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

66 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

Whoever sees in his house a flayed sheep, then a person will die in it.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 222

(And whoever sees) that he is pasturing sheep will be put in authority over some people of the Arabs.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 222

(And whoever sees) that he has obtained them or come to own them, then he will obtain much spoil.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 222

(And whoever sees) that he is eating the flesh of sheep, then he will obtain much good.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 222

Artemidorus of Daldis, Oneirocritica (1644 English translation)

A Sheep signifieth advancement, and obtaining of goods,

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

wherefore it is good to dreame you have many of them, or see them of others and feed them:

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

Especially to those which desire to handle Government and charge of people, and those which have attained thereto already:

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

it is also good for Sophisters, Pedaunts, and Schoole-masters.

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

Kinds and conditions of Sheep

sheep (flock)

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

In a dream they are a righteous, obedient flock of subjects, and sheep indicate spoils, spouses, possessions, children, crops, and trees bearing fruit. Woolly sheep are noble, beautiful women possessing wealth and concealed honour, while goats are women whose honour is squandered, since their private parts are exposed, whereas woolly sheep have their private parts covered by the tail.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 257–258

Whoever sees that he is driving a large flock of sheep, then he will govern the Arabs and the non-Arabs.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 257–258

milking a sheep or the like

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

In a dream it indicates good companionship, flattery, statecraft, and the obtaining of provision; and consider what is being milked.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 79–80

(And if) a slave sees that he is milking his master's cow, then he will marry his master's wife.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 79–80

sheep (ewe)

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

And whoever sees as though he is following a ewe while walking but does not catch up with her, then his worldly affairs will be brought to a halt during that year and he will be denied what he wishes for.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 354–360

And the fat tail is a woman's wealth; and the she-goat is a slave-girl or a corrupt woman, because her private parts are exposed, having no tail.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 354–360

sheep and goats

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

(Sheep and goats) are spoils. It has been narrated from the Prophet (peace be upon him) that he said: "I saw in a dream that I came upon black sheep, and I interpreted them as the Arabs; then I came upon white sheep, and I interpreted them as the non-Arabs."

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 348–354

Whoever sees that he is driving many sheep and she-goats, then it is authority over the Arabs and the non-Arabs; and his milking their milk and taking of their wool and their hair is his obtaining wealth from them.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 348–354

lamb (kid, young sheep or goat)

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

In a dream it is a person's child.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 173

If he sees that he slaughtered a lamb and ate its flesh, then his child will die, or the child of one of his household and relatives.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 173

mutton (sheep meat)

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

This is if it was fat; but if it was lean, the brethren will be poor.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 244

And whoever sees in his house a flayed carcass that is fat, then he will obtain an inheritance.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 244

ewe (sheep)

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

Seeing it in a dream indicates a woman. So if he sees that he has obtained an ewe, he will obtain a woman.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 200

(And whoever sees) an ewe walking in front of him while he walks behind it and does not overtake it, then he is pursuing a woman but she will not be attained by him.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 200

black and white sheep

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

"Then there came to me black sheep and off-white (dusty-white) sheep," and he said therein: "So I interpreted the black ones as the Arabs and the off-white ones as the non-Arabs."

Fath al-Bari, commentary on Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Dream Interpretation, pp. 7400–7401

And in the account of 'Umar: "So he filled the trough and watered those who came to drink."

Fath al-Bari, commentary on Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Dream Interpretation, pp. 7400–7401

bleating of a sheep

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

The bleating of a sheep is a blessing from a noble man.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 195–196

sheep skinner (flayer)

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

Seeing him in a dream indicates a tyrannical ruler, or a policeman who takes people's wealth and then hides himself from them.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 162

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