Food and drink
Dreaming of grapes in Islam
In short
For al-Nabulusi, grapes signify good and abundant provision; white grapes are associated with goodness and healing, while black grapes may signify worry, illness, or fear. The Muntakhab attributed to Ibn Sirin associates white grapes in season with the good of this world, and raisins with goodness and wealth.
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
هو في المنام رزق حسن والعنب رزق دائم واسع مدخر وفي وقته غضارة الدنيا وفي غير وقته خير يناله قبل الوقت وربما كان حراما يعجل له قبل وقته
In a dream, it signifies good provision. Grapes are lasting, abundant provision kept in reserve; in season, they represent the prosperity of this world, and out of season, a good obtained before its time, sometimes illicit.
والعنب الأسود رزق لا يبقى وقيل في وقته هم وفي غير وقته مرض وإذا كان مدلى فإنه يدل على الخوف الشديد
Black grapes are provision that does not last. It has been said that in season they signify worry and out of season illness; when hanging, they indicate great fear.
والعنب الأبيض لا يكون إلا خيرا وشفاء
White grapes signify nothing but goodness and healing.
Muntakhab al-Kalām fī Tafsīr al-Aḥlām (attributed to Ibn Sirin)
Attribution to Ibn Sirin rejected: why
والعنب الأبيض في وقته عطارة الدنيا وخيرها وفي غير وقته مال يناله قبل الوقت الذي كان يرجوه والزبيب كله أسوده وأحمره وأبيضه خير ومال
White grapes, in season, represent the prosperity and goodness of this world; out of season, they represent money obtained before the time one had hoped for. Raisins, whether black, red, or white, all signify goodness and wealth.
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
- FigFor al-Nabulusi, the fig can symbolize great wealth and abundance; eating it can signify numerous offspring or income without hardship. Its fruits and leaves can also signify worry, grief, and regret; the black fig in season and the white fig are favorable.
- DatesFor al-Nabulusi, dates may signify rain for whoever sees them, pure sustenance for whoever eats them, or the sweetness of faith. The Muntakhab attributed to Ibn Sirin associates eating unripe dates with the sweetness of faith.
- AlcoholFor al-Nabulusi, drinking wine can signify a grave sin and abundant provision, but also healing or loss of reason. Wine can also symbolize temptation, evil, hostility, and enmity.
All the symbols in the dictionary