#868: Ruling with respect to Flying in Air in a Dream
868. QUESTION
I have some questions… One of my brother ask the following questions:
1: He said he always dream that he is flying in the air, of which he covered long distance… From country to country. He wish to know the interpretation of it because he is afraid.
2: Whenever he came outside of his room, he used to have body contact with cobwebs, especially on his eyes something bad will surely happen to him… Presently he has been sacked from his place of work and he is afraid that evils will befall him… He is seriously scared…
ANSWER:
Alhamdulillah and may the peace and blessings of Allāh be upon our beloved Muhammad alayhi salam.
First, we advice that you meet with a Scholar that understands the Sunnah, that fears Allāh and knows you to give you a better interpretation of your dream.
This is because according to those blessed with the understanding the nature of dreams, one event in a dream can imply different things to different people.
Nevertheless, regarding the general context of your brother’s question, and the true knowledge lies with Allāh alone, we can infer from the second question that your brother has not properly understood some fundamental aspects of belief in predestination. And this has taken hold of his heart and by that, opened a door for Shytān to play with him and cause him harm.
And that is why we see that the dream is serving as a warning to him by making him realize the true state of his situation in order for him to quickly retrace his steps and proceed to understand his deen properly.
Allāh ta’aala said: That [has been commanded], and whoever honors the sacred ordinances of Allāh – it is best for him in the sight of his Lord. And permitted to you are the grazing livestock, except what is recited to you. So avoid the uncleanliness of idols and avoid false statement,
Inclining [only] to Allāh, not associating [anything] with Him. And he who associates with Allāh – it is as though he had fallen from the sky and was snatched by the birds or the wind carried him down into a remote place. (Surah Al Hajj 30 – 31)
Imam As’sa’di says regarding verse 31.
(Allāh) ordered them (the Muslims) to be (hunafā to Allāh) ie sincerely and wholly turning unto Him in worship while completely shunning and disconnecting from anyone other than Him.
…….. And faith (in this parable) is represented with the sky that is elevated and protected from the devils. Thus, the similitude of the one that leaves his faith is like the one that falls from the sky. (And such a person will definitely be prone to various troubles and trials). Either the (prey) bird abducts him and dismember him, just as it occurs to the mushrik, when he leaves the strong hold of faith, the devils gets hold of him and takes away from him his religious gains and his worldy gains.
….. or the wind carried him down into a remote place. Imam Ibn kathir said …. ie a remote land of (distress and) destruction.
As we said, we infer this from the second question because your brother is somehow attributing his situation to something which Allāh has not said it’s a reason for such occurrence. There exist no connection between the occurrence in the sharī’ah nor in the intellect.
It is authenticically narrated that the Prophet alayhi salam forbids superstitious belief in bad omens and he described it as a form of minor shirk that is contrary to Tawhīd. This is because superstition is a trick by means of which the Shaytān seeks to cause fear and whisper into people’s hearts.
Abu Hurayrah Radiyallāhu anhu said: The Messenger of Allāh alaihi salam said: “There is no ‘adawa (contagion except by the will of Allāh) and no tiyarah (superstitious belief in bird omens).” (Bukhaari and Muslim)
Ibn Mas’ood Radiyallāhu anhu said: “The Messenger of Allāh alaihi salam said: ‘Tiyarah is shirk, tiyarah is shirk,’ but there is none of us who… but Allāh takes it away by means of trust in Him (tawakkul).” The words “there is none of us who…” are the words of Ibn Mas’ood radiyallahu anhu, not of the Prophet alaihi salam. Imam At-Tirmizi classified this narration as authentic.
Anas ibn Mālik Radiyallāhu anhu said: The Messenger of Allāh alaihi salam said: “There is no ‘adawa and no tiyarah, but I like optimism.” They said: “What is optimism?” He said: A good word.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
These narrations clearly shows that superstition is harām. Some of the wisdom behind the sharī’ah making it harām is because it involves attaching the heart to something other than Allāh, and because everyone who believes that some things may have an effect of bringing benefits or causing harm when Allāh has not caused them to be so, has fallen into a minor shirk. Such a person has also opened the door to the Shytān to make him afraid and cause him mental, physical or financial harm. Hence the sharī’ah makes superstition harām and declares it to be false, because in reality it has no effect of either bringing benefits or warding off harm.
So we advice your brother just as Allāh has adviced in these verses;
1. avoid the uncleanliness of idols and avoid false statement. Because false statement open the door of shaitan. And the worse of false statements are the superstitious statements.
2. Incline [only] to Allāh, not associating [anything] with Him. And do a lot of istigfar for what has passed and know with certainty that;
“No disaster strikes upon the earth or among yourselves except that it is in a register before We bring it into being – indeed that, for Allāh, is easy.
In order that you not despair over what has eluded you and not exult [in pride] over what He has given you. And Allāh does not like everyone self-deluded and boastful”
Suratul Hadid 22-23.
“No disaster strikes except by permission of Allah . And whoever believes in Allāh – He will guide his heart. And Allah is Knowing of all things.”
Surah At-Tagābūn 11.
Also know that such thoughts are referred to as an najwa from shaitan as Allāh said: ” (verily an najwa) is only from Satan that he may grieve those who have believed, but he will not harm them at all except by permission of Allah . And upon Allah let the believers rely.
Surah At-tahrim 10.
3. Know that this world is not a place where Allāh reward people. Rather, it’s a place where Allāh tests His slaves to expose their true worth. That is why you can find evil people enjoying and the pious ones in calamities. Likewise you can also find the opposite scenario. Thus, a Muslim should only focus more on finding out what Allāh expects from him in any situation he finds himself. If one tunes his mind to understanding the world in this perspective, all his issues becomes a blessing to him. The Prophet alaihi salam said: “How wonderful is the affair of the believer, for his affairs are all good, and that does not apply for anyone except the believer. If something good happens to him he gives thanks, and that is good for him; if something bad happens to him he bears it with patience, and that is good for him.” (Muslim)
Finally know that you are not better than the Prophet Yunus alaihi salam yet a lot that can’t be mentioned occurred to him but he remained firm and didn’t attribute it to anything. Rather, he depended firmly on Allāh and what was the result? Allāh replaced for him all he lost and prepared for him what was better in the hearafter.
And Allāh knows best.
Bārakallāhu Fīkum
Jazākumullāhu Khayran
Abū Hafs
4th Rabīu Al-Awwal, 1441AH.
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