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

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

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

Whoever sees in his dream that he is being sold or being cried out for sale, then he will be honoured and will attain might and authority. If a man buys him, he will be afflicted with worry; and the greater his price is, the more honoured he will be.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 39

(And whoever sees) that he is being sold, and he is among the slaves, the poor, the captives, or those who wish their condition to change, then that is an indication of good. But as for the wealthy, the sick, and those holding positions of leadership, then that is evil.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 39

The difference between a person's being offered for sale and his being bought is that being offered for sale may occur for everyone who desires it, whereas the sale actually taking place perhaps does not occur except that one be offered for sale.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 39

Selling differs in interpretation according to the difference of the thing sold; and whenever it is evil for the seller it is good for the buyer.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 39

And it is said that selling is the removal of ownership, and the seller is a buyer and the buyer is a seller.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 39

Selling is preferring something over the thing sold. So if he sold that which signifies the world, he has preferred the Hereafter; and if he sold that which signifies the Hereafter, he has preferred the world over it. Otherwise, he exchanges one condition for another in accordance with the thing sold and the price.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 39

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

As for selling, there is disagreement about it: some of them said it is better than buying, while others said buying is better. Selling and buying have already been discussed in the chapter on servants and slaves.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 79

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

Selling varies in interpretation according to the variation in the thing sold.

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

And whoever sees as though he is being sold or is being auctioned off: if his buyer is a man, then distress will befall him; and if a woman buys him, he will attain authority, or might and honour. And the greater the price paid, the more honoured he is.

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

We said that selling in a dream implies the honouring of the one sold only because of the saying of the Exalted in the story of Yusuf (peace be upon him): "And the one who bought him in Egypt said to his wife: 'Make his stay honourable.'"

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

And everything that is evil for the seller is good for the buyer, and whatever is good for the seller is evil for the buyer.

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

And it is said that selling is the loss of ownership, and the seller is a buyer and the buyer is a seller, and selling is preferring something over the thing sold.

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

So if he sells that which indicates this world, he has preferred the Hereafter over it; and if he sells that which indicates the Hereafter, he has preferred this world over it; otherwise he exchanges one state for another according to the measure of the thing sold and the price.

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

Kinds and conditions of Selling

selling a slave

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

And whoever sells a slave, it is good for him, and there is no good in it for the one who bought him.

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

Whoever sells a slave, then it is good for him, and there is no good in it for the one who buys him.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 756–759

buying and selling

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

The seller and the buyer are at variance. So whoever sees that he is selling something or buying it, then he is constrained and in need, because a person does not sell except at the time of his constraint; so when he is constrained he sells it and buys something. And constraint drives a person to stratagems.

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

And whoever sees that he sold something of a liked kind, then confusion and turmoil will occur, by which he hopes for victory and deliverance from destruction.

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

selling clothes

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

And whoever sees that he is selling his clothes, then that is righteousness for him, and there is no good in the one who buys them.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 160

And if he sees that he is pushing them away from himself, then that is the passing away of his poverty.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 160

selling and buying

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

Selling and buying are interpreted in several ways. Among them are those who regarded both as disliked; and among them are those who said that selling is better than buying; and among them are those who said that selling a thing whose kind is disliked is praiseworthy, and the contrary of that is its opposite.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, pp. 252–253

selling wheat for barley

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

A rare anecdote: It is related that a man came to an interpreter and said, "I saw that I had sold wheat for barley." He said: "You have exchanged the Quran for poetry."

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, pp. 261–262

selling yarn

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

And selling yarn indicates travel.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 313–317

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