Animals
Dreaming of a falcon in Islam
In short
For al-Nabulusi, the falcon can symbolize a high-ranking son, authority, victory over enemies, and the fulfillment of hopes; it can also represent an unjust and powerful man, or signify death. The Muntakhab attributed to Ibn Sirin associates it with a noble and unjust ruler or a high-ranking son.
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
هو في المنام ولد ذكر وسلطان رفيع القدر مهيب شريف ظلوم وفرخه ولد رفيع وإن رأى أن صقرا اتبعه فقد غضب عليه رجل شجاع والصقر يدل على رجل ظالم ذي قوة وبطش.
In a dream, the falcon represents a son, a ruler of high rank, imposing, noble, and unjust; its chick is a son of high rank. If [someone] sees a falcon following him, a brave man is angry with him. The falcon indicates an unjust, powerful, and violent man.
والصقر يدل على العز والسلطان والنصر على الأعداء وبلوغ الآمال والزينة بالأولاد والأزواج والمماليك والسراري ونفيس الأموال والصحة وتفريج الهموم والأنكاد وربما دل على الموت لاقتناص الأرواح
The falcon indicates glory, authority, victory over enemies, the fulfillment of hopes, adornment through children, wives, slaves, and concubines, precious possessions, health, and the dispelling of worries and sorrows; it may also indicate death, for it captures souls.
Muntakhab al-Kalām fī Tafsīr al-Aḥlām (attributed to Ibn Sirin)
Attribution to Ibn Sirin rejected: why
يدل على شيئين إحداهما سلطان شريف ظالم مذكور والثاني ابن رفيع
The falcon indicates two things: first, a noble and unjust ruler of renown; second, a son of high rank.
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
- 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.
- 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.
- LionThe lion stands above all for a formidable man of power; avoiding it or escaping it announces deliverance from what one fears.
All the symbols in the dictionary