Between Easy Livelihood and Hard Catch: A Traditional and Psychological Reading of Water Symbols 1. Introduction: The Philosophy of the Symbol and the Dialectic of "Fishing" Fish are creatures living in a world hidden from human eyes; the world of water, which in all cultures symbolizes "Life," "Mystery," and the "Unconscious." Therefore, the emergence of a fish from that mysterious world into the dreamer's hand is a momentous event requiring interpretation. Fish in dreams are the most prominent symbol of "Halal Livelihood" and "Booty" (Ghanima), yet they carry strange contradictions. They can be uncountable wealth, or they can be women, or they can be worry and distress if salty or small. The difference between a large and small fish, or between raw and cooked, is the difference between happiness and misery in the dictionary of interpreters. In this extensive article, we dive into the sea of interpretations with the masters: Muhammad Ibn Sirin (Imam of Symbols), Abd al-Ghani al-Nabulsi (The Mystic Scholar), and Khalil Ibn Shaheen (The Scrutinizer), to extract the pearls of meaning hidden behind this aquatic symbol, blending it with a modern psychological perspective. 2. General Interpretation (Perspective of the Three Scholars) The three scholars agree that fish generally represent "Goodness and Provision" unless accompanied by a corrupt sign (like rot or death). Ibn Sirin (The Imam of Expression): Ibn Sirin establishes the famous "Number" rule. He says: "If the number of fish is known, they are women; if they are uncountable and many, they are wealth and booty." He views fresh, live fish as the best type, symbolizing a virgin maiden or renewable provision. As for salty fish, he dislikes it, seeing in it worry and distress coming from kings or servants, due to the salt which symbolizes suffering. Al-Nabulsi (The Mystic Scholar): Al-Nabulsi widens the circle, viewing fish as "Answered Prayer" and "Ample Provision for the Pious." He links fish to places; sea fish are money and travel, river fish are daily provision. He adds a political dimension: Large fish may symbolize the king's ministers and soldiers, while small ones symbolize the common people. Whoever sees himself fishing from a well is committing lewdness (sodomy) or seeking unlawful money. Ibn Shaheen (The Scrutinizer): Ibn Shaheen distinguishes with rare geographical precision. He says: "Seeing fish in hot places is affliction and hardship, and in cold places is goodness and comfort." He agrees with Ibn Sirin that fresh fish is booty, but details the "Method of Eating"; eating raw fish may indicate attaining a high rank, while eating it fried (if descended from the sky) is an answered prayer and good tidings. 3. Positive Interpretation: Spoils of the Sea When the vision is laden with good symbols, fish become keys to happiness: Wealth and Treasures (Ibn Sirin): Extracting pearls from a fish's belly indicates a son or vast wealth via the wife. Catching a large fish (whale/huge fish) is seizing a great booty, perhaps a treasure or inheritance. Answered Prayer (Al-Nabulsi): Whoever sees the sky raining fried fish, it is news of an answered prayer, victory over enemies, and glory, analogous to the Table of Jesus (peace be upon him). Knowledge and Wisdom (Ibn Shaheen): Eating grilled fresh fish indicates travel in pursuit of knowledge or accompanying a great man. Fish is brain food; seeing it interprets as food for the soul and mind. Easy Provision: Seeing fish floating on the water (alive) indicates ease in attaining goals and revealing secrets beneficial to the dreamer. 4. Negative or Warning Interpretation: Fish Bones and Troubles Not all fish in dreams are praiseworthy; some carry severe warnings: Worries and Distress (Small Fish): The three scholars agree that very small fish (more bones than meat) indicate petty enmities causing anxiety, or living difficulties, because they are hard to eat with little benefit. Unlawful Money and Sedition (Al-Nabulsi): Fishing from murky/turbid water has no good in it; it is suspicious money or sorrow. Dead fish in the sea represent dashed hopes. Disease and Punishment (Salty Fish): Eating salty fish greedily may indicate long-term illness or worry from authority. Ibn Shaheen adds that grilled salty fish might mean travel for knowledge but with extreme hardship. Exchanging Better for Worse: Leaving fresh, good fish to eat dead or rotten fish means leaving the lawful (spouse) for the unlawful (adultery). 5. Interpretation by Dreamer's State Single Woman: Fresh live fish means marriage to a wealthy man. A gift of fish is good news. Dead fish is a warning of a failed relationship. Married Woman: Taking a live fish from her husband is pregnancy. Abundant fish in the kitchen is economic prosperity. Cleaning fish with difficulty is trying to fix marital problems. Pregnant Woman: Large fish symbolizes a male (in some interpretations), fish generally indicates easy birth. Salty fish is a health warning. Divorced Woman: Tasty fried fish is compensation from God. Fishing herself means independence and building a career. Man: Four fish = four wives. A tank full of fish = successful business. Fishing with a rod = patience; with a net = seizing opportunities. Fish in bed = illness or drowning in debt. 6. Psychological Analysis (Depth Symbolism) In Analytical Psychology (Jung), water represents the deep Unconscious. The Fish: It is an "Idea" or "Insight" emerging from the depths of the unconscious to the surface of consciousness. Catching a fish means capturing a creative idea. Fertility: A universal symbol of renewal. Slippery Nature: Symbolizes opportunities or emotions that are hard to control. 7. Special Cases Exiting the Body: Fish from the mouth is lying or speaking ill. From the male organ is a son. Wrong Place: Fish on a bed is severe illness. Fishing on land is committing a sin (adultery). Transformation: Turning into a fish implies increasing wealth or living by instincts without religion. Scaleless Fish: Indicates deception or money that slips away. 8. Modern Interpretations Investment: The sea is the volatile market (Stocks/Crypto). Big fish is the "Jackpot." Data: Fishing is "Data Mining" for valuable info. Social: "Fishing in murky waters" aligns with modern opportunism. 9. Conclusion Fish in dreams is a message of "Hope" mixed with "Work." It tells you provision exists but needs a fisherman's skill. Ibn Sirin teaches the importance of "Number," Al-Nabulsi warns of "Turbidity," and Ibn Shaheen focuses on "Cooking." In summary: Large fresh fish is booty; small bony fish is worry; salty fish is illness. The sea is vast, and its vision is an endless world of secrets.