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

168 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

It appears in a dream in various aspects. White bread indicates pleasant sustenance of wealth, either a thousand, or a hundred, or ten, according to the measure of the dreamer's condition and what befits him.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 101–102

Bitter bread is a bitter livelihood.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 101–102

Sweet bread is a rise in prices, if it is like honey or sugar, and likewise wheat.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 101–102

Whoever eats bread with excrement, then he eats honey with its comb.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 101–102

The best of breads is oven-baked bread that is well risen.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 101–102

Bread indicates knowledge and Islam, because it is the pillar of religion, the sustenance of the spirit, and the life of the soul.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 101–102

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

As for bread: whoever sees that he has found a loaf, or two loaves, or half a loaf, then it indicates the removal of distress.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 146

And whoever sees that he found half a loaf in an unknown place and wanted to eat it but was unable to, then it indicates the nearness of his appointed death.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 146

And whoever sees that he found half a loaf in a place, then it is interpreted as meaning that half of his lifespan has passed, especially if it was in his hand.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 146

And whoever sees that he has much bread and did not eat any of it, then harm will reach his relatives from him; and if he ate of it, then it is [good for] him. And whoever sees that he is eating very hot bread, then it is the occurrence of worry and grief.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 146

Al-Kirmani said: seeing oneself eating hot bread indicates a pleasant life.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 146

And whoever sees that he is eating well-perforated (light, porous) bread, then it is interpreted as the justice of the king and his fairness toward the subjects.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 146

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

And whoever sees that he is baking bread, then he is striving in seeking a livelihood, in pursuit of a lasting benefit. And if he baked it quickly lest the oven grow cold, he attains authority and obtains wealth in his hand in proportion to the amount of bread that came out of the oven.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 220–223

As for bread, it indicates knowledge and Islam, because it is the pillar of religion and the sustenance of the spirit.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 297–300

And whoever sees much bread, large and small, without eating it, his brethren and friends will visit him soon.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 759–762

And whoever obtains a loaf, then it is a lifespan, and the loaf is forty years; so whatever deficiency there is in it, that is a deficiency of that lifespan, and its purity is the purity of the world.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 220–223

And the loaf may indicate the Book and the Sunnah, and the knot of wealth indicates the ranks of people.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 297–300

And pure white bread is purity of livelihood for whoever eats it.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 759–762

Artemidorus of Daldis, Oneirocritica (1644 English translation)

FOr to eat accustomed bread is good; as to the rich white bread, to the poore browne.

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

The Sick man dreaming he saw bread, ready to be set in the Oven, although the fruits of Ceres are ever good, yet notwithstanding, it signified to him a great Feaver to come; because those Loaves were to be heated, and baked in the Oven.

Oneirocritica (1644 English translation), The Fourth Booke of Artimedorus.

White bread to the poore signifies Sicknesse.

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

Brown bread to the rich, is impeachment of their enterprises.

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

Barley bread is good for all.

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

Pap or Gruell, hath the same signification as bread.

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

Kinds and conditions of Bread

tharid (bread sopped in broth)

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

In a dream it is the man's life, his livelihood, his earnings, and his trade.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 52–53

If he sees a bowl full of tharid or fat, that is ample worldly fortune.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 52–53

tharid (bread soaked in broth)

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

As for tharid, it is interpreted as good provision, because of what has been related of the Prophet (peace be upon him) that he used to love tharid and would say: "The merit of A'ishah over the rest of the community is like the merit of meat tharid over other food."

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 240

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

As for tharid: if it is very fatty, then it is a beneficial office of authority and an ample worldly fortune; and if it is without fat, then it is an office of authority without benefit.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 231–233

piece of bread

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

Whoever sees in his hand a piece of bread which he eats on a road or in a market, then little remains of his life.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 771–773

And if the piece is thin, then the matter is more imminent.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 771–773

loaf of bread

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

See also its mention under "bread."

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 138

It is in a dream a small profit.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 288

carrying bread on the head

Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, Fath al-Bari, commentary on Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Dream Interpretation

"Indeed, I see myself carrying bread upon my head, from which the birds eat. Inform us of its interpretation; indeed, we see you as one of the doers of good." "He said: No food will come to you by which you are provided but that I will inform you of its interpretation before it comes to you. That is from what my Lord has taught me. Indeed, I have left the religion of a people who do not believe in Allah, and they are disbelievers in the Hereafter. And I have followed the religion of my fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It was not for us to associate anything with Allah. That is from the favour of Allah upon us and upon the people, but most of the people are not grateful. O my two companions of the prison, are separate lords"—and al-Fudayl said to one of the followers, "O servant of Allah"—"are separate lords better, or Allah, the One, the Prevailing? You worship not besides Him but names which you have named, you and your fathers, for which Allah has sent down no authority. Judgement belongs to none but Allah. He has commanded that you worship none but Him. That is the upright religion, but most of the people do not know. O my two companions of the prison, as for one of you, he will give his lord wine to drink; and as for the other, he will be crucified, and the birds will eat from his head."

Fath al-Bari, commentary on Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Dream Interpretation, pp. 7366–7368

grain products (dough and bread)

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

As for what is made from grains, such as dough and bread and what resembles that of various kinds, its interpretation has already been given in the forty-second chapter, on account of its suitability to it.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 242

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