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

101 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 [the lion] is a harsh sultan, unjust, tyrannical, openly brazen, and dominating, because of his boldness.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 15–16

And it may indicate death, because it snatches away souls.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 15–16

And seeing it may indicate the recovery of the sick person.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 15–16

And the lioness is an evil, oppressive woman who is dear to her child.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 15–16

And the sight of the fierce lion (al-hazbar) indicates ignorance, vainglory, conceit, oppressiveness, arrogant wandering, and coquetry.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 15–16

And it is said: the lion in a dream is a dominating enemy.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 15–16

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

Ibn Sirin said: The vision of a lion is interpreted as a strong enemy of fierce might. And whoever sees that he is fighting a lion, then it indicates a quarrel with an enemy who has been given power over him, and the victor is the victor, for they are of two kinds.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 206

he attends to his wealth; and if he is a merchant his wealth increases, and if he is a common man his earnings increase.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, pp. 207–208

And whoever sees that he encountered a lion but it did not reach him and did not strike him, then it indicates fright from the ruler and that no harm from him will come to him.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 206

And if a woman sees that she is raising a lion cub, then she will be a wet-nurse or a nanny for the son of the sultan; and if it is a man, then he will be a broker or a guarantor for him.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, pp. 207–208

And whoever sees that he fled from the lion and it did not pursue him, then it indicates his deliverance from fear and his triumph over those who are hostile to him.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 206

And whoever sees that a lion bit him, or seized him with its claws upon his body such that it wounded him, then it is interpreted as the occurrence of harm.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, pp. 207–208

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

(The lion) is a subduing, tyrannical ruler, because of the greatness of his danger, the intensity of his boldness, the hideousness of his form, and the strength of his rage. It indicates the warrior, the thieving pickpocket, the treacherous agent, the chief of police, and the enemy who is in pursuit. It may also indicate death and hardship, because whoever looks at him turns pale in colour, his heart is thrown into agitation, and he faints. And it indicates the ruler who snatches from a person, who oppresses the people, and the enemy given power over one.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 368–374

So whoever sees a lion entering a house: if there is a sick person in it, he will perish; otherwise a hardship from the ruler will descend upon it. And if it devours him by snatching, then his wealth is plundered, or he is beaten, or he is killed — and if in the dream his spirit has departed, or his head was severed and torn off.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 368–374

As for the lion entering a city, it is plague, or hardship, or a ruler, or a tyrant, or an enemy who enters upon them — according to the indications accompanying it in waking life and in the dream.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 368–374

Unless it enters the congregational mosque and mounts the pulpit, for then it is a ruler who acts unjustly toward the people, and from him affliction and fear will reach them.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 368–374

Whoever rides a lion has embarked upon a grave matter and a huge risk: either opposition to the ruler, boldness against him and being deluded regarding him; or he will travel by sea out of season; or he will fall into a matter in which he can neither advance nor retreat. So the outcome of his affair is inferred from the additional elements of his dream and its indications.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 368–374

Whoever contends with a lion contends with an enemy, or a ruler, or someone to whom the lion is attributed.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 368–374

Artemidorus of Daldis, Oneirocritica (1644 English translation)

To sée a gentle, familiar and fawning Lyon, signifyes good, and profit: by the King to a man of warre: by the sentence of the Judges to the Wrestler or Fencer: by the Magistrate to the Mechanick, and by the Master to the servant.

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

but if he be hot, and would hurt, it signifies fear and sicknesse, and threatning by such persons, and danger of fire:

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

to sée, or have the forehead of a Lyon, is good for all; and most often the begetting of a manchild:

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

Freud and Jung, a separate view

This lion is, therefore, like the lion in the _Midsummer Night’s Dream_, who unmasks as Snug, the joiner, and of such stuff are all dream lions made when one is not afraid.

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

through the power of its passion—like the lion

Carl Jung, Psychology of the Unconscious (1916) / Collected Papers (1917), Psychology of the Unconscious, ch. IV The Song of the Moth

The lion, the zodiac sign of the greatest summer heat,[591] is the symbol of the most mighty desire.

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

“Leonis capite monstratur praesens tempus—quia conditio ejus valida fervensque est.”

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 Lion

ears of a lion or wolf

Artemidorus of Daldis, Oneirocritica (1644 English translation)

To have the ears of a Lion or Woolfe or any other cruell beast, is snares and deceit by euvie.

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

roar of a lion

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

The roar of a lion is fear from a tyrannical ruler.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 195–196

Beast of prey (lion)

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

Discussion of it has already preceded under "lion" in the chapter of alif.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 173

lion (hazbar)

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

Seeing it in a dream indicates ignorance, arrogance, self-conceit, oppressiveness, haughtiness, and coquetry.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 364

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