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

25 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 safety for the fearful.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 256

In a dream it indicates the one to whom a person takes refuge: a master, an imam, a father, a teacher, a wife, or a craft.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 301

So whoever sees that he is fleeing from his enemy until he enters a cave, then he will be safe from his enemy, because of the saying of Allah the Exalted: "the second of two, when they were both in the cave" — the verse.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 256

And perhaps the cave indicates the concealment of matters for one who wishes to conceal them.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 301

And the cave is a woman ascribed to whomever the mountain indicates.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 256

And for the unemployed it indicates service and nearness to kings, and deliverance from hardships.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 301

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

Ibn Sirin said: Whoever sees that he has entered a cave, then he will depart from this world — this is if he saw that it was dark and he remained in it. But if he came out of it, he will enter into a neglected affair and then be delivered from it.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 117

Jabir al-Maghribi said: Entering a cave is interpreted as entering prison, and it may also indicate entering into a difficult matter.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 117

Whoever sees that he has entered a cave and it is dark and hard to penetrate, then it is his death without escape.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 117

Whoever sees that he has entered something of that sort and then came out of it, then he will fall gravely ill and then be restored to health.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 117

Whoever sees that he deposited something in a cave, then the king will take something from him; and something other than that has been said, because it is a place of concealed things.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 117

Kinds and conditions of Cave

seclusion in the cave of Hira

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

I say: It is as though this were among what remained with them of the matters of the religious law, following the pattern of i'tikaf (spiritual retreat). It has already been mentioned that the period during which he used to seclude himself was the month of Ramadan, and that the Quraysh used to do this just as they used to fast on 'Ashura.

Fath al-Bari, commentary on Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Dream Interpretation, pp. 7342–7343

It may be added here that they did not dispute with the Prophet (peace be upon him) over the cave of Hira, despite its added merit over other places, because his grandfather 'Abd al-Muttalib was the first of the Quraysh to seclude himself in it, and they used to revere him for his eminence and advanced age. So those who were devoutly inclined followed him in that. Thus the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to seclude himself in his grandfather's place, and his paternal uncles conceded that to him because of his standing with them.

Fath al-Bari, commentary on Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Dream Interpretation, pp. 7342–7343

earth sinking (cave-in / eclipse-like collapse)

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

In a dream it is a threat from the sultan.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 107

(And whoever sees) that the earth caved in beneath him, then a torment will befall him.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 107

Cave of Hira

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

His statement: "he used to come to Hira'" — Ibn Abi Jamrah said: The wisdom in his singling it out for seclusion is that whoever stayed in it was able to see the Ka'bah, so that three acts of worship were combined for one who secluded himself in it: seclusion, devotional worship, and gazing at the House.

Fath al-Bari, commentary on Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Dream Interpretation, pp. 7341–7342

mountains, trees and caves

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

Mountains, trees and caves are a refuge, a shelter and a protection.

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

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