Food and drink
Dreaming of milk in Islam
In short
The Prophet ﷺ interpreted the milk he drank in a dream as knowledge (al-Bukhari, Muslim). For al-Nabulusi milk is the innate nature of Islam and lawful wealth gained without toil.
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.
In the Sunnah
The Prophet ﷺ related: “While I was asleep, a cup of milk was brought to me; I drank until I saw its freshness coming out of my nails, then gave the rest to ʿUmar.” He was asked: “How did you interpret it?” He said: “Knowledge.” (al-Bukhari 82 and 7006, Muslim 2391)
What the interpretation books say
al-Nabulusi — Taʿṭīr al-Anām fī Taʿbīr al-Manām
(لبن) هو في المنام فطرة الإسلام وهو مال حلال بلا تعب
Milk in a dream is the innate nature (fitra) of Islam, and lawful wealth gained without toil.
وإن رأى أن الثديين يدر منهما لبن فإن الدنيا تدر عليه
If he sees milk flowing from the breasts, the world’s goods flow to him.
وألبان الأنعام مال حلال من سلطان ورزق طيب بقدر ما حلب
The milk of livestock is lawful wealth from an authority, a good provision in proportion to what was milked.
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
- HoneyIn a dream told to the Prophet ﷺ, Abu Bakr interpreted honey dripping from a cloud as the Quran and its sweetness (al-Bukhari, Muslim). For al-Nabulusi honey is lawful wealth, and for people of religion the sweetness of faith and recitation of the Quran.
- BreadWhite bread is, for al-Nabulusi, pleasant provision; bread also stands for knowledge and Islam, the pillar of religion. Receiving bread from a deceased person announces provision from where one did not expect.
- Sheep, ramThe ram is a noble, powerful man; the flock, spoils and wealth. Finding sheep announces, for al-Nabulusi, authority and blessings.
All the symbols in the dictionary