Islamic Interpretation
In a dream, a shadow represents changes that affect a person’s worldly life, indicating either elevation in rank and honor or abasement, decline, and humiliation. It may also symbolize guidance, repentance, sincere monotheism, and deep reflection upon the Creator and His signs in creation. A shadow can therefore point to spiritual awareness, moral direction, and the state of one’s inner faith. If a person moves in a dream but does not see his shadow moving, it signifies deviation from divine law, abandoning what is lawful, embracing what is unlawful, or falling into spiritual corruption. It may also indicate death, paralysis, stagnation, or the loss of one’s senses and discernment. The same interpretation applies if one’s shadow disappears entirely under sunlight, moonlight, artificial light at night, or if one’s reflection vanishes from water or any polished or reflective surface. Seeing one’s shadow dancing in a dream represents falsehood, deception, lying, theft of people’s wealth, hypocrisy, or altering one’s faith and principles to serve personal interests. It may also signify criticizing or belittling the conduct of God’s Messenger, peace be upon him. If one sees his shadow dancing upon a carpet in a dream, it indicates invoking evil forces, being influenced or possessed by them, speaking their words, or acting under their sway. Such a vision signifies trials, temptations, misguidance, and the presence of evil that threatens one’s faith and moral integrity. (Also see Shade)