DREAMS OF TRAVEL FOR ISLAMIC WORK
DR UMAR AZAM BA PHD FRSA FRSSA
ASSISTED BY: ASIM GAFFAR, UPPER VI, XAVERIANCOLLEGE, MANCHESTER
MANCHESTER, UK
MAY 2004
Introduction
I have been experiencing dreams of travel within Britain, and abroad too, for many years now - since 1990 at least. In such dreams, I see myself already at the place of destination, or in a queue for travel or even on board the actual transport, whether it be a car, coach, train or aeroplane. In other kinds of 'factual' dreams, I am informed or reminded of some noteworthy aspect peculiar to the country concerned; for example, I was given the message that civilisation could not flourish in Egypt, were it not for the River Nile; in another dream, I was drawing a map of Queensland [as in geography lessons at school]. In the dozens of dreams which I have recorded, my destination has been to the following cities or countries: London, USA [Alaska too], France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Sweden, Maldives, Algeria, Australia, Russia [Siberia too], Pakistan [Kashmir too], Japan, Brazil, West Indies, Singapore, Holland, Egypt and numerous other localities. There have been recurring dreams of some countries such as Holland, USA, India, Pakistan, Australia and South Africa, meaning that there will be many more trips to these 'important' countries than to others.
Why did I experience these Dreams of Travel?
I believe that all the religious dreams which I have ever experienced, and my subsequent knowledge of 'religious dreams' in general, put me in the fortunate position of having a very rare, almost exclusive knowledge! This knowledge has the benefit of giving me the status of a scholar, a scholar whose teaching and lecturing may be demanded worldwide [since such religious knowledge may be of interest to all races and castes of mankind, male or female, Muslim and non-Muslim, without regrad to national, political boundaries]. I must be willing to travel to new and different places, near and far, hot and cold, and adapt to different peoples, languages and cultures, without prejudice or any airs and graces; 'humility' is a notion respected worldwide, as is a willingness to share one's knowledge with others [who would otherwise have no access to it]. I must share my specialist knowledge! I have already taken the first step of making most of it available on this site www.dr-umar-azam.com, so that anyone may download any of my work free of copyright restrictions. The next step will be to go far and wide, to hold religious discussions on television and radio channels, giving newspaper interviews, publishing books and lecturing in schools, colleges and Universities all over the world!
DREAM NO 1 : SATURDAY 28 OCTOBER 1995
IN MY DREAM, I WAS GOING TO DRIVE SOMEWHERE QUITE FAR [LIKE LONDON], THEN BACK PAST MANCHESTER TO ANOTHER PLACE, NORTH, IN A HEROIC WAY. I WAS GOING TO DO THIS FOR THE SAKE OF DISTRIBUTING MY PRACTICAL ISLAMIC ADVICE BOOKLETS. THEN, IN THE NEXT SCENE, THERE WAS AN AUDIENCE IN THE LECTURE THEATRE. I WAS THE LECTURER, AND WAS OBVIOUSLY STANDING AT THE FRONT. I GAVE A FEW BOOKLETS OUT TO TWO YOUNG CHILDREN, THE MONITORS - A BOY AND A GIRL- FOR DISTRIBUTION TO THE AUDIENCE. IN THE FINAL SCENE, THE LECTURE HAD FINISHED AND I WAS ALONE IN THE THEATRE. I WAS LEFT WITH THE FRAGMENT OF A PLASTIC WIRE FROM ONE OF THE FOLDERS HOLDING THE BOOKLET TOGETHER. WHEN I LOOKED AT THIS FRAGMENT, THE WIRE GLISTENED WITH LIGHT: POWERFUL, BRIGHT LIGHT. THIS ARTICLE LOOKED HOLY AND VERY BEAUTIFUL!
DREAM NO 2 : THURSDAY 27 JUNE 1996
A NON-MUSLIM LECTURER WAS TALKING ABOUT ISLAM BUT HE WAS SAYING THE FALSE THINGS ABOUT ISLAM [HE WAS GIVING MISINFORMATION]. HE WAS HOLDING A DULL, WHITE PIECE OF PAPER. I STOPPED HIM AND BEGAN THE PROPER LECTURE. MY NOTES, IN CONTRAST TO HIS, WERE WRITTEN ON SMALL, YELLOW SLIPS OF PAPER. THE WEATHER OUTSIDE WAS SO HOT THAT I WAS ACTUALLY WEARING SHORT TROUSERS [SHORTS] WHILST LECTURING! SO THIS INCIDENT MUST HAVE OCCURRED IN A COUNTRY OTHER THAN BRITAIN [IE AUSTRALIA OR SOUTH AFRICA].
DREAM NO 3 : FRIDAY 4 JULY 1997
I SAW SMARTLY-DRESSED PASSENGERS WAITING, IN LONG QUEUES, TO EMBARK ON LINERS TO TRAVEL ON OVERSEAS VOYAGES. THE MEN WERE WEARING DARK SUITS AND SUNGLASSES AND THEY CARRIED A LOT OF LUGGAGE. IT SEEMED AS IF THEY WERE GOING ON THE JOURNEY FOR PROFESSIONAL REASONS, THAN SIMPLY FOR A HOLIDAY!
DREAM NO 4 : MONDAY 24 MARCH 1997
I WAS ABOUT TO DRIVE TO LONDON IN MY CAR. I BEGAN THE JOURNEY WITH THE BISMILLAHI-RAHMANI-RAHEEM: "[I BEGIN] IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, THE BENEFICENT, THE MERCIFUL". IT SEEMED THAT THIS JOURNEY WAS THE BEGINNING OF MY ENTIRE ISLAMIC WORK OUTSIDE MANCHESTER! THEN, IN THE NEXT SCENE, I WAS GOING TO TRAVEL BY COACH TO LONDON! I SAW TWO ATTRACTIVE YOUNG LADIES WHO WERE ALSO MAKING THE JOURNEY. THIS DREAM SEEMED TO HAVE AN 'INITIATION' FEELING, ONE OF EXERTION IN RELIGION FOR THE CAUSE OF ALLAH MOST HIGH, AND OF TRAVEL FOR HIS SAKE, FOR THE FIRST TIME, ON A LONG-TERM AND SIGNIFICANT BASIS.
DREAM NO 5 : DATE NOT RECORDED
I DREAMT THAT I WENT TO MONMOUTH [WALES, UK] FOR ISLAMIC WORK.
DREAM NO 6 : FRIDAY 27 JUNE 1997
I DREAMT THAT I WAS STANDING ON LEVEL 13 OF THE TERMINAL 1 INTERNATIONAL DEPARTURES SHORT-STAY CAR PARK OF MANCHESTERAIRPORT. I WAS GIVEN THE MESSAGE THAT MILLIONS OF FRUITS ARE MINE!
INTERPRETATION
'MILLIONS OF FRUITS' SIGNIFIES WEALTH [PROSPERITY] AND THEREBY HONOUR AND STATUS FOR DOING ISLAMIC WORK ALL OVER THE WORLD.
DREAM NO 7 : c. LATE 1994/EARLY 1995
I DREAMT THAT I WAS AT A RAILWAY STATION. I SAW A STATIONARY RAIN. WITH MY RIGHT HAND, I MOVED THE END CARRIAGE BACKWARDS AND THE WHOLE TRAIN, MANY CARRIAGES LONG, ROLLED BACKWARDS. THEN I MOVED THE END CARRIAGE FORWARDS AND THE WHOLE TRAIN MOVED TO ITS ORIGINAL POSITION. THE ENTIRE TRAIN, MANY TONNES OF METAL, WAS AS LIGHT AS A TOY FOR ME!
INTERPRETATION
'STRONG HANDS' SYMBOLISE THE WEILDING OF GREAT POWER.
DREAM NO 8 : 25 DECEMBER 1996
I SAW A GREEN AREA [VERY ATTRACTIVE FIELDS AND MEADOWS] IN A MIDDLE-EASTERN COUNTRY.
INTERPRETATION
'IF A DREAMER SEES HIS FIELD UTILISED FOR GROWING PRODUCE, IT MEANS THAT HE WILL PROSPER IN MATTERS PERTAINING TO HIS FAITH AND WORLDLY LIFE. THE GREENER THE FIELD, THE GREATER THE PROSPERITY'. IBN SIREEN, p.51
DREAM NO 9 : 25 OCTOBER 1996
I SAW MY FRIEND EKRAM HAQUE IN HIS PRIVATE FLAT IN THE GROUNDS OF AN AMERICANUNIVERSITY . HE HAD MEMBERS OF HIS FAMILY WITH HIM, AND I WAS VISITING HIM. THE UNIVERSITY LOOKED BEAUTIFUL. I SAW AN EXOTIC FLOWER UNIQUE TO AMERICA GROWING IN A GARDEN OF THE UNIVERSITY.
DREAM NO 10 : DATE NOT RECORDED
I HAD A MESSAGE IN MY DREAM THAT WHAT I WOULD BE DOING IN AMERICA WOULD BE JUST LIKE PRIVATE TUITION: I WOULD BE LECTURING FROM UNIVERSITY TO UNIVERSITY RATHER THAN TUTORING FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE!
DREAM NO 11 : 23 OCTOBER 1996
I WAS DRAWING A MAP OF INDIA. IN ANOTHER DREAM, I WAS SIMPLY IN INDIA AND MET A FILM STAR FROM INDIAN CINEMA.
DREAM NO 12: DATE NOT RECORDED
I WAS DRIVING FRANTICALLY THROUGH AN AFRICANVILLAGE.
DREAM NO 13 : DATE NOT RECORDED
IN A CAVE IN THE USA I DISCOVERED DINOSAUR EGGS.
DREAM NO 14 : DATE NOT RECORDED
MY FATHER AND I WERE STANDING IN ENGLAND NEAR THE WESTERNCOAST. MY FATHER SAID, "THERE ARE THE MOUNTAINS [THE APPALACCHIANMOUNTAINS] NEAR THE EASTERN COAST OF AMERICA".
DREAM NO 15 : DATE NOT RECORDED
I OPENED THE COVER OF MY BOOK DREAMS IN ISLAM AND A 'REAL' SCENE WAS PRESENT IN THE BOOK. I SAW A GROUP OF BEAUTIFUL AMERICAN SCHOOLGIRLS CARRYING SATCHELS AND THEY LOOKED INTELLIGENT AND FRIENDLY.
DREAM NO 16 : DATE NOT RECORDED
I SAW A MOBILE, WOODEN LECTURE-THEATRE IN CHINA.
DREAM NO 17 : DATE NOT RECORDED
I SAW STRANGE, TALL GRASS GROWING IN AUSTRALIA.
DREAM NO 18 : 26 OCTOBER 1996
I WAS DRAWING A MAP OF QUEENSLAND.
DREAM NO 19 : DATE NOT RECORDED
I WAS BEING ESCORTED TO FRANCE BY RED-UNIFORMED HORSEMEN IN A ROYAL MANNER. I WAS IN A CARRIAGE AND WE WERE GOING TO PARIS. WE HAD TO REST AT NIGHT ON THE WAY. THN IN THE FINAL SCENE OF THE DREAM, I WAS AT AN AIRPORT AND I WAS TOLD "THE JOURNEY IS QUICKER BY AEROPLANE".
DREAM NO 20 : 15 APRIL 1997
I WAS SAYING MERCI TO SOMEONE IN FRANCE. IN ANOTHER DREAM, I SAW A MAP OF ITALY DISPLAYED ON THE WALL OF MY ROOM AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE ARE SEVERE TRAFFIC JAMS THERE. I LOOKED AT THE MAP WITH THREE ACTION-PACKED, JERKY LOOKS (LIKE WHEN ACCOMPANIED BY MUSIC IN FILMS).
DREAM NO 21 : DATE NOT RECORDED
I WAS TRAVELLING TO GERMANY ON AN ENORMOUS AND VERY POWERFUL AEROPLANE.
DREAM NO 22 : DATE NOT RECORDED
SOMEONE GAVE ME £20 (TWO £10 NOTES) IN SWEDEN IN KRONA CURRENCY.
DREAM NO 23 : DATE NOT RECORDED
IN HOLLAND, I SAW A TRACTOR WORKING ON A FARM. I SAW ORNGES. MY BROTHER WAS WORKING IN HOLLAND.
DREAM NO 24 : DATE NOT RECORDED
I DREAMT THAT I WAS TRAVELLING IN A WAGON IN THE WEST INDIES. I WAS BEING INSTRUCTED HOW TO SIT SAFELY IN A WAGON.
DREAM NO 25 : DATE NOT RECORDED
I SAW A ROUTE MAP OF RAILWAY DESTINATIONS IN THE WEST INDIES.
DREAM NO 26 : DATE NOT RECORDED
I WAS IN A HOTEL IN ALBANIA. I ALSO HAD RECURRING DREAMS ORDEING ME TO GET MY PASSPORT MADE.
DREAM NO 27 : MAY OR JUNE 1997
I DREAMT OF PORTUGAL. IN ANOTHER DREAM I DREAMT THAT I WENT TO POLAND.
DREAM NO 28 : DATE NOT RECORDED
I DREAMT THAT I WAS IN PAKISTAN. IN ANOTHER DREAM MY MOTHER TOLD ME THAT I WOULD BE GOING ON A ROUND-THE-WORLD TOUR (FOR ISLAMIC WORK).
DREAM NO 29 : DATE NOT RECORDED
I RECIEVED A PACKAGE FROM ICELAND WHICH OFFERED TO TEACH ME SKIING!
DREAM NO 30 : DATE NOT RECORDED
I HAD A DREAM THAT MOST OF THE POPULATION OF EGYPT WOULD NOUT FLOURISH IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE RIVER NILE'S FERTILE ROLE. IN THE DREAM I SAW THE MIGHTY NILE WHICH SUSTAINS CIVILISATION IN EGYPT.
DREAM NO 31 : DATE NOT RECORDED
I HAD A DREAM THAT THERE ARE 82 DIFFERENT ROTES THAT MAY BE FOLLOWED WHEN TRAVELLING THROUGH SIBERIA.
DREAM NO 32 : 1 SEPTEMBER 1997
I SAW A MALAYSIAN AIR STEWARDESS AT AN AIRPORT.
DREAM NO 33 : SATURDAY 3 JUNE 1995 : WAQAS'S DREAM
I SAW DR AZAM AND HE WAS READING A NEWSPAPER. SUDDENLY, HE HEARD A KNOCK ON THE DOOR. A POSTMAN CAME AND GAVE HIM A LETTER AND A PARCEL. THE LETTER WAS DECORATED IN A WHITE AND GLITTERY COLOUR AND WAS WRITEN IN THE NICEST WRITING I HAVE EVER SEEN; IT WAS BEAUTIFUL. DR AZAM READ THE LETTER. IT INFORMED HIM THAT HE WAS (INVITED) TO A WORLD TOUR (TO lECTURE ABOUT) HIS ISLAMIC BOOKS AND THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE ACCOMPANYING HIM. HE OPENED HIS SMALL PARCEL AND HE SAW A CHEQUE FOR £500. HE GOT IT BECAUSE THE FIRST DESTINATION ON HIS WORLD TOUR WOULD BE AMERICA AND THIS AMOUNT (WOULD GO TOWARDS) THE EXPENSES. ALSO IN THE PARCEL, THERE WERE LOTS OF LEAFLETS AND DETAILS ABOUT AMERICA, AND PICTURES OF HOTEL IN MIAMI, WHERE HE WOULD BE STAYING. ABOUT FIFTEEN PEOPLE WENT AMERICA WITH DR UMAR; TWO OR THREE PEOPLE WERE WHITE CONVERTS TO ISLAM; ABOUT FOUR PEOPLE WERE WEARING SHALWAR KAMEEZ AND BRACELETS AND NECKLACES ON WHICH WAS WRITTEN THE NAME OF ALLAH ALMIGHTY.
WHEN DR AZAM AND HIS ENTOURAGE REACHED AMERICA, MANY PEOPLE HAD GATHERED TO MEET HIM AND THEY WERE ALL SURROUNDING HIM (THEY WERE VERY ENTHUSIASTIC). THEY SAID 'SUBHAANALLAH, SUBHAANALLAH, (GLORY BE TO ALLAH), BROTHER! 'CONGRATULATIONS, DR AZAM! ALLAH WILL BLESS YOU!' MANY WHITE AMERICANS WERE SAYING TO HIM, "BECAUSE OF YOU, I WILL BECOME A MUSLIM!", SOME PEOPLE WERE ACTUALLY CRYING AFTER SEEING HIM. OTHERS WERE SHOUTING 'ALLAH HOO AKBAR' (ALLAH IS GREAT), GREETING HIM, SHAKING HIS HAND AND THROWING MONEY (IN CELEBRATION).
THEN A (BILLIONAIRE) CALLED MR SHAHID CAME UP TO DR AZAM, GREETED HIM AND INVITED HIM TO HIS WONDERFUL HOME. HE GAVE DR AZAM A PRESENT - A RING ON WHICH WAS WRITTEN THE NAME OF ALLAH MOST HIGH AND ALLAH'S BLESSINGS. HE SHOWED HIS GUEST MANY TREES, PLANTS, FLOWERS, BIRDS AND PALM TREES THAT WERE (ALL EITHER IN THE HOME OR IN THE GROUNDS OF THE HOME). THE BIRDS WERE 'TWEETING' ALLAH HOO AKBAR (ALLAH IS GREAT) AND FLAPPING THEIR WINGS. SOME OF THEM SAT ON DR AZAM'S SHOULDERS. MONEY CAME OUT OF THE BIRDS' MOUTHS. THE DREAM ENDED WHEN A MASSIVE LIMOUSINE TOOK DR AZAM TO A WONDERFUL, ISLAMIC HOTEL.
DREAM NO 34: MAY 1996: WASEEM'S DREAM
DR AZAM WAS WORKING TOO HARD AT NIGHT AND HE WAS SO TIERD THAT HE COULDN'T GET UP IN THE MORNING. BUT IN THE MORNING, A TELEPHONE CALL CAME AND HE ANSWERED IT. IT WAS THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT! THE PRESIDENT QUESTIONED HIM ON HIS PRACTICAL ISLAMIC ADVICE BOOKLETS AND WANTED TO KNOW WHY DR AZAM WAS PUBLISHING THE BOOKLETS AND WHEN HE HAD STARTED. THEN THE PRESIDENT SAID, 'I AM INVITING YOU TO COME TO AMERICA. WE'LL PAY FOR THE FLIGHTS AND THE PASSPORTS'. THE PRESIDENT WAS TELLING DR AZAM THAT LOTS OF PEOPLE WERE ASKING HIM [THE PRESIDENT] FOR THE PRACTICAL ISLAMIC ADVICE BOOKLETS AND THAT THEY WANTED TO SEE DR AZAM.
DR AZAM WENT TO THE LIVERPOOL PASSPORT OFFICE [TO GET HIS PASSPORT MADE] AND FLEW TO AMERICA ON CONCORDE. WHEN HE REACHED AMERICA, LOTS OF PEOPLE WERE WAITING FOR HIM WITH CAMERAS AND CAMCORDERS. THE PRESIDENT WAS THERE TOO AND HE TOOK DR AZAM TO HIS HOME IN A LIMOUSINE. THE PRESIDENT WAS ASKING DR AZAM QUESTIONS, BUT HE ALSO INFORMED HIM THAT A [MUTUAL] MUSLIM FRIEND HAD BROUGHT A COPY OF PRACTICAL ISLAMIC ADVICE FROM ENGLAND AND HAD PHOTOCOPIED IT. WHEN PEOPLE READ THIS BOOKLET, THEY WERE SO IMPRESSED THAT THEY BEGAN TO ASK, 'WHO IS DR AZAM?' AND THEY WANTED TO SEE DR AZAM. THE PRESIDENT WAS CHATTING TO DR AZAM IN THE LIMOUSINE AND TOOK HIM ALL AROUND AMERICA. EN ROUTE, ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE: BLACK, WHITE, ASIAN WERE SAYING TO DR AZAM, 'WE NEED YOUR HELP! WE NEED YOUR BOOKLET!' AND THE SAID, 'ALLAH WILL FORGIVE US ALL OUR MISTAKES!'
DREAM NO 35 : 27 JUNE 1996 : IMRANS'S DREAM [AS NARRATED TO DR AZAM]
MY COUSINS HAD BEEN VISITING US IN MANCHESTER, UK FROM HOUSTON, TEXAS AND THEY WERE GOING BACK TO AMERICA, SO I WAS AT THE [MANCHESTER] AIRPORT. THERE I SAW YOU. I ASKED YOU, 'ARE YOU GOING ANYWHERE?' YOU SAID, 'HELLO, IMRAN! I AM GOING TO PUBLISH AND DISTRIBUTE MY BOOKLET ALL OVER THE WORLD'. THEN YOU SAID, 'OH, OH! I'VE GOT TO CHECK IN NOW AND SHOW MY PASSPORT'.
YOU WERE GOING TO AMERICA ON THE SAME FLIGHT AS MY COUSINS, THE BRITISH AIRWAYS FLIGHT. BUT THEN, IN AMERICA, YOU WERE GOING TO CATCH ANOTHER FLIGHT TO WHEREVER YOU WERE GOING. YOU WERE HOLDING AN ISLAMIC BOOKLET, WITH A RED COVER, IN YOUR HAND. ON THE BOOKLET'S COVER WAS WRITTEN THE NAME OF ALLAH MOST HIGH WITH A CIRCLE AROUND IT, AND THE NAMES OF VARIOUS PROPHETS, AND DECORATIONS. IT WAS CALLED, 'THE WAY OF ISLAM'.
DREAM NO 36 : 1 JAN 1996
I HAD A DREAM THAT I WAS IN SOUTH AFRICA. NELSON MANDELA, THE PRESIDENT OF SOUTH AFRICA, ASKED ME TO MAKE A SPEECH [TO CELEBRATE THE ENDING OF APARTHEID]. MR MANDELA RECOGNISED THAT MY ARCHIVE DOCUMENTS WERE BOTH POLITICAL AND VALUABLE, SO I WAS A WORTHY PERSON TO CONDEMN THE EVIL AND INJUSTICE OF APARTHEID.
DREAM NO 37 : TUESDAY 18 FEBRUARY 1997
I ASKED A CHINESE YOUTH, A STUDENT, IF HE WOULD HELP ME TO TRANSLATE PART OF MY PHILOSOPHY OF ISLAM LECTURE NOTES INTO REAL CHINESE WRITING [MANDARIN LANGUAGE] AND HE PROMISED TO DO SO.
DREAM NO 38 : c. WINTER, 1991
I WAS WITH A FRIEND CALLED KHALID SATWILKER. I OPENED THE BOOT OF MY CAR AND LOADED IT WITH MANY COPIES OF MY [VARIOUS] ISLAMIC WRITINGS [IE PRACTICAL ISLAMIC ADVICE, DREAMS IN ISLAM, THE PHILOSOPHTY OF ISLAM, VISIONS OF PARADISE ETC.]. ALL THE COPIES OF THIS RELIGIOUS LITERATURE WERE IN BOOKLET FORM. SATWILKER AND I WERE GOING TO TAKE THESE TO THE HOLYCITY OF MECCA [AND DISTRIBUTE THEM THERE].
CONTEXT
I HAD DISTRIBUTED NUMEROUS COPIES OF VARIOUS BOOKLETS OF MY ISLAMIC WORKS TO THE YOUNGER GENERATION OF MUSLIMS IN THE NORTH-WEST, YORKSHIRE AND MIDLANDS AREAS OF THE UK. I DISCUSSED ISLAMIC TOPICS FREQUENTLY WITH SATWILKER, WHICH IS WHY I THINK HE APPEARED IN THE DREAM.
DREAM NO 39 : WEDNESDAY 14 JUNE 1995
IN THE DREAM, I WOKE UP AND THEN GOT UP TO CHECK THE POST, AS WAS MY WONT. THE POSTMAN HAD LEFT MANY LETTERS FOR ME [ISLAMIC CORRESPONDENCE] AS WELL AS A LARGE PARCEL FROM SCOTLAND! ON THIS PARCEL WAS WRITTEN SOMETHING AFFECTIONATE, SUCH AS 'BONNY SCOTLAND'. I OPENED THE PARCEL. IT CONTAINED ASSORTD BISCUITS. ONE OR TWO BISCUITS WERE SO SPECIAL THAT THE MANUFACTURERS HAD ONLY INCLUDED THEM IN THE SELECTION BECAUSE THEY [THE MANUFACTURERS] WANTED CONSUMERS TO KNOW OF THE RECIPES. THESE BISCUITS LOOKED EXOTIC AND DELICIOUS. OTHER BISCUITS WERE MORE ORDINARY, AND THERE WERE LOTS OF THEM. I ALSO NOTICED SMALL BOXES OF KELLOGGS'S CEREALS, VARIETY PACK SIZE! BUT I HAD NEVER SEEN SOME OF THE BOXES BEFORE! ONE OF THEM WAS PARTICULARLY NUTRITIOUS, AND LOOKED LIKE BRAN. THEY WERE ALL DELICIOUS! ALSO IN THE PARCEL WERE BOOKS - BOTH NOVELS AND EDUCATIONAL BOOKS. THERE WAS THE LATEST EDITION OF 'WHITAKER'S ALMANAC', AS WELL AS ANOTHER USEFUL ALMANAC! UNFORTUNATELY, THE NOVELS WERE NOT VERY INTERESTING TO ME [JUST LIKE AS IN WAKING LIFE]. IN FACT, ONE OF THE NOVELS WAS VERY FRIGHTENING; IT ENDED WITH WORDS TO THE EFFECT THAT, 'A MAN'S EYES BECAME NARROW AND SCARY, LIKE THOSE OF A DEVIL, AND THEY WERE VERY RED'. I THOUGHT THIS NOVEL SEEMED TO BE A HOROR STORY [THE DREAM, IN THIS SENSE, SEEMED TO COMPARE FICTION WITH NON-FICTION, AND TO IMPLY THAT SOME FICTION CAN ONLY PUT SATANIC AND HARMFUL IDEAS INTO ONE'S HEAD. MOREOVER, THE DREAM IMPLIED THAT MY BOOKLET PRACTICAL ISLAMIC ADVICE HAD GOD'S BLESSINGS WHEN IT WAS COMPARED TO SUCH {EVIL} NOVELS].
CONTEXT
I WENT TO GLASGOW BY TRAIN ON 25 MAY 19995 AND DISTRIBUTED COPIES OF PRACTICAL ISLAMIC ADVICE TO STUDENTS IN THE GLASGOW CENTRAL LIBRARY - THE MITCHELL LIBRARY. I THINK I EXPERIENCED THIS WONDERFUL DREAM OF THE PRACEL FROM SCOTLAND BECAUSE ALLAH MOST HIGH APPRECIATES MY EFFORT IN TRAVELLING FOR ISLAMIC WORK.
DREAM NO 40 : 1996
I HAD A DREAM IN WHICH I WAS GIVEN THE MESSAGE: 'YOU HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN YOUR JOURNEY TO DEWSBURY'.
CONTEXT
WHEN I VISITED DEWSBURYCOLLEGE FOR THE FIRST TIME, I SIGNED THE VISITORS' BOOK AND THEN I GAVE OUT MANY COPIES OF PRACTICAL ISLAMIC ADVICE TO STUDENTS IN THE CANTEEN. A WEST INDIAN SECURITY GUARD TRIED TO STOP ME FROM GIVING THE BOOKLETS OUT, BUT I TOLD HIM THAT I HAD SIGNED THE VISITORS BOOK. HE ACTUALLY WENT TO CHEC, IN THE OFFFICE, THAT I HAD DONE SO, AND DID NOT BOTHER ME AGAIN. AFTER A FEW WEEKS, I AGAIN VISITED DEWSBURYCOLLEGE, THIS TIME TO GET STUDENTS FEEDBACK ON THE BOOKLETS, TO GET THE COMMENTS SHEET FILLED IN. I GOT A FEELING THAT ALL WOULD NOT BE WELL IF I CALLED AT THE OFFCICE. I IGNORED THE FEELING AND VERY HONESTLY WENT TO SIGN THE VISITORS BOOK AT THE OFFCIE, ALTHOUGH I WAS STRONGLY TEMPTED TO APPROACH THE STUDENTS DIRECTLY. THE OFFICE SECRETARY TOLD ME TO WAIT AND TELEPHONED SOMEONE. I HEARD HER SAY SOMETHING LIKE, "YES, ITS HIM AGAIN". THEN SHE TOLD ME THAT SUOMEONE WOULD COME TO SEE ME IN A FEW MINUTES. NOT WANTING TO WASTE ANY TIME, I SAID I WANTED TO GO TO THE COLLEGE LIBRARY TO DONATE A COPY OF MY BOOK DREAMS IN ISLAM. THE OFFICE MADE SURE THAT THE SECURITYGUARD ACTUALLY WENT WITH ME, SO AS NOT TO GIVE ME A CHANCE TO TALK TO ANY STUDENTS ON THE WAY! HE WATCHED ME DONATE MY BOOK AND WENT SOMEWHERE ELSE. I WENT STRAIGHT BACK TO THE OFFICE WHERE A MEMBER OF STAFF, A STUDENT SERVICES OFFICER CALLED ME INTO A ROOM FOR A TALK. AT FIRST THE TALK WENT WELL. SHE WANTED TO KNOW WOHAT I WANTED TO ASK THE STUDENTS. I TOLD HER THAT I WAS AN AUTHOR AND WROTE BOOKS AND MANUSCRIPTS. BUT WHEN I SHOWED HER THE PRACTICAL ISLAMIC ADVICE BOOKLET AND INFORMED HER THAT I ALREADY DISTRIBUTED COPIES AND WANTED OPINIONS, HER MANNER CHANGED. SHE BECAME ANGRY AND SAID THAT I WOULD HAVE TO WRITE A LETTER TO THE COLLEGE AND THEN THE COLLEGE WOULD DECIDE WHETHER TO GIVE ME PERMISSION TO COME INTO COLLEGE OR NOT. THE TONE OF HER VOICE INDICATED THAT THE ANSWER WOULD DEFINITELY BE 'NO!' I SAID THAT AS I WAS ALREADY AT THE COLLEGE, I COULD GET PERMISSION THERE AND THEN. I WAS WINNING THE ARGUMENT, SO SHE TELEPHONED THE PRINCIPAL. HE CAME INTO THE ROOM, AND THEY BOTH BEGAN TO ARGUE WITH ME. I TOLD THE PRINCIPAL THAT I WANTED TO SIGN THE VISITORS' BOOK AND THEN DO MY WORK. HE REPEATED THE CONDITION THAT I WOULD HAVE TO WRITE A LETTER AND ACTUALLY SAID THAT VISITORS [ANY VISITORS] WERE NOT ALLOWED TO COME TO THE COLLEGE! HE SEEMED DETERMINED TO STOP ME! THE PRINCIPAL WAS ACTUALLY MORE HOSTILE THAN THE STUDENT OFFICER! I TOLD HIM THAT I HAD VISITED OTHER COLLEGES SUCH AS OLDHAMCOLLEGE, PRESTONCOLLEGE, MATTHEWBOULTONCOLLEGE, BIRMINGHAM, AND BLACKBURNCOLLEGE, AND THERE HAD BEEN NO PROBLEMS. HEC REPLIED THAT WHAT OTHER COLLEGES DO IS THEIR BUSINESS, BUT HE COULD NOT ALLOW ME INTO THE COLLEGE. I FINISHED THE ARGUMENT BY SAYING THAT WHEN I GAVE THE BOOKLETS OUT THE FIRST TIME, STUDENTS HAD COMPLETED FORMS WHICH STATED THEIR DTAILS [NAME AND ADDRESS], SO I WOULD BE ABLE TO GET THEIR COMMENTS BY POST ANYWAY. HE SAID, HALF-JEALOUSLY, 'YOU DO THAT, THEN!' AFTERWARDS, WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE M62 MOTORWAY BACK TO MANCHESTER, I FELT VERY CROSS AND DISAPOINTED. I FELT AS IF I HAD COMPLETELY FAILED IN MY OBJECTIVE, AND SO I WAS SURPRISED TO EXPERIENCE THIS DREAM. IF ALLAH ALMIGHTY DECIDES TO ACCEPT A DEED WHICH IS A FAILURE, HE CAN STILL GIVE A REARD FOR IT AS IF IT WAS SUCCESSFUL, BECAUSE OF THE INTENTION OF THE DOER. THAT IS PROBABLY THE MESSAGE OF THIS DREAM!
DREAM NO 41 : 1996
I RECEIVED A LETTER WHICH GAVE ME THE MESSAGE: 'YOU ARE WELCOME TO COME AND LOOK AROUND HEATHROWAIRPORT!'
CONTEXT
I HAD USED THE AIRPORT BEFORE ON A FEW OCCASIONS WHEN TRAVELLING TO AND FROM PAKISTAN, BUT THIS DREAM INDICATED GETTING TO KNOW THE AIRPORT WELL AS I WOULD BE USING IT REGULARLY TO TRAVEL ALL OVER THE WORLD FOR ISLAMIC WORK.
DREAM NO 42 : 8 MARCH 1997
I DREAMT THAT I WAS AT THE PORT OF MANCHESTER, LOOKING AT A FERRY! I DREAMT THAT THE DISTANCE FROM MANCHESTER TO NORWICH IS 228 MILES. THE DREAM SUGGESTED THAT NORWICH HAS A PORT TOO, AND THAT IT IS POSSIBLE TO BOARD FERRIES BOUND FOR EUROPE FROM THERE.
DREAM NO 43 : 1 JANUARY 1996
I WAS TRAVELLING TO BIRMINGHAM BY TRAIN. THE TRAIN PASSED TWO AREAS OF BIRMINGHAM BUT THESE WERE NOT MY DESINATION. I SAW TWO BEAUTIFUL MOSQUES IN EACH OF THESE AREAS. ONE OF THE MOSQUES WAS BIG AND IT HAD A HANDSOME, ROUND, GREEN DOME. IT WAS SITUATED ON A MAIN ROAD. NEARBY, THERE WAS A MASSIVE, WHITE COW. [I CANNOT RECALL WHAT THE OTHER MOSQUE LOOKED LIKE]. THE TRAIN STOPPED AT ITS FINAL DESTINATION AND I DESCENDED. SUDDENLY, I FOUND MYSELF WITH A COMPANION - MY UNKNOWN WIFE! - AND WE BOTH SAW A THIRD MOSQUE - A MAGNIFICENT AND HUGE GREEN-YELLOW MOSQUE, WHICH HAD THE ARCHITECTURE OF A PALACE! IN ITS COURTYARD WAS A BENCH FOR REPOSE. [IN THE NEXT SCENE] MY MOTHER GAVE ME FILLETS OF FRESHLY-COOKED FISH TO EAT.
CONTEXT
I HAD TRAVELLED TO BIRMINGHAM ON THREE OCCASIONS [THE THREE MOSQUES IN THE DREAM CORRESPOND TO THE THREE VISITS THAT I MADE] AND I HAD GIVEN COPIES OF MY BOOKLET PRACTICAL ISLAMIC ADVICE TO STUDENTS AT MATTHEWBOULTONCOLLEGE. I HAD ALSO DONATED A COPY OF DREAMS IN ISLAM TO THE COLLEGE LIBRARY, AND ALSO GIVEN ONE OR TWO COPIES OF THIS [HARDBACK] BOOK TO CERTAIN STUDENTS.
DREAM NO 44 : 1997
I WAS DRIVING ON THICK SNOW AT THE VERY TOP OF THE HILLS OF THE PEAK DISTRICT IN DERBYSHIRE. TWO OF MY SISTERS WERE ALSO IN THE CAR, AND IT WAS AS IF I WERE TAKING THEMM FOR A LEISURE RIDE AMIDST ALL THE ICE AND SNOW ON THE SPECTACULAR SUMMITS. STRANGELY, THE HILLS DID NOT RISE AND FALL AS ONE WOULD EXPECT, BUT ALL THE PEAKS OF THE VARIOUS HILLS WERE LIKE A BUMPY ROAD!
CONTEXT
I USED TO TRAVEL QUITE REGULARLY TO TALK ABOUT ISLAM ON BBC RADIO DERBY, AND MY INTERVIEWER WAS KASH SAHOTA. THE TALKS WERE USUALLY ON AIR AT 6.15 PM. I HAD TO DRIVE FROM MANCHESTER TO DERBY THROUGH BUSY TRAFFIC, BUT ALSO THROUGH THE EXCELLENT MOUNTAINOUS SCENERY OF THE PEAK DISTRICT! BECAUSE OF TRAFFIC CONGESTION, I NORMALLY HAD TO BEGIN DRIVING FOR THE 60-MILE JOURNEY AT 4.30 PM, TRAVELLING ON THE DIRECT ROUTE TO DERBY ON THE A6, RATHER THAN TRAVELLING TO STOKE ON THE M6 AND THEN ON TO DERBY.
INTERPRETATION
'ASCENDING A MOUNTAIN WITHOUT FALTERING': THIS SUGGESTS THAT THE DREAMER'S DESIRE TO ACQUIRE A PARTICULAR THING WILL BE FULFILLED - BUT AFTER MUCH DIFFICULTY AND HARDSHIP'. IBN SIREEN, pp. 41-2.
DREAM NO 45 : TUESDAY 27 MAY 1997
WASEEM HAQUE [A CLOSE FRIEND] AND I FLEW FROM MANCHESTER TO LONDON. WE PAID ONLY £5 [PART-PAYMENT] FOR A RETURN TICKET. WE FELT VERY IMPORTANT!
INTERPRETATION
THIS DREAM FORETOLD THE FUTURE. NO-ONE KNEW IN 1997 THAT PRIVATE FLIERS SUCH AS EASY-JET, VIRGIN AIRWAYS AND RYANAIR WOULD CHALLENGE ESTABLISHED AIRLINES SUCH AS BRITISH AIRWAYS BY CHARGING SUCH BARGAIN PRIZES FOR SEATS [SEATS EVEN BEING ADVERTISED AS BEING FREE IN SOME ADVERTISEMENTS!].
DREAM NO 46 : WEDNESDAY 28 MAY 1997
I DREAMT THAT I WAS GOING TO LONDON SO OFTEN THAT IT WAS LIKE I WAS GOING EVERY DAY! WHILE IN LONDON, I SAW AN IMMENSELY LOFTY BUILDING AND AT THE TOP OF IT WAS WHAT SEEMED TO BE A MASSIVE SPEAKER. SO THIS BUILDING WAS A TELEVISION OR RADIO STATION. I FELT AFRAID OF ITS HEIGHT: IT CONSISTED OF FOUR LEVELS. I HAD USED ONLY ONE LEVEL, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS HIGH ENOUGH! I FELT SCARED OF THE HEIGHT!
CONCLUSION
The dreams presented in this paper are only some of all the dreams which I have ever experienced on this theme [the theme of 'travel']. People often ask whether dreams mean anything. This paper not only gives the answer in the affirmative, but also shows that true dreams can be an important factor in the making of career plans and getting in the right frame of mind for major upheavals in one's life!
BIBLIOGRAPHY
'DREAMS AND INTERPRETATIONS' by IBN SIREEN [R.A.]
Do a 'Google' [www.google.com ] wordsearch for 'IBN SIREEN' for the most up-to-date details of editions.
See www.dr-umar-azam.co.uk for details of where to purchase this invaluable book.