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Falling in a Dream in Islam: Meaning by Ibn Sirin
السقوط في المنام
In Islam, falling in a dream most often announces a loss of position or a disappointed hope. The Ibn Sirin collection says that falling from a roof means losing the hope you placed in someone, or losing your rank because of something you said. Falling from a high place means parting from what that place stands for. Falling into a mosque, on the contrary, announces repentance.
فإن رأى أنه يسقط من سطح إلى أرض فإنه يقنط من رجل كان يأمله أو يسقط من مرتبته بسبب كلام يتكلم بهIn the Ibn Sirin collection: “If he sees that he falls from a roof to the ground, he loses the hope he placed in a man, or he falls from his rank because of words he speaks.”
Muntakhab al-kalâm, chapter 58, vol. 2, p. 333
The collection has no chapter of its own on falling. It speaks of it in connection with mountains, the sky, wells and roofs. The general rule is in chapter 39: falling from a mountain, a roof, a wall or a tree means parting from what that place stands for, a ruler, a scholar, a spouse or a job. The place where you land also counts: mud, wild beasts and filth stand for sin, the mosque and the congregational prayer for repentance.
The meaning according to what you saw
The cases of falling are scattered across several chapters of the Ibn Sirin collection. Here they are in the order of the text.
| In your dream | Meaning in the collection |
|---|---|
| You fall from a wall, from the sky or from a mountain | A sign of Allah’s anger against the dreamer, according to the chapter on seeing Allah in dreams.vol. 1, p. 49 |
| You fall from a minaret into a well | Your position collapses.vol. 1, p. 93 |
| You fall from the sky | The collection sees in it a sign of disbelief (kufr).vol. 2, p. 15 |
| You fall while flying through the air | Your situation worsens and your deeds fall, according to the verse: “or the wind carried him down into a remote place” (Qur’an 22:31).vol. 2, p. 17 |
| You fall from a mountain, a roof, a wall or a tree | You part from what that place stands for: a ruler, a scholar, a spouse, a job or a state of life.vol. 2, p. 64 |
| You fall among beasts, snakes or into filth | A fall into sins, trials and ruin.vol. 2, p. 65 |
| You fall into a mosque or into the middle of a congregational prayer | Giving up sins and turning away from innovations.vol. 2, p. 65 |
| You fall into an unknown well | The sick person dies, the one on a ship is shipwrecked, the one involved in a lawsuit is imprisoned.vol. 2, p. 102 |
| You fall into stagnant water | Imprisonment and worry. (another opinion quoted in the collection)vol. 2, p. 163 |
| You come down from a mountain | Relief. According to another opinion, it announces a change of situation and resources running short.vol. 2, p. 308 |
| Falling from a roof, you land in mud | You neglect a matter of your religion or of your worldly life.vol. 2, p. 333 |
| You fall from the roof of your house and break your hand or your leg | A trial in your person, your wealth or a friend, or harm coming from the ruler.vol. 2, p. 348 |
Before you interpret your dream
Not every dream carries a meaning. The Prophet ﷺ described three kinds: a good dream, which is glad tidings from Allah; a distressing dream, which comes from Satan; and what a person tells himself during the day (Sahih Muslim, no. 2263). Only the first is read with a collection like Ibn Sirin’s. See the three kinds of dreams, and if your dream frightened you, what to do after a bad dream.
Frequently asked questions
Is falling in a dream a bad sign in Islam?
Most often, yes: the fall announces a loss of position, a separation or a disappointed hope. But the collection gives a clear exception: falling into a mosque, towards a congregational prayer or while taking hold of a copy of the Qur’an announces giving up sins (vol. 2, p. 65). For a frightening dream, the Prophet ﷺ advised seeking refuge with Allah and telling it to no one, for it will not harm (Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 7044).
What does falling into empty space mean in a dream?
The collection does not speak of empty space as such. The closest case is falling while flying through the air: the dreamer’s situation worsens and his deeds fall (vol. 2, p. 17). Nor does it say anything about waking up with a start.
What does falling from a height mean in a dream in Islam?
Falling from a mountain, a roof, a wall or a tree means parting from what that place stands for: a ruler, a scholar, a spouse or a job (vol. 2, p. 64). Falling from a roof to the ground means losing the hope placed in someone, or losing your rank because of something you said (vol. 2, p. 333).
What does falling into a well or into water mean in a dream?
Falling into an unknown well is serious: death for the sick person, shipwreck, or prison for someone involved in a lawsuit (vol. 2, p. 102). According to another opinion, falling into stagnant water announces imprisonment and worry (vol. 2, p. 163).
Does the meaning change for a married woman, a single woman or a pregnant woman?
No. The collection makes no such distinction for falling. It only distinguishes the dreamer’s situation when he falls into a well: sick, travelling by ship or involved in a lawsuit. For a tooth that falls out or for pregnancy, see the pages on those dreams.
Sources
- Muntakhab al-kalâm fî tafsîr al-ahlâm, collection attributed to Muhammad ibn Sirin, chapters 1 and 11, vol. 1, pp. 49 and 93; chapters 38, 39, 41, 53 and 58, vol. 2, pp. 15 to 348 (Arabic text, Shamela edition, OpenITI corpus).
- Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of the Interpretation of Dreams, no. 7044, on what to do when you see a dream you dislike.
- Sahih Muslim, no. 2263, for the three kinds of dreams.
- English translations of the Ibn Sirin collection: tafsir-a7lem.com.