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Dreaming of a mirror in Islam
In short
For al-Nabulusi, a mirror may represent illusion, vanity, or a woman; looking in a mirror may herald an improvement in worldly standing, but not in religion, or, in a silver mirror, a loss of standing. The Muntakhab attributed to Ibn Sirin does not address mirrors in the passages provided.
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
هي في المنام خيال وغرور وقيل امرأة.
A mirror in a dream represents illusion and vanity; it has also been said to represent a woman.
ومن نظر في مرآة فإنه يتزوج امرأة وإن كانت له امرأة غائبة قدمت عليه وإن كان سلطانا عزل
[Whoever] looks in a mirror marries a woman; if he has an absent wife, she returns to him; if he is a sultan, he is deposed.
وقيل إن المرآة مروءة الرجل ومرتبته على قدر كبر المرآة وجلائها وصدئها ومن نظر في مرآة فضة فإنه يذهب جاهه
It has been said that the mirror represents a man’s dignity and standing, according to the mirror’s size, clarity, and rust. [Whoever] looks in a silver mirror loses his standing.
ومرآة الذهب قوة في الدين واستغناء بعد الفقر وتولية بعد العز
A gold mirror signifies strength in religion, freedom from need after poverty, and appointment to office after having held power.
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
- EyesThe eye stands, for al-Nabulusi, for the dreamer’s religion and insight, which tells guidance from error; seeing many eyes on one’s body announces an increase in religion and righteousness.
- 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.
- ClothesThe best clothes are new, thick and ample; worn and dirty clothes are poverty and worry. White is beauty in this world and in religion, green is religion and devotion; black, worn without being used to it, something unpleasant.
All the symbols in the dictionary