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I used to think Muslims were just brainwashed. Now I think they're hypnotized.
I know most religions have these hypnotic and brainwashing aspects to some degree but none do it as effectively or to the extent that Islam does.
The Qur'an: Hypnotic?
The first half of this video is a recitation of The Bible in English. The second half is a recitation of the Qur'an in Arabic. Listen to both and you will see how The Bible in English is read as you would read any article or speak in a normal conversation. The recitation of the Qur'an in Arabic is done in a hypnotic rhythmic chant. It sounds like singing but I don't think it is. Maybe some Muslims can chime in on why it is recited that way.
Now let's check out some more recitations of the Quran.
Below is a link to a YouTube list of 'quran recitation' videos.
Keep in mind while listening, for those who don't understand Arabic, that these chants contain lines like:
Quran (2:191-193) - "And kill them wherever you find them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out. Quran (2:244) - "Then fight in the cause of Allah, and know that Allah Heareth and knoweth all things Quran (2:216) - "Fighting is prescribed for you, and ye dislike it. But it is possible that ye dislike a thing which is good for you, and that ye love a thing which is bad for you. But Allah knoweth, and ye know not." Quran (3:56) - "As to those who reject faith, I will punish them with terrible agony in this world and in the Hereafter, nor will they have anyone to help." Quran (3:151) - "Soon shall We cast terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers, for that they joined companions with Allah, for which He had sent no authority". Quran (4:74) - "Let those fight in the way of Allah who sell the life of this world for the other. Whoso fighteth in the way of Allah, be he slain or be he victorious, on him We shall bestow a vast reward." Quran (4:76) - "Those who believe fight in the cause of Allah…" Quran (4:89) - "They but wish that ye should reject Faith, as they do, and thus be on the same footing (as they): But take not friends from their ranks until they flee in the way of Allah (From what is forbidden). But if they turn renegades, seize them and slay them wherever ye find them; and (in any case) take no friends or helpers from their ranks." Quran (4:95) - "Not equal are those believers who sit (at home) and receive no hurt, and those who strive and fight in the cause of Allah with their goods and their persons. Allah hath granted a grade higher to those who strive and fight with their goods and persons than to those who sit (at home). Unto all (in Faith) Hath Allah promised good: But those who strive and fight Hath He distinguished above those who sit (at home) by a special reward,-" Quran (4:104) - "And be not weak hearted in pursuit of the enemy; if you suffer pain, then surely they (too) suffer pain as you suffer pain..." Quran (5:33) - "The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His messenger and strive to make mischief in the land is only this, that they should be murdered or crucified or their hands and their feet should be cut off on opposite sides or they should be imprisoned; this shall be as a disgrace for them in this world, and in the hereafter they shall have a grievous chastisement" Quran (8:12) - "I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them" Quran (8:39) - "And fight with them until there is no more fitna (disorder, unbelief) and religion should be only for Allah" Quran (8:57) - "If thou comest on them in the war, deal with them so as to strike fear in those who are behind them, that haply they may remember." Quran (8:65) - "O Prophet, exhort the believers to fight..." Quran (9:5) - "So when the sacred months have passed away, then slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captive and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush, then if they repent and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, leave their way free to them." Quran (9:14) - "Fight against them so that Allah will punish them by your hands and disgrace them and give you victory over them and heal the breasts of a believing people." Quran (9:29) - "Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued." Quran (9:30) - "And the Jews say: Ezra is the son of Allah; and the Christians say: The Messiah is the son of Allah; these are the words of their mouths; they imitate the saying of those who disbelieved before; may Allah destroy them; how they are turned away!" Quran (9:38-39) - "O ye who believe! what is the matter with you, that, when ye are asked to go forth in the cause of Allah, ye cling heavily to the earth? Do ye prefer the life of this world to the Hereafter? But little is the comfort of this life, as compared with the Hereafter. Unless ye go forth, He will punish you with a grievous penalty, and put others in your place." Quran (9:41) - "Go forth, light-armed and heavy-armed, and strive with your wealth and your lives in the way of Allah! That is best for you if ye but knew." Quran (9:73) - "O Prophet! strive hard against the unbelievers and the hypocrites and be unyielding to them; and their abode is hell, and evil is the destination." Quran (9:88) - "But the Messenger, and those who believe with him, strive and fight with their wealth and their persons: for them are (all) good things: and it is they who will prosper." Quran (9:123) - "O you who believe! fight those of the unbelievers who are near to you and let them find in you hardness." Quran (17:16) - "And when We wish to destroy a town, We send Our commandment to the people of it who lead easy lives, but they transgress therein; thus the word proves true against it, so We destroy it with utter destruction." Quran (25:52) - "Therefore listen not to the Unbelievers, but strive against them with the utmost strenuousness..." Quran (33:60-62) - "If the hypocrites, and those in whose hearts is a disease, and the alarmists in the city do not cease, We verily shall urge thee on against them, then they will be your neighbors in it but a little while. Accursed, they will be seized wherever found and slain with a (fierce) slaughter." Quran (47:3-4) - "Those who disbelieve follow falsehood, while those who believe follow the truth from their Lord... So, when you meet (in fight Jihad in Allah's Cause), those who disbelieve smite at their necks till when you have killed and wounded many of them, then bind a bond firmly (on them, i.e. take them as captives)... If it had been Allah's Will, He Himself could certainly have punished them (without you). But (He lets you fight), in order to test you, some with others. But those who are killed in the Way of Allah, He will never let their deeds be lost." Quran (48:29) - "Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. And those with him are hard (ruthless) against the disbelievers and merciful among themselves" Quran (61:4) - "Surely Allah loves those who fight in His way" (61:9): "He it is who has sent His Messenger (Mohammed) with guidance and the religion of truth (Islam) to make it victorious over all religions even though the infidels may resist." Quran (61:10-12) - "O You who believe! Shall I guide you to a commerce that will save you from a painful torment. That you believe in Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad ), and that you strive hard and fight in the Cause of Allah with your wealth and your lives, that will be better for you, if you but know! (If you do so) He will forgive you your sins, and admit you into Gardens under which rivers flow, and pleasant dwelling in Gardens of 'Adn - Eternity ['Adn (Edn) Paradise], that is indeed the great success." Quran (66:9) - "O Prophet! Strive against the disbelievers and the hypocrites, and be stern with them. Hell will be their home, a hapless journey's end."
That's just to name a few.
Now that you know what they are saying, listen again to some other recitations.
Also read some of the YouTube comments under the videos and see what the 'believers' think of these recitations. 'Beautiful' is a word commonly used.
I have heard Muslims say 'you can't read the Qur'an in English, you have to read it in Arabic to understand it.' Now I know what they mean by that. You have to hear it in Arabic to be hypnotized and brainwashed by it as they have been. Otherwise you will rationalize the words and meaning and of course, reject it.
I have not found a Qur'an recitation that was just spoken as words. The first time I heard it I thought they were singing, then I found that all recitations are done that way. That might explain why so many Muslims memorize the entire Qur'an. It's more like learning a song than memorizing a book. How many Christians do you know who have memorized the entire bible? I don't know of any. Read it yes, memorized it, no.
The Second Pillar of Islam: Self Hypnosis
5 obligatory prayers every day (5 sessions of auto hypnosis each day)
Post hypnotic suggestion will wear off if it is not reinforced persistently.
Look at this list of Brainwashing & Mind Control techniques and I'm sure you will see that Islam employes many if not most of them.
1) HYPNOSIS - Inducing a high state of suggestibility, often thinly disguised as relaxation or meditation.
a. Repetitive Music (most likely with a beat close to the human heart 45 to 72 beats per minute). Most likely used during "study sessions" as the teacher will say the music helps you relax and concentrate better!
b. Voice Roll -- A "voice roll" is a patterned, paced style used by hypnotists when inducing a trance. It is also used by many lawyers, several of whom are highly trained hypnotists, when they desire to entrench a point firmly in the minds of the jurors. A voice roll can sound as if the speaker were talking to the beat of a metronome or it may sound as though he were emphasizing every word in a monotonous, patterned style. The words will usually be delivered at the rate of 45 to 60 beats per minute, maximizing the hypnotic effect.
2) PEER GROUP PRESSURE - Suppressing doubt and resistance to new ideas by exploiting the need to belong.
5) CONFUSING DOCTRINE - Encouraging blind acceptance and rejection of logic through complex lectures on an incomprehensible doctrine. (Quran, Ahadith)
6) METACOMMUNICATION - Implanting subliminal messages by stressing certain key words or phrases in long, confusing lectures.
13) CHANTING OR SINGING - Eliminating non-cult ideas through group repetition of mind-narrowing chants or phrases.
15) FINANCIAL COMMITMENT - The Third Pillar
16) FINGER POINTING - Creating a false sense of righteousness by pointing to the shortcomings of the outside world.
17) ISOLATION - Inducing loss of reality by physical separation from family, friends, society and rational references.
18) CONTROLLED APPROVAL - Maintaining vulnerability and confusion by alternately rewarding and punishing similar actions.
19) CHANGE OF DIET - Ramadan - Creating disorientation and increased susceptibility to emotional arousal by depriving the nervous system of necessary nutrients through the use of special diets and/or fasting.
21) NO QUESTIONS - Accomplishing automatic acceptance of beliefs by discouraging questions.
23) FEAR - Maintaining loyalty and obedience to the group by threatening soul, life or limb for the slightest 'negative' thought, word or deed.
REPETITION - Going through the same subject over and over again until it is known by heart.
Self Hypnosis
Lets look at how The 5 Pillars of Islam perpetuate the auto-hypnotic trance state.
-----------
The 5 Pillars of Islam - Required for ALL Muslims
1. The First Pillar - Shahadah: declaring there is no god except God, and Muhammad is God's Messenger
Once you commit to a position you will feel inclined to defend it. The more you defend it the harder it will be to let go. (causes denial)
2. The Second Pillar - Salat: ritual prayer five times a day
This is the most powerful part of the self hypnosis. If you tell yourself something often enough you will begin to believe it even if you know it's not true.
3. The Third Pillar - Zakat: giving 2.5% of one’s savings to the poor and needy - Financial Commitment
4. The Forth Pillar - Sawm: fasting and self-control during the holy month of Ramadan
In a state of hunger the brain becomes even more susceptibility to hypnotic suggestion.
5. The Fifth Pillar - Hajj: pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a lifetime if one is able.
A required goal that is unattainable for the vast majority of Muslims.
------------
Hypnosis also might explain why there are so few Muslims willing to discuss Islam intellectually. They usually get angry instead. They often make threats to anyone who challenges the notions that these are the infallible words of god. Or they directly attack critics of Islam by calling them 'haters' or 'racist'.
When a Muslims recites or listens to the Qur'an in Arabic it has the strong hypnotic effect. The rhythms put their mind into a deep trance and they are very susceptible to suggestion.They live their lives in this hypnotic trance, like they're brain dead.
The trance state they go into gives them a feeling of peace. That's why they think Islam is a 'religion of peace'. They go into a trace while their subconscious mind is being permeated with words like "kill the infidel" They have 'submitted' their free will of thought and so they can't think objectively. Of course it doesn't apply to every Muslim but for the vast majority of them, I think it does.
Does anyone know more about hypnosis or brainwashing who can shed some light on this subject?
Also can anyone explain why it's always recited that way?
Last edited by Forum Registration; 03-07-2015 at 03:33 AM..
Does anyone know more about hypnosis or brainwashing who can shed some light on this subject?
Also can anyone explain why it's always recited that way?
Since my educational and work background was in the field of Psychology, I have a little knowledge of behavior modification etc. While my specialty was in the field of physiological psychiatry and I was more interested in Neuro-anatomy than psycho-analysis I did get exposed to the works of B.F Skinner, Bruno Betelheim, and other of the Behaviorists. Especially during my internships in psych hospitals were I often had to write individualized behavior modification plans.
How ever the melodious rhythm of the Tajweed dialect is related more to linguistics than to any psychological implications.
Arabic has quite a few different dialects and the speaker of one usually does not understand the speaker of another. Although in modern times MSA is becoming a standard for world wide usage.
At the time the Qur'an was revealed there were at least 8 or 9 dialects of Arabic in use on the Arabian Peninsula and most tribes were not able to understand people from different tribes.
The Qur'an is the only Arabic literature in the Tajweed dialect. No one has ever duplicated it.
The amazing thing about it is that no matter what dialect of Arabic one knows, the Qur'an is understandable.
Long before I accepted Islam I learned Arabic, but I learned the Darija of Morocco and soon discovered I do not understand the Arabic of Saudi, Egypt, Yemen etc But I have no difficulty in understanding the Tajweed of the Qur'an.
Some things I find fascinating is the Qur'an is divided into 30 nearly equal parts. (Juz) When a Juz is recited with the proper Tajweed each Juz takes almost exactly an hour to recite. Plus each Juz has it's own unique rhythm. If a reciter,makes even a minor error it is noticed almost immediately by the listeners.
In addition each Surah has a unique rhythm and each complete thought has it's own rhythm which makes it very difficult to take a line out of context.
A side benefit is this also makes it easy for most people to memorize the Qur'an
An oddity that I find is that if a Person learns only the Qur'an it will not enable them to understand any other dialect of Arabic. There has been a long going rivalry as to which Arabic Dialect is closest to the Tajweed the top contenders being Saudi, Yemen, Syria and Egypt. I find that most Arab speaking people feel the Yemeni dialect is the closest.
Muhammad(saaws) spoke the Meccan Dialect (Hejazi) which is still used to some degree in Mecca. Currently the Arabic dialects spoken on the Arabian peninsula are: Hejazi Arabic, Najdi Arabic, Bareqi Arabic, Gulf Arabic and Jenubi Arabic Along with the MSA used by the al-Saud family. For general usage and mutual understanding for newspapers, government stuff etc the MSA is used thought the KSA.
My point of all that is the Tajweed of the Qur'an is quite an accomplishment. My own conclusion based on a study of Arabic that dates back to 1961, I do not believe the Qur'an was the work of human thought. If it is not the exact words of Allaah(swt) I have no explanation for it.
1) HYPNOSIS - Inducing a high state of suggestibility, often thinly disguised as relaxation or meditation.
a. Repetitive Music (most likely with a beat close to the human heart 45 to 72 beats per minute). Most likely used during "study sessions" as the teacher will say the music helps you relax and concentrate better!
b. Voice Roll -- A "voice roll" is a patterned, paced style used by hypnotists when inducing a trance. It is also used by many lawyers, several of whom are highly trained hypnotists, when they desire to entrench a point firmly in the minds of the jurors. A voice roll can sound as if the speaker were talking to the beat of a metronome or it may sound as though he were emphasizing every word in a monotonous, patterned style. The words will usually be delivered at the rate of 45 to 60 beats per minute, maximizing the hypnotic effect.
2) PEER GROUP PRESSURE - Suppressing doubt and resistance to new ideas by exploiting the need to belong.
5) CONFUSING DOCTRINE - Encouraging blind acceptance and rejection of logic through complex lectures on an incomprehensible doctrine. (Quran, Ahadith)
6) METACOMMUNICATION - Implanting subliminal messages by stressing certain key words or phrases in long, confusing lectures.
13) CHANTING OR SINGING - Eliminating non-cult ideas through group repetition of mind-narrowing chants or phrases.
15) FINANCIAL COMMITMENT - The Third Pillar
16) FINGER POINTING - Creating a false sense of righteousness by pointing to the shortcomings of the outside world.
17) ISOLATION - Inducing loss of reality by physical separation from family, friends, society and rational references.
18) CONTROLLED APPROVAL - Maintaining vulnerability and confusion by alternately rewarding and punishing similar actions.
19) CHANGE OF DIET - Ramadan - Creating disorientation and increased susceptibility to emotional arousal by depriving the nervous system of necessary nutrients through the use of special diets and/or fasting.
21) NO QUESTIONS - Accomplishing automatic acceptance of beliefs by discouraging questions.
23) FEAR - Maintaining loyalty and obedience to the group by threatening soul, life or limb for the slightest 'negative' thought, word or deed.
REPETITION - Going through the same subject over and over again until it is known by heart.
Self Hypnosis
Lets look at how The 5 Pillars of Islam perpetuate the auto-hypnotic trance state.
-----------
The 5 Pillars of Islam - Required for ALL Muslims
1. The First Pillar - Shahadah: declaring there is no god except God, and Muhammad is God's Messenger
Once you commit to a position you will feel inclined to defend it. The more you defend it the harder it will be to let go. (causes denial)
2. The Second Pillar - Salat: ritual prayer five times a day
This is the most powerful part of the self hypnosis. If you tell yourself something often enough you will begin to believe it even if you know it's not true.
3. The Third Pillar - Zakat: giving 2.5% of one’s savings to the poor and needy - Financial Commitment
4. The Forth Pillar - Sawm: fasting and self-control during the holy month of Ramadan
In a state of hunger the brain becomes even more susceptibility to hypnotic suggestion.
5. The Fifth Pillar - Hajj: pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a lifetime if one is able.
A required goal that is unattainable for the vast majority of Muslims.
------------
Hypnosis also might explain why there are so few Muslims willing to discuss Islam intellectually. They usually get angry instead. They often make threats to anyone who challenges the notions that these are the infallible words of god. Or they directly attack critics of Islam by calling them 'haters' or 'racist'.---------SNIP-------
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I am not quite certain if there is sufficient repetition in the 5 obligatory prayers. There is considerable leeway so that typically no one will ever repeat the exact same salat (obligatory prayer)
for beginners they each consist of different number of rakkats
Sunnah
Before Fard Sunnah After Nafil Witr
Fajr 2 2
Zuhr 4 4 2
Asr 4 4
Maghrib 3 2 2
Isha 4 4 2 2 3*
the Fard rakkat are required the others are optional. At each Rakkat a section of the Qur'an is recited this is at the choice of the Imam or the individual if praying alone, this has to be either an entire surah or a minimum of 9 lines. Long story short, you get a lot of variation and a good bit of individuality
I have doubts as to your hypnosis theory as the tajweed is not music, it is the actual dialect and that is the only way the words can be pronounced. but I will agree it is enjoyable to listen to and quite relaxing.
Peer Pressure--Not so much, however in some social structures there is considerable family pressure. Many perhaps most of us have no particular ties or attachment for any single Mosque. Actually the majority of us say most of our prayers alone.
It is virtually impossible to know if another person is even following the 5 pillars as much of it such as Zakat, fasting etc are to be kept private and known only to our self and Allah(swt)
Very many of us will never ever hear any type of Islamic lecture. An Imam if he is doing what he should is not supposed to preach, lecture or teach. Just lead the obligatory prayers and shut up.
chanting or singing is forbidden in a Mosque under the Hanafi Madhab. Singing without music is permitted outside the Mosque and most of us have our favorite Nasheeds.
while we are obligated to donate 2.5% of the value of what we have owned in the previous year minus the value of necessary allowed expenses, we are to do so privately and anonymously to any needy person or organization of our choice. We should not tell what we give or who to and the recipient should not know who it came from. Not even my wife knows who I give to or how much. We do not claim any tax exemptions for charity as that would require making it known we gave to charity. That is private known only to the individual and Allaah(swt)
Under the Hanafi Madhab we are not to degrade the religion or non-religion of any person.
Most Muslims are not isolated and usually very gregarious. However recent immigrants do tend to be clannish and afraid of the majority populace, which I have seen among all immigrants in every nation.
I find that questions are encouraged. I have been told many times in the numerous Mosques I have been in (before coming to ND) to not believe anything unless I my self have verified it to be true. Our belief is our own responsibility and since we will be judged, we had best be certain we have proven to our self that what we believe is true.
I have never seen or heard anything that would instill fear. I am certain every Muslim will reach heaven.
It is my own choice if I stay Muslim or leave Islam.
Hajj is required for all Muslims that can physically and financially go at least once. simple fact--Hajj is during the 5 days from the 9-14 of the month of Hajj. Physically Mecca can only accommodate 2,000,000 pilgrims. Any more they would not be able to circumvent the qiblah 7 times in the 5 days of hajj. there are 1.7 billion of us. for every Muslim living today it would take nearly 1,000 years for all of us to make the Hajj just once. But that is no issue as we are not accountable for that which we can not do.
I find many reasons Muslims do not like to discuss Islam. For new immigrants I find most do not feel they know sufficient English. For those of us that speak English as our primary language I find fear to be a factor. I am out spoken and I have had death threats from non-Muslims. One reason I now live out in the boondocks where people know me anf understand I pose no threat to them.
If I was still in a large city my big mouth would get me killed by radical non-Muslims. Even on forums I see many people express a desire to bring Islam to it's demise.
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