Madeeha
1
Assalamualaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu,
I hope this message finds you in the best of health and Iman. I am writing to seek your guidance on a matter that has been troubling me and someone I care about deeply. I would truly appreciate your wisdom on this situation.
A close friend of mine, who has been an atheist for a long time, has recently embarked on a journey to learn about Islam and explore faith. This has been a very challenging path for them as they come from a family that holds strict views against Islam. Despite these challenges, they completed reading the Quran in English translation, seeking peace and understanding.
However, during and after reading the Quran, they began experiencing disturbing nightmares. In these dreams, they often saw their father involved in a horrible plane crash. They would cry and try to stop him from boarding the plane, only to feel helpless and witness a terrible fate. They also described seeing the sky turn dark and feeling mocked or laughed at.
To escape these experiences, they spent a weekend at another location, but the bad dreams persisted. One particular night, their dream was interrupted by the sound of two dogs howling, after which they woke up terrified. The following morning, they found that a wild pig had entered the property and caused some destruction.
These experiences have left them feeling unsettled and questioning whether Allah (SWT) is discouraging them from coming closer to Islam. I tried to console them, explaining that bad dreams are often whispers of Shaytan and not reflective of Allah's mercy or guidance. However, as I am not a scholar, I worry about giving incorrect advice.
Could you please provide clarity and wisdom on the following matters:
How should such dreams and experiences be interpreted in light of Islamic teachings, especially for someone exploring Islam as a non-Muslim?
What advice can I give to my friend to help them persevere in their journey and overcome these unsettling feelings and dreams?
What steps can someone in their position take to find the right path to Islam, after having read the Quran but still feeling lost or troubled?
I sincerely hope you can help shed light on this matter and provide the best possible guidance for my friend. May Allah reward you for your time and efforts.
JazakAllahu Khairan
