Seeing Elephants and Beasts of Prey in the Dream

An elephant symbolises a foreigner who is despotic, powerful and vehement. He has no compassion_striking fear into the hearts of people.

Mounting an Elephant : If a person sees himself as mounting or owning an elephant or encircling it or utilizing it for any purpose other than ploughing, it is a glad tiding that he will either be endowed with power and superiority or he will be appointed to an important office by the government of a foreign country.

Eating elephant Meat : The One who eats the meat will receive assets from some authority. The extent of such assets will depend on how much meat he eats. The same interpretation is given if a person sees himself taking possession of the skin, bone or any other portion of the elephant.

Riding an Elephant in Battle : He will gain victory over his enemy in battle.

A True Incident : this incident is related to a group of people living on the Island of Saqliyyah . It is narrated that their king was bent on annihilating the Muslims. For this, he prepared a powerful navy comprising of thousands of soldiers. At this point he saw a dream in which he saw himself mounted on an elephant while drums were beaten and trumpets were blown before him. When he awoke he summoned some of his clergymen and asked them to interpret the dream. They gave him the glad tiding of victory. He demanded proof from them for their interpretation. The said that the elephant is the most powerful animal on land and mounting such a powerful animal means becoming the master of power and strength. And the beating of drums and blowings of trumpets are signs of happiness, ecstasy and victory. Also drums are only beaten in the presence of asking if there is some reason for happiness.

When the king heard this, he became both surprised and delighted. He then summoned some Jewish ulama and asked them for their interpretation. They also interpdreted the dream as a glad tiding of victory. He then called some Muslim ulamaa and demanded that they interpret the dream. They all pointed to an experienced aalim to respond to the king's demand. The aalim said to the king that he would interpret the dream only if he guaranteed their safety which he did. The learned aalim interpreted the dream thus; “O king, I see no wisdom in your wanting to kill the Muslims and marching on them for this purpose. Please do not deploy your army for they will not return to you alive. They will be defeated and destroyed. And do not for one moment think that I give this interpretation because I am a Muslim”. The king asked him for proof to which he replied that the Holy Book of Allah was the source for his proof. He quoted the verse: Have you not seen what your Lord had done to the people of the elephants. He recited the entire Soorah Feel. The king said: “This is your proof regarding the elephants. What have you to say about the drums?” He recited the verse: And when the trumpet will be blowns, this will be a very hard day for the non-believers-not an easy one.

When the king heard this he became utterly shocked and perplexed since the shaikh's explanation was rational and irrefutable. To avoid embarrassment to himself he dismissed the sheikh and his colleagues saying that he would have believed him if he (the sheikh) were not a Muslim. But since he is a Muslim he is biased in his delivery of interpretation.

The Shaikh said: “You will soon find out for yourself, o king!”.

When the sheikh and his colleagues departed the king began to ponder deeply about what the sheikh had said. He became convinced and decided not to go ahead with his plans. When the clergy heard of this they approached him and urged him to go ahead with his plan. They reasoned with him not to believe the interpretation of the sheikh as he was a Muslim and a Muslim would obviously be opposed to king Muslims. They also sought his permission to kill the sheikh which he refused. They continued to incite him against the Muslim and urged him to go ahead with his plans. He had no choice but to accede. He deployed a huge army under the command of his son. The two sides met in the middle of the sea. For three days a fierce battle ensued between the Muslims and non-Muslims. One the third day the Christians army was defeated. Not a single person was spared. When the king came to learn about this, he called for the sheikh and admitted his folly before him. He then secretly accepted Islam at his hands and bestowed many of his favours on him. It is said that he also learned the Holy Qur'aan by the Shaikh and this affair of the king became popular in Saqliyyah.

Lion : It symbolises a powerful and strong enemy. Fighting with a lion means one will soon fight an enemy that is strong and powerful.

Riding a Lion : Riding a lion and directing it to go wherever one pleases means one will soon be endowed with power and one's enemy will soon be subdued.

Facing a Lion : Facing or encountering a lion without becoming embroiled in a fight means a person will soon be terrorized by an authority or a powerful man. But no harm will come to him.

Eating Lion Meat : The one who eats the meat will receive riches from some authority or a powerful person.

The Skin of the Lion : It symbolises the estates and inheritance of some brave, dignified and powerful person.

A She-Lion : Eating or acquiring the head of a she-lion means the acquiring of vast lands and estates.

Drinking the Milk of a Lioness : The person seeing this is to become prosperous. He will also overpower his enemy.

Tiger : It symbolises a powerful and dangerous enemy. Fighting with one means one will fight an enemy with great strength and power.

Riding a Tiger : One will attain dignity, honour and happiness. A strong and powerful opponent will be subdued.

Drinking Tiger Milk : It means profound grief and sorrow.

The Meat, Skin and Limbs of a Tiger : These are riches a person will acquire from some powerful enemy.

Panther : It represents a foolish friend and a person who has no knowledge of how to treat people according to their status.

Drinking the Milk of a Panther : The One who drinks the milk will attain much blessings and barakah in the near future.

Hyena : If a female, it represents an evil and ugly woman. If a male, it represents a disgraceful, cursed and contemptuous enemy.

Drinking Hyena Milk : His wife will deceive him and be unfaithful to him.

Wolf : It either symbolises a tyrant ruler or a thief who swear false oaths. It may even be the observer's opponent who will swear false oaths when he will contest him or have an argument with him.

Drinking Wolf Milk : the one who drinks the milk will attain much goodness in that if he is in grief he will soon find relief and if he is a destitute he will become rich.

Cat : It symbolises a thief.

A Cat Entering a House : If a cat is seen entering a house it means a thief will enter that house. And if it is seen snatching something it means something will be stolen from his house.

Killing a Cat : Killing or slaughtering a cat means that a person will over power his enemy or rival.

A Cat Fighting Someone : the person with whom the cat is fighting will become ill in the very near future. If the cat is overpowered, he will recover quickly. But if the cat bites him he will remain ill for a lengthy period. According to Imaam Muhammad bin Sireen his illness will span for one whole year. And a wild cat bespeaks of more serious illness and for a greater period.

Mongoose, Lynx or Weasel : The interpretation of any of the above is the same as a cat except that the illness is of a less serious nature and for a shorter period.

An Ape or Monkey : It presents his enemy who is defeated. The reason hfor his defeat is the fact that Allah has deprived him of His favours because of his sins, infamy and wickedness.

A Swine : it represents a person who has a striking personality but is in fact very wicked in matters of character, conduct and Deen.

Acquiring any Portion of a Swine : Acquiring the meat, blood, hair etc. of a swine means a person will or has acquired unlawful wealth.

Drinking the Milk of a Sow : Drinking such milk means a person will commit evil through his intellect and wealth.

A Dog : A dog symbolises a person's enemy whose enmity hasn't reached its peak and he will soon become his friend. He is also malicious and of mean character and conduct.

A Barking Dog : It symblises a person of mean character who will utter unpleasant words.

A Dog that Attacks : If a dog is seen attacking and biting a person it means that the harm caused by his enemy ill not be confined to unpleasant words only but bodily harm as well.

A Dog Ripping the Clothes : If a dog is seen attacking and ripping a person's clothes it means that his enemy will humiliate him. The humiliation will be equaled to the extent of the clothes it had ripped.

Eating Dog Meat : Eating dog meat means he will over power his enemy as well as acquire assets form him.

Training or Holding a Dog : Training or holding a dog so as to safeguard a certain thing means he will be helped by someone in attaining his goal. In this case the dog does not symbolise an enemy.

The Milk of a Bitch : Drinking such milk means he will be afflicted with fright and terror.

Animals with Fangs : They all symbolise one's enemies. The size and strength of such animals is the deciding factor for the strength and power of such enemies.

And Allah knows best.