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

77 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

Seeing it in a dream by itself indicates guidance after error.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 23

And perhaps that indicates the dazzling of the sight and its dispersal.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 23

And if the seer is ill, death is feared for him.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 23

And perhaps seeing lightning in a dream indicates the disclosure of secrets and the sniffing out of news.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 23

And perhaps seeing it indicates glad tidings of the arrival of someone absent, or the renewal of splendour, or the succour of one in distress.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 23

And perhaps seeing lightning indicates the turning of conditions from hardship to deliverance, and from deliverance to hardship.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 23

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

Whoever sees lightning, then it means the onset of intense fear for him and for the people of that land, because of His saying, exalted be He: "He it is who shows you the lightning, causing fear and hope."

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 12

And it has been said that lightning is the treasurer of the king's house.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 12

(And whoever sees) that he took something from the lightning, he is seeking a matter in which he will obtain good and benefit.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 12

And if the lightning flashes continuously, blessings in that year will be abundant, especially if a light wind blows along with it.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 12

And it has been said that whoever sees lightning gleaming upon a lofty building while the people are crying out with their voices, it indicates a visit to the noble Prophetic city.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 12

And it has been said that lightning is interpreted as gold, because it gleams like gold.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 12

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

(Lightning) indicates fear of the ruler, and his threatening and menacing, and the drawing of blades and the striking of whips. Sometimes it indicates from the ruler the opposite of that: a fine promise, laughter, joy, good fortune, and eager hope arising from desire and expectation — because of what accompanies it of thunderbolts, punishment and stones, on the one hand, and of mercy and rain, on the other; for it is, as the traditionists have described, the whip of the angel charged with the clouds, and the thunder is his voice over them.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 463–466

Together with His saying, exalted is He: "He shows you the lightning, as fear and as hope." It has been said: fear for the traveller, and hope for the settled cultivator, because of the rain that comes with it. And everything that lightning indicates is swift and immediate, because of the speed of its passing and the brevity of its lingering.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 463–466

So whoever sees lightning apart from other people, or sees its flashes striking him, or snatching away his sight, or entering his house: if he is a traveller, an obstruction will befall him, either by rain or by an affair of the ruler; and if he is a cultivator whose land has become barren and whose crops are thirsty, he is given good tidings of rain and mercy; and if his master, or his father, or his ruler is angry with him, he will turn toward him and laugh in his face.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 463–466

The poets liken laughter to lightning and weeping to rain, because laughter, among the Arabs, is the disclosing of hidden things and the appearing of what was concealed; and for that reason they call the spathe of the palm, when its sheath splits open from it, "laughter."

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 463–466

And if there is rain with it, it indicates something ugly appearing to him over which he will weep: either the lightning is words that make him weep, or a whip that makes him bleed and the rain is his blood, or a sword that takes his soul.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 463–466

And if he is ill, his sight will flash, his eyes will water, his family will weep, his lingering will be brief, and his death will come swiftly.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 463–466

Artemidorus of Daldis, Oneirocritica (1644 English translation)

but Lightning without thunder, vaine feare and without cause.

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

Lightning without tempest, falling near without touching the body, signifyeth change of place:

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

falling before a man, forbids travailing.

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

To be touched and smitten with Lightning, such a dreame is good for those which would not have their sin and povertie hidden; for others will reveale them:

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

to the rich and mighty men adorned with great dignity, as that of a Scepter, or Crown of gold it is good; for the fire resembleth the gold:

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

to others this dreams signifyeth losse of goods.

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

Freud and Jung, a separate view

Thus the lightning was represented theriomorphically as a horse.

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

Kinds and conditions of Lightning

thunderbolt (lightning strike)

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

In a dream it is punishment when it befalls a place, and being struck down (al-sa'q) is death.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 217

The thunderbolt indicates illnesses and alarming rumours for whomever it burns.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 217

lightning and storm

Artemidorus of Daldis, Oneirocritica (1644 English translation)

and after him came Lightning, and tempestuous rain, which darkened the day. Then Haniball being affrighted, demanded of this fayre Mayd, what marvellous Uision this was, and what it signified, and the young Mayd answered him, thou seest the ruine of Italy, wherefore say not a word, and leave the rest to the Destinies.

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

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