Animals
Dreaming of a wasp in Islam
In short
For al-Nabulusi, the wasp represents a warlike enemy, an evil man, or merciless people; its sting causes harm through vile people. The Muntakhab attributed to Ibn Sirin sees it as a quarrelsome man who argues for falsehood, and says its sting is a hurtful word from contemptible people.
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 عدو محارب وربما دل على البناء والنقاب والمهندس وعلى قاطع الطريق وذي المكسب الحرام وعلى الطرب الخارج وربما دلت على أكل السموم أو شربها والزنبور رجل من الغوغاء مهيب طعان صاحب حرب ثابت في القتال سفيه فمن رأى أن الزنابير دخلت قرية أو بلدة أو محلة دخلها جنود لهم هيبة وشرعة وحاربوا الناس جهارا وقيل هو رجل يجادل بالباطل وقيل الزنابير تدل على الساعين والغمازين وسفاك الدماء وقيل الزنابير كلها دليل على أناس لا رحمة لهم والزنبور يدل على رجل سوء ولسع الزنابير كلها يؤذي من أراذل الناس.
In a dream, the wasp is a warlike enemy. It may also denote an evil man, and the sting of wasps causes harm through vile people.
Muntakhab al-Kalām fī Tafsīr al-Aḥlām (attributed to Ibn Sirin)
Attribution to Ibn Sirin rejected: why
وقيل أنه من الممسوخ وهو رجل يجادل في الباطل وقيل هو رجل غماز سفيه دنئ المطعم ولسعها كلام يؤذي من أوباش الناس
It was also said that it is one of the transformed beings and that it is a man who argues for falsehood. It was also said that it is a slanderous, foolish, vile man; its sting is a hurtful word from contemptible people.
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
- BeeFor al-Nabulusi, bees signify fertility and wealth, but with danger; honey may represent lawful gain, while taking it without leaving any for the bees is an injustice. The Muntakhab attributed to Ibn Sirin associates bees with attaining authority and benefit, work and earning, and also describes harm caused by their sting.
- ScorpionFor al-Nabulusi the scorpion is a slanderer or an enemy among one’s relatives; killing it means overcoming that enemy.
- FlyFor al-Nabulusi, the fly represents a weak, contemptible, quarrelsome man or a weak enemy; killing it brings rest and bodily health. The Muntakhab attributed to Ibn Sirin also associates the fly with a weak, contemptible man, and eating it with a base gain or unlawful money.
All the symbols in the dictionary