Nature and elements
Dreaming of the sky in Islam
In short
For al-Nabulusi, ascending to the sky can signify attaining elevation and favor with the ruler, while ascending without aid can portend great fear of the ruler. The Muntakhab attributed to Ibn Sirin also associates being in the sky with authority and exercising command.
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 صعد إليها بسلم أو بحبل نال من الملك رفعة وعنده حظوة وإن صعد إليها بلا سلم ولا حبل ناله خوف شديد من السلطان
[Whoever] ascends to the sky by a ladder or a rope attains elevation with the ruler and his favor; if he ascends without a ladder or a rope, great fear of the ruler seizes him.
ومن صعد إلى السماء فدخلها نال الشهادة وفاز بكرامة الله تعالى ونال مع ذلك شرفا وذكرا.
[Whoever] ascends to the sky and enters it attains martyrdom, wins the honor of Allah, Exalted is He, and also gains honor and renown.
Muntakhab al-Kalām fī Tafsīr al-Aḥlām (attributed to Ibn Sirin)
Attribution to Ibn Sirin rejected: why
ومن رأى أنه في السماء فإنه يأمر وينهي
[Whoever] sees himself in the sky commands and forbids.
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
- StarsFor al-Nabulusi a star stands for a noble person; bright stars gathered in one’s home announce notable visitors, and a star in one’s hand, a noble child. The Quran also recounts Joseph’s dream of eleven stars bowing to him.
- MoonThe moon is a vizier, a just ruler or a great scholar, for it guides in the night. Holding it in one’s lap announces a marriage; seeing it in one’s house, the return of someone absent.
- SunThe sun is, for both books, the greatest ruler — or the father, or a beautiful woman. Sitting in the sun means receiving favour and strength; the sun and moon rising over oneself, pleased parents.
All the symbols in the dictionary