DREAMS OF SCIENCE

DR UMAR AZAM BA PHD FRSA FRSSA

MANCHESTER, UK

OCTOBER 2004

INTRODUCTION

By 'Dreams of Science' are meant dreams of scientific laws, scientific notions, scientific concepts, science and technology, space, planets, the sun, moon, stars, and all the other bodies in the Universe.

DHIKR INCIDENT : FRIDAY 18 JULY 2003

I CAME BACK TO MY CURZON AVE. FLAT AT ABOUT 12.15 a.m. FROM SHERAZ'S [THE BROTHER OF FORMER PUPILS] HOUSE AFTER INTRODUCING MR CHOUDHRY [THE FATHER OF A CURRENT PUPIL] AND TALKING ABOUT BOARDING SCHOOLS IN PAKISTAN [ARMY PUBLIC SCHOOL etc.] BETWEEN 10.15-11.55 p.m.  FELT VERY TIRED,  SO I LAY IN BED IN THE DARK, THINKING; THEN A MOST WONDERFUL FEELING ENVELOPED ME AND I BEGAN TO THINK ABOUT JANNAT [PARADISE].  THEN I FELT MYSELF DOING DHIKR [REMEMBRANCE OF ALLAH] BY MOVING MY HEAD TO THE LEFT, THEN RIGHT, THEN LEFT...ALTERNATELY OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND SAYING, 'JANNAT-AL-NAEEM' [I ALSO REMEMBERED AN INDIAN CINEMA ADVERTISEMENT OF PERFUMES IN WHICH PARADISE IS MENTIONED: 'JANNAT-AL-NAEEM, RUH-AL-RUH ETC.].  THEN I GOT THE FEELING THAT I WOULD, INSHA'ALLAH, BE GOING TO JANNAT-AL-NAEEM - THAT IT WAS MY JANNAT!  THEN I FELT GUILTY THINKING JUST OF JANNAT AND I BEGAN TO DO DHIKR OF ALLAH MOST HIGH, SAYING OVER AND OVER AGAIN, 'ALHAMDOLILLAHI-RABBIL-AALAMEEN', 'ALHAMDOLILLAHI-RABBIL-AALAMEEN'  [PRAISE BE TO ALLAH, LORD OF THE WORLDS].... AGAIN MOVING MY HEAD TO THE LEFT, RIGHT, LEFT ALTERNATELY.  AFTER A WHILE, I GOT SCARED BECAUSE I WASN'T EVEN TRYING BUT MY NECK WAS MOVING BY ITSELF, AND THE WORDS WERE COMING OUT BY THEMSELVES.  THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME IT HAD EVER HAPPENED TO ME.  THEN I BEGGED ALLAH IN ENGLISH, 'ALLAH, PLEASE SHOW ME A SAMPLE OF JANNAT-AL-NAEEM!'.  AFTER THAT, I BEGGED ALLAH IN PUNJABI, SAYING 'ALLAH MEEAA JEE, PLEASE MONOO KOYEE NAMUNA JANNAT-AL-NAEEM DA DUKHADO!'  I READ THE SURAH FATIHA [ALHAMD-SHAREEF] AND SENT BLESSINGS ON THE HOLY PROPHET [PBUH] BY READING THE DAROOD SHARIF.  THEN I RECEIVED AN IMAGE IN MY MIND.  I SAW MY BRIDE IN JANNAT-AL-NAEEM.  SHE WAS COMPLETELY COVERED BY A BRIGHT-RED, WEDDING DUPATTA [HEAD SCARF].  I COULDN'T EVEN SEE HER FACE BECAUSE THE DUPPATTA AND ITS GOLDEN TASSLES WERE IN THE WAY.  THEN I GOT THE MESSAGE THAT THE FOOT OF MY WIFE WAS MUCH, MUCH LARGER THAN THE PLANET EARTH; THE EARTH, AND ALL THAT IT CONTAINS, LOOKED TINY COMPARED TO HER FOOT, LIKE A MARBLE BUT EVEN SMALLER!  SHE HAD HER RIGHT FOOT RAISED AND THE EARTH WAS FLOATING IN MID-AIR.  I FELT A SENSE OF POWER, AS IF THE EARTH IS INSIGNIFICANT WHEN COMPARED TO HER.  THEN, WHEN I WAS FEELING EVEN MORE SCARED OF THE 'AUTOMATIC' DHIKR, I GOT UP.  MY NECK KEPT ON MOVING LEFT, RIGHT, LEFT ... FOR A WHILE AND THEN, AUTOMATICALLY, CONCLUDING PRAYERS SUCH AS 'RABBANA AATINAA FIDUNIYA HASANATON WA FIL AAKHIRAATI HASANATON WA KINAA AZAABUN NAAR' AND 'RABBANA TAQABBAL MINA INNAKA SAMIUL ALEEM WA TUNB ALAYNA INNNAKA ANTAL TAWWAABUL RAHEEM' CAME INTO MY HEAD, AND I BECAME ORDINARY AGAIN.  I THEN FOUND OUT THAT THE TIME WAS 2 a.m. 

DREAM NO 1 : THURSDAY 18 SEPTEMBER 2003

I DREAMT THAT THREE OR FOUR STARS WERE INSIGNIFICANT WHEN COMPARED TO MY LEG AND SHOE!  COMPARED TO ANY HUMAN LEG, THEY WOULD BE AS NOTHING!

 CONTEXT 

 I HAD BEEN LOOKING AT A VERY AWESOME PICTURE, OF MILLIONS OF STARS IN SOME PART OF THE UNIVERSE, IN 'ASTRONOMY' MAGAZINE AND I HAD TRULY BEEN AWESTRUCK! I BEGAN TO DO ZIKR [REMEMBRANCE OF ALLAH MOST HIGH], RECITING 'SUBHANALLAH' ['GLORY BE TO ALLAH'] IN RATHER A FRIGHTENED MANNER!

 INTERPRETATION

 MAN IS ALLAH'S VICEREGENT ON EARTH.  THE RUH [SOUL] OF MAN IS HOLY. LIFELESS STARS ARE NOT WORTHY OF THE SAME ESTEEM THAT MAN IS WORTHY OF!

DREAM NO 2 : 2004

I DREAMT OF LEVITATION!  THE JINN [GENIES] ARE MADE OF FIRE - THEY ARE A DIFFERENT FORM TO HUMANS.  THEY CAN GO INTO THE UNIVERSE * AND ARE NOT SUBJECT TO THE HUMAN RESTRICTIONS OF GRAVITY.  LEVITATION OCCURS WHEN THE JINNS 'ENTER' -POSSESS- THE HUMAN BEING.  THE HUMAN FLOATS BECAUSE HE IS NO LONGER UNIQUELY HUMAN, AND THEREFORE NO LONGER SUBJECT TO THE RESTRICTIONS OF THE LAW OF GRAVITY! 

 * The Jinns are chased away by meteors in outer space when they try to eavesdrop on Divine matters!  [THE HOLY QURAN]

 DREAM NO 3: MONDAY 12 APRIL 2004

 I DREAMT THAT, WHILE WATCHING AN INDIAN FILM, I SAW A DREAM IN WHICH A HINDANI [HINDU WOMAN] WENT UP TO SPACE!  I TOLD THIS FACT TO MY MIDDLE SISTER, NAHEED, WHO FOUND THIS SO AMUSING THAT SHE LAUGHED HEARTILY [AND MOCKINGLY] !  I SAID TO NAHEED, JOKINGLY, 'THE HINDANI WILL GO INTO THE UNIVERSE ALL RIGHT - WHEN SHE'S DEAD!'  I SAID IT IN A MOCKING WAY, AS IF TO EMPHASISE THE ENORMOUS PUNISHMENT POLYTHEISTS WILL FACE IN THE HEREAFTER.  THEN I TOLD NAHEED THAT I HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN INFORMED IN A RELIGIOUS DREAM THAT I WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THE UNIVERSE AFTER DEATH - AS MUCH OF IT AS I WANT!  THIS STATEMENT OF MINE WAS THE FAVOURABLE CONTRAST TO HINDANI - SHE WILL FACE A CRITICAL TIME [TORMENT IN HELL] BUT, INSH'ALLAH, I WILL ENJOY PEACE AND BLISS IN THE HEREAFTER AS A [BLESSED] BELIEVER!  

DREAM NO 4: FRIDAY 2 APRIL 2004

I DREAMT THAT ASIAN SOUND RADIO'S NEWSPAPER'S  ASIAN PEOPLE'S EDITOR PUBLISHED A REPORT ABOUT ME IN WHICH HE INFORMED READERS THAT I HAD A DREAM IN WHICH I HAD SEEN [MMANY] STARS.  IN THE ARTICLE, THE REPORTER HAD ASKED ME, 'WHAT DOES IT MEAN IF YOU SEE STARS IN A DREAM?'  I REPLIED, 'IT MEANS THAT I AM AMBITIOUS AND THAT I WANT TO DO AS WELL IN MY ISLAMIC WORK, AND CAREER, AS POSSIBLE. '  THE REPORTER REPLIED IN SOME WORDS THAT, 'IT MEANS, IN FACT, THAT YOUR RANK WILL BECOME HIGHER.'  

DREAM NO 5 : MONDAY 24 SEPTEMBER 2004

I DREAMT THAT A TEACHER SUCH AS MR HEPWORTH WAS TEACHING ME THAT UTOPIA IS TO BE FOUND IN THE LYRICS OF A SONG.  I CORRECTED HIM AND REPLIED THST, NO, IT IS ONLY TO BE FOUND IN THE DICTIONARY [1].  I ADVISED HIM TO KEEP, NOT ONE, BUT TWO DICTIONARIES IN A CUPBOARD BESIDE HIM!  [IN THE NEXT SCENE] I WAS SHOWN TWO OR THREE BEAUTIFUL FLOWERING PLANTS, A SPECIES NEVER SEEN BEFORE, WHICH HAD NOW MATURED.  [2]  [IN THE NEXT SCENE] I WAS GIVEN THE MESSAGE THAT, IF YOU DRIVE A CAR VERY FAST ALONG A SLOPE, UPSIDE DOWN, SO THAT IT MAKES A DOWNWARDS LOOP, THE CAR WILL CERTAINLY TOPPLE OVER! [3] I THEN TRIED TO PARK MY CAR RIGHT INSIDE SOME OFFICIAL BUILDING, OR WORKPLACE, BUT I WAS ASKED BY A MEMBER OF STAFF TO PARK IN THE PARKING BAYS JUST OUTSIDE THE BUILDING. [4]

 NOTES

 1.  THIS DREAM IS EMPHASISING THAT LIFE ON EARTH IS FULL OF HARDSHIPS AND DANGERS, AND THAT THERE IS NO WORLDLY PHENOMENON SUCH AS 'UTOPIA'.  IN MY ARTICLE 'THE PHILOSOPHY OF ISLAM' [SEE ON THIS SITE]', I ARGUE THAT UTOPIA IS TO BE FOUND ONLY IN PARADISE.

 2.  THIS SUGGESTS THAT I HAVE OUTGROWN MY PART-TIME PRIVATE TUITION CAREER [1984-2004]

 3.  I WILL GET A SPORTS CAR IN THE FUTURE AND WILL BE DRIVING AND WILL BE DRIVING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY TO FULFIL ALL MY ENGAGEMENTS IN TIME [MEDIA WORK, LECTURES etc.]

  4.  SUGGESTS OVER-ENTHUSIASM IN TRYING TO REACH THE REQUIRED DESTINATION.

DREAM NO 6 : WEDNESDAY 10 MARCH 2004 

 I DREAMT THAT I FIRST VISITED AN AWESOME GALAXY, SOMEWHERE IN THE UNIVERSE, AND THEN CARRIED ON MY DAY-TO-DAY ROUTINE ON EARTH!

DREAM NO 7 : THURSDAY 11 MARCH 2004

I DREAMT THAT I WAS IN WAHEED'S + HOUSE.  HIS BROTHER, NAVEED, HAD A COPY OF THE GUINESS BOOK OF RECORDS WITH HIM, AND HE WAS TESTING SOME FEAT OF MINE.  BUT HE WAS QUITE CROSS AFTER I HAD FINISHED WITH MY EFFORTS BECAUSE I HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO BREAK UP ENOUGH CLIUSTERS OF GALAXIES IN THE UNIVERSE,  OR  I HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO BREAK UP ONE PARTICULAR CLUSTER INTO SMALL-ENOUGH PIECES  [ I COULDN'T RECALL WHICH OF THESE TWO TASKS I WAS ATTEMPTING IN THE DREAM, BUT I THINK IT WAS THE LATTER].

+ One of my GCSE maths/English pupils from Glodwick, Oldham.

CONTEXT

On Wednesday 10 March, I had been working on this very paper.  I had used an internet cafe and the two Muslim proprietors of the business had been surprised, and admiring, to see my initial, few typed pages.  Then, the next day, I took a copy of the Holy Quran [Yusuf Ali's translation] to the Pakistani Community Centre, Glodwick, Oldham and had done a solid, few hours' work.  I had copied one or two stunning photos of galaxies and other bodies in the Universe from www.SPACE.com, and reports of phenomenon in the Universe from news agencies such as Reuters and pasted them in my Paper to make the point that Allah has all knowledge, and is Mighty, Wise.  This dream is probably saying that man is Allah's viceregent in the Universe, so if Allah is All-Powerful, Allah has given mankind knowledge, which is power too!

DREAM NO 8 : SUNDAY 28 MARCH 2004

I DREAMT THAT AN IMPORTANT HOURI [MAIDEN FROM HEAVEN] AND HER MAIDS *  [I SENSED THAT THEY WERE ALL STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL, THOUGH I DIDN'T SEE ANY OF THEM!] VISITED MY FLAT IN A FLASH AND THEN LEFT IN A FLASH!  THE HOURI HAD AN AURA OF GREAT HONOUR AND IMPORTANCE.  PROBABLY I DID NOT SEE HER BECAUSE THE HUR ARE CREATED OF LIGHT, AND LIGHT OBVIOUSLY TRAVELS  SO FAST - AT THE IMMENSE SPEED OF LIGHT!

* This group were just like the heroine and her maids in Indian film songs!

DREAM NO 9 : WEDNESDAY 5 MARCH 2004

I DREAMT THAT I DARINGLY TOOK OFF IN A JET FIGHTER OF THE INDIAN AIR FORCE!  BUT I WAS IN PANIC IN MID-AIR.  I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO OPERATE THE CONTROLS, AND I WAS IN DANGER OF CRASH-LANDING THE JET BECAUSE, OBVIOUSLY, I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO LAND!

DREAM NO 10: MONDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2004

FIRST DREAM : I DREAMT THAT MY OLDER SISTER RELEASED SOME KIND OF PLANE OR ROCKET INTO THE SKY AND IT EVENTUALLY RETURNED! 

SECOND DREAM : I SAW TWO KINDS OF TECHNICAL MEASURING GADGETS EG SPEEDOMETERS.  THESE REPRESENTED WESTERN SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL SUPREMACY.  THEN I WAS GIVEN THE MESSAGE THAT, IN SOME ISLAMIC COUNTRIES, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING ONE HAS [ONE'S LIFE] IS TAKEN AWAY FOR TRIVIAL REASONS [FOR EXAMPLE, THE DEATH PENALTY IS IMPLEMENTED IN IRAN FOR MINOR LEGAL INFRINGEMENTS].  

INTERPRETATION   

This dream suggests that  certain Muslim regimes nowadays are uneducated, cruel barbarians when compared to the educated and capable non-Muslims in the West.  Unfortunately, this is the truth, even if it hurts, and explains why extremist Muslims are in such a terrible political plight today.  They are viewed by suspicion, not only by the kafirs, but also by ordinary Muslims too!

DREAM NO 11: SATURDAY 21 FEBRUARY 2004 

FIRST DREAM: I DREAMT OF A BRITISH-MADE, HAND-BUILT SPORTS CAR WHICH WAS WORTH ABOUT �80,000!  I WAS LOOKING AT IT AND THINKING THAT IT WAS TOO EXPENSIVE FOR ME!  IT WAS MOST BEAUTIFULLY CONSTRUCTED, BUT IT HAD SOME SORT OF FAULT OR WEAKNESS IN ITS MANUFACTURE TOO.

SECOND DREAM:  I WAS WATCHING A SCENE FROM AN INDIAN FILM.  A DECEASED PERSON HAD TEMPORARILY RETURNED TO VISIT HIS PARENTS AND OTHER FAMILY, AND THE HINDI SONG WAS IN HIS HONOUR - EG, 'LAUT KAR AYA HAI!' [He has returned!'].  AS I WATCHED THE SCENE, I SAID TO MYSELF: 'PRAISE BE TO ALLAH WHO HAS THE STRENGTH TO RAISE THE DEAD BY HIS COMMAND ON THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT!'  I KNEW THAT ALLAH MOST HIGH HAS COMPLETE POWER, SO THAT THOSE WHO ARE SUPPOSEDLY DEAD ARE NOT REALLY GONE FOR EVER - THEY ARE ONLY SLEEPING!  ON THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT, WHETHER THEY LIKE IT OR NOT, EVERYONE WILL HAVE TO GET UP FROM THE GRAVE AND BE JUDGED!  THEN, EACH PERSON'S DESTINATION WILL EITHER BE PARADISE OR HELL!

CONTEXT

THE NIGHT BEFORE, ON THE FIRST DAY OF MUHARRAM, I HAD COMFORTED MY MOTHER ON THE DEATH OF HER BROTHER - MY UNCLE KHADIM.  I HAD ALSO COMFORTED MY MOTHER SOME TEN DAYS PREVIOUSLY ON FIRST HEARING THE TRAGIC NEWS.  I HAD SAID, 'WHEN SOMEONE DIES, THAT'S NOT THE END!  THERE IS GREAT GRIEF IF YOU THINK OF AN END!  BUT WHOEVER DIES IS ONLY SLEEPING, FOR THEY HAVE TO GET UP AT ALLAH'S COMMAND ON THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT. 

I HAD ALSO COMFORTED AHTSHAM'S [ONE OF MY OLDHAM PUPILS] MOTHER WHEN SHE SEEMED TO BE DEPRESSED AFTER HER MOTHER HAD PASSED AWAY [SHE SAID THAT SHE MISSED HER MOTHER'S GUIDANCE ON VARIOUS AND EVERYDAY MATTERS].  I SAID TO HER, 'WHOEVER DIES IS NOT TECHNICALLY DEAD, BUT ONLY SLEEPING, BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO GET UP ON THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT!'  SHE REPLIED, 'THAT IS INDEED THE BELIEF HELD IN ISLAM!'  THEN I TOLD HER THAT, INSH'ALLAH, HER MOTHER WILL APPEAR IN DREAMS TO GIVE HER THE ADVICE THAT SHE SO MISSES IF SHE READS THE FOLLOWING PRAYERS:

In the Name of Allah, Doer of Good, Most Kind

DREAM NO 12 : c. 27 SEPTEMBER 2004

I SAID [ABOUT SOMEONE]: 'HER MOTHER HAS DIED!'  THEN I SAW, NOT ONE, BUT THREE STUNNINGLY-BEAUTIFUL, UNKNOWN WIVES; THEIR BEAUTY WAS DELECTABLE!  THEY WERE MY REWARD FOR HELPING MY OWN MOTHER, AND AHTSHAM'S MOTHER, IN A TIME OF DISTRESS!  [SEE DREAM NO 11 ABOVE].

DREAM NO 13 : FRIDAY 26 DECEMBER 2003

I DREAMT THAT ISMAEL, WASEEM [MY TWO CLOSE FRIENDS] AND I WENT TO SOME BRITISH MILITARY OR NAVAL BASE [EG THE NUCLEUR SUBMARINE BASE AT BARROW-IN-FURNESS, CUMBRIA] TO VISIT AND ADMIRE BRITAIN'S NUCLEUR CAPABILITY.  AFTERWARDS, WE WENT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER.  WHILE MY TWO FRIENDS ENJOYED THEMSELVES OVER A SUBSTANTIAL AND LINGERING MEAL IN THE REFECTORY, I WON A PRIZE [IT HAD BEEN PRIVATELY SPONSORED BY ONE OF THE ALUMNI OF THE UNIVERSITY] !

CONTEXT

THIS WAS A VERY SWEET DREAM.  WHEN I WOKE UP, I HAD A WONDERFUL FEELING OF BECOMING A CHAMPION; THERE WERE GREAT FEELINGS OF SUCCESS, ACCOMPLISHMENT AND REWARD!  

DREAM NO 14 : WEDNESDAY 28 JANUARY 2004

FIRST DREAM : IN SOME FOREIGN PART OF THE WORLD, I WAS HAVING A DEBATE ON NUTRITION WITH SOME NON-MUSLIM.  I ASKED HIM, 'HOW CAN HARAM FOOD POSSIBLY BE MORE TASTY THAN HALAL FOOD?'

SECOND DREAM : I DREAMT THAT MY MOTHER WAS OFFERING ME FRUITS SUCH AS APPLES AND ORANGES BUT I WOULDN'T ACCEPT THEM.  THEN SHE SAID TO ME, 'YOU ALWAYS EAT GRAPES AND THE OTHER KINDS OF THINGS THAT THE HUR [HEAVENLY MAIDENS OF PARADISE] EAT [IN HEAVEN], BUT EAT THESE AS WELL!'  [THIS QUOTE HAS BEEN TRANSLATED FROM THE ORAL PUNJABI OF THE DREAM: 'TOO ANGOOR TA EIDA DIYA CHEEZAN KANAA RENA - AI VEE KA!'  MY MOTHER WAS SPEAKING IN A CRITICAL TONE OF VOICE.]

DREAM NO 15 : TUESDAY 27 JULY 2004

I DREAMT THAT I SAVED MY BROTHER, ZAHEER, FROM SOME TROUBLE BY HEROICALLY FLYING A LIGHT AIRCRAFT INTO A RESTRICTED SPACE.  MY EXPERT MANOEUVERING AND SKILL IN LANDING ACCURATELY, AVOIDING ALL AND MANY OBSTACLES, SOLVED THE PROBLEM!

DREAM NO 16 : MONDAY 19 JULY 2004

I DREAMT THAT I WAS TUTORING SOME OF MY GIRL PUPILS TO DRIVE IN MY OWN CAR.  WHILE I WAS INSTRUCTING THEM, THEY ACTUALLY MANAGED TO MAKE THE CAR FLY, SO THAT IT WAS ACTUALLY RAISED FOUR OR FIVE FEET OFF THE GROUND!  THERE WAS A THRILLING ATMOSPHERE IN THE DREAM!

CONTEXT

THESE PUPILS HAD BEEN INTERESTED IN THE PROGRESS OF MY PROGRAMME PROPOSAL, 'ASK DR AZAM!' WHICH I HAD SUBMITTED TO THE BBC.  THEY WERE OVERAWED TO THINK THAT I WOULD DEFINITELY BE APPEARING ON TELEVISION IN THE FUTURE.

DREAM NO 17 : FRIDAY 6 AUGUST 2004

I BEGAN TO DRIVE A BUS [A SINGLE-DECK COACH] FRANTICALLY AND AT ROLLERCOASTER SPEED!  ALL OUR FAMILY WERE IN THE COACH AND IT WAS A HAIR-RAISING JOURNEY.

INTERPRETATION

THE COACH REPRESENTS THE JOURNEY OF LIFE IN THIS WORLD.  BEGINNING TO DRIVE THE BUS , WITH THE FAMILY AS PASSENGERS, MEANS THAT NOW, INSHA'ALLAH, LIFE IS GOING TO GET MORE EXCITING AND 'DIFFERENT', IE WONDERFUL, FOR OUR FAMILY.

DREAM NO 18 : 28 AUGUST 2004

I DREAMT THAT I WAS TALKING TO A LITTLE BOY. *  HE SAID TO ME, 'THOSE IN JANNAT [PARADISE] WILL NEVER GET ANY OLDER THAN 22 YEARS OF AGE!'  I CORRECTED HIM.  I REPLIED, 'NO, THOSE IN JANNAT WILL NEVER GET ANY OLDER THAN TWENTY-ONE YEARS OF AGE!'

* THERE WAS SOMETHING TRAGIC ABOUT THIS BOY, AS IF HIS MOTHER WAS ABSENT.  I THINK THAT BOY REPRESENTS THE SITUATION OF MY NOT BEING ABLE TO MARRY THE WOMAN OF MY CHOICE AND THE FACT THAT HE TALKED OF ETERNAL YOUTH IN PARADISE REPRESENTS MY PERPETUAL REWARD FROM ALLAH, INSHA'ALLAH [WHEN I LOOK AT MY GREY HAIR, I FEEL THAT LIFE HAS TAKEN ITS TOLL ON ME [THOUGH I AM NOT MUCH OLDER THAN 43 YEARS OF AGE.  I HAVE LIVED MANY YEARS IN LONELINESS BECAUSE OF FAILURE IN MARRIAGE, SO THIS DREAM IS A GREAT COMFORT!

DREAM NO 19 : c.15 SEPTEMBER 2004

I DREAMT THAT MY MOTHER WAS PUTTING A STRAIN ON HERSELF AND THEREBY MAKING HERSELF VERY ILL.  THIS DREAM EMPHASISED THAT SHE NEEDED TO REST.

CONTEXT

NEW SOFAS HAD BEEN ORDERED FOR THE LIVING ROOM AND A NEW LINO WAS PUT IN THE KITCHEN.  ALL THE EXTRA HASSLE THIS INVOLVED MADE MY MOTHER REALLY ILL, SO I ASKED MY BROTHER TO POLITELY GIVE THE MESSAGE OF THIS DREAM TO HER.

DREAM NO 20 : c.1 SEPTEMBER 2004

I DREAMT THAT MY MOTHER HAD BETTER USE A GOOD-QUALITY, NEW TOOTHBRUSH, OR SHE WOULD SUFFER A TERRIBLE TOOTHACHE! [SO I BOUGHT HER A BRAND-NEW, WISDOM TOOTHBRUSH A WEEK LATER].

DREAM NO 21 : THURSDAY 8 APRIL 2004

I DREAMT THAT THE UNIVERSITY OF EXETER OWNED ITS OWN PRIVATE, LIGHT AIRCRAFT!  I SAW TWO OR THREE SUCH AIRCRAFT, DISPLAYING THE LOGO 'EXETER UNIVERSITY', FLYING HIGH IN THE SKY.

CONTEXT

I HAD DONATED MY BROTHER'S WORK 'VISIONS OF PARADISE' AND MY OWN WORK 'DREAMS IN ISLAM' AND VARIOUS OTHER TEXTS TO PAUL AUCHTERLONIE, LIBRARIAN OF THE ARABIC AND ISLAMIC STUDIES DEPARTMENT [ALL THESE TITLES ARE NOW AVAILABLE  ON THIS WEBSITE - SEE THE HOME PAGE].  HE WAS DELIGHTED TO RECEIVE THEM AND, IN FACT, 'DREAMS IN ISLAM' WAS REQUESTED BY THE LIBRARY OF THE ARABIC LEAGUE IN TUNIS UNDER THE TERMS OF A MUTUAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TWO PARTIES!  SO THIS DREAM SYBOLISES THE FEELINGS OF EXHILIRATION I HAD TO FIND OUT THAT MY WORK WAS IN DEMAND AND MR AUCHTERLONIE HAD ALSO USED THE WORD 'DELIGHTED' TO DESCRIBE HIS RESPONSE TO ACCEPTING VISIONS OF PARADISE!

DREAM NO 22 : TUESDAY 9 MARCH 2004

I DREAMT THAT I BOUGHT A VERY EXPENSIVE AND HIGH-CLASS FOUNTAIN PEN OF DEBENHAMS'S OWN MAKE.  THE PEN HAD A PROMINENT, UNUSUALLY-SHAPED NIB [IT WAS MORE NARROW AND JAGGED], AND RAYS OF LIGHT ISSUED FROM ITS MANY VERTICES!

CONTEXT

I EXPERIENCED THIS DREAM IN THE DAYS WHEN I WAS TAKING NOTES FOR MY ARTICLE 'SCIENCE v RELIGION' [NOW ON THIS SITE; PLEASE SEE THE HOME PAGE] IN MY FLAT ON RICHMOND ROAD IN FALLOWFIELD, AND IN THE CUBICLES OF OLDHAM CENTRAL LIBRARY.  THIS DREAM IS TELLING ME THAT, IN THE FUTURE, I WILL BE ABLE TO AFFORD VERY EXPENSIVE PENS [PURCHASED FROM DEBENHAMS], AND I WILL USE THEM TO DO IMPORTANT ISLAMIC WORK [RAYS OF LIGHT].

DREAM NO 23 : TUESDAY 6 APRIL 2004

I DREAMT THAT FOREIGN STUDENTS STUDYING AT BRITISH UNIVERSITIES CHEAT [THEY COPY OR PLAGIARISE] IN HIGHER DEGREES BUT UNIVERSITIES DO NOT NOTICE!  [IN THE NEXT SCENE] I COMPOSED, IN MY [YAHOO] E-MAIL ACCOUNT, A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE OF ISLAMIC WORK FOR ADDING ONTO MY WEBSITE, BUT I WAS HORRIFIED TO DISCOVER THAT THE COMPUTER HAD NOT SAVED MY DRAFT [EVEN THOUGH I HAD CLICKED THE 'SAVE DRAFT' ICON]!   SO IT SEEMED THAT I HAD WASTED HOURS OF [DEDICATED] EFFORT.  TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, A YOUTH TO WHOM I HAD SENT THE INITIAL DRAFT, [AS A GIFT, TO LEARN FROM] HAD ALSO DELETED IT!  BUT, NEAR THE END OF THIS DREAM, I WAS MOST RELIEVED TO DISCOVER THAT, IN FACT, I HAD TAKEN THE PRECAUTION OF PRINTING OUT THE SHEETS OF THE DRAFT, SO THE WORK WAS NOT ACTUALLY LOST!  IN THE DREAM, I HAD BEEN SUFFERING FROM A SINKING FEELING IN MY HEART.  I HAD BEEN THINKING TO MYSELF, 'IF THIS WORK HAD GOT LOST, I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PRODUCE THE LIKE OF IT AGAIN!'  THERE WAS A FEELING OF GREAT REGRET.  THE FIRST THREE OR FOUR [THE A4 PRINTOUTS] SHEETS OF MY WORK WERE WRITTEN IN BEAUTIFUL [IT WAS VERY ATTRACTIVE AND ARTISTIC] WRITING, AND THEN THE SHEETS CONTAINING THE ANALYSIS IN ENGLISH FOLLOWED.  [AT THE END OF THE DREAM, I SAW THE BABY-FACED FACE OF A MUSLIM YOUTH, SO THIS DREAM WAS TELLING ME THAT MY EFFORTS ARE PRIMARILY FOR THE CURRENT YOUNGER GENERATION OF MUSLIMS, AND FOR POSTERITY. ]

DREAM NO 24 : SUNDAY 25 JANUARY 2004 

IN THE FIRST PART OF THE DREAM, I WAS CRITICISED FOR TAMPERING WITH THE TUITION TIMES OF MY PUPILS FEHZAN, AMER AND SOFIYAN.  THEN, IN THE NEXT SCENE, I SAW A PANEL OF CONTROLS, LIKE THE FLIGHT INSTRUMENTS OF A JET, AND BY THESE I UNDERSTOOD THAT I WOULD BE IMPARTING VALUABLE KNOWLEDGE TO THESE THREE PUPILS!

DREAM NO 25 : 1 NOVEMBER 2004

I SAW FOUR OR FIVE MODELS OF AIRCRAFT IN A VERTICAL LINE.  OBVIOUSLY THEY DIFFERED SIGNIFICANTLY IN THEIR DESIGN AND FEATURES [SOME WERE LARGER THAN OTHERS; THERE WAS A MAJOR VARIATION IN THE OUTLINES.  THEN I GOT THE MESSAGE THAT ONLY ONE OF THESE AEROPLANES IS SUITABLE FOR PRIVATE FLYING.

DREAM NO 26 : THURSDAY 7 OCTOBER 2004 

I DREAMT THAT I WAS TRAVELLING WITHIN PAKISTAN ON A TURBO-DEISEL-POWERED TRAIN!  A GIRL HOSTESS IF MY WIFE WAS TRAVELLING WITH ME, BUT THEN SHE REALISED THAT I WASN'T YET MARRIED!

DREAM NO 27 : SATURDAY 30 OCTOBER 2004

I DREAMT THAT I WAS FILLING MY CAR WITH PETROL.  THERE WAS THE FEELING OF A HEROIC AND DRAMATIC ATMOSPHERE EVEN FOR THIS [MUNDANE] DUTY!  I REACHED THE FIGURE OF#9 ON THE FUEL METRE AND STOPPED.  THEN I RESTARTED AND TRIED TO FILL ANOTHER #1 WORTH OF PETROL, TO MAKE #10 IN TOTAL, BUT I FILLED ANOTHER #2 WORTH OF PETROL TO MAKE THE TOTAL OF #11 INSTEAD! SO I HAD OVERSHOT MY TARGET! [This dream could mean that long journeys for me are imminent, and my Islamic work will be full of enthusiasm, incident and interest!]

DREAM NO 28 : MONDAY 1 8 OCTOBER 2004

I HAD A SWEET DREAM THAT I WAS TUTORING A PUPIL THE 'AVERAGE SPEED' TOPIC IN MATHEMATICS.  HE OBTAINED AN ANSWER WHICH WAS A RELATIVELY LOW FIGURE FOR THE AVERAGE SPEED OF A TRAIN e.g. 64 MPH.  I ASKED THE PUPIL, 'DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE NEW PENDELINO [ITALIAN-BUILT] LEANING TRAINS?  THEY CAN TRAVEL FROM MANCHESTER TO LONDON AT AN AVERAGE SPEED OF 132 MPH [OR I QUOTED SOME SUCH SIMILARLY HIGH FIGURE].  THEN I SAID TO HIM, RATHER SARCASTICALLY: 'OF COURSE, THE PENDELINO TRAINS ARE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE TO WORK IN LONDON EARLY IN THE MORNING!' [I was saying this sarcastically because when I have to go to London for media work, my engagements will be during the off-peak hours, so I won't be under the same pressure].

CONCLUSION 

�SCIENCE� HAS BEEN DEFINED VERY LOOSELY IN THE DEFINITION OF THESE DREAMS AS �SCIENTIFIC�.  I DO HOPE THE CONTENT OF THESE �CASE-STUDY� DREAMS HAVE BEEN EDUCATIONAL, AS WELL AS A PLEASURE TO EMPATHISE WITH, FOR THE READER.  NO DOUBT THESE DREAMS OVERLAP WITH OTHER CATEGORIES OF DREAM e.g. �DREAMS OF CAREER� OR �DREAMS OF REWARD IN PARADISE� [LIKE INTERMINGLED VENN-DIAGRAMS],BUT THESE ARE THE NEAREST TO �DREAMS OF SCIENCE� THAT I CAN PRESENT.