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

389 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

A tree in a dream: if it is known by a certain condition in waking life and then is seen in a dream, it indicates its condition in waking life.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 203–204

Trees indicate women and men who differ in their characters.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 203–204

Seeing trees indicates quarrelling.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 203–204

Unknown trees indicate worries, miseries and distress, especially if he saw them in the dream at night.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 203–204

Unless he takes shade under them from heat, or shelters by them from rain or from a lion, for then they indicate provision and reliance upon people of high rank.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 203–204

And if he was following an innovation he will desist from it, or if he was an unbeliever he will embrace Islam, especially if there was fruit on it.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 203–204

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

Or on its exterior trees growing of various kinds, and along with that he sees something of sweet-smelling herbs, then it indicates the occurrence of a calamity in that place, where the women gather for weeping and grief.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 132

And whoever sees that he planted a tree, then he will attain honour, or will keep company with a noble man, in proportion to the substance of the tree.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 132

And whoever sees that he planted a tree and it did not grow, then he will be accompanied by anxiety and grief in proportion to its bulk.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 132

And it is said: the tree that at one time grows larger and at another time smaller is interpreted as a man who deals with the dreamer, at times being upright with him and being open-hearted with him, and at times becoming angry with him and quarrelling with him over matters.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 132

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

And perhaps the tree also indicates women, because of its being watered, its bearing, and its giving birth to its fruit.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 616–619

The heavily laden tree is a man of abundant wealth.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 633–637

And perhaps it indicates shops, tables, slaves, servants, riding animals, livestock, and all places well known for food and provisions, such as underground granaries and storehouses.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 616–619

Whoever picks from a tree while he is seated, then it is wealth that comes to him without toil or fatigue.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 633–637

And perhaps it indicates religions and doctrines, because Allah the Exalted likened the good word to the good tree, which is the palm tree; and the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) interpreted it as the Muslim man, and he interpreted the tree that he held onto in the dream as the prayer which he held onto for his community.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 616–619

And if the tree speaks to him with what agrees with him, then what is said of that will be a wondrous matter at which people marvel.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 633–637

Freud and Jung, a separate view

This element also lies in the tree, even in the family tree, as is distinctly shown by the mediæval family trees. From the first ancestor there grows upward, in the place of the “membrum virile,” the trunk of the great tree.

Carl Jung, Psychology of the Unconscious (1916) / Collected Papers (1917), Psychology of the Unconscious, ch. V Symbolism of the Mother and of Rebirth

In this world of imagery the cross of Christ is the tree of life, and equally the wood of death.

Carl Jung, Psychology of the Unconscious (1916) / Collected Papers (1917), Psychology of the Unconscious, ch. V Symbolism of the Mother and of Rebirth

Osiris lies in the branches of the tree, surrounded by them, as in the mother’s womb.

Carl Jung, Psychology of the Unconscious (1916) / Collected Papers (1917), Psychology of the Unconscious, ch. V Symbolism of the Mother and of Rebirth

This is verified by the fact that the trees, for example, bring forth again (like the whale in the legend of Jonah).

Carl Jung, Psychology of the Unconscious (1916) / Collected Papers (1917), Psychology of the Unconscious, ch. V Symbolism of the Mother and of Rebirth

But the tree was withered, and in its branches lay an infant. (The mother had become pregnant.[510])

Carl Jung, Psychology of the Unconscious (1916) / Collected Papers (1917), Psychology of the Unconscious, ch. V Symbolism of the Mother and of Rebirth

It appears that striking a nail into the sacred tree signifies something very similar.

Carl Jung, Psychology of the Unconscious (1916) / Collected Papers (1917), Psychology of the Unconscious, ch. VI The Battle for Deliverance from the Mother

Kinds and conditions of Tree

palm tree

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

In a dream it is a learned man or a son, and cutting it down is his death.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 356

The palm tree is also interpreted as a man of the Arabs of noble lineage, high rank, and benefit to people.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 356

trees

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

Al-Kirmani said: the vision of trees in interpretation proceeds according to their substance and their usefulness, and their branches are the children of their owner, and his relatives and brothers, and their leaves (waraq) are his dirhams, since these are of silver (waraq).

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 129

Al-Kirmani said: Whoever sees many trees bearing abundant fruit, then he will obtain wealth; and likewise if he picks something of their leaves. Perhaps some of it will be unlawful wealth from a cunning man.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 131

kinds of trees

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

Daniel said: every tree that is esteemed among people indicates a noble man of lofty rank, and every tree that is despised among people indicates a lowly man. Every tree that bears fruit is interpreted as a rich man, and every tree that has no fruit upon it is interpreted as a poor man. Every tree that is in the lands of the Arabs is interpreted as men of the Arabs, and every tree that is in the lands of the non-Arabs is interpreted as men of the non-Arabs. Every tree that is unknown and is in a mosque or a place of prayer indicates religion, and every tree that is known is interpreted as pertaining to people according to the measure of the tree he saw.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 132

Whoever sees trees in a garden, then it indicates the obtaining of wealth, and its owner receives according to the measure of that tree.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 132

walnut tree

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

As for the walnut tree, al-Kirmani said that it is interpreted as a foreign (non-Arab) man who is stingy, ill-natured, and difficult.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 129

As for the walnut tree, it is interpreted as a man of splendour, possessing a handsome countenance, upright in his speech, but of little knowledge and little earnings.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 131

olive tree

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

As for the olive tree, it is blessed, and it may indicate knowledge and blessing, and it may bring benefit to relatives. And the olive tree may signify abundance of bounty for one who possesses righteousness, according to His saying, Exalted is He: "and olives and palm trees."

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 129

As for holding fast to the leaves of the olive tree or its roots, that is holding fast to the most trustworthy handhold.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 129

pine tree

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

It in a dream: its tree is a man of far-reaching renown, of lofty rank, held sacred, of little wealth—because of the scarcity of its fruit—of little good, stingy, in whom thieves take refuge, because it is a place for kites, owls, and crows.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 217

So whoever sees that he carved a door from it, then he will take on a gatekeeper of bad character, tyrannical.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 217

plane tree

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

The plane tree in a dream is a lofty man of noble lineage, with many children, bulky, of bad character, in whom there is no benefit.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 119

And the thickness of its trunk is his noble descent, and its roots are his origin.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 119

tree of life

Freud and Jung, a separate view

That ξύλον ζωῆς, the wood of life, or the tree of life, is a maternal symbol would seem to follow from the previous deductions.

Carl Jung, Psychology of the Unconscious (1916) / Collected Papers (1917), Psychology of the Unconscious, ch. V Symbolism of the Mother and of Rebirth

Just as the tree of life has also a phallic sub-meaning (as libido symbol)

Carl Jung, Psychology of the Unconscious (1916) / Collected Papers (1917), Psychology of the Unconscious, ch. V Symbolism of the Mother and of Rebirth

cypress tree

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

In a dream it is a beautiful woman, or a man who speaks but does not act.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 184

And perhaps seeing it indicates travel and journeying by night.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 184

tree blossoms

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

Whoever sees the blossoms of trees in their season, that is good, benefit, and the fulfilment of a need.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 140

Whoever sees some of them plucked, that is less than that. The white of them is better than the red, and the red of them is better than the yellow.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 140

lote tree (sidr)

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

It is in a dream a noble, chaste woman.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 184

And the lote tree is a noble man of good lineage, excellent and verdant, according to the lote tree and the abundance of its fruit.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 184

tree branch

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

As for the branch, Ibn Sirin said: the branch indicates brothers, children, and relatives.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 132

Whoever sees that the branches of a tree have spread out and become numerous, then it is an indication of the multitude of his relatives and the people of his household; and if he sees the opposite of that, then its interpretation is the reverse.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 132

Also in the sources

non-fruiting trees · the Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary · teak tree · apple tree · jujube tree · banana tree · oak tree · pomegranate tree · willow tree · colocynth tree · tree leaves · palm trees · unknown tree · Service tree fruit (ghubayra') · Ghada tree · fig tree · quince tree · lote/nabk tree · plum tree · ben tree (moringa) blossom · trees with trunks versus trailing plants · planting trees in one's garden · chinaberry tree · worshipping a star or tree · terebinth tree · palm-tree cluster (bunch of dates) · bay tree · pine and fir trees · fruit trees · fruitless trees · slow-growing trees and plants · fast-growing trees and plants · men sleeping under the shade of trees · pear tree · citron tree · bitter orange tree · peach tree · apricot tree · tree grafted onto a bone/stock · hazelnut tree · pistachio tree · costus tree · tamarisk tree · ebony tree · sesban tree · boxwood tree · tall thorn tree · aloeswood tree · lemon tree · myrtle tree · sandalwood tree · ushar tree · clove tree · doum/bdellium tree · carob tree · tree gum / resin · ben-tree seeds · tree stump / block of wood · flying from tree to tree · fir tree · tree encircled by a serpent · almond tree · many-branched tree · mountains, trees and caves · cutting a tree · harvesting a palm tree · willow tree (khilaf) · the Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary (Sidrat al-Muntaha) · Sinan tree (desert tree) · Sant tree (acacia) · Shawh (a kind of tree/roughness) · gum (tree resin)

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