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

57 passages from 3 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 is digging the ground, then he will obtain wealth in proportion to the digging, according to the amount of earth he obtains, if it was dry.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 78–79

But if it was moist, then he will scheme against a person for wealth, from which he will gain nothing but exhaustion, and the exhaustion is in proportion to the moisture of the earth.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 78–79

Digging is scheming and deception, and perhaps the digger will be killed, and perhaps his scheming will come back upon him.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 78–79

(And whoever sees) that he is digging the ground and extracting earth: if he is ill or there is someone ill with him, then that is his grave.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 78–79

And if he is a traveller, that is his journey, and its earth is his earnings therein.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 78–79

(And whoever sees) that he is digging pits, or a well, or channels, or that he intends by digging them to make water flow: if it is for himself, then it is a private livelihood and companionship, and for the working class.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 78–79

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

Whoever sees that he is digging a pit to cast someone into it, or a well, then he will plot a scheme which then turns back upon him, because of what circulates among the people as a saying: whoever digs a well for his believing brother, Allah casts him into it.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 111

Whoever sees that he has dug a canal, then he is striving in a cause of provision. As for digging irrigation channels, that is a means for the king in livelihood.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 111

As for digging a cistern or a well, if he does not intend to put anyone into them, then he will marry a woman.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 111

Whoever sees that a sea is being dug, and the people intend thereby the flowing of water from the old sea into it, then they will unite upon deposing the king and appointing another in his place.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 111

Whoever sees that he is digging an underground passage, then he is striving in the matter of a woman and plotting against her.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 111

Whoever sees that he is digging into stone, then he is contending with a matter he seeks from a hard-hearted person, and his attainment in that will be in proportion to the digging.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 111

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

As for digging: whoever digs the earth and the soil is dry, he will ask for money in proportion to it.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 750–752

And if it is moist, then he will scheme against a person for the sake of what he obtains from that place, with fatigue in proportion to the moistness of the soil.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 750–752

Kinds and conditions of Digging

digging up a grave (exhumation)

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

In a dream it indicates the carrying out of affairs and judgements for those who are entitled to them,

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 351

unless he digs up something edible or something in which there is benefit, for then he manages badly what Allah the Exalted teaches him, or what Allah provides him of wealth.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 351

digging up a grave

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

And whoever sees as though he dug up a dead person's grave, then he is searching into the conduct of that dead person during his lifetime, in matters of religion and of the world, so as to follow the like of his conduct.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 114–118

And whoever sees that he dug up the grave of a known dead person, then he is seeking that dead person's path in this world — whether it be knowledge or wealth — and he will attain of it in that measure.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 801–803

digging up graves

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

As for whoever digs up graves: the grave-robber is seeking something hidden, effaced, and ancient, because the Arabs call it "concealed" — whether in good or in evil.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 535–539

If he digs up the grave of a scholar, then in it there is an unearthing of his school of thought and a revival of what has been effaced of his knowledge. The same applies to the grave of the Messenger (peace be upon him).

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 535–539

digging one's own grave

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

And if a living person sees that he is digging a grave for himself, he will build a house in that town or that quarter and settle in it.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 535–539

And whoever is buried in a grave while he is alive will be imprisoned and straitened.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 535–539

digging up the Prophet's bones

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

A rare case: A man came to Ibn Sirin and said, "I saw that I was digging up the bones of the Prophet (peace be upon him)." He said to him: You are reviving his Sunnah.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, pp. 264–265

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