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

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

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

Ibn Sirin said: Whoever sees that something of his has been broken, then it means the occurrence of harm and loss in proportion to how precious that thing is to him or to its value. And if he is the one who does it to someone else, then the harm comes from him, and the interpretation is as stated above.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 110

Breaking is interpreted in two ways. Ibn Sirin said: Whoever sees something broken, of whatever kind, and he recognizes it, this indicates the occurrence of a loss; and if he does not recognize it, then its interpretation reverts to him.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, pp. 252–253

And whoever sees that he has broken one of his limbs, then it is interpreted as concerning the person to whom that limb is attributed, and we have explained each limb and what is attributed to it in the chapter on the limbs in the nineteenth section.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 110

Jabir al-Maghribi said: Seeing the breaking of something that is disliked, or of something that is among the instruments of amusements, is praiseworthy.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, pp. 252–253

And Jabir al-Maghribi said: Whoever sees that he broke something of the kinds of musical instruments of amusement, then it means the setting right of his condition, avoidance of sins, and remorse for blameworthy deeds. And everything that is good for religion and worldly life, breaking it is blameworthy; and everything that is otherwise, breaking it is praiseworthy. And it is said: breaking those instruments of amusement by which the pomp of kings is maintained is not praiseworthy.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 110

And whoever sees that he broke a branch of a tree, then he will harm the son of a king, whether by word or by deed. And it is said: breaking the branch of a tree is the death of a king's son or one of his notable relatives, such that the extent of that corresponds to the size of the branch.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 110

Kinds and conditions of Breaking

breaking wind

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

Al-Kirmani said: Whoever sees that he broke wind, if he is under a covenant, a vow, or an oath, then he will break it.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 66

(And whoever sees) that he broke wind in his bed with his wife, then words will pass between him and her; and if it had a sound, it will be stronger.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 66

house pillar/beam breaking

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

"I saw in a dream that the pillar of my house broke, and that I gave birth to a one-eyed boy." He said: "Good — your husband will return, if Allah wills, in a sound state, and you will give birth to a dutiful boy."

Fath al-Bari, commentary on Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Dream Interpretation, pp. 7418–7419

So I said: "If your dream is true, your husband will die and you will give birth to a wicked boy."

Fath al-Bari, commentary on Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Dream Interpretation, pp. 7418–7419

boring a hole/breaking through

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

Boring a hole in a house is deception. If he sees as though he bored a hole in a house and reached through, then he seeks a woman and attains her by deception.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 741–745

If he sees as though he bored a hole in a city, then he is investigating the religion of a learned man, because of the saying of the Prophet (peace be upon him): "I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its gate."

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 741–745

notch (chipping/breaking)

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

It is the break in what is sound of anything, for it is an indication of its diminishment, or of the undoing of that which it signifies.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 56

And perhaps the notch signifies the kissing of one who is absent, or reconciliation with one who has forsaken him.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 56

falling from a window and breaking the legs

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

A rare case: One of the trustworthy men saw a man who came to a window and threw himself from it, so his legs were broken, and he began to take them with his hand and drag them like a rag. Only a short while passed before he fell into a dreadful affair with a tyrannical ruler, who was informed about his livelihood, took his wealth from him, and harmed him.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, pp. 269–270

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