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

68 passages from 6 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 is provision, or aid, or the opening of a door of knowledge and Quran which he receives from the unseen of Allah the Exalted.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 327

Especially if he has keys with him, then he attains provision and knowledge and aid against his circumstances and his enemies.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 327

And keys may perhaps indicate children, or spies, or messengers, or servant boys, or husbands for wives, or wealth.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 327

And keys may perhaps indicate attaining what he hopes for from the unseen of Allah the Exalted.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 327

And the seeing of keys, for those holding offices, is lands, and for kings it is success.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 327

And the key is victory over the enemy, because of His saying, exalted be He: "Help from Allah and a near victory."

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 327

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

It is interpreted in several ways: the key is a man in whose hands lie people's affairs.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 112

In the key there is good, and the lock is its opposite. Some have said the lock indicates marriage.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 113

Whoever sees that in his hand are many keys, then it indicates the loftiness of his station and the greatness of his honour, because of the saying of the Exalted: "To Him belong the keys of the heavens and the earth."

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 112

So whoever sees that in his hand are the keys of Paradise, then he will be upon the religion of his king, and the outcomes of his affairs will be praiseworthy. And it is said that the key is the seeking of a need from Allah, mighty and majestic, and supplication and seeking forgiveness.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 113

And al-Kirmani said: everything that opens

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 112

Jabir al-Maghribi said: whoever sees a key in his hand, it indicates ablution with pure water, on account of the saying of the Prophet, peace be upon him

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 113

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

And the key is authority and wealth of great consequence.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 756–759

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

The interpreters said: The key is wealth, honour, and authority.

Fath al-Bari, commentary on Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Dream Interpretation, pp. 7387–7388

So whoever sees that he has opened a door with a key, then he will attain his need with the help of someone who has might.

Fath al-Bari, commentary on Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Dream Interpretation, pp. 7387–7388

And if he sees that in his hand are keys, then he will obtain great authority.

Fath al-Bari, commentary on Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Dream Interpretation, pp. 7387–7388

Artemidorus of Daldis, Oneirocritica (1644 English translation)

A Key seene in a dreame to him which would marry, signifyeth a good and handsome Wife, or a good Maid.

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

It is crosse to a Traveller, for it signifieth he shall be put back and hindred, and not received:

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

it is good for such as would take in hand, or effect other mens businesses.

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

Kinds and conditions of Key

lock and key

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

(The lock and the keys) As for one who opens a lock: if he is unmarried, he will marry; and if he has been kept away from his wedding, then he will deflower her, for the key is his penis and the lock is his wife, as the poet said: "So rise up to her while she is in her intoxication ... and meet the lock with a key."

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 710–713

Unless he be a prisoner, in which case he will be delivered from it through supplication. Allah the Exalted said: "If you seek victory (istaftihu), then victory (al-fath) has come to you" — that is, if you supplicate, then help has come to you.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 710–713

keys of the earth's treasures

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

And while I was asleep last night, the keys of the treasuries of the earth were brought to me until they were placed in my hand. Abu Hurayra said: So the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) has gone, and you are the ones removing them.

Fath al-Bari, commentary on Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Dream Interpretation, pp. 7377–7378

keys of the treasures of the earth

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

"While I was sleeping, I was brought the keys of the treasures of the earth, and they were placed in my hand." Abu Abdullah said:

Fath al-Bari, commentary on Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Dream Interpretation, pp. 7387–7388

key and door

Freud and Jung, a separate view

For instance, the young man in question might just as well have dreamt that he had to open a door with a key, or that he had to travel by aeroplane, or that he was kissing his mother, etc. From this standpoint all those things would have had the same meaning.

Carl Jung, Psychology of the Unconscious (1916) / Collected Papers (1917), Collected Papers, ch. XII The Psychology of Dreams

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