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In short

In Islamic dream interpretation, clouds in a dream, on Ibn Sirin and Al-Nabulsi's reading, are a sign of knowledge and wisdom, and of the imām or sovereign who benefits people as rain benefits when Allah sends it down, according to Al-Nabulsi and Ibn Sirin. The reading skews favourable, with the precise meaning hinging on the symbol's colour, motion, and the dreamer's state.

Qurʾanic & Hadith References

"And it is He who sends the winds as bringers of glad tidings before His mercy, until when they bear heavy clouds, We drive them to a dead land."
Surah al-Aʿrāf 7:57

This verse is a foundation for interpreting clouds in a dream. Allah made the clouds the conveyance of His mercy, driving them to a dead land that He then revives. One who sees a cloud which Allah drives to a dead land in his vision has been given glad tidings of mercy descending after a drought, and of knowledge by which people are benefited as they are benefited by rain — upon the pattern of Allah's making clouds the conveyance of His mercy in His Book.

Symbolic Meaning

Clouds in a dream, on Ibn Sirin and Al-Nabulsi's reading, are a sign of knowledge and wisdom, and of the imām or sovereign who benefits people as rain benefits when Allah sends it down; the Qur'anic foundation for this is His saying — "until when they bear heavy clouds, We drive them to a dead land." The interpreters divide clouds into two faces: a white rain-bearing cloud is glad tidings of mercy and provision, while a black, gathered cloud without rain is gathering grief or a delayed promise.

Spiritual Dimension

According to Ibn Sirin: A cloud in a dream is an imām who benefits people through his knowledge as a cloud benefits the earth with rain; one who sees a cloud which Allah drives to a dead land has had that pointing to a descending mercy and provision flowing after drought. One who takes water from a cloud has gained knowledge by which he is benefited, or wealth coming from a noble quarter.

Warning Signs

According to Al-Nabulsi: A black cloud that gathers without rain or lightning in a dream signifies a grief gathering in the dreamer's breast before it is dispelled, or a promise that is delayed without being broken. A dusty cloud bearing fearsome thunderbolts is a warning of a fitnah running through the region.

Where Scholars Disagreed

These are matters on which the scholars read the symbol differently; both readings are presented with full attribution so the reader can weigh context.

In general

Ibn Sirin — A cloud in a dream is an imām who benefits people through his knowledge as a cloud benefits the earth with rain; one who sees a cloud which Allah drives to a dead land has had that pointing to a descending mercy and provision flowing after drought. One who takes water from a cloud has gained knowledge by which he is benefited, or wealth coming from a noble quarter.

Al-Nabulsi — A black cloud that gathers without rain or lightning in a dream signifies a grief gathering in the dreamer's breast before it is dispelled, or a promise that is delayed without being broken. A dusty cloud bearing fearsome thunderbolts is a warning of a fitnah running through the region.

How the Scholars Approached This Symbol

Al-Nabulsi

Al-Nābulsī combines Ibn Sirin's narrative method with the Ṣūfī method of ishārah (symbolic indication). He arranges symbols lexically, citing the views of earlier scholars before adding a Ṣūfī consideration or subtle note. He gives greater weight to the dreamer's state, intention, and the setting of the dream.

Ibn Sirin

Ibn Sirin's method links symbols first to the Qur'an, the Sunnah, and the Arabic language; then to proverbs and poetry; then to the dreamer's state. He delivers brief, source-anchored readings and insists that a dream varies from one person to another according to circumstance and time.

Practical Response — What to Do After Such a Dream

When a dream of Cloud admits more than one reading, the believer is advised to be patient and to seek istikhāra before acting on it:

  1. The dreamer should not rush to a single interpretation but gather the indicators: his own state, the state of his family, the time, the setting of the dream, and the degree of clarity. Interpretation is the child of context, as the masters of taʿbīr have said.
  2. It is recommended to consult people of knowledge and experience in dream interpretation. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Do not relate a dream except to a scholar or a sincere counsellor." Hastening to an unverified interpreter can cause confusion that was not needed.
  3. The servant should pray ṣalāt al-istikhāra in any matter of consequence, and not tie his decision to a dream alone. Istikhāra is an established sunnah for whoever seeks the good of Allah in his affair.
  4. The servant should maintain remembrance of Allah and seek His forgiveness — this clarifies the heart and shows the dreamer what is true. Ibn Sirin said: "The most truthful of you in your dreams is the most truthful of you in your speech."

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Cloud mean in a dream according to Islam?

Clouds in a dream, on Ibn Sirin and Al-Nabulsi's reading, are a sign of knowledge and wisdom, and of the imām or sovereign who benefits people as rain benefits when Allah sends it down; the Qur'anic foundation for this is His saying — "until when they bear heavy clouds, We drive them to a dead land." The interpreters divide clouds into two faces: a white rain-bearing cloud is glad tidings of mercy and provision, while a black, gathered cloud without rain is gathering grief or a delayed promise.

What does Islamic tradition say about dreaming of Cloud?

Ibn Sirin, Al-Nabulsi, and Ibn Shaheen interpret a dream of Cloud within the Islamic tradition, anchored in the Qur'an, the Sunnah, and the dreamer's state.

Is dreaming of Cloud a good or a bad sign?

The reading of Cloud holds several possibilities depending on the dreamer and the context of the dream.

Does the meaning of Cloud change with the mood of the dream?

Yes — the reading shifts with the qualities of the dream: the symbol's condition, its colour, and its motion are all clues a competent interpreter uses.

How should one respond after dreaming of Cloud?

The believer is encouraged after a dream to praise God if it was good, to seek refuge from its evil and tell no one if it was disliked, and to pray the istikhāra prayer when facing an important matter.

Did the scholars of Islamic dream interpretation disagree about Cloud?

Yes — the scholars differed in certain situations. See the "Where Scholars Disagreed" section above for both readings with full attribution.

Where can I find the original sources for the Cloud interpretation?

The primary sources are: Muntakhab al-Kalām fī Tafsīr al-Aḥlām by Ibn Sirin, Taʿṭīr al-Anām fī Tafsīr al-Aḥlām by Al-Nabulsi, and al-Ishārāt fī ʿIlm al-ʿIbārāt by Ibn Shaheen. A complete bibliography appears in the "References & Sources" section at the foot of this page.

What are the favourable meanings of seeing Cloud in a dream?

A cloud in a dream is an imām who benefits people through his knowledge as a cloud benefits the earth with rain; one who sees a cloud which Allah drives to a dead land has had that pointing to a descending mercy and provision flowing after drought. One who takes water from a cloud has gained knowledge by which he is benefited, or wealth coming from a noble quarter.

What are the warning signs of dreaming about Cloud?

A black cloud that gathers without rain or lightning in a dream signifies a grief gathering in the dreamer's breast before it is dispelled, or a promise that is delayed without being broken. A dusty cloud bearing fearsome thunderbolts is a warning of a fitnah running through the region.

How do the scholars of Islamic dream interpretation interpret a dream about Cloud?

This symbol is treated by Al-Nabulsi and Ibn Sirin, who set out its rulings and the gradations of its interpretation in the works cited in the References section at the foot of this page.

Is there a Qurʾanic or hadith reference for the interpretation of Cloud?

Yes — Surah al-Aʿrāf 7:57: "And it is He who sends the winds as bringers of glad tidings before His mercy, until when they bear heavy clouds, We drive them to a dead land."

Dreams often seen together

Symbols frequently paired with Cloud in the dream-interpretation literature. Open each symbol's own page for its standalone interpretation.

References & Sources

  1. (1050 AH / 1641 CE — 1143 AH / 1731 CE, Damascus). Taʿṭīr al-Anām fī Tafsīr al-Aḥlām.
    Short biography & methodology

    A great Ṣūfī scholar and Ḥanafī jurist, one of the foremost figures of Damascus in the 11th century AH. He combined jurisprudence, Sufism, and the literary sciences and authored some two hundred works. His book on dream interpretation is an encyclopaedic reference that collects the citations of his predecessors and adds his own Ṣūfī insights.

    Al-Nābulsī combines Ibn Sirin's narrative method with the Ṣūfī method of ishārah (symbolic indication). He arranges symbols lexically, citing the views of earlier scholars before adding a Ṣūfī consideration or subtle note. He gives greater weight to the dreamer's state, intention, and the setting of the dream.

  2. (33 AH / 654 CE — 110 AH / 728 CE, Basra). Muntakhab al-Kalām fī Tafsīr al-Aḥlām (Taʿṭīr al-Anām is also attributed to him).
    Short biography & methodology

    A noble tābiʿī and reliable scholar among the imams of Basra. He was raised in the household of Anas ibn Mālik, the Prophet's ﷺ servant, and took knowledge from a number of the Companions. Renowned for his scrupulousness and command of hadith, he became the reference point for dream interpretation in the Islamic tradition.

    Ibn Sirin's method links symbols first to the Qur'an, the Sunnah, and the Arabic language; then to proverbs and poetry; then to the dreamer's state. He delivers brief, source-anchored readings and insists that a dream varies from one person to another according to circumstance and time.

Last reviewed: — editorial review against the primary sources of Ibn Sirin, Al-Nabulsi, and Ibn Shaheen.

Interpretations are based on the works of Ibn Sirin, Al-Nabulsi, and Ibn Shaheen, and may vary by scholar.