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

196 passages from 5 sources, quoted as written, every one linked to its page.

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

As for the two eyes, they are interpreted as religion and other things. So whoever sees that he is blind, or that his eyes have been gouged out, then he has been turned away from Islam by a grave sin he has committed, on account of the saying of the Exalted: "My Lord, why have You raised me blind?" — the verse.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 50

(And whoever sees) that he has been afflicted in his eyes, while he is a man of ease and righteousness and has no son and no brother, then he will be stricken in his property by the evil eye; and it is said he will fall ill.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 51

And it is said that he will obtain abundant provision and worldly happiness, because of what people say in the current proverb: "When so-and-so prospered, he went blind."

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 50

(And whoever sees) that there is ophthalmia (inflammation) in his eyes, then a corruption will arise in his religion and he will be on the brink of ruin. If the inflammation decreases, the decrease will be in that; and if it increases, likewise.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 51

And it is said that he will lose his children, because they are the delight of the eyes, on account of the saying of the Exalted: "And those who say: Our Lord, grant us from among our wives..." — the verse.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 50

And some of them said: people will come to learn of a matter concerning him for which they will condemn him, but that will not harm him in what is between him and Allah.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 51

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

As for the eye, it is a man's religion and his insight by which he perceives right guidance and error. So if he sees many eyes in his body, this indicates an increase in his righteousness and his religion.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 142–145

And whoever sees as though he hears with his eye and sees with his ear, then he will drive his wife and his daughter to commit sins.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 145–148

As for the eye in itself, it indicates everything by which his eye is gladdened: cash money, or a child, or a brother, or a son, or a prince, or a commander.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 791–794

And if he sees as though his belly split open and he saw eyes inside it, then he is a heretic (zindiq), because of His saying, exalted be He: "Allah has not made for any man two hearts within his breast."

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 142–145

And whoever sees on his palm the eye of a man or the eye of a beast will obtain ready cash.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 145–148

So whatever befalls it in its substance, or if it is lost from its place, or if it is struck by arrows and calamities, these are events that befall the one whom it indicates, of those whom we have described.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 791–794

Freud and Jung, a separate view

The “eye” evidently represents the genitals, as in the myth of Indra, who had to bear spread over his whole body the likeness of Yoni (vulva), on account of a Bathsheba outrage, but was so far pardoned by the gods that the disgraceful likeness of Yoni was changed into eyes.

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

The “pupil” in the eye is a child. The great god becomes a child again; he enters the mother’s womb in order to renew himself.

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 Eye

the human eye

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

In a dream it is the man's religion and his insight by which he perceives right guidance and misguidance.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 237–238

(Whoever sees) many eyes on his body, all of that is an increase in religion and righteousness. If he sees that his heart has an eye, or many eyes, then it is likewise, in proportion to their light in the interpretation.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 237–238

eyes

Artemidorus of Daldis, Oneirocritica (1644 English translation)

TO have a sharpe sight, is good generally,

Oneirocritica (1644 English translation), The first Booke of Artimedorus His Exposition of Dreames.

THe Eyes signifie and represent Children, whereupon a woman dreaming that her eyes were sore, found her children sick:

Oneirocritica (1644 English translation), The Fourth Booke of Artimedorus.

ophthalmia (sore eyes)

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

In a dream it is straitness in livelihood or heedlessness, and ophthalmia is a deficiency in religion.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 132

(And whoever sees) that both his eyes have ophthalmia, his father will fall ill.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 132

eye inflammation (ophthalmia)

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

As for ophthalmia, it is an indication of its owner's turning away from the truth and the occurrence of corruption in his religion, in proportion to the ophthalmia, because it indicates blindness; and Allah the Exalted has said: "For indeed it is not the eyes that are blind, but blind are the hearts which are within the breasts."

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 201–204

And it has been said that ophthalmia is an indication that its owner has come close to wealth.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 201–204

one-eyedness (blindness in one eye)

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

Whoever sees in a dream that he is one-eyed (blind in one eye), then half of his wealth is diminished, or half of his religion, or he has committed a great and grievous sin, and half of his lifetime has passed; so let him fear Allah and let him repent to Allah in the second half.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 238

And it is said that he is awaiting a benefit from some quarter and hopes to attain it.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 238

kohl-applier (eye doctor)

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

He is in the dream a man who sets religion right, and by whose hand Allah Most High guides people away from misguidance, and who brings loved ones together.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 293

The kohl-applier is a man indicating knowledge, insight into outcomes, and acuity of vision.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 293

eye doctor (kohl applier)

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

The kohl applier is a man who prefers the good of his religion over his worldly life, so long as he does not take a price for what he sells; but if he takes the price, then he is one who corrupts his religion and his worldly life. And the kohl applier is interpreted as a righteous man.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, pp. 249–250

So whoever sees that he applies kohl to people and they benefit from his kohl, then he calls people to righteousness and the path of right guidance; and if they do not benefit from him, then its interpretation is the opposite.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, pp. 249–250

whiteness in the eye

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

If he sees whiteness in the black of the eye, it indicates grief and distress that will befall him.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 201–204

(And it is related) that a man came to Ja'far al-Sadiq, may Allah be pleased with him, and said: "I saw as though there were whiteness in my eye." He said: "A loss will befall you in your wealth, and a matter you hope for will elude you."

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 201–204

bleary eyes (weak, watery eyes)

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

In a dream it indicates lowering the gaze away from forbidden things and not looking at the perpetrators of crimes.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 239

Or the weakness of the condition of the one whom the eyes signify.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 239

treating the eye

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

As for treating the eye, it signifies the soundness of religion; and applying kohl for medicinal purposes signifies attending to worldly affairs.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 68

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

Likewise, if he sees that he is treating his eye, then he is setting his religion right.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 201–204

eye doctor

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

The eye doctor (kohl-applier) is interpreted as a man who speaks ill of people.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 251

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

The eye doctor (kohl-applier) is a man who calls to good and sets religion aright.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 313–317

treating the eye and applying kohl

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

Whoever sees that he is treating his eye, then he is setting his religion right.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 215–219

Whoever sees as though he is applying kohl, and his intention in his kohl was the improvement of his eyesight, then he is examining his religion for its soundness, or for adornment. And if his intention was adornment, then he will undertake a matter that adorns his religion and his worldly life.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 215–219

Also in the sources

many eyes or ears · beautiful eyes · cutting off the nose and gouging the eye · black water (glaucoma) in the eye · mote in the eye · squint (crossed eyes) · film over the eyes

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