Islamic Interpretation
In a dream, a river symbolizes a noble and powerful person. Entering a river means meeting or forming a friendship with such an individual. Drinking from a river signifies trials, though clear water points to prosperity and a pleasant life. Leaping from one bank to the other indicates escape from hardships, relief from distress, and victory over an enemy. A river also signifies travel, and swimming in it represents employment in government service. When a river flows through streets and markets and people bathe or perform ablution in it, it reflects the justice of a ruler. If it floods streets or homes and causes damage, it represents an unjust ruler or an invading force. A river flowing from one’s house without harming anyone indicates good intentions or righteous deeds, while becoming a river signifies death. Turbid water denotes worries and fear of a powerful person. Crossing a river means dispelling fear or anxiety, or ending ties with one great person to meet another. Jumping from midstream to the bank signifies escape from a ruler’s anger, and losing something in a river means suffering harm from authority. A river inside one’s house signifies prosperity; if people drink from it, it shows generosity, sharing wealth, or spreading knowledge. If a poor person sees a river flowing in his home, it may mean expelling a household member for a shameful or sinful act. A river can also represent a good deed or steady income. A foul and murky river signifies hellfire, while seeing the rivers of Paradise indicates prosperity. The heavenly river of milk represents divine gift of innate knowledge and submission to God’s command, the river of pure wine signifies joy and rapture from love of God, and the river of honey signifies knowledge or the Holy Qur’an. Drinking from the Nile of Egypt means attaining great wealth, gold, and power. (Also see Euphrates, Kawthar, Walking on water, Water)