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

15 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 signifies lying and tale-bearing, and perhaps the eavesdropper will become detested on the part of the ruler.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 21

As for listening: whoever sees that he is listening, if he is a merchant he will withdraw from a contract of sale.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 21

And if he is a governor, he will be dismissed.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 21

And if he sees that he is eavesdropping on a person, then he intends to tear away his veil and expose him to scandal.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 21

(And whoever sees) that he hears various sayings and follows the best of them, then he will attain good tidings.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 21

And if he sees that he hears but pretends to himself that he does not hear, then he will lie and make a habit of it.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 21

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

As for eavesdropping, it is not praiseworthy, and it is said that he will commit what is not proper for him; and perhaps it indicates the occurrence of something he dislikes.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 76

And some of them said: eavesdropping is interpreted in four ways: treachery, fear, disobedience, and hearing a disagreeable matter.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 76

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

As for eavesdropping, it is lying and slander, because of His saying, exalted be He: "They cast down the hearing, and most of them are liars."

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 747–750

And it dictates that the eavesdropper will be afflicted by something hateful from the direction of the sultan, because of His saying, exalted be He: "Except him who steals a hearing, and then a piercing flame pursues him."

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 747–750

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

And whoever listens in on the conversation of a people while they dislike it of him, or while they flee from him, molten lead will be poured into his ear on the Day of Resurrection.

Fath al-Bari, commentary on Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Dream Interpretation, pp. 7414–7415

And in the narration of Hammam: "And whoever listens in on the conversation of a people when it does not please them that he should listen to their conversation, molten lead will be melted into his ear."

Fath al-Bari, commentary on Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Dream Interpretation, pp. 7414–7415

And that has been restricted in the hadith of this chapter to the one who is disliked in his listening, so it excludes

Fath al-Bari, commentary on Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Dream Interpretation, pp. 7414–7415

Kinds and conditions of Eavesdropping

eavesdropping on people who dislike it

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

And he said concerning one who listens to the speech of someone who dislikes his listening: included in this is the case of one who enters his house, shuts his door, and converses with another, for the circumstantial indication of his condition shows that he does not want a stranger to listen to his speech; so whoever listens to him falls under this threat. He is like one who looks at him through a crack in the door, for the threat has been reported concerning that, and because if they were to put out his eye it would be without recompense.

Fath al-Bari, commentary on Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Dream Interpretation, pp. 7416–7417

He said: And excepted from the generality of one who dislikes that his speech be listened to is the one who converses with another aloud while there is present someone whom he would dislike to have hear him; the listener does not fall under this threat, because the circumstantial indication—namely speaking aloud—entails the absence of dislike, so listening is permissible.

Fath al-Bari, commentary on Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Dream Interpretation, pp. 7416–7417