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

164 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 the teeth in interpretation, they are the people of one's household and the near relatives. The upper ones are men, and the lower ones are women.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 53

in a place where it should not grow, then it indicates the occurrence of a matter that is not praiseworthy

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 54

The canine is the chief of his household, or someone who is related to him. It is said that the upper right canine is a boy who takes his father's place, and the left one is below him in rank. It is also said the right one is a paternal uncle and the left one a maternal uncle. And it is said: the lifespan of the dreamer.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 53

And if he sees that he swallowed his teeth or some of them, then he will consume wealth that is not lawful for him, whether the wealth belongs to him or to another.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 54

As for the upper front incisors, the right one is a father and the left one a paternal uncle. And they may be two brothers or two paternal uncles who take their place, or others, in giving counsel and showing compassion.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 53

Ja'far al-Sadiq said: The vision of teeth is interpreted in six ways: the people of the household, wealth, benefit, grief, separation, and harm from relatives.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 54

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

And it is related of Sharik ibn Abi Namir that he said: I saw in a dream that my teeth had fallen out, so I asked Sa'id ibn al-Musayyab about it, and he said: Does that grieve you? If your dream is true, none of your household will remain but that they will die before you. So Sa'id interpreted it by the wording, not by the root, for the root concerning teeth is that they are one's relatives.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 15–19

As for the teeth, they are the members of a man's household. The upper ones are the men of the household, and the lower ones are the women. The canine is the master of his house. The right front incisor is the father, and the left front incisor is the paternal uncle; and if these two are not present, then they are two brothers or two sons; and if these are not present, then two full-blood friends. The premolar is the paternal cousin, and the laughing teeth are the maternal uncles and maternal aunts.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 145–148

and whoever stands in their place in giving counsel; and the molars are the grandfathers and the young sons.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 149–152

(And it is related) that a man saw all his teeth had fallen out, and he was greatly distressed by that, and he recounted his dream to an interpreter, who said: "Your relatives (asnan, i.e. those of your age/kin) will all die before you." And so it was.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 152–154

And whoever sees that he treated something of his teeth until he pulled it out, or sees that someone else treated it for him and pulled it out, then he will be compelled to pay a fine of money or something similar to that.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 783–786

And it is related of Bishr ibn Abi al-'Aliya that he said: I asked Muhammad about a man who saw as though his mouth had entirely fallen out, and he said: This is a man who has cut off his relatives. So Muhammad interpreted it by the root, not by the wording.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 15–19

Artemidorus of Daldis, Oneirocritica (1644 English translation)

THe upper téeth signifie the best kindred of the house, and the lower teeth signifie the inferiour.

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

For you must know that the mouth representeth the house, the teeth inhabitants.

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

Those of the right side the men, the other the women. Or otherwise, the right, signifie the elder, the left the yonger: the eye téeth, them of middle age: the great téeth the old folks.

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

Wherefore what kinde of téeth soever a man dreams he loseth, he shall lose some such personage as that tooth signifieth.

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

But when the téeth signifyeth losse of goods: by the great téeth are méant hidden treasures; by the other, a vessell or some other thing of little importance.

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

To such as are in debt, what kinde of tooth soever fals out it certifies them, that they shal acquit themselves:

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

Kinds and conditions of Teeth

Falling out of teeth

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

A person's teeth in a dream signify long life beyond that of his peers in age.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 176–177

If he sees that all his teeth have fallen out and he takes them in his sleeve or in his lap, then he will live a long life until his teeth fall out, and the number of his household members will increase.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 176–177

picking (beard, teeth, fingers)

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

As for picking (takhlil), it is of three kinds: picking the beard, the teeth, and the fingers. Al-Kirmani said: As for picking the beard, it indicates splendor and acceptance.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 72

As for picking the teeth with a toothpick, there is no good in it for the doer or the one done to, because it resembles sweeping. The discussion of teeth and what they are interpreted as has already been given.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 72

all teeth falling out

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

A rare anecdote: It is related that one of the caliphs said to an interpreter, "I saw all my teeth fall out." He said, "All the relatives of our master the Commander of the Faithful will die."

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, pp. 269–270

So he was displeased by that, and he summoned another interpreter and recounted the dream to him. He said to him, "If the dream of my master the Commander of the Faithful is true, then he will live longer than his relatives." So he turned to him favourably and treated him well. The meaning is one and the same, but the wording differs.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, pp. 269–270

teeth on edge / numbness

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

And whoever sees that his teeth are set on edge, that is the abandonment of the people of his household.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 771–773

And likewise numbness in the legs or in some part of the body: it is the abandonment [by] whoever that limb is attributed to.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 771–773

brushing teeth with filth

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

If he sees that he is brushing his teeth with excrement or something resembling it, then he is upholding a sunnah by means of something reprehensible or forbidden.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 774–777

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