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

63 passages from 3 sources, quoted as written, every one linked to its page.

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

As for curtains, they are interpreted in four ways: harshness, fear, worry, and concealment, and other than that.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 167

So whoever sees a curtain hung up in a place other than its proper place, then it is worry, sorrow, and fear; and if the place is repugnant, then it is stronger and more severe in that, though the outcome is toward good and safety. Whatever of them is large is stronger and more severe, and whatever is thin is lighter.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 167

And whoever sees that a curtain has been torn down or taken away, then fear, worry, and sorrow depart from its owner; and if he does not know the owner of it, then the matter refers back to him.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 167

And it is said: the curtain, for the people of righteousness, is concealment (protection); and for those who approach them in deeds, (it is) a wife who screens him from acts of disobedience.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 167

And Jabir al-Maghribi said: the vision of a new curtain, for kings, is joy and delight, and for the common folk it is sorrow and grief; and the old one is the opposite of that.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 167

And Abu Sa'id al-Wa'iz said: the curtain indicates worry coming from women; and if he sees it at the door of a shop, then it is worry coming from one's livelihood; and if it is at the door of a mosque, then it is worry coming from religion; and if it is at the door of a house, then it is worry coming from worldly affairs. The worn-out curtain is a worry quick to pass away, and the new one is a long worry; and the one torn lengthwise is imminent relief, and crosswise, the honor of its owner is torn.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 167

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

As for the curtain, most of them have said it is anxiety. So if he sees it upon the door of the house, it is anxiety coming from women; and if he sees it upon the door of the shop, it is anxiety coming from one's livelihood; and if it is upon the door of the mosque, it is anxiety coming from religion; and if it is upon the door of a dwelling, it is anxiety coming from worldly affairs.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 679–682

A worn-out curtain is anxiety that will swiftly pass away, and a new one is long-lasting anxiety. One torn lengthwise is imminent relief, and one torn crosswise means the tearing of its owner's honour.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 679–682

The black among curtains is anxiety coming from a ruler; and the white and the green among them are of praiseworthy outcome. All of this is when the curtain is unknown, or is in an unknown place.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 679–682

But if it is known, then it itself is what is designated in the interpretation.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 679–682

And some of them said: all curtains upon doors are anxiety and fear together with safety.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 679–682

And if the one who is sought after, or the fearful one, or the fugitive, or the one in hiding sees that there was a curtain over him, then it is a covering for him — as its name implies — and safety for him. And the larger the curtain is, the greater and more hideous is his anxiety and grief.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 679–682

Kinds and conditions of Curtain

curtain / veil

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

It in a dream indicates the concealment of affairs.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 180–181

And it may indicate the companion who keeps secrets, and the wife who conceals a person's circumstances and guards him from looking at other than her.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 180–181

curtain-keeper/chamberlain own page

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

It is said: the vision of serving as a curtain-keeper (chamberlain) is interpreted as the fulfilment of a need, honour, and high standing.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 44

Jabir al-Maghribi said: Whoever sees that he is a curtain-keeper in the service of a just king, then it means the attainment of good and righteousness, and he will be provided with lawful provision.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 44

curtains (royal drapes)

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

As for curtains (royal drapes), they are interpreted as a renowned king of lofty resolve, upright in religion, whose commands the sultan and all the armies carry out; and of this kind there is what pertains to the emirs and the deputies.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 164

So whoever sees that a curtain has been pitched for him, then he will attain elevation and might; and if he is one of the emirs, he attains a lofty rank, because curtains are pitched only for sultans, deputies, and emirs who command thousands in particular; as for those below that, no curtain is pitched for them.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 164

tearing a curtain

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

And whoever sees that he tore a known curtain over a known door, then he tears the honour of its owner.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 771–773

And likewise, if a dog tears a garment upon its owner, his honour is torn in the same way.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 771–773

mosquito-net curtain

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

In a dream it indicates the wife, between whose thighs he enters for his need.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 298

And perhaps it indicates distress, because it smothers whatever is beneath it.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 298

bed-curtain / mosquito net

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

As for the bed-curtain (mosquito net), it indicates the wife, between whose thighs he enters for his need; and it may indicate distress, because it causes whoever is beneath it to feel stifled.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 683–687

curtains

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

Likewise curtains, except that the distress which the curtain indicates contains no ruin in it.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 683–687

bridal curtain (canopy over the bed)

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

It is the covering over the bed. In a dream it signifies a free, virtuous woman, or a man of pleasing speech.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 78

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