Body and health
Dreaming of being pregnant in Islam
In short
For al-Nabulusi a woman’s pregnancy generally announces wealth, increase and honour; for an unmarried woman, marriage. For a man who sees himself pregnant, two opposite views are reported: a hidden worry, or an increase in wealth.
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
(حبل المرأة) في المنام يدل على أنها تواظب على أمرها وتنال منه مالا وزيادة نامية وفخرا وعزا وثناء حسنا
A woman’s pregnancy in a dream indicates that she perseveres in her affairs and gains from them wealth, growing increase, pride, honour and good repute.
والمرأة الخالية من الزوج والبكر إذا رأتا كأنهما حبلتا فإنهما يتزوجان
A woman without a husband and a maiden, if they see themselves pregnant, will marry.
(ومن رأى) أن امرأته حبلى فإنه يرجو خيرا من عرض الدنيا
Whoever sees his wife pregnant hopes for some good of this world.
والرجل إذا رأى أن به حبلا فإنه هم ثقيل خفي على الناس يخاف ازدياده وظهوره
A man who sees himself pregnant: it is a heavy worry, hidden from people, which he fears will grow and become visible.
أن به حبلا فإن ذلك زيادة في ماله ودنياه وهو صالح للنساء والرجال على كل حال
[Another view: whoever sees himself] pregnant, it is an increase in his wealth and worldly life; it is good for women and men alike, in every case.
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
- Baby, childFor al-Nabulusi, carrying an infant is a worry; but a baby girl found, carried or born announces relief for the prisoner, the debtor or the bewitched. A handsome child entering a besieged town heralds deliverance.
- Marriage, weddingIn al-Nabulusi, marriage in a dream has contrasting meanings: Allah’s care, a repaid debt and relief for the worried, but also a burdensome commitment or a worry.
- WomanFor al-Nabulusi a beautiful woman stands for a year of good and rest; her entering the house, joy; a young woman turning towards the dreamer, affairs that pick up again. An unknown woman is better than a known one.
All the symbols in the dictionary