Waswas: Difference between revisions

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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.}}


==Association with science denial==
==The Idea of Waswasa vis-a-vis The Scientific Method==
Doubt is a cornerstone of the scientific method. However, the concept of waswas attributed doubt to evil supernatural forces.{{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).}}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).
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:
 
{{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).}}
 
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 recieved 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).


==Psychology==
==Psychology==
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