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Waswas (in Arabic وسوس) in Islam is a term for "whispers from Shaytan". When a Muslim has some thoughts against Islam, he disregards them as ''waswas'' - a voice of Shaytan.
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The term '''Waswas''' (in Arabic وسوس) in Islam literally refers to "whispers (usually from Shaitan [Satan])". However, the term is usually used to refer to doubts and temptations. It is commonly believed that Satan and his minions tempt Muslims to sin and weaken their faith in Islam through doubt. When Muslims have negative thoughts about Islam, or thoughts that go against the teachings of Islam this is usually regarded as ''waswas (or waswasa).'' Critics see this as a way to dismiss concerns around Islam and excuse human and biological natural drive.


==Waswas in the Qur'an==
==Waswas in the Qur'an==
The Arabic word وسوس (''waswas'') in various forms appears 5 times in the Qur'an.
The Arabic word وسوس (''waswas'') in various forms appears five times in the Qur'an.


The first two refer to the story of Adam and Eve. The fa- prefix means "but" or "then".
The first two refer to the story of Adam and Eve. The fa- prefix is a linking particle in Arabic which can have many translations into other languages; its purpose is to help introduce a new clause or idea.
{{Quote|{{Quran|7|20}}|'''But''' the Shaitan '''made an evil suggestion''' (فَوَسْوَسَ, ''fa-waswasa'') to them that he might make manifest to them what had been hidden from them of their evil inclinations, and he said: Your Lord has not forbidden you this tree except that you may not both become two angels or that you may (not) become of the immortals.}}
{{Quote|{{Quran|7|20}}|'''But''' the Shaitan '''made an evil suggestion''' (فَوَسْوَسَ, ''fa-waswasa'') to them that he might make manifest to them what had been hidden from them of their evil inclinations, and he said: Your Lord has not forbidden you this tree except that you may not both become two angels or that you may (not) become of the immortals.}}In one instance the Quran says the soul whispers. The tu- simply indicates present tense, 3rd person, feminine, singular verb.
{{Quote|{{Quran|50|16}}|And We have already created man and know what his soul '''whispers''' (تُوَسْوِسُ, ''tuwaswisu'') to him, and We are closer to him than [his] jugular vein}}
 
Two times in a chapter 114. The al- indicates definite article (before a noun). The yu- indicates present tense, 3rd person, singular, masculine verb.<ref>114:1 Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of men,
114:2 The King of men,
114:3 The god of men,
114:4 From the evil of the retreating <nowiki>'''</nowiki>whisperer<nowiki>'''</nowiki> (ٱلْوَسْوَاسِ, <nowiki>''</nowiki>al-waswasi<nowiki>''</nowiki>)
114:5 Who <nowiki>'''</nowiki>whispers<nowiki>'''</nowiki> (يُوَسْوِسُ, <nowiki>''</nowiki>yuwaswisu<nowiki>''</nowiki>) into the hearts of men,
114:6 From among the jinn and the men.


{{Quote|{{Quran|20|120}}|'''But''' the Shaitan '''made an evil suggestion''' (فَوَسْوَسَ, ''fa-waswasa'') to him; he said: O Adam! Shall I guide you to the tree of immortality and a kingdom which decays not?}}
{{Quran|114|1-6}}</ref>


Then one time it's a persons soul which whispers. The tu- simply indicates present tense, 3rd person, feminine, singular verb.
Tafsir Al-Jalalayn says that the "whisperer" in 114:4 is Satan:
{{Quote|{{Quran|50|16}}|And We have already created man and know what his soul '''whispers''' (تُوَسْوِسُ, ''tuwaswisu'') to him, and We are
{{Quote|Tafsir Al-Jalalayn on 114:4|from the evil of '''the slinking whisperer Satan''' — he is referred to by the name of the action waswasa on account of his repeated engaging in it — who slinks away and recoils from the heart whenever God is mentioned}}
closer to him than [his] jugular vein}}


And two times in a short sura 114. The al- indicates definite article (before a noun). The yu- indicates present tense, 3rd person, singular, masculine verb.
==Qur'an and Hadith on Waswas==
{{Quote|{{Quran|114|1-6}}|
{{Quote|{{Quran|7|20}}|'''But''' the Shaitan '''made an evil suggestion''' (فَوَسْوَسَ, ''fa-waswasa'') to them that he might make manifest to them what had been hidden from them of their evil inclinations, and he said: Your Lord has not forbidden you this tree except that you may not both become two angels or that you may (not) become of the immortals.}}
 
{{Quote|{{Quran|20|120}}|'''But''' the Shaitan '''made an evil suggestion''' (فَوَسْوَسَ, ''fa-waswasa'') to him; he said: O Adam! Shall I guide you to the tree of immortality and a kingdom which decays not?}}{{Quote|{{Quran|50|16}}|And We have already created man and know what his soul '''whispers''' (تُوَسْوِسُ, ''tuwaswisu'') to him, and We are
closer to him than [his] jugular vein}}{{Quote|{{Quran|114|1-6}}|
114:1 Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of men,
114:1 Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of men,


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114:6 From among the jinn and the men.
114:6 From among the jinn and the men.
}}
}}
Tafsir Al-Jalalayn says that the "whisperer" in 114:4 is Satan:
{{Quote|Tafsir Al-Jalalayn on 114:4|from the evil of '''the slinking whisperer Satan''' — he is referred to by the name of the action waswasa on account of his repeated engaging in it — who slinks away and recoils from the heart whenever God is mentioned}}
From this we can conclude that the concept of waswas (Satan whispering into Muslim minds) is described in the Qur'an, so it is definitely a part of the Islamic doctrine.
==Waswas in hadith==
Muslims are forgiven thoughts against Islam (the "whispers from Satan") as long don't act upon them and keep silent:


{{Quote|{{Bukhari|3|46|705}}| Narrated Abu Huraira:
{{Quote|{{Bukhari|3|46|705}}| Narrated Abu Huraira:
Line 47: Line 50:
"The Messenger of Allah said: 'Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, has forgiven my Ummah for what is whispered to them or what enters their minds, so long as they do not act upon it or speak of it.'"}}
"The Messenger of Allah said: 'Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, has forgiven my Ummah for what is whispered to them or what enters their minds, so long as they do not act upon it or speak of it.'"}}


Most of the whispers come from urinating in a place for bathing:
{{Quote|{{Al Nasai|1|1|36}}|
{{Quote|{{Al Nasai|1|1|36}}|
It was narrated from 'Abdullah bin Mughaffal that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
It was narrated from 'Abdullah bin Mughaffal that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"None of you should urinate in the place where he bathes, for most Waswas (devilish whispers) [1] come from that." [1] I.e., with regard to whether the urine has soiled his body or not.}}
"None of you should urinate in the place where he bathes, for most Waswas (devilish whispers) [1] come from that." [1] I.e., with regard to whether the urine has soiled his body or not.}}


Satan runs away farting, then comes back and whispers into hearts of Muslims when they pray, so they don't know how many rakats they have done:
{{Quote|{{Al Nasai|2|13|1254}} (Sahih)|It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said:
{{Quote|{{Al Nasai|2|13|1254}} (Sahih)|It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said:
"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'When the call to prayer is given, the Shaitan runs away breaking wind loudly. When the Tathwb (Iqamah) is completed, he comes back and whispers to a man in his hear, until he does not know how many (rak'ahs) he has prayed. If any one of you notices that, let him prostrate twice.'"}}
"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'When the call to prayer is given, the Shaitan runs away breaking wind loudly. When the Tathwb (Iqamah) is completed, he comes back and whispers to a man in his hear, until he does not know how many (rak'ahs) he has prayed. If any one of you notices that, let him prostrate twice.'"}}


But when Muhammad forgets how many rakats he has done during prayer, it is because he is just a human being (and it doesn't seem to be a product of Satan whispers):
{{Quote|{{Al Nasai|2|13|1257}} (Sahih)|It was narrated that Ibrahim bin Suwaid said:
{{Quote|{{Al Nasai|2|13|1257}} (Sahih)|It was narrated that Ibrahim bin Suwaid said:
"Alqamah prayed five (rak'ahs) and was told about that. He said: 'Did I really do that?' I nodded yes. He said: 'What about you, O odd-eyed one?' I said: 'Yes'. So he prostrated twice, then he narrated to us from 'Abdullah that the Prophet (ﷺ) prayed five (rak'ahs), and the people whispered to one another, then they said to him: 'Has something been added the prayer?' He said: 'No.' So they told him, and he turned around and prostrated twice, then he said: 'I am only human; I forget as you forget.'"
"Alqamah prayed five (rak'ahs) and was told about that. He said: 'Did I really do that?' I nodded yes. He said: 'What about you, O odd-eyed one?' I said: 'Yes'. So he prostrated twice, then he narrated to us from 'Abdullah that the Prophet (ﷺ) prayed five (rak'ahs), and the people whispered to one another, then they said to him: 'Has something been added the prayer?' He said: 'No.' So they told him, and he turned around and prostrated twice, then he said: 'I am only human; I forget as you forget.'"
}}
}}


Muhammad sprinkled water on his "private parts", so that he doesn't get whispers from Satan:
{{Quote|{{Al Nasai|1|1|134}} (Hasan)|It was narrated from Al-Hakam, from his father, that when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) performed Wudu', he would take a handful of water and do this with it. Shu'bah described it:
{{Quote|{{Al Nasai|1|1|134}} (Hasan)|It was narrated from Al-Hakam, from his father, that when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) performed Wudu', he would take a handful of water and do this with it. Shu'bah described it:
"He would sprinkle his private parts with it." [1] Shaikh Ibn As-Sunni said: "Al-Hakam (one of the narrators) is Ibn Sufyan Ath-Thaqafi. [1] The purpose is to ward off devilish '''whispers''' lest the person think any emission has taken place, and thus think that his Wudu' has been invalidated.}}
"He would sprinkle his private parts with it." [1] Shaikh Ibn As-Sunni said: "Al-Hakam (one of the narrators) is Ibn Sufyan Ath-Thaqafi. [1] The purpose is to ward off devilish '''whispers''' lest the person think any emission has taken place, and thus think that his Wudu' has been invalidated.}}


Soothsayers make accurate predictions thanks to hearing waswas:
{{Quote|Riyad As-Salihin 18:1668|Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) said:
{{Quote|Riyad As-Salihin 18:1668|Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) said:
Some people asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) about soothsayers. He (ﷺ) said, "They are of no account." Upon this they said to him, "O Messenger of Allah! But they sometimes make true predictions." Thereupon the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "That is a word pertaining to truth which a jinn snatches (from the angels) and whispers into the ears of his friend (the soothsayers) who will then mix more than a hundred lies with it."}}
Some people asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) about soothsayers. He (ﷺ) said, "They are of no account." Upon this they said to him, "O Messenger of Allah! But they sometimes make true predictions." Thereupon the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "That is a word pertaining to truth which a jinn snatches (from the angels) and whispers into the ears of his friend (the soothsayers) who will then mix more than a hundred lies with it."}}


Waswas is a sign of faith:
{{Quote|{{Muslim|1|239}}|
{{Quote|{{Muslim|1|239}}|
It is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that some people from amongst the Companions of the Apostle (ﷺ) came to him and said:
It is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that some people from amongst the Companions of the Apostle (ﷺ) came to him and said:
Verily we perceive in our minds that which every one of us considers it too grave to express. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Do you really perceive it? They said: Yes. Upon this he remarked: That is the faith manifest.}}
Verily we perceive in our minds that which every one of us considers it too grave to express. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Do you really perceive it? They said: Yes. Upon this he remarked: That is the faith manifest.}}


==Critical thinking==
==The Idea of Waswasa vis-a-vis The Scientific Method==
In the waswas-avoiding philosophy, you don't gather all information and then make rational conclusions. You gather only information which is in line with Islam, and everything which is not in line with Islam (regardless if it's true and logical) is dismissed. This creates a ''confirmation bias'' in Muslim minds.
 
The scientific method, which forms the cornerstone of modern and western culture and technology, generally encourages questioning of authority and received wisdom. In contrast, Sahih Muslim says of questioning the received ideas of god from Islamic theology:


For example, when Muslims try to prove that Allah exists, they often try the creationist argument, that "the world exists, therefore somebody must have d  it". And now the question "Who created Allah then?" destroys their argument. But their argument was in line with Islam and this counter-argument is against Islam, so the first one continues to be widely accepted, but the counter-argument is dismissed as "waswas":
{{Quote|{{Muslim|1|244}}| It is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah may peace be upon him) observed:
{{Quote|{{Muslim|1|244}}| It is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah may peace be upon him) observed:
The Satan comes to everyone. of you and says: Who created this and that? till he questions: Who created your Lord? When he comes to that, one should seek refuge in Allah and keep away (from such idle thoughts).}}
The Satan comes to everyone of you and says: Who created this and that? till he questions: Who created your Lord? When he comes to that, one should seek refuge in Allah and keep away (from such idle thoughts).}}


So the waswas concept is against the concepts like critical thinking and logic.
In stark contrast to the ethos of the scientific method, this hadith attributes questions about the received knowledge of Islamic philosophy to the villainy of satan. Whereas a person from a more modern cultural background might see such doubt of received knowledge as normal and even healthy, people from Muslim cultural backgrounds are often taught that this doubt comes directly from Satan whispering into their ears. There are thus in the modern world many instances of believers trying to "cure" themselves from waswas <ref>Just Google "waswas".</ref>, what might be otherwise considered as normal doubts one might have about a received religious or cultural tradition. The basic treatment method is ''ruqya'' - exorcism. Verses from the Qur'an are recited on the "processed" Muslim. There is also a possibility of self-ruqya <ref>http://www.aburuqya.com/self-ruqya</ref>, where Muslim tries to get rid of waswas by praying and reading the Qur'an (and other practices).


==Blind faith==
==Psychology==
The concept of waswas is a perfect method to keep people believing blindly in false information, because if their beliefs were false, they would never realize that, because everything which leads to the realization would be considered waswas.
Many of the traditional responses advised by the Islamic tradition to waswas seem to resemble in some ways  [[W:Psychological repression|psychological repression]]. The main thrust of these ideas about wasawas is that a true, believing Muslims should push doubts into the unconscious mind from the conscious mind. From the unconscious mind, the repressed thoughts might express themselves in dreams, inner voices, or seemingly unexplained actions in their personal or professional lives.


==Islamic treatment of waswas==
The therapy for psychological repression is basically the opposite of what "Islamic waswas therapy" does. In Freud's psychotherapy, the psychotherapist re-introduces the repressed thoughts back into the conscious mind <ref>Freud, Five Lectures p. 35</ref>. The conscious mind then learns to live with the previously-repressed thoughts and so there is no more repression. While the Islamic treatment of waswas is trying to repress the "bad" thoughts so much that they become silent. Which is not possible, because repressed thoughts don't disappear. They only hide in the unconscious mind and there they still affect a person's behavior and cause psychological problems.
When you search the web, you will find many Muslims trying to "cure" themselves from waswas <ref>Just Google "waswas".</ref>. The basic treatment method is ''ruqya'' - exorcism. Verses from the Qur'an are recited on the "posessed" Muslim. There is also a possibility of self-ruqya <ref>http://www.aburuqya.com/self-ruqya</ref>, where Muslim tries to get rid of waswas by praying and reading the Qur'an (and other practices).


==Conclusions==
==References==
<references />
[[Category:Supernatural beings]]
[[Category:Jinn]]
[[Category:Society and human nature]]
[[Category:Pre-Islamic Arabia]]
[[Category:Revelation]]
[[ar:وسواس]]
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