Seeing a tanbur in a dream signifies extremely severe sorrow and grief, because the sound of the tanbur comes from dried gut.
Seeing oneself play the tanbur signifies affliction and sorrow. At times playing the tanbur signifies ease, honor, and expressing times of indulgence or pleasure. Al-Nabulsi said that seeing a tanbur signifies false and vain matters, adultery, chess and backgammon, employing jinn, magic, and similar false practices. The tanbur also signifies a person who is the leader and master of futile pursuits. If a head of state sees himself listening to someone playing the tanbur, it signifies that he will listen to the words of a liar.