Animals
Dreaming of a bird in Islam
In short
The bird is often honour, power or good news; perched on oneself, it stands for the dreamer’s deeds, pure or mixed according to its colour.
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
(طير) هو في المنام عز وسلطان وزينة وللتاجر ربح
Birds in a dream are honour, power and adornment; and for the merchant, profit.
وقد يدل على العمل لمن رآه على رأسه أو كتفه أو حجره أو عنقه فإن كان أبيض فهو صاف وإن كان كدرا ملونا فهو عمل مختلف غير صاف
It may stand for the deeds of whoever sees it on his head, shoulder, lap or neck: if white, pure deeds; if dull and mottled, mixed, impure deeds.
(ومن رأى) الطيور تطير فوق رأسه فإنه ينال ولاية ورياسة
Whoever sees birds flying above his head obtains office and leadership.
طائرا جاء من السماء فوقع بين يديه فهي بشارة
[Whoever sees] a bird come from the sky and land before him: it is good news.
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
- FlyingFlying in a dream is, for al-Nabulusi, a journey — a restful one if flying on one’s back —; for one who is not travelling, a time of idleness. Flying over a mountain announces authority obtained without effort.
- StarsFor al-Nabulusi a star stands for a noble person; bright stars gathered in one’s home announce notable visitors, and a star in one’s hand, a noble child. The Quran also recounts Joseph’s dream of eleven stars bowing to him.
- FishFresh, plentiful fish is, for both books, wealth gained like spoils; small fish are worries. Fishing in water announces pleasing news.
All the symbols in the dictionary