (1917), Collected Papers, ch. XII The Psychology of Dreams

In the dream the young man plucks the apple of Paradise, which in reality he has not yet plucked.

Carl Jung, Psychology of the Unconscious (1916) / Collected Papers (1917), Collected Papers, ch. XII The Psychology of Dreams

A wish has been left unfulfilled from the day before the dream. In the dream this wish is realised in the _symbolical_ apple scene.

Carl Jung, Psychology of the Unconscious (1916) / Collected Papers (1917), Collected Papers, ch. XII The Psychology of Dreams

Kinds and conditions of Apple

apple tree

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

As for the apple tree, it indicates a believing man who is close to the people, and planting it indicates the raising of an orphan in whom good develops. It may also indicate a man of handsome appearance and light spirit, from whose company people obtain benefit. And as for the apple tree, it indicates the concern of a person which preoccupies him.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 129

Whoever sees that he owns an apple tree, then he attains what he has resolved upon; and the vision of an apple tree may indicate strength of resolve.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 129

apples

Artemidorus of Daldis, Oneirocritica (1644 English translation)

TO dreame of Summer Apples, which are sweet and ripe is good, for they signifie a good time and joyfulnesse.

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

Sowre Apples, or other, signifie noise and sedition:

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

stealing an apple

Freud and Jung, a separate view

that dream introduced the apple scene as a typical representation of erotic guilt. The gist of its purport is: "I am doing wrong in acting like this."

Carl Jung, Psychology of the Unconscious (1916) / Collected Papers (1917), Collected Papers, ch. XII The Psychology of Dreams

The theft of the apple in our example is a typical theme of dreams, often recurring with various modifications. It is also a well-known theme in mythology, and is found not only in the story of the Garden of Eden, but in numerous myths and fables of all ages and climes. It is one of those universally human symbols, which can reappear in any one, at any time.

Carl Jung, Psychology of the Unconscious (1916) / Collected Papers (1917), Collected Papers, ch. XII The Psychology of Dreams

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