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

149 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 the dream is a raqabā (a form of conditional gift/tenure), and perhaps the neck indicates manumission and ownership.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 129

In a dream it is the place of trust (amanah).

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 250

So if the slave sees a chain/collar upon his neck, his ownership continues.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 129

(And whoever sees) that his neck is thick, then he is fulfilling the trust he has taken on.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 250

And if his neck is unbound, it indicates his manumission.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 129

And if he sees it thin, then he is unjust and incapable of what he has taken on of the trust.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 250

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

As for the neck and the two shoulders (upper shoulders), they are the place of trust (amanah), except that the trust of the two shoulders is among the trusts of women.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 54

So whoever sees an increase in the two of them without [an increase in] the body, then that is the strength of their owner in discharging the trust and the debt.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 54

(And whoever sees) a diminution in the two of them, its interpretation is the opposite of that.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 54

(And whoever sees) in his neck wounds or pus, it indicates that he has betrayed Allah in what He entrusted to him.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 54

(And whoever sees) a bird upon his neck: if the bird is a praiseworthy one, then it is a good deed; and if it is not praiseworthy, then the opposite of that, according to His saying, may He be exalted: "And every man—We have fastened his bird [of deeds] upon his neck."

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 54

(And whoever sees) in his neck a copy of the Quran, or a rope, or a thread, then it indicates merit, fulfilling the covenant, truth, knowledge, and the Quran.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 54

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

As for the neck, it is the place of the trust, and its increase is an increase in religion and the discharging of the trust.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 155–157

If he sees as though there is a snake coiled around his neck, then he does not pay the zakat on his wealth, because of the words of the Exalted: "That which they withheld out of miserliness will be hung around their necks on the Day of Resurrection."

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 155–157

If he sees as though his two jugular veins gushed forth blood, then he will die.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 155–157

If he sees the ruler with a thickness in his neck, then it is his strength in his justice and his subduing of his enemies.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 155–157

(And a man saw) as though his neck was neither long nor short, and he related his dream to an interpreter, who said: If you were of bad character, your character has been made good; and if you were courageous, your courage has increased; and if you were of vile nature, you have been made noble.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 155–157

Artemidorus of Daldis, Oneirocritica (1644 English translation)

EUery suruncle, malady, or imperfection, about the neck, head, or beard, signifieth sicknesse indifferently to all.

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

Kinds and conditions of Neck

beheading / striking the neck

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

In a dream, for kings it signifies manumission, and it may indicate abandoning the prayer or apostasy from the religion.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 220

(And whoever sees) that his neck was struck and the head was severed from him: if he was a slave, he will be set free.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 220

collar (neck-ring)

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

Whoever sees a collar on his neck in a dream, then he is a miser.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 228

The collar is a woman's kindness toward her husband, an honour that endures, and something of his wealth that comes into her hand.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 228

iron collar / shackle on the neck

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

And he used to dislike the iron collar in a dream, while the fetter pleased them, and he said: The fetter is steadfastness in religion.

Fath al-Bari, commentary on Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Dream Interpretation, pp. 7394–7395

As for the dislike of the iron collar, it is because its place is the necks, as an exemplary punishment, a penalty, a subjugation and a humiliation; and he may be dragged upon his face and fall upon the back of his neck. So it is blameworthy both in the Law and by custom.

Fath al-Bari, commentary on Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Dream Interpretation, p. 7397

nape (back of the neck)

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

In a dream it indicates what is said about it: gratitude or blame, advance or retreat, honour or humiliation, or debt. And the nape may indicate the tracking of traces.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 286

If there appears in the nape something indicating good, such as thickness, or whiteness, or a sweet scent, or a shining light, or that it has become of iron, then that is evidence of his being thanked in the matter he is engaged in, such as his advancing and retreating in encountering enemies, or that he does not turn his nape in retreat from them; and if it is continuous, his standing will grow great, or his debt will be paid off.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 286

neck collar

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

(As for the collar) for men, it is the woman's kindness to her husband; its wideness is wealth for the husband; its firmness is the husband's knowledge; its being of iron is his strength; the presence of wood in its middle is his hypocrisy; and for the ruler it is victory, and for the merchant profit.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 562–565

And if he sees as though he is collared with a tight collar, then he is a miser. And if the one who had the dream is among the people of piety, then no one among the people of religion benefits from him. And if he is a scholar, then he is concealing knowledge.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 562–565

neck-ring (torque)

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

And al-Kirmani said: Whoever sees a neck-ring on his neck, then it indicates his claiming that he is of such-and-such a tribe or of such-and-such a people, and he will be a liar in his claim.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, pp. 174–175

And Jabir al-Maghribi said: Whoever sees a neck-ring on his neck part of which is of gold, then it indicates the Hajj; and if all of it is of gold, then it indicates the attainment of what he desires.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, pp. 174–175

nape of the neck

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

Thickness in the nape of the neck is strength for that which Allah has entrusted to him.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 155–157

A handsome nape indicates fleeing and running away.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 155–157

wry neck (head turned backwards)

Artemidorus of Daldis, Oneirocritica (1644 English translation)

FOr to have the head turned; so that it lookes backeward: forewarnes, not to goe out of his Countrey, and to enterprise no affaires, lest the issue be bad.

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

They which are in a farre Country, shall return home.

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

hand chained to the neck

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

A rare account: It is related that Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz reported from 'Abd al-Rahman al-Sulami from the Prophet (peace be upon him) that he established brotherhood between Abu Bakr al-Siddiq and Salman al-Farisi (may Allah be pleased with them both). Salman saw a dream about Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, so he distanced himself from him and left him because of that dream. Abu Bakr al-Siddiq said to him: "Why have you left me, my brother?" He said to him: "I saw you in a dream with your hand chained to your neck." Abu Bakr al-Siddiq said: "Allah is greatest! My hand has been chained and withheld from evil." So Salman informed the Prophet (peace be upon him) of his dream and of what Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) had said, and the Prophet (peace be upon him) confirmed him as truthful and approved of it from him.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, pp. 268–269

neck pain

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

As for pain in the neck, it is an indication that its owner has behaved badly in his dealings with others, so much so that a complaint has arisen from it. And perhaps this dream indicates that its owner has betrayed a trust and did not discharge it, so a punishment from Allah the Exalted has befallen him.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 204–208

slapping on the neck

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

As for slapping, if it is done by way of jesting, then it means gaining a favor with the one who is slapped.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 745–746

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