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

131 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

It is in a dream a prison, and prison is a grave. So whoever sees that he dwells in a grave while he is alive, then he will be imprisoned.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 271

And whoever builds a grave in his dream has built a house.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 271

And if he enters the grave without seeing a funeral bier, then he will buy a house already completed.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 271

And whoever digs a grave and is a bachelor will marry a woman by guile and stratagem.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 271

(And whoever sees) that he is standing over a grave has committed a sin, because of His saying, exalted be He: "And never pray over any of them who dies, nor stand at his grave."

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 271

And whoever digs a grave in a piece of land that has no wall in it, then it is the abode of the Hereafter; if he enters it, then his appointed term has come, and if he does not enter it, then there is no harm upon him.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 271

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

Al-Kirmani said: Whoever sees that he dug a grave or a pit for himself or for someone else, then he will build a house in that town or settle in it.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 95

And whoever sees that he is filling in a grave, then his life will be long and his health will endure.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 95

And whoever sees that he was buried in his grave without having died, then he will be imprisoned, and perhaps distress will befall him in his affairs.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 95

And whoever sees that he is buried in a grave in the manner of the dead but without the earth being filled in, then he will marry a woman.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 95

And whoever sees that he is going about among the graves and moving from one to another while they are open, then he will enter the houses of the people of innovation, or prison.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 95

And whoever sees that he is digging up the grave of a man whose dwelling, name, and kunya he knows, then he has followed that man's path—especially if he reaches him.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 95

Kinds and conditions of Grave

grave robber

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

In dreams, seeing him indicates the digging up of speech that had been effaced, or the disclosure of secrets, and highway robbery, and earning what is unlawful.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 355

The grave robber indicates one who intrudes into affairs, who searches out concealed things and hidden matters of the sciences and of treasures.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 355

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

grave and graveyards

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

As for the grave dug in its origin, it is said that in interpretation it is the prison, just as the prison is the grave.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 108–110

So whoever sees that he wishes to visit the graveyards, then he will visit the people of the prison.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 108–110

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

exhuming a grave

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

(Whoever sees) that he is exhuming a grave, this is a kind of digging, as has been mentioned before; but I add here something other than that, namely that whoever sees that he is exhuming the grave of one of the prophets or the righteous, then he is striving to follow his way — but this is not of the same standing as digging.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 96

And whoever sees that he exhumed the grave of someone, whether that person was good or ill-omened, then he is striving to follow his way and what he used to follow.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 96

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

digger (grave-digger)

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

In a dream, he is a man in a difficult matter from which he finds no rest until death; the questioner's asking about him will be a calamity upon him and a deliverance for the grave-digger.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 86

(So whoever sees) that he is digging in the dust, then he is plunging into falsehood that will avail him nothing.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 86

visiting the Prophet's grave and graves

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

A rare account: It is related that a man performed the Hajj but missed visiting the Prophet (peace be upon him), and his breast was straitened because of that. Then he saw the Prophet (peace be upon him), and he said: "If the visitation escapes you, then visit the grave of Abdallah ibn Ahmad Tabataba." And the one who had the vision was of the people of Egypt, may Allah have mercy on him.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, pp. 260–261

And it is also related of him — I mean Ibn Tabataba — that a man visited his grave, and he used to treat him well before his death, and he recited at his grave: ("And you left cares behind upon a people ... who, in your lifetime, were in sufficiency"). Then he saw him in a dream, and he said: "I have heard what you said, but a barrier has been placed between me and the reply and the recompense; yet go to my mosque and pray two rak'ahs and supplicate, and you will be answered."

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, pp. 260–261

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

the grave pit

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

And whoever sees that he came to the pit of a dead man and found fire in it, then it indicates the ugliness of the seer's deeds and a warning to him; and perhaps the owner of the pit was committing an innovation and misguidance. And likewise if he sees in it something of vermin.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 100

grave and weeping with wailing

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

A rare case. One of the interpreters said: I saw as though a man was standing with his eye bound with a blue rag, so I asked him about my father, and he informed me that he had died and brought me to his grave. So I embraced that grave and began weeping with wailing. Then I awoke and informed a companion of mine, and he said: your father's death is the length of his life, and your weeping is relief. So I accepted that interpretation from him, since I knew the interpretation of the grave, weeping and wailing. Then after a short while my father arrived safe and sound, and I informed that companion who had interpreted it that his interpretation had come true, and I marvelled at that. Then I travelled and was absent for a period, and when I returned I passed by a burial ground of ours, and there at its gate was a woman standing with her eye bound with a blue rag. So I inquired of her about the circumstances, since she was the caretaker of the burial ground and knew our affairs, and she answered: long life to you — your father has died. So I came to the grave and embraced it and wept with wailing, just as I had seen, without any addition; and the dream did not come out as that companion had interpreted it for me, since he had no hand in that.

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

the dead rising from their graves

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

As for whoever sees the dead leaping up from their graves, or returning to their houses, unknown and unrecognised, then those who are in prison will be released, or the people of a city who are polytheists will accept Islam, or the grain which people have sown in the earth will sprout after they had despaired of it because of the persistence of the drought — according to the measure of what is additional in the dream, and of what there is in waking life of indications, proofs, and prevailing manifest circumstances.

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

Also in the sources

intercourse with dead mother in her grave · entering a grave · resurrection of people from their graves on the Day of Judgment · owl (hama, grave-bird)

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