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

63 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 falling: whoever sees that someone has fallen upon him, then his enemy will prevail over him.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 75

in his religion, indicating his absorption in sins, seditions, and misleading deeds.

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

(And whoever sees) that he fell from a high place, such as a mountain or a wall or the like, then it indicates the non-completion of his aim.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 75

(And whoever sees) that he fell into a mosque or a garden or the like, and it was on account of doing a good deed or he was heading toward it, then it indicates the abandonment of sins and transgressions and desisting from innovations and caprices.

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

(And whoever sees) that he fell from a blow, then it is the occurrence of a calamity; and if his foot slipped, then likewise.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 75

(And Abu Sa'id al-Wa'iz said): Whoever sees that he has fallen, then it is not praiseworthy.

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

Kinds and conditions of Falling

Falling out of teeth

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

A person's teeth in a dream signify long life beyond that of his peers in age.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 176–177

If he sees that all his teeth have fallen out and he takes them in his sleeve or in his lap, then he will live a long life until his teeth fall out, and the number of his household members will increase.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 176–177

falling down (from a height)

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

From a height down to below: it indicates the shifting of conditions from good to bad, and from one wife to another, or from one craft to another, or from one town to another, or from one school of doctrine to another.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 45

And in all of that, the goodness of the outcome is inferred from that to which he came down in the dream.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 45

hair falling out

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

If he sees as though the hair of the front of his head has fallen out, humiliation will befall him at that time.

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

If he sees as though the hair of the back of his head has fallen out, it indicates disgrace that will befall him in his old age.

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

falling from a height

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

As for falling from atop a mountain, valleys, hills, roofs, the tops of walls, palm trees, and trees, it indicates separation from whatever that thing he fell from indicates in interpretation.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 479–482

And it indicates falling into acts of disobedience, tribulations, and ruin, if his fall is into something that indicates that — such as his falling among wild beasts, crows, snakes, and kinds of mice, or into filth and mire.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 479–482

all teeth falling out

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

A rare anecdote: It is related that one of the caliphs said to an interpreter, "I saw all my teeth fall out." He said, "All the relatives of our master the Commander of the Faithful will die."

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, pp. 269–270

So he was displeased by that, and he summoned another interpreter and recounted the dream to him. He said to him, "If the dream of my master the Commander of the Faithful is true, then he will live longer than his relatives." So he turned to him favourably and treated him well. The meaning is one and the same, but the wording differs.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, pp. 269–270

torches and flames falling from heaven

Artemidorus of Daldis, Oneirocritica (1644 English translation)

To see in your dream torches and burning flames fall from heaven, signifie that Wood stacks, Colonnies, and trées shall be burnt: it is also great and extream danger of life to him that dreams it.

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

falling blossoms

Freud and Jung, a separate view

hints in several places (as at the falling-off of the blossom), at the opposite train of thought—namely, that she had been guilty of various sins against sexual purity (that is in her childhood).

Sigmund Freud, The Interpretation of Dreams / On Dreams / Dream Psychology, The Interpretation of Dreams, ch. VI The Dream-Work

falling from a high place

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

A rare anecdote: Some trustworthy person related that he saw a high place and that he had fallen from it. So he said to himself: I shall avoid mixing with people and going out of the house for a while. Then, when it was the noon hour of that same day, a companion of his came to him and called out to him from beneath a window. He wanted to look at him without speaking to him, and when he saw him he stood up to see who was calling.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, pp. 265–266

falling from a window and breaking the legs

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

A rare case: One of the trustworthy men saw a man who came to a window and threw himself from it, so his legs were broken, and he began to take them with his hand and drag them like a rag. Only a short while passed before he fell into a dreadful affair with a tyrannical ruler, who was informed about his livelihood, took his wealth from him, and harmed him.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, pp. 269–270

falling from the roof

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

And whoever falls from the roof of his house and his hand or his leg is broken, he will be afflicted with a calamity in his person, his wealth, or his friend, or something hateful will reach him from the ruler.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 762–765

falling face down

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

It is in dreams straying from right guidance. Allah the Exalted said: "And whoever comes with an evil deed, their faces will be thrust into the Fire."

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 296

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