Shepherd

(To see a shepherd in a dream signifies a teacher, an official, a judge, or a notable person among the people. A shepherd sometimes denotes one who rules with justice.

To see oneself as a shepherd of sheep signifies guardianship and, for those qualified, a high official position; to see oneself as a shepherd of swine signifies blessings, shaping and laboring to form the family and society according to the Christian religion and worldly outlook.

To be a shepherd in a dream denotes responsibility and being called to account for the fate of the household.

(Concerning the shepherd’s staff

Whoever sees himself as a shepherd in his dream will attain the place he deserves in society and will do great good to others.

To tend sheep in a dream denotes property and sustenance. Shepherding, according to Abu Sa‘id al-Wa‘iz, is interpreted as office and eminence.

To see, while grazing a flock of sheep, that a wolf has seized one of the animals and that the others have also fled signifies that the people of that place will flee because of the government’s oppression.

Daniel (peace be upon him) says: Whoever sees that he is tending sheep will attain goodness and benefit. Tending horses denotes official service; tending donkeys denotes honor and prosperity; tending oxen denotes honor and renown; and tending camels denotes blessing and going on pilgrimage.

According to Ibn Sirin: Whoever sees in his dream that he has become a shepherd and is tending herds of animals will enter an official position; to see oneself speaking with a shepherd denotes applying somewhere in order to find a job, or leaving one’s work and entering another.

Whoever sees himself, while grazing his flocks, leaning against a tree and playing the reed flute, or listening to a shepherd playing the reed flute, will come into the inheritance of someone whose sudden death he did not expect.

According to Salimi: To see oneself as a shepherd tending sheep signifies that one will succeed in the work in which one is engaged; to see oneself as a shepherd playing the reed flute signifies that one will be of benefit to those under one’s command or to one’s companions; to see oneself driving the sheep and bringing them to the village signifies that one is loved by the people of the place where one resides.

According to another narration: To see a shepherd in a dream is good. A shepherd signifies a teacher, an official, and a judge. If a person sees in a dream that he is tending sheep but does not know the places where he is to tend them, he recites the Qur’an without knowing its meaning.

The shepherd seen in a dream represents the notables of the people. To see a shepherd signifies elevation of rank and ruling the people with fairness and justice. However, seeing a swineherd is an exception. In this case, the interpretation signifies associating and keeping company with Christians and people of innovation.

Ibn Sirin: To see a shepherd in a dream signifies a ruler who governs the people. A just shepherd denotes justice, and a tyrannical shepherd denotes tyranny.

Ibn Sirin: To see a shepherd in a dream signifies a leader, teacher, or governor / ruler. If a person sees that he is tending his own sheep and does not know how widely they have scattered in the field, this signifies that he recites the verses of the Qur’an without comprehending their meaning deeply. To tend camels in a dream signifies presiding over people from another land. To tend one’s flock signifies serving one’s people with compassion and looking after their interests. Sheep in a dream also represent righteous persons. A shepherd in a dream additionally signifies high rank, a position of authority, or justice toward others.

It can be read as a sign of easing, receiving support, gaining morale, or a fruitful development.

Underestimating opportunities, succumbing to comfort, or being late may reduce the positive effect.

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.