DREAMS OF HONOURS

DR UMAR AZAM BA PHD DCL DIP.FJ. DIP.IM

MANCHESTER, UK

 APRIL 2003

ABSTRACT

This paper is meant to fit in with the other titles on aspects of 'dreams' which I have produced: ROMANTIC DREAMS [also on this site], for example.  I consider myself very lucky to have experienced, and to be able to recall, so many dreams of worldly honours!

DEFINITION

'Dreams of Honours' is taken to mean 'dreams of worldly rewards': awards, trophies, success in competitions, robes, medals, caps, gowns, degrees [and other qualifications] as well as miscellaneous other tokens of appreciation and recognition.

INTRODUCTION

The dreams of wordly honours which follow now reveal that I will get worldly rewards for my Islamic work as well as the celestial ones described in DREAMS OF REWARD IN PARADISE [now on this site].  For seventeen long years, 1984-2001, I received no worldly plaudits for my solitary, intensive Islamic work [please see ARCHIVAL ISLAMIC WORK -also on this site- for the results of those efforts].  The dreams of honours I experienced every now and then informed me that my striving was worth much recognition in the form of awards and prizes.  So I have been encouraged by such dreams to maintain my aspirations: an important 'carrot' when one is working alone and needs constant self-motivation.  Most of these dreams have come about after I had received my first Website Awards, and are fairly recent.    

THE DREAMS OF HONOURS

DREAM NO 1          15 NOVEMBER 1995

I dreamt that I went to an important official with a document and he signed it and his signature was v. important.......the document entailed me having to spend more than £500 to register for a [higher] 'degree' or some special and unknown qualification, as well as more than another £500 to order academic robes, cap and related ceremonial attire.  I was worried in the dream about how I was going to raise the money for these two costs!  This dream acknowledged that I had accomplished something very special and significant: something so prestigious and rewarding that it involved [what was for me] considerable expense for ceremonial purposes!_____________________________________________________

DREAM NO 2     SUNDAY 5 JANUARY 1997

I was given the message that my youngest sister could see [in her visions in worldly life] my trophies in Paradise.

DREAM NO 3           18 AUGUST 1997

I had a dream that I deserve a special award for tutoring so hard for so many years [even tutoring when Ihave been ill], and helping to support my parents and siblings financially over these years.

DREAM NO 4                                 FRIDAY 15 MAY 1997

I dreamt that there were lush-green meadows near Exeter University which resembled gardens with a river flowing through them.  I saw an exhibitionary table on which lay University memorabilia: a graduation cap and framed portraits of past University Chancellors, or Vice-Chancellors, were the only  items I could recall when I woke up.

Context

This was a very emotional dream which conveyed an atmosphere of blessing and honour.  Just the day before, Paul Auchterlonie, Librarian of the Dept. of Islamic and Middle-Eastern Studies, had acknowledged receipt of the copy of VISIONS OF PARADISE, by Zaheer Azam, which I had posted as a gift.  Mr Auchterlonie had used the word 'delighted' in his letter to me: that he was 'delighted' to receive the publication for the Library of Exeter University.

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DREAM NO 5                    FRIDAY 20 DECEMBER 2002

I dreamt that the top 6 multi-national, multi-billion dollar companies of the world granted me funds.  The postman came to collect my signature for some important document [ie. for the acceptance of funds] and I signed on an advanced magnetic pad with a stencil.

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DREAM NO 6                       FRIDAY 6 DECEMBER 2002

I  dreamt that I received an e-mail which conveyed the news that I had won an Award for my Website (http://www.dr-umar-azam.com)  This message included another two contacts for awards, so that all three awards were inter-linked: if I contacted any organisation, the other two organisations would be aware of our dealings.  

Interpretation

This dream foretold the future: in the next few weeks, I received another nine awards.

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DREAM NO 7              SUNDAY 8 DECEMBER 2002

I dreamt that I should display on my Website the Awards of the top two of the higest-placed twenty individual Islamic websites.    

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NO 8                    SATURDAY 7 DECEMBER 2002 

I dreamt that Babar Javed of HEXA WEB STUDIO [http://www.hexaweb.tk/] withdrew my trophy - THE HEXA WEB AWARD!  But then a new Award code was sent to me.  This second award carried more value than the first one because the award badge now had important, or influential, writing accompanying it.

Context

I was worried when the initial HEXA WEB AWARD badge disappeared from my the Home Page of my Site.  Even so, I was rather confused because Babar Javed had not informed me of his intention, perhaps wishing to give me a surprise [a pleasant one!].  This dream told me what was happening and advised me not to worry.  It was a true dream: the new badge appeared in due course.  It is identical to the old one but, beneath it, in large writing, are the words, 'This site is awarded by Hexa Web Studio' [please see the home page of my site].

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DREAM NO 9                        MONDAY 2 DECEMBER 2002    [THE HOLY MONTH OF RAMADHAN, 1423]

 I had a dream that my Website was ranked No.1 in the world.  Then it was relegated to No. 2 by a corporate website.  Then it slid further down to No. 3.  But at position No. 4 there was also THE DR UMAR AZAM WEBSITE.  So there were now two Dr Azam Websites: one third best in the world and the other fourth best.  Finally, I received the message that my Website is definitely amongst the best 20 sites in the world!

Context

I experienced this dream at a time when I was applying for the world's best website awards.  After two inspections, DOUG'S WORLD [http://www] gave my Site the red light: no award!  I felt cross and frustrated. But this dream told me that my Site is indeed one of the best in the world, even if it is not recognised officially as such! 

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DREAM NO 10                      SUNDAY 1 DECEMBER 2002 [THE HOLY MONTH OF RAMADHAN 1423]

 I dreamt that a Muslim girl looked at my Website and saw my Awards. Then she was so impressed that she fell in love with me, and covered her hair with her dupatta [head scarf].

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DREAM NO 11                          THURSDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2002 [THE HOLY MONTH OF RAMADHAN 1423]

 An extremely pleasant vision came into my head, when I was very relaxed and almost asleep, of my pupil, Ainee [Noorain Zahid], reading printouts of congratulatory e-mails which I had received.  These were informing me that I had been successful in my various applications for website awards.    

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DREAM NO 12                 SUNDAY 24 NOVEMBER 2002 [THE HOLY MONTH OF RAMADHAN 1423]

 I dreamt that I received a website award from China.  The award badge seemed to be rather solitary on the computer screen, and there was an evil, kuffar [unbelieving] atmosphere surrounding it.  But I was comforted by the knowledge that this award had been approved by a Muslim organisation.

DREAM NO 13                          FRIDAY 29 MARCH 2002

 I dreamt that my friend, Waseem Haque, and I were sitting an intensive examination [like in the gym for school and University exams!].  When we had finished, I found out that this exam. had been the first step to a prestigious degree [higher doctorate, for instance] for which Waseem and I had been given a substantial grant such as £30,000 or £800,000. [When I woke up, I couldn't recall the exact figure but I knew that it was something substantial].

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DREAM NO 14                              MONDAY 29 JULY 2002

I dreamt tht Iwas wearing the official blazer of the University of Oxford.  I definitely belonged to Oxford University. There was an atmosphere of great achievement and reaching the pinnacle of success in the dream: I had reached my goal!

Context

When I had telephoned to ask if I should donate THE DR AZAM ARCHIVE [1984-2002*] the Librarian of the OXFORD CENTRE FOR ISLAMIC STUDIES had expressed an interest in acquiring it for the Library collections.  I drove from Manchester to Oxford to deliver 13 boxes of documents in person.  But, after a few weeks, I received a letter from Professor Piscatori, Library Fellow, informing me that, due to constraints of space, it was not possible to hold my Archive and that I should come to collect it.  I felt deceeived and that this was unfair: after all, I had only delivered my Archive after getting the go-ahead from the Librarian.  As far as I know, the Archive is still in the Library of the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies. This dream informed me that I do have a close connection with Oxford, even though Professor Piscatori was trying to treat me like an outsider.   

* The DR AZAM ARCHIVE is still ongoing.  

DREAM NO 15                    SATURDAY 14 DECEMBER 2002

I dreamt that my pupil Atia Jabeen sent me an award code by e-mail, for placement on my Website. 

Context

Later that day, I received the 'GOLDEN WEB AWARD' from the INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WEB MASTERS AND DESIGNERS and showed all six pages of the congratulatory e-mail to Atia.

DREAM NO 16                       TUESDAY 22 NOVEMBER 2002[THE HOLY MONTH OF RAMADHAN 1424]

I dreamt that Faisal and Atia, my pupils, carried the badge of an Award on their Website. There was only this badge on their Website - nothing else! It was a very prestigious award and had something written on it which indicated 'NO. 1' or 'THE BEST'.  A kind of moving visual accompanied it, and this seemed to make the Award complicated as well as prestigious.  I was trying to copy the Award badge, to paste it onto my site! But I was having problems with the mouse: it was not copying the image, or even recognising the image when I rolled the mouse.  Then, in the next scene, I saw something on their Website, which was all natural!  The pages of their Site were like the pages of an atlas: only the atlas contained live geographic relief and scenery!  I saw a vast ocean, very calm and very blue, whose water was placid.  On another page, I saw lofty mountains and deep valleys.  The scenery was awesome and spectacular! 

Context

In this Holy Month, I had given Atia photocopied sheets of prayers from PANJSURA SHAREEF to read: DAROOD TAJ, THE SEVEN HAIKALS, DUA-E-GANJ-UL-ARSH, as well as other DUAS [ e.g. DUA-E-AMN, DUA-E-DAFA-E-WABA].  Atia had then asked me to show Faisal a set of these sheets too [the two families were close:Faisal's mother had recommended me as a tutor to Atia's mother].  I went to Faisal's house, gave him a set and explained the material to him briefly too.  He was very impressed by the SAWAB [CELESTIAL REWARD] that a person can receive, from Allah Most High, after reading them.

Interpretation

Because my Website contains material which praises Allah Almighty, such material is 'natural' since all nature glorifies the Majesty of God.

DREAM NO 17      WEDNESDAY 11 DECEMBER 2002

I dreamt that I was telling someone that my Award was from the MUSLIM NAMES Website. There was an honourable and blessed atmosphere in the dream.

Context

Before falling asleep at night, I had been looking at my 'FIVE STAR AWARD' [ISLAMIC SITES AWARD GROUP] and feeling pleased with the badge of the trophy on the Home Page of my Site: I admired the handles and base, and yearned to pick up the trophy.

DREAM NO 18            SUNDAY 21 DECEMBER 2002

I dreamt that I was travelling, on my hands, upside down, along the curve of a very fast, lofty road.  I felt fear and a sense of awe that the road had been constructed so well! [In the next scene] I passed a travelling fun fair and saw all the vehicles and trailers slow down and then stop on site.  Then I went into a shop.  In it, I saw numerous ugly, old medals.  They were all second-hand but, nevertheless, seemed to be impressive awards.  However, I myself didn't like them at all.  I recalled that, earlier on in my life, the the very first trophy that I had won was a frail, plastic trophy composed of two sections; the top diamond-shaped 'landmark' protuded upwards and had the tendency to become detached every now and then; the lower section was the flat base.  

DREAM NO 19                    SATURDAY 6 APRIL 2002

I saw the vast and opulent stadium of Old Trafford; it was so spacious and striking!  Then I thought to myself, 'No wonder Manchester United do so well in football [winning so many trophies]: they have the confidence of status and wealth! 

Context

See my use of cricket and football score analogies for self-motivation in my Islamic work [ISLAMIC ARCHIVAL DOCUMENTS; now on this Site].

DREAM NO 20       THURSDAY 7 FEBRUARY 2002

I looked into a shop to choose a fountain pen; I saw an inferior brand.  Then I was using a pen of OXFORD UNIVERSITY, which I had [eventually] purchased [presumably from the University's Souvenir Shop].  It took Oxford ink, and looked very durable and efficient.  But when I wrote with it, the barrel split into two!  Although I merged the two ends together, I was disappointed that what I had considered was an ideal pen was actually quite defective in its manufacture.  

DREAM NO 21     THURSDAY 21 FEBRUARY 2002 [THE EVE OF EID-UL-ADHA 1423]

I went into a shop to buy a biography of the Prophet Muhammed [PBUM].  The assistant showed me five or so books on the subject, all written by different authors.  The books were hardback and piled on top of one another.  I decided not to buy any of them but instead asked the assistant, 'Have you a book on the subject {biography of the Holy Prophet [PBUM]} written by an author who has won numerous awards for his Website?'

Interpretation

This dream hinted at the future: I won numerous website awards in December 2002 and January 2003 [some eight months later].  I may write a biography of the Prophet [PBUM] in the future and, Insha'Allah, if I do, it will have to be a better book than those books written by authors who have not won website awards! 

DREAM NO 22       MONDAY 6 JANUARY 2003

I dreamt something to the effect that the three Awards on my Website [ BEST ISLAMIC SITE AWARD, HEXA WEB AWARD, GOLDEN WEB AWARD] were linked to Ainee's, my pupil Noorain Zahid's, name! Even if there was an alteration in the mutual link, the visitor would still be led to my awards from Ainee!

DREAM NO 23      SUNDAY 2 NOVEMBER 2002

I dreamt that now is the time to wear a cap and feel pleased that I am attending Grammar School!  

Context

When I was at primary school, I used to wish that I would go to Grammar School: Grammar School uniforms are smart and boy pupils wear a cap.  I pictured myself on a bus, on the way to school, wearing a cap and a noble, beautiful and desirable schoolgirl admiring me because of my cap and thinking how intelligent and capable I was!  This dream suggests that I am now worthy of the honour and romance that I used to naturally desire in childhood!  

DREAM NO 24       MONDAY 3 FEBRUARY 2003

I dreamt that there were two little boys [1], about four years old.  One was the son of Allama Iqbal, the famous Pakistani poet and philosopher.  The son had a radiant face and he was wearing a red jumper.  The other boy was my own relative [2] and he was not as prominent [in rank].  The boys stood beside stone steps which looked dangerous.  The step to which they were the closest was wide and had a steep gradient!  But the boys were so fearless that they would attempt to descend these steps without any concern for their safety!  Then I was given the message that the Pakistani population are not respecting Allama Iqbal's son, even though he is of famous lineage; he is being treated as if he is insignificant - just like any other common child! [3]

Interpretation

[1] The boys could be symbols of intellectual work: 'literary progeny'.

[2] My POETRY and PHILOSOPHY OF ISLAM works may be of a standard close to Allama Iqbal's but are not as significant.

[3] Allama Iqbal's work is treated shabbily.                   

 DREAM NO 25                    FRIDAY 7 MARCH 2002

I saw musicians at an awards ceremony; these musicians were dressed in very smart uniforms like the staff of the British armed forces and they looked very powerful!  This awards ceremony was being held in my honour!  As my brother [my guest on the occasion] and I passed, the musicians looked at us in rather a frowning manner!  I was given prizes such as Brazil Nut Chocolates, which I took home for my siblings!  Then the father of my childhood friend , Kadeer Amjad,  admitted me into his house with respect: he had been initially reluctant to do so because one of his beautiful, young daughters was in the house at the time too!

Interpretation

I experienced this dream on te day after I had completed my article entitled, 'Palestine' [now on this Site].  the awards I receive in the future will be awarded because of my Islamic work and my Website.

DREAM NO 26                                 SUNDAY 30 MARCH 2003

My brother, Zaheer, placed a few letters, which had arrived for me, on top of his television in the front room of our parents' house.  When I opened one letter, I was surprised to see that he had written a letter to thank me for all that I had done for him!  The letter heading, and the letter itself, were formed in very colourful, artistic and delightful designs.  There were patterns and formations which I cannot adequately describe!

Interpretation

I had informed the BBC of my availability for television work.  This dream is informing me that I will be too engaged in the media work to give Zaheer the treats that he had become accustomed to. A new phase would be starting soon. He was grateful for all I had done for the family so far and expressed this appreciation by giving me his own award letter in my honour. 

DREAM NO 27                                       C. 1975 

I dreamt that I saw a glistening, silver, American medal which had been awarded to me.  It carried an engraving of the legendary tennis champion, Jimmy Connors, and had important writing around its edges.  I could only remember one word when I awoke: 'SCHOLAR'.

Interpretation

In my childhood, I was a fan of Jimmy Connors whom I saw playing at Wimbledon on television.  I was always very curious and amused to hear his loud grunts when he served. I used to imitate this sound [with admiration] when exerting effort at any sport I played!  I was 14 years old in 1975 and, obviously had no idea at that time that I would get a Ph.D degree [Modesto, California, 1991], my book DREAMS IN ISLAM published [Pittsburgh, PENNSYLVANIA, 1992] or my poetry published, too, in anthologies of The International Library of Poetry [Owings Mills, Maryland, 2000-3]. So this dream was foretelling my future achievements!  America was symbolised by its national tennis champion, Jimmy Connors; that I, too, would become a champion -in my own field, and by submitting my Islamic work to institutions in that country- was similarly implicated!

CONCLUSION

No worldly award or reward could possibly match that granted by Allah Most High in the Hereafter.  However, if this life is only a two-day journey, one still needs some encouragement to progress satisfactorily along that journey: in that sense, these dream