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

68 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 a dream that he is walking straight, then he seeks the laws of Islam and will be granted good provision.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 323–324

And if he walks in the markets, then in his hand there is a bequest.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 323–324

And if he is fit for authority, he will be invested with a governorship.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 323–324

And if he walks barefoot, then it is the departure of grief and goodness of religion.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 323–324

And moderation in walking is humility before Allah the Exalted.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 323–324

And walking indicates seeking provision, because of His saying, the Exalted: "So walk upon its shoulders and eat of His provision."

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 323–324

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

And whoever sees that he is walking straight/level, then he is seeking the ordinances of Islam and will be granted good provision.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 737–741

And if he sees that he is walking in the market, this indicates that a bequest/trusteeship is in his hand; and if he is worthy of the trusteeship, he will obtain it, because of the saying of the Exalted: "What is with this Messenger, that he eats food and walks in the markets?"

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 737–741

And if he sees that he is walking barefoot, this indicates the soundness of his religion and the departure of his grief. And it is said that this vision indicates a calamity concerning the wife and her divorce.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 737–741

Kinds and conditions of Walking

walking and the road

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

As for walking and travelling along a road, it is interpreted in several ways. Al-Kirmani said: Whoever sees that he is walking, or that a mount carries him along gently and slowly, then it is honour and eminence.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 75

(And whoever sees) that he is walking in dust, then he will obtain money speedily; and if he walks in sand, then he is in absorbing occupation; and if he walks upon thorns and it pains him, then he will be afflicted in some of his family.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 75

walking on the sea

Artemidorus of Daldis, Oneirocritica (1644 English translation)

FOr to walke upon the Sea, to him which would travell, as also to a servant and him which would take a Wife: the one shall enjoy his Wife, and the other shall have his master at his own pleasure

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

it is also good for him which hath a law suit, for the Sea represents the Judge, which handles some well, and others ill:

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

Walking (sa'i) between Safa and Marwa

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

In a dream it indicates the reconciliation of relations between people.

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

And perhaps, if he is a broker, he will be just in his word, or he will deal equitably between his two wives or his two parents.

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

walking stick / cane

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

As for the walking stick (cane), its interpretation is like the interpretation of the staff.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 182

Some interpreters have said: the cane may perhaps be interpreted in three ways for one who leans upon it: old age, for as one of the virtuous men said: "Know—may Allah guide you, Abu Harithah—that the staff is a third leg for the old man," and by it he meant the cane; and uprightness, because the cane is among the traits of upright people; and weakness in the body, because when a person grows feeble he leans on a cane.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 182

strutting / walking with a swagger

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

In a dream it indicates error in religion, and it indicates the attainment of an honour in this world that will soon pass away.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 42

And if he is a man of wealth, then he is warned about the source from which he earned it.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 42

walking on the way

Artemidorus of Daldis, Oneirocritica (1644 English translation)

to walke pleasantly and delightfully on the way without hinderance:

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

walking in desert places

Artemidorus of Daldis, Oneirocritica (1644 English translation)

TUlly being banished Rome by the conspiracy of his Enemies, went to a Uillage, and in his sléep▪ seemed walking by desart places, to meet with Marius then Consull, and his Troopes: who demanded of him why he was so sad, and the cause why he haunted those desarts, and was so transported into an unknowne way

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

walking through a row of rooms

Freud and Jung, a separate view

The dream of walking through a row of rooms is a brothel or harem dream.

Sigmund Freud, The Interpretation of Dreams / On Dreams / Dream Psychology, Dream Psychology, ch. V Sex in Dreams

walking on water

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

Walking upon the water, on a sea or a river, indicates the goodness of his religion and the soundness of his certainty. And it is said: rather, he will become certain of a matter about which he is in doubt. And it is said: he will undertake a journey involving danger, relying upon trust in Allah.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 583–586

walking backwards

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

And whoever sees that he is walking backwards, retreating behind himself, then he will turn back from a matter which he had set out upon and acted upon.

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

walking on hands or belly

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

And whoever sees that he is walking on his hands, or his belly, or his hand and his foot, or something other than the tongue, then each of these is righteousness or wickedness according to that to which the limb is attributed, by which one determines the matter.

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

Ramal (brisk walking in Tawaf and Sa'i)

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

With vowel movement (ramal), and it is the brisk trotting in the Tawaf and the Sa'i during the Hajj: if he sees it in a dream, that indicates striving to provide for one's dependents.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 135

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