Animals
Dreaming of a horse in Islam
In short
For al-Nabulusi, seeing horses announces expanded provision and victory over enemies; riding a horse may bring honor, prestige, and wealth. The Muntakhab attributed to Ibn Sirin associates a horse seen from afar with good news and good, while a restive horse may indicate wrongdoing or an ordeal.
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
فمن رأى عنده في المنام خيلا فإنه يدل على اتساع رزقه وانتصاره على أعدائه فإن رأى أنه راكب على فرس وكان ممن يليق به ركوب الخيل نال عزا وجاها ومالا
Whoever sees horses in his possession in a dream, this indicates expanded provision and victory over his enemies. If he sees himself riding a horse and is one for whom riding horses is fitting, he obtains honor, prestige, and wealth.
والفارس لمن رآه من بعيد بشارة وعز وخير.
The horseman, for whoever sees him from afar, is good news, honor, and good.
Muntakhab al-Kalām fī Tafsīr al-Aḥlām (attributed to Ibn Sirin)
Attribution to Ibn Sirin rejected: why
والفرس لمن رآه من بعيد بشارة وخير لقوله صلى الله عليه وسلم "الخيل معقود في نواصيها الخير إلى يوم القيامة"
The horse, for whoever sees it from afar, is good news and good, according to his saying ﷺ: “Good is tied to the forelocks of horses until the Day of Resurrection.”
ومن رأى أنه على فرس يجمح به فإنه يرتكب معصية أو يصيبه هول بقدر صعوبة الفرس
Whoever sees himself on a horse that bolts commits a sin or is struck by an ordeal in proportion to the horse’s difficulty.
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
- Travel, journeyTravelling, for al-Nabulusi, is moving from one state to another; for the poor, becoming rich. Returning from a journey is repentance and a need fulfilled. Planes and trains, later than the book, do not appear in it.
- KingFor al-Nabulusi, becoming a king may signify sovereignty, power, and authority, but also a swift death for someone unfit for it. The Muntakhab attributed to Ibn Sirin associates seeing Solomon with kingship, knowledge, and religious understanding.
- CowFor al-Nabulusi, fat cows signify fertile years and their meat lawful gain; a cow may also symbolize elevation, honorable wealth, and fertility. The Muntakhab attributed to Ibn Sirin likewise associates fat cows with fertile years, and a cow with elevation and wealth.
All the symbols in the dictionary