Thanks for the A2A, but….
What??? WHAAAAAT????
Either you have no understanding about what the narcissistic personality disorder is about or you have no understanding of Islam or religion in general. Now as for some of the radical leaders in contemporary Islam, I think you could make a case for that. There certainly are many who exhibit some pretty extreme behavior patterns consistent with narcissism and its handmaidens, paranoia, delusions of grandeur and obsessive/compulsive disorder. That at very best is a twisting of the religious precepts to serve their own agenda.
The thing about religion is that it tends to be the very opposite of narcissistic. It is about the “other”, not about the self. Look at the five pillars of Islam: Faith, Prayer, Charity, Fasting and Pilgrimage to Mecca. They are all about getting past ones self, even self denial, and moving into closer relationship with Allah (God) and being a conduit of God’s blessing to the world. Narcissism is extreme self centeredness. Islam is extreme ‘other’ centeredness. Polar opposites.
Psychology and Philosophy
Quran 24:23, the evil-blind bulh and ghafilat: Freddie Mercury and fall from grace of an anti-gay politician
My father won a scholarship to study at Maryland but he chose to return due to consumerist obsession although he did not appreciate the current sexual obsession two decades ago. I stumbled here as I was researching about Parsi singer Freddie Mercury who hated his past so much that he even changed his name from Farokh which means the happy person in Persian and Persian mystic Ghazali has written Alchemy of Happiness on the concept of psychological and soteriological happiness. Modern culture is glorified by western politicians as ‘offering’ creative destruction of the traditional world. This is natural and logical because absence of spiritual light of first commandment only zoological darkness will prevail. Even a Parsi scientist of Pakistani origin ended up being pulled by the black hole of sexual revolution. His case is curious for traditionalists because he died of AIDS. This lawmaker corroborates another Hadith that majority of inhabitants of Paradise will be those who are bulh/blind in materialistic and secular sense but enlightened in the spiritual and scriptural sense. Which implies that when people acquires secular, materialistic and political awareness, but do not have spiritual enlightenment most of them end up being victims of zoological instincts themselves after being provoked by the external fire. Like a Pakistani surgeon died of Congo fever after operating a patient suffering from Congo. God praises such evil-blind women of faith in Quran 24:23. God bless my evil-blind zoologist mother who chose not to work in intermingling corporate culture and still she does not use facebook like my father.
To Theo Hobson: How failed deism and sola scriptura leads to atheism?
I want to revive the missionary legacy of what Quran calls a hawari/disciple Thomas who was martyred in India by polytheists for his monotheism. And, today Muslims in India, especially, Kashmir continue that legacy. I have witnessed a relationship between Sola Scriptura movements and deistic movements within both West and Middle East because both dislike the religious tradition, and many apostates tend to be influenced by Sola Scriptura and deism, but not everyone has the fervour of Herbert of Cherbury to dive in the ocean of love and ocean of logos at the same time. For example, Dawud At Tai a saint threw his books in the river to focus on worship and divine remembrance but his friend Imam Zufar managed to reconcile both which requires greater faith and greater scholarship. There is a Hadith that those who understand the logos deeply are more effective against the Evil than the worshipers, however, a Prophetic descendant warns that scholarship which does not have attendant piety is worthless. So, Islamic worldview has been able to contemplate and reconcile these issues centuries ago when West was relatively ignorant about both Scripture and logic. So, I was happy to find a western affirmation of my own conclusion. Thanks and may God bless you brother Theo Hobson.
To a self-described Salafi feminist: How company of tahajjud-observant sisters can help overcoming anarchist narcissism
I think Sayyidah Nafisah, peace be upon her, is the pinnacle of female saints among the later Salaf. A woman who has memorized the Quran in 21st century would be better than a public speaker which can induce anarchist narcissism which has led to many divorces in the traditional world. Psychologists say that sign of narcissism is marrying a weak submissive man instead of an assertive scholar of Salaf. However if you develop zuhd and asecticism of Salaf through the company of tahajjud-observant sisters, along with their scholarship, you may not develop anarchist narcissism.
For one of the best articles on psychology of a sensual Paradise an idea which is based on the Jewish idea of a physical Paradise of milk and honey as opposed to Christian idea of no marriage in heaven which an atheist commentator described equivalent to Hell.
The nests of divine remembrace and obedience: Eagle’s nest and secular distrurbances
God compares attraction of a saint to remembrance and obedience like that of eagle to its nest.
This is narrated by Imam Ahmad in his book about asceticism from Ata bin Yasar who describes a dialogue between Moses peace be upon him and God. Moses peace be upon him asks God, who are your Godly people whom you will grant the shade of your throne. So, God describes them as eagles of love and obedience and tigers against the forbidden.
في الزهد للإمام أحمد عن عطاء بن يسار ، قال : قال موسى عليه السلام : يا رب ، من هم أهلك الذين تظلهم في ظل عرشك ؟ قال : يا موسى ، هم البريئة أيديهم ، الطاهرة قلوبهم ، الذين يتحابون بجلالي ، الذين إذا ذكرت ذكروا بي ، وإذا ذكروا ذكرت بذكرهم ، الذين يسبغون الوضوء في المكاره ، وينيبون إلى ذكري كما تنيب النسور إلى وكورها ، ويكلفون بحبي كما يكلف الصبي بحب الناس ، ويغضبون لمحارمي إذا استحلت كما يغضب النمر إذا حورب
A Vermillion, Ohio nest measured 2.6 meters across its top and was 3.6 meters high and weighed nearly 1,000 kilograms! Sometimes, eagles will build more than one nest and use them alternately.
An eagle nest is constructed from large sticks, which are laid together to form the outside part of the nest. The center of the nest is filled with dead weeds, stubble and other softer materials, which may be available in the area. The nest cavity where the eggs are laid is lined with grass, dry moss and feathers. Many authorities believe that some bald eagles show such a strong attraction to their nesting site that, if displaced or overly disturbed, a pair may not return to the nest the following year. This fact places great importance on protecting nesting areas from disturbances such as logging operations, land development and recreational activities.
Secularism describes those disturbances.
The weeping saint Ata bin Yasar due to the scorpion of seduction:
Quran 6:108: The difference between self-shaming, guilt, insult and blasphemy according to psychology
Self-shaming and guilt about trying to hurt God’s honour are good. Because Guy Winch admits that guilt is a relationship protector with God or another human. But God says that even the most faithless should not be insulted in Quran 6:108. As mentioned in 1 Corinthians 10:28 Pulpit Commentary But if any man say unto you. Who is the “any man” is left undefined. Perhaps some “weak” Christian is meant, who happens to be a fellow guest. This is offered in sacrifice unto idols. The true reading is probably, hierothuton, sacred sacrifice, not eidolothuton, idol sacrifice. Perhaps there is a touch of delicate reserve in the word, implying that the remark is made at the table of heathens, who would be insulted by the word eidolothuton, sacrificed to idols.
Submitted by Ishmael on November 11, 2017 – 2:26pm
I am involved in an interfaith dialogue with a Christian sister from US about the nature of spiritual self-shaming and guilt for displeasing God. Thanks for contributing to our dialogue by adding the nuance.
A Pakistani modernist ignorant of both Quran and West discusses sexology and humorous poet Anwar Masood
Assalamu alaykum. Anwar Masood brought me here due to his preference for a national Pakistani identity compared to his Punjabi identity. I also appreciate him for naming one of his humorous poems after Quran 59:2 about tragedy of East Pakistan. Islamic sexology has been practiced for centuries and even Mother of Believers has described the sacred sexual norms in detail and some narrow minded Shia brothers have criticized that. But even the Prophetic descendants in Shia texts have responded to questions vaguely similar to oral sex and fingering and supposedly allowed that. At least that responds to their biased criticism. Latest research has shown that many of Freud’s theories do not match the scientific evidence. For example oedipus complex never made any sense to me. Before dying Freud wrote about his Prophet Moses peace be upon him but secular Muslims are mostly ignorant about that. Cousin marriage, plural marriage and early marriage are still taboo in West. Darwin married his cousin. Martin Luther called plural marriage biblical and Romeo and Juliet were a case of teenage romance. NYT even published and glorified a Mormon pre-teen lesbian recently but they hate early heterosexual marriage. So, your criticism of Pakistani society is based on your own Scriptural and even western ignorance.
Sociology research: Why West celebrated right to drive in Saudi Arabia?
Sex and cars two of America s and the worlds favorite thing, it should be no surprise that they have ties.It is obvious the tremendous impact the car has had on our lives and the world we live in. Whether you believe it is for better or for worse that the automobile was created it will no doubt continue to have a great impact on travel and an array of other characteristics of our lives. As for sex , well all things aside we need it to reproduce.
Muhammad Mushrraf Really interesting.
I remember an old man, in eighties, told me before a month or so, that bicycle was a great source for he corruption of the youth in his village, and when a boy had a bicycle, then it means that he wouldn’t be able to continue his study. Everything which facilitates easy communication and interaction, has the potential to stir such things.
And, when it comes to cars, then the matter is on gigantic scale, definitely.
Peter Bell I heard recently from a respected friend that the theology of technology is just beginning to be developed, and is not caught up to the actual changes in technology that we face every day. This is a cutting-edge field of work for the brightest minds and most faithful hearts to engage the ethics and cosmic dynamics of our upcoming technology. We as a society (and as believing people) very much need this.
Ishmael Abraham Since, I am involved in cutting edge research in technology while being a student of sacred Islamic texts, please pray for me to contribute much to this area of sapio-adroans synthesis before dying, so that God consider us a knight of Christ as well as the Ishmaelite righteous King. Future belongs to the faithful, God willing/In Sha Allah. Martin Seligman admits that believers are far more optimistic about future than the Godless. I read the word technology in a spiritual context here, which may not be precisely relevant here, but shows the passionate desire of believers for a sapio-adorans synthesis.
Existential dysphoria, nihilistic sufism and nihilistic militancy
Thinking about existential dysphoria made me visit the blog and I liked it. Since I am both a patrilineal and matrilineal descendant of Abraham peace be upon him, my DNA made me explore theistic existentialism via Kierkegaard who wrote Fear and Trembling about my grandfather. I have theistic psychotherapist friends who recommend reading Martin Seligman who has acknowledged that theists tend to be more optimistic than secularists. I think nihilism is a logical consequence of industrial revolution and sexual revolution, but our traditional culture is still successfully resisting both revolutions and therefore nihilism but one can find nihilistic movements in the traditional world. Nihilism literally means annihilation and some sufi saints have talked about annihilation of ego while witnessing the divine ego. However, that is incompatible with our modern existence as well as our own texts. Then, there are militant anarchists who think that it is impossible to resist temptation while being a part of modern culture so they resort to militant anarchism to destroy with nihilistic passion. However, I have embraced a synthesis of radical anti-modern skepticism and self-annihilating sufi compassion.
https://wewalkamongyou.wordpress.com/2012/02/07/how-existentialism-helped-with-my-dysphoria/
Quran 90:4, existential dysphoria and sarcasm
While trying to verbalize my psychological state today based on Quran 90:4 I came up with this word in my mind, because I think dysphoria is an inescapable condition of our existence. An Ishmaelite saint Thabit Al-Bunani said: A felt dysphoria(kabad) during prayers for twenty years, and for the next twenty years I felt euphoria during prayers. I enjoyed the sarcasm of your blog 
A spiritual Ishmaelite 
Some researchers have discussed the correlation of healthy narcissism and industrial progress, so a lack of industrial revolution in Middle East is a sign of high self-annihilation. But Hadith teaches: wa linafsika alayka haqqun: Your biological and physical self has rights too. So, Islam has has a buffer to extreme Buddhist self denial which secular Buddhism seeks to cure which is already cured within sacred texts of Islam.
https://www.quora.com/Are-the-Contemporary-Muslims-Narcissists