Nature and elements
Dreaming of a mountain in Islam
In short
For al-Nabulusi, climbing a mountain can mean reaching a goal, attaining elevation or authority, but also experiencing hardship; descending can signify relief or the loss of a position. The Muntakhab attributed to Ibn Sirin presents the climbed mountain as a goal: reaching its summit means attaining what is hoped for, while falling from it brings a change of circumstances closer.
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
أنه صعد الجبل فإن الجبل غاية هم نفسه يبلغها بقدر ما رأى أنه صعد منه حتى يستوي فوقه على قدر صعوده وكل صعود يراه الإنسان على جبل أو عقبة أو تل أو سطح أو غير ذلك فإنه نيل ما هو طالب من قضاء الحاجة التي يريدا وقيل استواء الصعود مشقة.
[Whoever sees himself] climbing a mountain sees in it the goal of his aspirations, which he reaches according to how high he has climbed, until he reaches the summit. Any ascent that a person sees on a mountain, a pass, a hill, a roof, or anything else means obtaining what he seeks to fulfil his need; it has been said that reaching the top of the ascent is hardship.
أنه ارتقى فيه فقعد عليه فإنه يولد له ولد ضخم وكل صعود رفعة وكل هبوط ضعة فإذا كان الصعود يدل على هم فإن النزول دليل الفرج وكل صعود دل على الولاية فإن الهبوط دليل عزل.
[Whoever sees himself] climbing the mountain and then sitting on it will have a large child. Every ascent is elevation and every descent is abasement. If ascent indicates a worry, descent is a sign of relief; and if an ascent indicates authority, descent is a sign of dismissal.
Muntakhab al-Kalām fī Tafsīr al-Aḥlām (attributed to Ibn Sirin)
Attribution to Ibn Sirin rejected: why
ومن رأى أنه يهم بصعود جبل أو يزاوله كان ذلك الجبل حينئذ غاية يسمو إليها فإن هو علاه نال أمله فإن سقط عنه يقترب حاله والصعود المحمود على الجبل أن يعرج في ذلك كما يفعل صاعد الجبل وكل الإرتفاع محمود إلا أن يكون مستويا لقوله تعالى (سأرهقه صعودا)
Whoever sees himself about to climb a mountain or striving to do so sees in that mountain a goal toward which he aspires; if he reaches its summit, he attains what he hopes for, and if he falls from it, his situation draws near. The praiseworthy ascent of a mountain is to climb it in a winding path, as a mountain climber does. Every elevation is praiseworthy unless it is straight, according to the words of the Exalted: “I shall impose upon him a steep ascent.”
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
- SkyFor al-Nabulusi, ascending to the sky can signify attaining elevation and favor with the ruler, while ascending without aid can portend great fear of the ruler. The Muntakhab attributed to Ibn Sirin also associates being in the sky with authority and exercising command.
- TreeFor al-Nabulusi, trees can represent men and women, and sitting beneath a tree with people who remember Allah indicates His approval of the dreamer. Planting a tree signifies prestige, while planting trees in one’s garden is associated with the birth of children whose lifespans correspond to those of the trees.
- EarthquakeFor al-Nabulusi, an earthquake may herald a trial, fear, disturbing news, and the disclosure of secrets. In some contexts, it may also indicate the growth of crops and an abundance of summer fruits.
All the symbols in the dictionary