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

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

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

In a dream it is heedlessness.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 352

(And whoever sees) that he is asleep or that he wanted to sleep, then that indicates idleness, and it is bad for all people except one who is in fear, or who expects a hardship or a torment to befall him, because sleep drives away all worries and sorrows.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 352

(And whoever sees) that he is sleeping in a graveyard, or on the surface of a road, or upon a grave, then that indicates death for the sick person, and idleness for the healthy one.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 352

And sleep is an indication of the suspension of benefits and of heedlessness of what Allah the Exalted has made obligatory upon man in the doing of good.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 352

And sleep may indicate a blessed journey for the people of obedience and striving, and abandoning the world and disregarding its adornment.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 352

And if he sees people asleep in a dream, it indicates a general perishing or a rise in prices, and it may indicate matters that are blocked.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 352

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

As for sleep: whoever sees that he is asleep, then it is corruption in his religion, and perhaps he is heedless of what is in his own interest, on account of the saying of Imam Ali, may Allah ennoble his face: "People are asleep, and when they die they awaken." And it has come in the supplication: "O Allah, rouse us from the sleep of the heedless."

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 69

A useful note on knowing the true nature of sleep. The sages said: sleep comes about from a temperate vapour that rises from it up to the brain after the eating of food, and from it two benefits accrue to the body: the first is the rest of the limbs and members, and the second is the digestion of the food.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 271

(And whoever sees) that he is lying on his back, then he will strengthen his affair, his rule will be accepted, and the world will come under his hands, because the earth is a strong support, and it will be right before his eyes.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 69

(And whoever sees) that he is asleep lying flat on his face, then his wealth will go, his strength will weaken, he will not perceive the course of affairs, and he will not know how matters are managed.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 69

Some interpreters said: Sleep, for one who has good fortune and felicity, is praiseworthy, on account of the saying of one of them: (And when felicity's eyes regard you ... sleep, for all fears are safety.)

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 69

(And whoever sees) that drowsiness overcomes him, then it is safety, on account of His saying, exalted be He: "When He covered you with drowsiness as a security from Him."

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 69

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

Sleep is heedlessness, and the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "People are asleep, and when they die they awaken." And it has come in the supplication: "Awaken us from the sleep of the heedless."

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 713–717

And awakening from sleep indicates the movement of the body and its advancing forward.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 713–717

Al-Qayrawani said that sleeping on the belly is triumph with land, wealth, family, and children.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 713–717

And lying on the back is dispersal, humiliation, and death; and it may indicate the completion of deeds and rest from sorrows, if he was praising Allah, the Mighty and Majestic.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 713–717

And sleeping on the side is news, or illness, or death.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 713–717

And whoever sees that he is lying down beneath trees, his offspring and children will increase.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 713–717

Kinds and conditions of Sleep

unknown face seen in sleep

Artemidorus of Daldis, Oneirocritica (1644 English translation)

For certainly he knew by his dream, before he felt by effect, that the hand of Cassandra should be venemous▪ and mortall to him▪ and he was perswaded in his heart, that he should dye by her meanes, before that ever he saw her.

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

Notwithstanding, when he knew that she was the daughter of Antipater, he drove all fear and suspition away by his courage, ever repeating a Greeke Uerse, which saith, That men must not have regard of Dreames: although notwithstanding all that, the Poyson was then prepared to kill him: and men hold, that he dyed by the hand of the same Cassandra.

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

waking up from sleep

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

Waking from one's sleep in a dream indicates the stirring of good fortune and its approach, repentance, profit and benefit, and returning home from travel.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 21

drowsiness (light sleep)

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

In a dream, for a pregnant woman it indicates deliverance from childbirth.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 164

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