Nature and elements
Dreaming of a tree in Islam
In short
For al-Nabulusi, trees can represent men and women, and sitting beneath a tree with people who remember Allah indicates His approval of the dreamer. Planting a tree signifies prestige, while planting trees in one’s garden is associated with the birth of children whose lifespans correspond to those of the trees.
A summary of the passages quoted below. These are authors’ interpretations, not a prediction: a dream is understood through the dreamer and all its details.
What the interpretation books say
al-Nabulusi — Taʿṭīr al-Anām fī Taʿbīr al-Manām
والأشجار تدل على النساء والرجال المختلفين في الأخلاق ورؤية الأشجار دالة على المشاجرة والأشجار المجهولة دالة على الهموم والأنكاد والجزع خصوصا إن رآها في المنام ليلا
Trees indicate women and men of differing characters; seeing trees indicates a quarrel, and unknown trees indicate worries, sorrows, and distress, especially if they are seen in a dream at night.
والجلوس تحت الشجرة مع الناس دليل على رضوان الله تعالى عن الرائي بإتباعه كتاب الله وسنة رسوله عليه السلام
Sitting beneath a tree with people is a sign of Allah’s approval of the dreamer because he follows the Book of Allah and the Sunna of His Messenger ﷺ.
ومن رأى) أنه غرس شجرة أصاب شرفا واعتقل لنفسه رجلا بقدر جوهرها
[Whoever sees himself] planting a tree gains prestige and secures a man for himself according to the nature of the tree.
أنه يغرس في بستانه أشجارا فإنه يولد له أولاد تكون أعمارهم في طولها وقصرها كعمر تلك الأشجار مثل الدلب في طول عمره والخوخ في قصر عمره
[Whoever sees himself] planting trees in his garden will have children whose lifespans, long or short, will be like those of those trees, such as the plane tree for its long lifespan and the peach tree for its short lifespan.
Keep in mind
- An interpretation is a human effort: Abu Bakr himself was partly wrong before the Prophet ﷺ. (al-Bukhari 7046 and Muslim 2269)
- Appearances deceive: an unpleasant-looking dream may be interpreted as good, and vice versa. (al-Nawawi, Sharh Sahih Muslim 15/18)
- A dream is not a fatwa: make no serious decision on its strength alone. (al-Nawawi, Sharh Sahih Muslim 1/115)
If this dream upset you: what the Sunnah asks
The Prophet ﷺ taught that an unpleasant dream comes from Satan, and that it does not harm the one who does the following. (al-Bukhari 7045 · al-Bukhari 3292)
Seek Allah’s protection, three times
Against the evil of this dream and against Satan. The wording given by al-Nawawi: “aʿūdhu billāhi mina sh-shayṭāni wa min sharrihā” — I seek refuge with Allah from Satan and from the evil of this dream. (al-Bukhari 7044 · Muslim 2262 · al-Nawawi, Sharh Sahih Muslim 15/18)
Blow lightly three times to your left
The narrations say “blow” (nafth), “spit lightly” (tafl) or “spit” (basq): a light breath, to drive Satan away. (Muslim 2261 · al-Bukhari 7044 · Muslim 2262)
Turn over onto your other side
Change the side you were sleeping on. (Muslim 2262)
Get up and pray
If you can; al-Nawawi recommends two units of prayer (rakʿa). (Muslim 2263 · al-Nawawi, Sharh Sahih Muslim 15/18)
Tell no one about it
Neither recount it nor seek to have it interpreted. A Bedouin dreamt that his head was cut off; the Prophet ﷺ told him: “Do not tell of how Satan toys with you in your sleep.” (al-Bukhari 7045 · Muslim 2263 · Muslim 2268 · al-Nawawi, Sharh Sahih Muslim 15/18)
“It will not harm him”: that is the promise of the hadith. Al-Nawawi adds that doing only some of these acts is enough, by Allah’s leave. (al-Bukhari 7045 · al-Nawawi, Sharh Sahih Muslim 15/18)
Related symbols
- DatesFor al-Nabulusi, dates may signify rain for whoever sees them, pure sustenance for whoever eats them, or the sweetness of faith. The Muntakhab attributed to Ibn Sirin associates eating unripe dates with the sweetness of faith.
- FigFor al-Nabulusi, the fig can symbolize great wealth and abundance; eating it can signify numerous offspring or income without hardship. Its fruits and leaves can also signify worry, grief, and regret; the black fig in season and the white fig are favorable.
- MountainFor al-Nabulusi, climbing a mountain can mean reaching a goal, attaining elevation or authority, but also experiencing hardship; descending can signify relief or the loss of a position. The Muntakhab attributed to Ibn Sirin presents the climbed mountain as a goal: reaching its summit means attaining what is hoped for, while falling from it brings a change of circumstances closer.
All the symbols in the dictionary