Nature and elements
Dreaming of the sea in Islam
In short
The sea stands for a king or anyone with authority over people; seeing it means obtaining what one hoped for. Swimming means overcoming an opponent; walking on water, firm faith.
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
(بحر) في المنام يدل على ملك قوي هائل مهاب عادل شفيق يحتاج إليه الخلائق
The sea in a dream stands for a powerful, awe-inspiring, just and compassionate king whom creatures need.
(ومن رأى) البحر أصاب شيئا كان يرجوه
Whoever sees the sea obtains something he was hoping for.
(ومن رأى) أنه يسبح خاصم خصما له وغلب خصمه ونصر عليه
Whoever sees himself swimming contends with an opponent, overcomes him and prevails.
والمشي فوق الماء في بحر أو نهر يدل على حسن دينه وصحة يقينه
Walking on water, on a sea or a river, indicates sound religion and firm certainty.
Muntakhab al-Kalām fī Tafsīr al-Aḥlām (attributed to Ibn Sirin)
Attribution to Ibn Sirin rejected: why
أما البحر فدال على كل من له سلطان على الخلق كالملوك والسلاطين والجباة والحكام والعلماء والسادات والازواج
The sea stands for anyone with authority over people: kings, rulers, tax collectors, judges, scholars, notables and husbands.
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
- WaterFor both books clear water is life, knowledge and ease, and drinking it is a good sign. Al-Nabulusi also reports the view attributed to Ibn Sirin: water can be a trial in religion.
- FishFresh, plentiful fish is, for both books, wealth gained like spoils; small fish are worries. Fishing in water announces pleasing news.
- FloodFor al-Nabulusi a torrent is first an enemy’s attack; but clear, calm water from which people benefit announces successive blessings, and seeing a torrent may herald rain.
All the symbols in the dictionary