Breaking and Being Broken

To see in a dream that something, whatever it may be, has been broken signifies harm; according to one narration, it also signifies death. According to Jābir al-Maghribī, to break, or to see broken, something detestable or a musical instrument is auspicious.

To see that the thing to which a rope is attached has broken when one takes hold of the rope by its end and pulls it signifies that one’s affairs will be ruined and one’s hope will come to nothing; to see the string of a rosary break signifies that one’s appointed time is near, or that one’s affairs will become scattered and everything will be turned upside down. According to Ibn Sīrīn, to see one of one’s possessions broken signifies that harm will befall one; to see oneself breaking anything signifies that harm will befall someone other than oneself; to see a part of one’s body broken signifies the death of the man represented in the interpretation by that limb.

Whoever sees in a dream that he has broken one of the instruments of play or music will abstain from sins and, regretting his evil ways, reform his condition. To see anything broken that is of benefit to religion and the world is not auspicious. To see oneself breaking a branch of a tree signifies punishing the son of a great person by words or by beating him. According to one narration, it signifies the death of that person.

Whoever sees in his dream that he has broken a stone will break the heart of an evil, hard-hearted person. Whoever sees that he has broken a sword will rise in rank among the people. Whoever sees that he has broken a plank or a pillar will bring an evil community to the right path through admonition. Whoever sees that he has broken wood will bring certain evil people to the right path. Whoever sees that he has broken the bone of a known man will take his property from him; and if the bone he has broken is that of an unknown person, he will acquire property.

To see iron broken in a dream signifies the ruin of the affairs of a great merchant. Whoever sees that he has broken a piece of metal will fall into grief and sorrow. According to some, breaking gold signifies joy, whereas breaking ore signifies corruption in character.

To see glass or a mirror broken in a dream signifies that a woman will be hurt. To see wood and a pulpit broken signifies calamity for their owners; breaking a tooth signifies that misfortune will befall the person to whom it belongs; breaking a lantern, lamp, or similar object signifies a diminution in rank and worth; according to one narration, it signifies separation from one’s wife; and breaking an animal’s horn signifies a decline in one’s reputation.

It provides early awareness; the person sees risks before they grow and can choose a more solid path.

Neglect, haste, untrustworthy people or uncontrolled behavior can increase the difficulty.

In the interpretation, the themes of success and reputation, work and responsibility, health and body, spiritual signs, the emotional tone in the dream, and how the symbol concludes in the dream should be evaluated together.