Running in a dream: meaning in Ibn Sirin and Ibn Shahin

12 passages from 4 sources, quoted as written, every one linked to its page.

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

As for running and racing, whether mounted or on foot, it indicates greed and covetousness. If he sees that he has stopped from his running or racing, then he is content and does not incline to covetousness.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 75

(al-Kirmani said): Whoever sees that he is racing or running and knows the matter he is seeking, then he will attain it soon and gain victory over it. And if he was mounted, then it indicates the undertaking of a new journey. And he said: If he had intended a journey and saw that, he will be hindered from it.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 75

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

Galloping upon a riding beast, or running on one's two legs, indicates the swiftness of what one seeks, and indicates deliverance and safety from him whom he fears, on account of the saying of Moses, as Allah Most High reported of him in the Quran: "So I fled from you when I feared you."

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 737–741

Unless his flight be from Allah Most High or from the Angel of Death, for then he is overtaken and doomed.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 737–741

Kinds and conditions of Running

running water

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

And whoever sees as though water is coming upon his roof, a calamity from the ruler will befall him — indicating a domineering man over whom one gains no advantage except by gentleness, because of its flowing and its dominance.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 583–586

And the stagnant water is easier to attain and gentler in matter; and it indicates the warrior who cuts off the road (the highway robber), and the lion, and what the flood indicates.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 583–586

running between Safa and Marwa

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

As for running between al-Safa and al-Marwa, it is activity by walking or while remaining in place. Allah the Exalted has said: "Then he turned away and hastened, and he gathered [his people] and called out." He only sent gatherers into the cities and did not move from his place.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 812–814

And perhaps that is a running back and forth between two fortresses, or two frontier outposts, or between two battle-lines, or two scholars, or two righteous men, or two wives, or two daughters, or between two markets by calling out and brokerage, or between two crafts for benefit and profit.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 812–814

running a race

Artemidorus of Daldis, Oneirocritica (1644 English translation)

FOr to run is good to all, except to sick persons, when they dream they come well to the end of their race, for it signifies that shortly they shall come to the end of their life.

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

running through a bundle of papers

Freud and Jung, a separate view

Running through the bundle of papers with the repetition of the name, corresponds to a subordinate but well-recognised feature of the marriage ceremonies—the reading aloud of the congratulatory telegrams which have arrived irregularly, and which, of course, are all addressed to the same name.

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

running (sa'y)

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

(And whoever sees) that he is striving in doing good

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 31

running/galloping

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

Galloping on a riding beast, or running on foot, is a striving and rushing about in pursuit of worldly gain.

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