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

168 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

Whoever sees in a dream that he entered a city among the cities will be safe from what he fears.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 324–325

Ibn Sirin, may Allah Most High have mercy on him, used to like entering cities and did not like going out of them, because of the saying of the Most High: "So he departed from it, fearful and vigilant."

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 324–325

It is said that the city is interpreted as 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."

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 324–325

Whoever enters a city and finds it in ruins, then the scholars have been lost from it. And it is said the city [signifies] the death of its ruler, or injustice within it.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 324–325

(And whoever sees) a city being built up, then the scholars will become numerous in it and their sons will keep to the path of their fathers.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 324–325

And any city one sees in which there is no ruler, then the price of food will rise in it.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 324–325

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

The city indicates its people and its inhabitants, and it indicates gathering, the great mass of people, safety, and fortification, because when Moses entered Midian, Shu'ayb said: "Do not fear, you have escaped."

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 483–486

…refers to the abode of this world, and the unknown [city] refers to the Hereafter. And perhaps the unknown beautiful city indicates Paradise, and the black, detested village indicates Hellfire, because of the ease of the people of cities and the misery of the people of villages.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 487–490

Perhaps the village indicates this world and the city indicates the Hereafter, because its bliss is more splendid, its people more favoured with blessings, and its dwellings larger.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 483–486

So whoever moves in his dream from an unknown village to a city of that sort, then look into his condition: if he was an unbeliever he will embrace Islam; if he was a sinner he will repent; if he was righteous but poor and lowly, then he will become rich and honoured; if along with his righteousness he was fearful, he will be secure; if he was the owner of a concubine, he will marry; and if along with his righteousness he was ill, he will die.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 487–490

And perhaps the city indicates this world and the village indicates the graveyard, and that is because it is out in the open, isolated from it, along with the heedlessness of its people.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 483–486

And if that is seen by a dead person, his state has changed and his abode has been exchanged, for there are only two abodes, one of them better than the other. So whoever moves from the ugly abode to the good and beautiful one has been saved from the Fire and has entered Paradise, if Allah wills.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 487–490

Freud and Jung, a separate view

One can easily imagine under this “Cité de Rêves” a fulfilled wish dream, that is to say, something very beautiful and greatly longed for; a sort of heavenly Jerusalem, as the poet of the Apocalypse has dreamed it.

Carl Jung, Psychology of the Unconscious (1916) / Collected Papers (1917), Psychology of the Unconscious, ch. V Symbolism of the Mother and of Rebirth

The fact that the city and the wife of Ogyges bear the same name indicates that somewhere a relation must exist between the city and the woman, which is not difficult to understand, for the city is identical with the woman.

Carl Jung, Psychology of the Unconscious (1916) / Collected Papers (1917), Psychology of the Unconscious, ch. V Symbolism of the Mother and of Rebirth

he it is who possesses the mother, the City, who is united with the mother;

Carl Jung, Psychology of the Unconscious (1916) / Collected Papers (1917), Psychology of the Unconscious, ch. V Symbolism of the Mother and of Rebirth

It is evident from this quotation, after all that goes before, that the City, the heavenly bride, who is here promised to the Son, is the mother.[438]

Carl Jung, Psychology of the Unconscious (1916) / Collected Papers (1917), Psychology of the Unconscious, ch. V Symbolism of the Mother and of Rebirth

The city is a maternal symbol, a woman who fosters the inhabitants as children.

Carl Jung, Psychology of the Unconscious (1916) / Collected Papers (1917), Psychology of the Unconscious, ch. V Symbolism of the Mother and of Rebirth

The Christians are the children of the City Above, a symbol of the mother, not sons of the earthly city-mother, who is to be cast out; for those born after the flesh are opposed to those born after the spirit, who are not born from the mother in the flesh, but from a symbol for the mother.

Carl Jung, Psychology of the Unconscious (1916) / Collected Papers (1917), Psychology of the Unconscious, ch. V Symbolism of the Mother and of Rebirth

Kinds and conditions of City

city wall

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

The city wall in a dream is fighting men, or a strong sultan, or a chief who guards what he has.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 186

And perhaps the wall indicates the devout worshipper of the town or its scholar.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 186

Medina (the Prophet's city)

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

(Whoever sees) that he is between the grave and the pulpit, then it indicates that he is among the people of Paradise, because of his saying (peace be upon him): "What lies between my grave and my pulpit is a garden from the gardens of Paradise."

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 32

(And whoever sees) that he is visiting one of the Companions, then he will follow his testament.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 32

the city of the Prophet (Medina)

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

Whoever sees it in a dream and alights in it, then that is the attainment of good in religion and in worldly life.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 324

(And whoever sees) that he is standing at the gate of the Sanctuary or at the gate of the Chamber, then that is repentance and forgiveness.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 324

alley (city lane / gateway)

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

In a dream its ruling is the ruling of the gate of the city. So whoever sees in his dream an alley closed during the daytime, perhaps it indicates an event occurring in the city that necessitates the closing of its gate.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 119

And the closing of alleys is like its closing. And perhaps the alley indicates his slave-girl or his dwellings, so whatever occurs in it of newness or breakage refers back to what we have mentioned.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 119

city of Tarsus

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

And whoever sees that he is in the city of Tarsus, then it indicates weakness in his occupations and defect in important affairs.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 101

And seeing Tarsus is not praiseworthy.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 101

the city of Ta'if

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

Whoever sees that he is in the city of Ta'if, then it indicates frequent travels.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 100

the city of Basra

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

And whoever sees that he is in the city of Basra, then it indicates the attainment of knowledge and understanding of religion.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 100

the city of Wasit

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

And whoever sees that he is in the city of Wasit, then it indicates dignity, religiosity, and piety.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 100

the city of Kufa

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

And whoever sees that he is in the city of Kufa, then it indicates the attainment of benefits and livelihood from his family and relatives.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 100

the city of Baghdad

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

And whoever sees that he is in the city of Baghdad, then it indicates the attainment of good and benefits from the masters of commerce and the wealthy.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 100

the city of Hulwan

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

And whoever sees that he is in the city of Hulwan, then it indicates the attainment of benefits and a good livelihood.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 100

the city of Isfahan

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

Whoever sees that he is in the city of Isfahan, then it indicates keeping the company of great men.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 100

Also in the sources

the city of Kirman · the city of Damascus · the city of Mosul · the city of Aleppo · the city of Antioch · the city of Acre

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