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

40 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 a dream it is a man who extracts wealth by trickery. So whoever sees that he is drawing water with a bucket from a well and collecting the water in his vessel will amass wealth that he obtains by trickery.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 115

And if he sees that he is emptying it into something other than a vessel, then that wealth will not remain with him long before it goes away, or its benefits go away from him.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 115

And if he waters a garden with it, then he will obtain by it a woman, or will obtain something from her.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 115

And if the garden bears fruit, he will obtain from her a child, according to what he sees of the fruits of that garden.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 115

And if he sees an old well and waters from it camels, or livestock, or people, then he is performing the best of deeds and the noblest of them in righteousness, according to the measure of his strength and his diligence in it; and he is in the position of the shepherd who pours out water for his flock of camels and sheep.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 115

(And whoever sees) that he is lowering a bucket into an old well and watering animals, then he is showing off in his deeds, whether for religion or for worldly matters, according to the measure of his capacity for it and his exertion.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 115

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

As for the bucket, it is interpreted as a person who conceals his affairs; so whatever he sees in it of adornment or blemish is interpreted with respect to that. And perhaps it indicates protection and the performance of good deeds, and likewise benevolence.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 127

As for the bucket: al-Kirmani said the bucket is a man who extracts wealth without knowledge.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, pp. 237–238

Whoever sees a full bucket and he is drawing water from it will obtain wealth through toil and hardship, in proportion to what is in the bucket.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, pp. 237–238

Whoever sees the bucket empty, then it indicates the obtaining of little good.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, pp. 237–238

Ja'far al-Sadiq said: if the bucket is new and clean, then it indicates his keeping company with a man who takes wealth.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, pp. 237–238

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

(The bucket) is a man who extracts wealth by trickery. So whoever sees that he is drawing water with a bucket from a well and the water runs into his vessel, then he will acquire wealth by trickery.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 591–595

And if he sees that he empties it into something other than a vessel, then that wealth will not remain with him long before it goes away, and its benefits depart from him.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 591–595

And if he waters his garden with it, then he will obtain a woman thereby and will have intercourse with her; and if the garden bears fruit, he will obtain a child from her, according to the degree of completeness he sees in that.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 591–595

And if he sees an old well and waters from it camels, or people, or beasts, then he does the best and noblest of deeds of righteousness, according to the extent of his strength and his diligence in it; and he is in the position of the shepherd who empties the water from the well for his flock of camels and sheep.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 591–595

And whoever sees that he is drawing with a bucket from an old well and watering animals, then he is one who acts for show, either for religion or for worldly ends, according to the extent of his capacity for it.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 591–595

And if he sees that he draws with the bucket for himself alone, then he attains in his work a worldly benefit according to the extent of his strength, because his drawing of the bucket was for his own worldly interest alone.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 591–595

Kinds and conditions of Bucket

bucket and watering-trough

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

While I was asleep, I saw myself at a watering-trough giving people to drink. Then Abu Bakr came to me and took the bucket from my hand to relieve me, and he drew two bucketfuls, and in his drawing there was weakness — may Allah forgive him. Then Ibn al-Khattab came and took it from him, and he did not cease drawing until the people turned away, while the trough was gushing forth.

Fath al-Bari, commentary on Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Dream Interpretation, p. 7402

And it is as though he was filling from the well and pouring into the trough, while the people were taking the water for their beasts and for themselves.

Fath al-Bari, commentary on Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Dream Interpretation, p. 7402

bucket lowered from the sky

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

That a man said: "O Messenger of Allah, I saw as though a bucket had been lowered from the sky, and Abu Bakr came and took hold of its rope-loops and drank a small drink; then 'Umar came and took hold of its rope-loops and drank until he was full to the ribs; then 'Uthman came and took hold of its rope-loops and drank until he was full to the ribs; then 'Ali came and took hold of its rope-loops and it snapped away, and something of it splashed upon him."

Fath al-Bari, commentary on Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Dream Interpretation, pp. 7400–7401

waterskin and leather bucket

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

(The waterskin and the leather bucket): for a governor they signify a prosperous district, and for a merchant a noble trade.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 705–709

buckets/vine tendrils (dawal)

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

In a dream it signifies aid, keeping the covenant, and fulfilling the condition.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 117

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