Waswas: Difference between revisions

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114:6 From among the jinn and the men.
114:6 From among the jinn and the men.
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Muslims are forgiven thoughts against Islam (the "whispers from Satan") as long as they don't act upon them and keep silent:


{{Quote|{{Bukhari|3|46|705}}| Narrated Abu Huraira:
{{Quote|{{Bukhari|3|46|705}}| Narrated Abu Huraira:
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==Association with science denial==
==Association with science denial==
Doubt is a cornerstone of the scientific method. However, the concept of waswas . 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.
Doubt is a cornerstone of the scientific method. However, the concept of waswas attributed doubt to evil supernatural forces.{{Quote-text|{{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).}}There are many instances of believers 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).
For example, when Muslims try to prove that Allah exists, they often try the creationist argument, that "the world exists, therefore somebody must have created 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:
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).}}
 
Also, attacking the source of counter-arguments, instead of actually analyzing and refuting them is a logical ''[[W:Ad hominem|ad hominem]]'' fallacy.
 
Also if Allah created everything, then he created waswas. If he created waswas to test Muslims whether they are good enough Muslims, then the whole concept stops making sense, because why would he test them, when he is all-knowing and already knows the results? As we can see, when we consider the waswas concept together with other Islamic concepts like all-knowingness and testing belivers, it all stops making sense.
 
==Blind faith==
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.
 
==Islamic treatment of waswas==
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).


==Psychology==
==Psychology==
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The therapy for psychological repression is basically the opposite of what "Islamic 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.
The therapy for psychological repression is basically the opposite of what "Islamic 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.
==Conclusions==
Islam commits a logical fallacy by claiming that all information that go against it are ''waswas'' (whispering from Satan). This waswas-avoiding philosophy creates close-minded Muslims, who are not able to realize Islam is false, because everything which leads to that realization is labeled as "waswas" and rejected.
The Islamic treatment of waswas via exorcism is not efficient. The easiest way to get rid of "waswas" is to leave Islam and realize that there is no "waswas" and doubts are just a natural part of how the human brain works.


==References==
==References==
<references />
<references />

Revision as of 18:25, 13 August 2019

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

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".

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.
Quran 7:20

In one instance the Quran says the soul whispers. The tu- simply indicates present tense, 3rd person, feminine, singular verb.

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
Quran 50:16

Two times in a chapter 114. The al- indicates definite article (before a noun). The yu- indicates present tense, 3rd person, singular, masculine verb.[1]

Tafsir Al-Jalalayn says that the "whisperer" in 114:4 is Satan:

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
Tafsir Al-Jalalayn on 114:4

Relevant Quotations

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.
Quran 7:20
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 20:120
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
Quran 50:16

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 whisperer (ٱلْوَسْوَاسِ, al-waswasi)

114:5 Who whispers (يُوَسْوِسُ, yuwaswisu) into the hearts of men,

114:6 From among the jinn and the men.


Quran 114:1-6
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Allah has accepted my invocation to forgive what whispers in the hearts of my followers, unless they put it to action or utter it."
Sahih Bukhari 3:46:705
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Allah forgives my followers those (evil deeds) their souls may whisper or suggest to them as long as they do not act (on it) or speak."
Sahih Bukhari 8:78:657
It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said: "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.'"
Sunan an-Nasa'i 27:3464:1 (Sahih)


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.
Sunan an-Nasa'i 1:36:1


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.'"
Sunan an-Nasa'i 13:1254:1 (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.'"


Sunan an-Nasa'i 13:1257:1 (Sahih)


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.
Sunan an-Nasa'i 1:134:1 (Hasan)


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."
Riyad As-Salihin 18:1668


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.
Sahih Muslim 1:239

Association with science denial

Doubt is a cornerstone of the scientific method. However, the concept of waswas attributed doubt to evil supernatural forces.

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).
Sahih Muslim 1:244

There are many instances of believers trying to "cure" themselves from waswas [2]. 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 [3], where Muslim tries to get rid of waswas by praying and reading the Qur'an (and other practices).

Psychology

The waswas-avoiding behavior could probably be best described, in a secular way, as a psychological repression. A Muslim represses his "bad" thoughts. He pushes them out of his consciousness, into the unconscious mind. From the unconscious mind, the repressed thoughts might express themselves in dreams or as inner voices.

The therapy for psychological repression is basically the opposite of what "Islamic therapy" does. In Freud's psychotherapy, the psychotherapist re-introduces the repressed thoughts back into the conscious mind [4]. 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.

References

  1. ↑ 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 '''whisperer''' (ٱلْوَسْوَاسِ, ''al-waswasi'') 114:5 Who '''whispers''' (يُوَسْوِسُ, ''yuwaswisu'') into the hearts of men, 114:6 From among the jinn and the men. Quran 114:1-6
  2. ↑ Just Google "waswas".
  3. ↑ http://www.aburuqya.com/self-ruqya
  4. ↑ Freud, Five Lectures p. 35
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