DREAMS
OF KNOWLEDGE AND SCHOLARSHIP
Dr Umar Azam BA
PHD DCL DIP.FJ DIP.IM
Manchester, UK
April
2003
INTRODUCTION
These dreams are
significant for a number of reasons: Allah Almighty is
informing me that my work [DREAMS IN ISLAM, PRACTICAL ISLAMIC
ADVICE etc.] is valuable [No 2, 3, 4, 8, 20, 21];
more of my work will be commercially published in the future
[No 5]; instead of falling into sin in rented
accommodation, I've used flats accommodation to
produce valuable Islamic work [No 7]; I have,
Masha'Allah, sufficient Islamic knowledge to correct so-called
'experts' [No 9]; I'm skilled in
letter-writing: my letters have an educational purpose [No
11, 16]; so far, I've not been given the chance by the
media in the UK to exhibit my Islamic knowledge [No
15]; my teaching of Islam is so good that it exceeds
the level rEquired for pupils [No 17]; my work could
be translated into languages other than English in the
future [No 18]; I will lecture at the world's
Universities in the future [No 22,
23].
Dream No
1 Thursday
12 June 1997
I dreamt
about my future Publisher, who disappointed me by editing
a major, important and significant section of my future
Islamic work which was being published as a
book.
Interpretation
More of
my work will be published on paper in the future but such
publications, because of the editing, won't be to my complete
satisfaction.
Dream No
2 26
October 1996
I saw two
copies of my book DREAMS IN ISLAM in a pupil's house.
There was also a book on 'dreams' produced by a mainstream
publisher who had used a purple cover for the book which was
meant to compete with my work: a book which was a hefty, very
complex volume, produced as usual to the very highest standard
of physical appearance. But my dream scorned
the mainstream book, and a sophisticated diagram in this book
was the object of mockery in the dream! I realised that
this book was way off course in its knowledge and arguments
because it did not at all involve the role of the Power of
Allah Almighty in the perception of dreams. My dream
informed me, emphatically, that the mainstream 'book' and its
'diagram' were intellectual conjectures based on disbelief: in
fact the book was intellectual nonsense!
Context
Before personally paying for the
publication of DREAMS IN ISLAM in 1992, I received many
letters from mainstream publishers rejecting my
manuscript. Excuses were often termed in such
phrases as: that my book 'does not fit in with others on
the list', would not make a profit, was too scholarly, was
not scholarly enough'. However, in later
years I discovered that other similar, but secular,
titles were published. This dream is informing me that
my book is the one that is true and others are
nonsense.
Dream
No
3 Sunday
16 February 1997
I dreamt
that I was in the Library of a Muslim Girls' School and I
was looking at a book from that Library. It was a book
that I had myself written and I could see from the
ceremonial label [attached inside the book near the front]
that my donation had been acknowledged by
the School. My book seemed to be a guide to
righteousness, and it exuded the power to make the girls want
to do well in life and to be
successful.
Context
I had
donated a copy of DREAMS IN ISLAM to Manchester Islamic High
School for Girls. Unfortunately, it was not appreciated
by the Headmistress. Allah Most High revealed this dream
to me to Confirm that my book is correct and it is the staff
of the School who are wrong.
Dream No
4 December
1991
The boys
of Burnage High School, Manchester were very excited by my
book DREAMS IN ISLAM, and they thought that its publication
was a tremendous achievement. I was able to realise the
substantial degree of education and knowlege that the
boys had acquired from my book. I appreciated their
feelings of warmth, admiration and gratitude for me. It
was as if these pupils were my own brothers who respected me
with great emotion for showing showing them the correct path
in life.
Context
I had
given lent, or given away free of charge, copies of
DREAMS IN ISLAM to a number of families whose sons were
at Burnage High School. I did hear from my
own tuition pupil, attending Burnage, that the Book was
being discussed favourably within the School
community.
Dream No
5 Date
not Recorded
I saw my
former pupil, Rizwan Malik, looking through an author card
catalogue. I received the message that I was the author
of about 26 Islamic writings and
publications!
Context
Rizwan
Malik had been one of my pupils and the best one of
all during my private tuition from 1984-1997 [and I had taught
hundreds of pupils]. He was at an ordinar State school
before I began to teach him. He is naturally very able
but, with my tuition, he obtained about 12 GCSE passes,
five 'A' levels and, at the time of this dream, he
was studying medicine at
Cambridge University! Although
delighted at his success, I began to fret that, academically,
I was not as able as he had turned out to be. But this
dream reassured me: it informed me that my best works, and
success, are yet to come!
Dream No
6 Monday
12 January 1998 [The Holy Month of
Ramadhan 1423]
Rizwan Malik and I
were having a religious discussion, and he seemed to be
testing me because he had been reading up on [detailed]
Islamic knowledge. I recited some complicated Arabic
verses, from the Holy Quran, to him. Rizwan told me,
'That's how my dad talks to my mum!' Then I told him, in
reply to his questions, that SURAH KAHF ['THE CAVE'] of the
Holy Quran is valuable for protection from evil [I
gave him another answer in the dream which I couldn't
recall upon waking].
Interpretation
The reader of SURAH
KAHF 'will be blessed with a long life, he will live under
pleasant circumstances, his condition will improve and
he will receive sustenance from the people who give him
shelter and protection'. Ibn Sireen, p.
144
Dream
No 7 Date
not Recorded
I dreamt that the
inside of my rented flat was like a medieval English
University. On the walls hung lengthy parchments on
which was writing in Old English Calligraphy and also in
Arabic: the verses of the Holy Quran. The atmosphere was
that of a scholarly, academic institution. My dwelling
seemed to be dedicated to the remembrance of Allah Almighty,
and was very important and most
pure.
Context
From 1983-1997, I
lived mainly in rented flats and, in each, did manage to do
intensive, Islamic religious work and distribute [my own]
publications.
Dream No
8 8
October 1996
I dreamt that one of
my readers had read my booklet PRACTICAL ISLAMIC
ADVICE and she made the following comment
*:
When it came to giving a comment on your booklet, I
became confused [because Icould not say enough that is good
about it, complement it
enough].
* This information
was given in indirect
speech.
Dream
No 9 Thursday
27 June 1996
A
non-Muslim lecturer was lecturing about Islam but was giving
misinformation. He was holding a dull, white sheet of
paper. I stopped him and then began the proper
lecture. My notes were written on small, yellow slips of
paper. This happened in a different country than
Britain: it was so hot that I was wearing [khaki]
shorts while lecturing!
Dream No
10 Friday
4 April 1997
I
dreamt that whenever I visit the homes of the readers of my
PRACTICAL ISLAMIC ADVICE, I should take my book DREAMS IN
ISLAM with me to show these same
readers.
Dream No
11 Wednesday
25 June 1997
I dreamt
that I was writing letters concerning my Islamic writings to
individuals and institutions. I was writing on
paper which had my own letter-heading and logo on it. I
saw my own 'schoool desk' [which opened from the top] made of
light-brown, shining and sturdy wood.
Interpretation
The
Islamic letters which I write [to individuals and
organisations] are both educational and for the purpose
of education.
Dream No
12 Friday
15 June 2002
I
dreamt that Ekram Haque, my friend, recited [Quranic]
verses in Arabic and then wrote down something on a
piece of paper. When he placed that paper in front of a
mirror, the word 'ALLAH' appeared, written in Arabic!
Then I went to a house where a beautiful girl [my unknown
wife] lived, and something religious happened there too: some
verses from the Holy Quran appeared miraculously.
Finally, there was a romantic, loving scene involving
that beautiful, Muslim girl and
myself.
Dream No
13 Wednesday
3 July 2002
I was in a Mosque and I
asked the other [young] worshippers, 'Shall I give
you a talk on Islam, lasting only about ten
minutes?' They gave me the go-ahead. I was humble
and sitting on the Mosque carpet besides them.
I began to tell them about the PRAYER FOR A HOUSE IN
PARADISE * and was in the middle of reciting the Arabic
verses of the Prayer [in full flow], when a young man
spitefully interrupted me by saying something. I became
cross and castigated him. In retaliation, he left my
talk. I then carried on and mentioned the
PRAYER FOR 70, 000 ANGELS TO PRAY FOR YOUR FORGIVENESS
TILL THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT ** and I read the Arabic verses
too. While I was reading them, the dream
finished.
* See
PRACTICAL ISLAMIC ADVICE p. 24
**
See PRACTICAL ISLAMIC ADVICE p.
18
Dream No
14 Friday
12 July 2002
I was tutoring a
Hindu girl pupil. After some disagreement between us,
she began to question my competence as a tutor. But I
took out my John Rylands University Library of Manchester card
and showed it to her. I told her, 'I'm a member of THE
[VICTORIA] UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER and it's in the top ten of
all the Universities of the world!
Dream No
15 Monday
5 August 2002
There was some
prominent discussion of Islam at a major function. But
the contributors were not expert on the
finer details of Islam; for example, one 'expert' was
physically -and artistically- formulating the figure of a
cross from a wax canldle! But I wanted to make the point
that belief in the Cross is peculiar to Christianity
but contrary to Islamic beliefs.* I did not
speak up in front of the audience, mainly Muslim
families, for fear of being boastful on the
occasion. Also, Terry Venables** had been
invited as an expert on Islam!
*
These 'experts' were giving misinformation
about Islam.
** Terry
Venables may know a great deal about football, but he is
no expert on Islam!
Context
Just two days
earlier, I had been complaining to my pupils, Amer and
Asim, that I'm surprised that I'm not beseiged with
invitations to attend Islamic discussions on radio and
television as an expert [considering the Islamic knowledge
that I, Masha'Allah, have]. I told them that, even
though I have sufficient free time, I'm ignored in this
matter. Someone like me should be so busy that I
shouln't have time to attend every function.
This dream is informing me it is because unsuitable guests are
invited instead!
Dream No
16 Friday
27 September 2002
I was sorting out
my sent Islamic e-mail messages prior to inserting
them in the relevant A4 document folders. The sheet of
paper containing one message was somewhat crumpled
because I had neglected it. But it was a very important,
though quite detailed letter, to a Muslim
newspaper, regarding an issue of concern to
Islam!
Interpretation
I must not
undestimate the value of my own correspondence
on the Internet, having the tendency to attach more
importance to incoming e-mail
messages.
Dream No
17 Wednesday
28 November 2002 [The Holy Month of Ramadhan
1423]
I was teaching my private
tuition pupils, Amer and Asim how to carve Verses
from the Holy Quran in Arabic into a wooden coffee
table. They started off on the task, first chiselling
the outlines of the letters; their homework was to finish
carving the Verses! I had more homework for
them [not as demanding as this task] but they only made
excuses and said there would be then be too much
homework! Their little sister, about four years old,
joined in the lesson too!
Dream
No 18 9
January 2003
I dreamt that the Prophet
Muhammed [PBUM] was writing out the Holy Quran in a
foreign language, Turkish I
think!
Dream No
19 Thursday
27 March 2003
I had a wonderfully comforting
and rewarding dream of being at school, and a kind, quite old,
wise lady teacher was helping me.
Context
Later that day, I spent two
hours on the Internet, working on my ISLAMIC ARCHIVAL
WORK. This was a very demanding piece of work to produce
and, of course, I work alone, without assistance. I
often joke with my pupils that, when I encounter
problems, I often feel like putting up my hand and
saying, 'Miss, I'm stuck!' as at school [though I'm now
41 years old!]. Only a teacher isn't going to
come! But this was the case in this
dream!
Dream No
20 January
1997
I had a dream that my younger brother
said to me, 'I'm very sad [though he was really
happy]. When I asked why, he replied: 'Your book,
DREAMS IN ISLAM, has been stolen from Longsight
Library
[Manchester].
Context
My book, DREAMS IN ISLAM, [now on this
site] really has been so popular after its publication in
America that it was stolen by avid readers from the
Central Libraries in the following cities, as well as school,
college and [branch] public libraries in these and other
cities: Manchester, Sheffield, London, Birmingham, Bradford
and Glasgow.
Dream No
21 Friday
4 April 1997
I dreamt that whenever I visit
the houses of the readers of my PRACTICAL ISLAMIC ADVICE
booklet to obtain their comments, I should take my book
DREAMS IN ISLAM with me to show thes
readers.
Interpretation
DREAMS IN ISLAM is
valuable Islamic learning material.
Dream No
22 Thursday
3 April 1997
I dreamt that my lecture on
THE PHILOSOPHY OF ISLAM was imminent and my brother, Zaheer,
was wearing smart clothes in honour of the Lecture. I
was wearing clothes which were all
white.
Context
In 1997, I had arranged a
number of private lectures on THE PHILOSOPHY OF
ISLAM [now on this site]. They all 'flopped'. Only
a couple of friends turned up at the Manchester
Metropolitan University and a dozen or so youths at
Longsight Library. I did manage to give a
successful lecture at Blackburn
College.
Dream No
23 Tuesday 27
December 1994
I dreamt that it was my very
first day as a University Lecturer! I had to give a
scientific seminar but I didn't know what to
do! I simply didn't know enough science to
teach them! A group of students sat at my study and they
were then joined by two others who, when they entered
asked, 'Is this the room for the science seminar?'
They asked in a tone which suggested that they attached great
importance to my lesson. When the others answered in the
affirmative, they entered the room. Then I entered
the room [my study]. I felt very guilty because
Ididn't know how to start the lesson. I just
handed each student a sheet, which had a complicated formula
on it, to understand by himself or
herself!
Then I left the room to enquire
from the University administration offices as to
when I could have the notes which I needed to teach
effectively. But first, in the Staff Room, I met an
experienced lecturer and told himn that today was my
very first day at University. I felt young and
inexperienced. The senior lecturer was kind
[and helpful] and he informed me that I would finish
teaching at three o' clock every afternoon. He quoted to
me my University Staff No, which consisted of about 10 digits
and seemed to be very
important.
I next met a porter
and told him that the University owed me �50 which I
had spent on a glass tank for a science experiment. The
porter comforted me by informing me that there might be �70
waiting for me to collect from the Administration
Office. Meanwhile, my students waited and waited for me
to begin the seminar and when, I didn't turn up, they
went home [in
disappointment].
I went home myself
and mentioned my teaching problems at the University to
my mother who was not sympathetic and just said that there
wasn't a problem! I thought to myself, 'I shouldn't
really be teaching science!' I though of recommending
books about Islam, published in the Indian
subcontinent, which I had myself learnt a great deal
from. These include 'Key to the Garden of Bliss'
by Maulana Ahmed Saeed Dehlwi, 'The Spectacle of
Death' by Mohammed Khwaja Islam and 'The Teachings of
Islam' by Maulana Muhammed Zakariyya
Khandlawi. I got the feeling that science is
not the most important or essential knowlege; it
should take second place to religion. I really
wanted to teach 'Islam' to my students, for the very
benefit to their souls. Although I had initially felt
that my students had not learned anything, I
later told someone else that I had given a Calor
gas heater to each student to inspect for themselves, to
see for themselves that the gas flowed from the cannister at
the back of the heater! In fact, I had taught my
students very much!
Interpretation
I cannot apply for the post
of Lecturer at any [world] University because my
specialist subject 'dreams' in [Islamic] religion falls
outside the stipulated academic curricula of
recognised Universities. But this dream is informing me
that, in the future, I will be teaching
students, either in the UK or anywhere else in the
world. The books mentioned in this dream were very
helpful to me when I was doing intensive background
reading on Islamic subjects and so, of course, I would not
hesitate to recommend these titles to students who wish
to acquire an authentic viewpoint of recommended Islamic
beliefs.
Conclusion
The dreams
presented in this paper are only a few of all
those which Allah Most High has blessed me with over
a period of more than 20 years. They are priceless
because they tell me that Allah Most High Considers my
Islamic work to be valuable [and I am also grateful
to many a reader for wonderful, encouraging comments] !
Also, it is clear that Allah Most High has Confidence in me to
do Holy work. I have always tried my best and
always shall!