Although cigarettes are not mentioned in the Bible, their symbolism can be inferred through scriptural principles. The act of smoking, which harms the body, may be seen as contrary to the teaching that the body is a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Dreaming of cigarettes could thus represent temptation, succumbing to worldly desires, or the struggle with sin and addiction. The image of a burning cigarette turning to ash might signify the fleeting and ultimately unsatisfying nature of earthly pleasures, and the emptiness that comes from pursuits that do not honor God.

In Buddhist symbolism, cigarettes can represent attachment, craving (tanha), and the cycle of suffering (dukkha) caused by desire. Smoking a cigarette in a dream may be seen as indulging in sensory pleasures that ultimately lead to dissatisfaction and suffering. The slow burning of a cigarette to ash mirrors the impermanence (anicca) of all things. Craving a cigarette but being unable to find one highlights the suffering inherent in desire and attachment.

Culturally, cigarettes have symbolized rebellion, sophistication, social bonding, or self-destruction, depending on the context. Dreaming of cigarettes may reflect societal attitudes toward smoking, personal experiences with addiction, or the influence of media and peer groups. Offering a cigarette can symbolize camaraderie or the desire to fit in, while stubbing one out may represent rejecting a social norm or breaking away from group pressures.

In Hindu dream interpretation, cigarettes may symbolize indulgence in tamasic (ignorant or destructive) tendencies, representing habits that cloud the mind and hinder spiritual progress. Smoking may reflect succumbing to maya (illusion) and the senses, while the burning cigarette turning to ash signifies the transitory nature of worldly pleasures. Craving or offering a cigarette can indicate karmic patterns or the influence of past actions (samskaras) that need to be addressed for spiritual growth.

While classical Islamic dream interpretation does not mention cigarettes, their meaning can be derived from Islamic teachings on health and self-control. Islam emphasizes the preservation of health and avoidance of self-harm (Qur'an 2:195). Dreaming of smoking may indicate an internal struggle with desires or habits that are discouraged in Islam, reflecting guilt, temptation, or the battle with the nafs (lower self). Craving or being offered a cigarette in a dream could symbolize longing for the forbidden, or the influence of negative company.

Psychologically, cigarettes in dreams often represent coping mechanisms, stress relief, or habitual behaviors. Smoking a cigarette may symbolize attempts to manage anxiety or seek comfort, while craving one but being unable to find it can reflect frustration, unmet needs, or issues with self-discipline. Stubbing out a cigarette may indicate a desire to break free from a habit, and offering one to another person could symbolize seeking connection or approval through shared vulnerabilities.

Spiritually, cigarettes may symbolize the soul's attempt to find comfort or transcendence through ultimately unsatisfying means. Smoking can be seen as an effort to fill a spiritual void or to seek fleeting solace. The burning and extinguishing of a cigarette may represent the impermanence of material satisfaction and the need to seek deeper, lasting fulfillment. Sharing a cigarette could symbolize the sharing of burdens or a search for spiritual companionship.