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

183 passages from 6 sources, quoted as written, every one linked to its page.

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

The sword in a dream is a son, and authority; and its hilt-pommel and its blade are a son.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 181–182

So whoever sees that he has girded on a sword, he will be invested with a great governorship.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 181–182

And if he sees the sword being heavy and dragging it on the ground, then he will be too weak for his governorship, yet will profit from it.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 181–182

And if he sees that the baldric straps have snapped, then he will be dismissed from his governorship; for the baldric straps are the beauty of his governorship.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 181–182

(And whoever sees) that he handed his wife a blade, or she handed him a blade, then it is a male child.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 181–182

And if he sees that he handed her a sword in its scabbard, he will obtain a daughter; and if she handed it to him, the man will obtain from her a male child, a boy.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 181–182

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

As for the sword, Daniel said: a sword in its scabbard, when it has neither a hilt nor a case, is interpreted as a woman; and if it is drawn, it is interpreted as the carrying out of an affair.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 177

He saw that he had two swords and he was girded with them, one on the right and one on the left: this indicates obtaining authority over two works or two offices, if he is worthy of that; and if he is not, then they are two sons.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, pp. 178–179

Whoever sees that he drew his sword from its scabbard, this is interpreted as the obtaining of a son, especially if he drew it with his right hand.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 177

And whoever sees that his sword has two edges, then it is interpreted as the carrying out of his command.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, pp. 178–179

Whoever sees that his sword broke inside its scabbard, this is interpreted as the death of his child in its mother's womb while she survives.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 177

And whoever sees that a king has fastened a sword on his waist, then it is interpreted as obtaining strength and the carrying out of a command from the kings.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, pp. 178–179

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

The sword is a male child, and authority; its pommel is a grandchild, and its tip-cap is a child.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 274–277

Hisham said to Ibn Sirin: I saw as if in my hand there were a drawn sword, and I was walking having set its tip on the ground as a man sets down a staff. Ibn Sirin said: Is the wife pregnant? He said: Yes. He said: She will give birth to a boy, if Allah wills.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 278–281

And striking with the sword is the attainment of honour in the path of Allah.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 285–288

And if with it there is something that confirms the masculine, then it is male; otherwise it is female. And likewise the spear.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 700–705

So whoever sees that he has girded on a sword has been invested with a great governorship, because the neck is the place of trust and iron is mighty strength.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 274–277

(And there saw) a brave man from among the Indians as if he had swallowed a sword, and he related his dream to an interpreter, who said: You will consume the wealth of your enemy; and had you seen as if the sword swallowed you, a snake would have bitten you.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 278–281

Artemidorus of Daldis, Oneirocritica (1644 English translation)

the Woodknife or Sword, is courage, force, and vertue:

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

For of two sonnes which he had, the lustier which was best inriched with perfection of body, and which was to have the Crowne after his Father, dreamt that he was kild with a sword.

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

Freud and Jung, a separate view

A parallel to this double rôle is that text in the Gospel of Matthew which has become historically significant: “I came not to send peace, but a sword.

Carl Jung, Psychology of the Unconscious (1916) / Collected Papers (1917), Psychology of the Unconscious, ch. IV The Song of the Moth

Kinds and conditions of Sword

brandishing a sword

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

"I saw in my dream that I brandished a sword and its blade broke off — and that was what befell the believers on the Day of Uhud."

Fath al-Bari, commentary on Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Dream Interpretation, pp. 7413–7414

"Then I brandished it again and it returned to the finest state it had been in — and that was what Allah brought about of the victory and the gathering together of the believers."

Fath al-Bari, commentary on Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Dream Interpretation, pp. 7413–7414

sword-belt (nijad)

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

In a dream, seeing it indicates the singer who goes out and is pleased with himself.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 355

And perhaps seeing it indicates the giving of aid to the one who seeks help, and rest after toil.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 355

sword polisher

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

The polisher is an awe-inspiring minister who has authority to command and forbid, one of those who can harm and benefit, like the sultan; and his swords are his troops and his men, or his command.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 308–312

He also indicates the jurist or the judge, and his swords are his legal opinions and his rulings; and he indicates the preacher, and his swords are people's hearts in his keeping, which he polishes and from which he removes the rust; and he indicates the physician, and his swords are his drugs that cut off diseases.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 308–312

sword-maker (swordsmith)

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

Seeing him in a dream indicates victory over enemies, and the establishing of decisive proofs and clear exposition.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 161

edge of the sword

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

In a dream it indicates the safeguarding of wealth for the one who seeks it, and for wealth it indicates squandering, and it indicates the keeping of secrets.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 232

handle (hilt) of a sword or knife

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

In a dream it indicates that upon which zakat is due: camels, cattle, sheep, gold, or silver.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 353

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