Nature and elements
Dreaming of stars in Islam
In short
For 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.
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
(كوكب) هو في المنام من أشراف الناس
A star in a dream is one of the nobles among people.
(ومن رأى) كواكب منيرة اجتمعت عنده في داره اجتمع عند قوم من الرؤساء
Whoever sees bright stars gathered with him in his house: notables will gather at his home.
(ومن رأى) بيده كوكبا رزق ولدا شريفا
Whoever sees a star in his hand will be granted a noble child.
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
- 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.
- BirdThe bird is often honour, power or good news; perched on oneself, it stands for the dreamer’s deeds, pure or mixed according to its colour.
All the symbols in the dictionary