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

43 passages from 3 sources, quoted as written, every one linked to its page.

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

As for the lute, Abu Sa'id al-Wa'iz said: playing the lute is speech, but not in its true reality; and likewise listening to it, because its sound is like speech though it is not speech.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, pp. 194–195

Playing the lute in the house is interpreted as the occurrence of a calamity. As for playing the lute, it is interpreted as leadership for the one playing it, and it may be grief.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, pp. 194–195

Whoever sees that he is playing a lute or something similar among the instruments, and its string breaks, then it is interpreted as the removal of his worry and grief.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, pp. 194–195

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

As for playing the lute, it is false speech, and likewise listening to it.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 238–242

Whoever sees as though he is playing the lute in his house will be struck by a calamity. And it is said that playing the lute is leadership for the one who plays it. And it is said that grief has befallen him.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 238–242

If he sees as though he is playing it and its string snaps, he will come out of his sorrows.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 238–242

And it is said that its plucking indicates a noble king who has been driven out of his kingship and glory, and whenever he remembers his kingship his bowels churn. And it is, for the one who keeps himself covered, an admonition; and for the profligate, his corrupting of a people with something that falls upon their bowels; and it is, for the tyrant, tyranny against a people by which he cuts up their bowels.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 238–242

Kinds and conditions of Lute

barbat (lute)

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

It is in a dream fabricated speech, because the strings emit something like speech, yet it is not speech.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 31–32

Unless the one who has the dream is a man of religion and piety, in which case it is fine praise.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 31–32

lute (oud)

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

In a dream it indicates recovery from illnesses, and the return of a person to what he had been in of good or evil; and perhaps he will come to know the science of bodies or the science of the stars. For the unmarried man it is a wife, and for the married woman a child in her lap.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 244–245

(And whoever sees) that he is playing the lute at the door of the ruler will obtain a governorship and authority, if he is worthy of that; otherwise, then he will fabricate speech.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 244–245

tanbur (lute)

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

As for the tanbur, it is interpreted as worry and grief, especially if it is played in his house, and it may be the occurrence of a calamity.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 195

And breaking it is the opposite of that. The playing of the tanbur for a sick man is his death, and hearing its sound is hearing false and impossible speech.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 195

lute player

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

Seeing him in a dream indicates the dispelling of worries and distresses, and joys and delights.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 244

And perhaps seeing him indicates complaint, enumerating [one's grievances], and wailing.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 244

lute (barbat)

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

As for the lute (barbat) and similar instruments of entertainment, they signify the amusement of this world and its vanity, and fabricated speech, because the strings utter something resembling speech, yet it is not speech.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 759–762

Unless the one who has the dream be a man of religion and piety, in which case it is fair praise.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 759–762

mizhar (lute/tambourine)

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

As for the mizhar (lute/tambourine), it is interpreted in several ways: for the poor, as righteousness; for kings, as following the praiseworthy manners of the [Sufi] path, because it is among the traits of the people of righteousness; and for others, as good. But a group [of interpreters] rejected that.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, pp. 194–195

Some interpreters said: Whoever sees women with mizhars in their hands, then it is interpreted as glad tidings and safety, because of what has been related that when the Prophet (peace be upon him) came upon some of the peoples of the land of the noble Hijaz, after victory and safety, there appeared to him: "The full moon has come upon us from the mountain passes of al-Wada'; thanks are incumbent upon us for as long as a caller calls upon Allah."

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, pp. 194–195

bam (bass string of the lute)

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

Seeing it indicates movement and preparation for combat and warfare.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 32

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