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

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

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

It is safety in the dream, and fear indicates repentance, for every fearful one is a repentant one.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 106–107

(And whoever sees) that he is afraid, fleeing from fear, will attain leadership.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 106–107

(And whoever sees) that he is awaiting fear, then he will fight.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 106–107

(And whoever sees) in his dream that he is afraid and a speaker says to him, "Do not fear, for you will not die nor will you be able to live," then he will become blind.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 106–107

(And whoever sees) that he was made to fear by Allah and he does not fear, then the one made to fear will attain safety and good repute, and the one causing fear will attain disgrace and harm.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 106–107

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

As for fear, it is security, because of His saying, exalted be He: "And He will surely exchange for them, after their fear, security."

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 73

Ibn Sirin said: A dream of fear indicates victory, because of his saying, peace be upon him: "I was granted victory through the terror [cast into the hearts of my enemies]."

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 73

(Abu Sa'id al-Wa'iz said): Fear indicates the committing of sin and the acquisition of wrongdoings, for one who has no piety.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 73

Some of the interpreters said: I love to see fear in a dream, for I have tested it many times and I saw nothing come of it but good, security, safety, triumph, the attainment of goals, and victory. And he also said, and he also said: Fear is deliverance from the wrongdoing people, because of His saying, exalted be He: "So he departed from it, fearful and vigilant. He said: My Lord, save me from the wrongdoing people." And he adduced as evidence for safety the proverb current among the people: whoever fears is safe.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 73

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

And fear is safety.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 292–295

As for fear, it indicates repentance, and every fearful person is a repentant one.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 722–726

And it is said: whoever sees as though he is afraid will escape from fear and attain leadership.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 722–726

And if he sees that he is secure, then he will be afraid.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 722–726

Kinds and conditions of Fear

safety and fear in a dream

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

The interpreters said: Whoever sees that he is afraid of something will be made safe from it.

Fath al-Bari, commentary on Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Dream Interpretation, pp. 7405–7406

And whoever sees that he has been made safe from something, then he will come to fear it.

Fath al-Bari, commentary on Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Dream Interpretation, pp. 7405–7406

fear of persecution

Freud and Jung, a separate view

The teleological significance of this _fear of persecution_ is evident; _it is to keep son and mother apart_.

Carl Jung, Psychology of the Unconscious (1916) / Collected Papers (1917), Psychology of the Unconscious, ch. VI The Battle for Deliverance from the Mother