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

131 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 in a dream indicates the years, so the black cow and the yellow cow are a year in which there is joy and abundance.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 36–37

A white blaze on the cow's forehead is hardship at the beginning of the year; a patch of white on its flank is hardship in the middle of the year; and a patch on its hindquarters is hardship at the end of the year.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 36–37

Fat cows are years of abundance, and lean ones are years of drought and barrenness.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 36–37

Eating beef in a dream is the gaining of lawful wealth during the year.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 36–37

It is said that the cow is elevation, noble wealth, and abundance in accordance with what he obtained and ate.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 36–37

If it is fat, then it is a woman of piety.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 36–37

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

Ibn Sirin said: Whoever sees a cow that is his own property and it is fat, then it indicates abundant bounty in that year. And if it is unknown, then it indicates the attainment of bounty for the people of that place in that year. And if it is emaciated, then its interpretation is the opposite of that.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 202

Whoever sees that he is holding a cow by its halter, or that he owns it in general, then he will marry a woman of good character and religion.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 203

And the flesh of the cow is wealth in that year, and its hide indicates the store laid up from that wealth.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 202

And whoever sees that he is riding a cow, then his wife will die and he will inherit from her easily and gently, such that he obtains benefit from it; and perhaps it indicates taking a concubine. And it is said: wealth in proportion to its fatness.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 203

And whoever sees that he milks her and drinks of her milk: if he is a slave he will be freed and will marry his master's daughter; and if he is poor he will become rich; and if he is rich his riches will increase; and if he is lowly he will become honoured. And for the people of that place there will be the like of what has been mentioned for the seer. And if she has a calf, then it indicates the attainment of bounty for him and for the people of that place.)

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 202

And whoever sees that he presented a cow as a gift to a king, then he will intercede for a people before his sultan; if the gift is accepted, his effort will be accepted, and if it is not accepted, then the opposite of that.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 203

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

(The cow) is a year. Ibn Sirin used to say: fat cows, for whoever owns them, are more pleasing to me than lean ones, because the fat ones are years of abundance and the lean ones are years of drought, on account of the story of Yusuf (peace be upon him).

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 335–341

And whoever sees as though a cow or a bull scratched him, then illness will befall him in proportion to the scratch.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 341–347

It is said the cow is elevation and wealth. The fat one among cows is a wealthy woman, and the lean one a poor woman. The milk-cow is one of goodness and benefit, and the horned one is a rebellious woman.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 335–341

And whoever has a cow or a bull leap upon him, then hardship and punishment will befall him, and I fear for him being killed.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 341–347

So whoever sees that he wished to milk her but she prevented him with her horn, then she will rebel against him. And if he sees someone else milking her and she does not prevent him, then the milker betrays him with his wife.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 335–341

And it is said that cattle are an indication of good for farmers.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 341–347

Freud and Jung, a separate view

so that finally he had to retire on the back of the heavenly cow. But this cow is the cow-headed goddess, just as Osiris is the bull Apis.

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

The cow as symbol of the mother is found in all possible forms and variations of Hathor-Isis,

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

the aged god turns back to the divine cow, the symbol of the mother.

Carl Jung, Psychology of the Unconscious (1916) / Collected Papers (1917), Psychology of the Unconscious, ch. VI The Battle for Deliverance from the Mother

“The cow, the ancient, which bore the sun, and then laid the germ of gods and men.”

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

and also as the heavenly cow with a starry body.

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 Cow

wild cow (oryx)

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

It is the wild cow and the wild bull, and that in a dream indicates a man who is a chief, much given to worship, secluded, not upon the Sunnah, a partisan of innovation (bid'ah).

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 343

And whoever finds the eye of a wild cow (mahah) will obtain a radiant, beautiful woman, but she is short-lived.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 343

cows

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

Whoever sees many cows, males and females, of various colours, walking and wading about in that place, then it indicates the occurrence of disease in that year in that place, especially if they are lean; but if they are fat, then they indicate low prices and a fertile year.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, pp. 201–202

Whoever sees that he is ploughing land with a cow, then it indicates the attainment of abundant bounty.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, pp. 201–202

the king's dream of fat and lean cows (Joseph's story)

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

"Indeed I marvelled at Joseph, and at his nobility and his patience, when he was asked about the lean cows and the fat ones; had I been in his place, I would not have answered until I had stipulated that they get me out."

Fath al-Bari, commentary on Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Dream Interpretation, pp. 7369–7370

"And indeed I marvelled at him when the messenger came to him — meaning, for him to go out to the king — and he said, 'Return to your master.' Had I been in his place, and had I remained in prison as long as he remained, I would have hastened to respond, and I would have rushed to the door, and I would not have sought any excuse."

Fath al-Bari, commentary on Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Dream Interpretation, pp. 7369–7370

fat and lean cows

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

"Indeed, I see seven fat cows being eaten by seven lean ones, and seven green ears of grain and others dry. O eminent ones, explain to me my vision, if you are able to interpret visions." They said, "A confusion of dreams, and we are not learned in the interpretation of dreams." And the one of the two who was saved said, remembering after a time, "I will inform you of its interpretation, so send me forth. Joseph, O truthful one, explain to us about seven fat cows being eaten by seven lean ones, and seven green ears of grain and others dry, that I may return to the people, that perhaps they may know." He said, "You will sow for seven consecutive years; then whatever you harvest, leave it in its ear, except a little from which you will eat. Then there will come after that seven hard years which will consume what you advanced for them, except a little of what you store."

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

slaughtered cows

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

And that he saw cows and saw good; so the cows were interpreted as referring to those of the Companions who were killed on the day of Uhud.

Fath al-Bari, commentary on Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Dream Interpretation, p. 7410

sea cow

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

As for the sea cow, in interpretation it is close to it, but the difference between the two is that it is stable, unlike the dolphin.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 220

heavenly cow

Freud and Jung, a separate view

The Egyptian sun-god sits on the back of his mother, the heavenly cow.

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

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