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

43 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

It in a dream is a commander or a caliph.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 328

Nails: seeing them indicates soldiers and helpers, and counted dirhams.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 328

The nail is a man through whom people attain their affairs, and it indicates a marriage.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 328

So whoever sees that he has fixed a nail in a door-leaf, or in something that indicates women, then he will marry.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 328

Many nails are strength and benefit.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 328

Swallowing nails is gulping down rage.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 328

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

As for the nail, it is interpreted in several ways. It is said: whoever sees that he has obtained a nail, then he will obtain a brother.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 186

And whoever sees that he is driving a nail into a wall, then it indicates his holding on to his brother in a quarter or a house in whose wall he drove the nail, because the wall in interpretation is a man; and if he drove it into the ground, then his brother will be joined to a woman, because the earth in interpretation is a woman.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 186

And whoever sees that he is driving a nail into his own back, then he will be granted a son who will be of great standing and whose name will become famous in the horizons.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 186

And al-Kirmani said: the nail in anything indicates steadfastness in the honour of religion and of the world.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 186

And whoever sees in his hand a nail of iron, or copper, or gold, or silver, or the like of these, cast, or of bone, or of wood, and he drives it into a place, then it indicates two aspects: he will marry a woman, or he will take a friend.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 186

And whoever sees that the nail has settled and become firmly fixed in its place, then it indicates the attainment of what is desired and the reaching of hopes.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 186

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

(The nail) is a commander or a caliph, and it indicates the man through whom people attain their affairs, such as a witness and a drafter of contracts. It also indicates the decisive legal ruling, binding proofs, and the penis. And it indicates wealth and strength.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 705–709

Kinds and conditions of Nail

nails

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

As for a person's nails, they are his adornment, his courage, his strength, and the increase or decrease of his religion. So whoever sees in them something disfiguring or something adorning, his interpretation is according to that.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 56

Al-Kirmani said: Whoever sees his nails deficient, or torn out, or broken, then it is the loss of his wealth and the weakening of his ability.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 56

nails turning into claws

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

As for one whose nails turn into claws or talons, then he will prevail, rise above his adversary, subdue him, and gain power over what he seeks; yet there is no good in any of that with respect to religion.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 787–790

Likewise everyone whose limbs are transformed into the limbs of an animal: if that animal is a predatory one that eats what is foul, then there is no good in it.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 787–790

being scratched with nails

Artemidorus of Daldis, Oneirocritica (1644 English translation)

Moreover to be scratched with nailes to him that is in debt, it betokens that he shall acquit himself: to others it foretels hurt by them which scratch them.

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

nail-file

Freud and Jung, a separate view

A frequent, not very intelligible, symbol for the same is a nail-file (on account of the rubbing and scraping?).

Sigmund Freud, The Interpretation of Dreams / On Dreams / Dream Psychology, Dream Psychology, ch. V Sex in Dreams

being nailed (crucifixion with nails)

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

It is a kind of crucifixion, but the difference between the two lies in the nailing. According to some interpreters it is praiseworthy so long as no pain results from it, while some of them said it is blameworthy.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 82

nails (nail-maker)

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

And nails: he commands people to show affection for one another.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 318–322

nail (spike)

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

The nail (spike) is a man through whom people accomplish their affairs; and likewise the bridge and the arched bridge.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 762–765

nails (spikes)

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

In a dream it is a man who brings people together in affection.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 341

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