Was Muhammad an epileptic?

[AtheistExile]

Has a major branch of history been determined by one man's bouts with epilepsy? I think so! Here's why.

Epilepsy Toronto has, on its web page, a list of famous people who have had epilepsy. The idea of the list is that epilepsy doesn't need to stand in the way of achievement. On that list - along with such luminaries as Fyodor Dostoevsky, Joan of Arc, Napoleon and Newton - was Muhammad. Well, you guessed it . . . the incendiary email this organization received from indignant Muslims, prompted them to quickly remove Muhammad from its on-line list. By now, we all know that nothing gets results like Muslim threats.

This article reminded me of the connection between epilepsy and the "God Module". If you're not familiar with the God Module or "God Spot", here's a quick summary . . . It was discovered when scientists explored the association between epilepsy and intense spiritual experiences. It seems that some forms of epilepsy create electrical storms in the brain that stimulates an adjacent area (now identified as the God Module). Many of these epileptics are hyper-religious.

Anyway, I did a Google search for "Muhammad and epilepsy" and hit pay-dirt. There appears to be a strong correlation between the symptoms of epilepsy and the witness descriptions of Muhammad's condition while in his "trances". Epilepsy (the "sacred disease", also known as the "falling sickness") is what the ancients thought were demon possessions. Muhammad was known to have had epileptic symptoms from at least the age of 5. His guardians were (allegedly) afraid he was demon possessed and pawned him off on other relatives.

Epilepsy would explain Muhammad's visions and preoccupation with spirituality and his solitary retreats to the mountains for contemplative meditation. Many epileptics describe the spiritual sensations surrounding seizures as so exquisite that they actually look forward to these fits. Fyodor Dostoevsky claimed that he would not trade 10 years of life for a single epilepsy-induced spiritual experience.

Ignorant and superstitious people, especially in Muhammad's day, were easily impressed by these seizures. They seemed real, because they were. However, they weren't demon possessions or contact with God; they were epileptic fits. These fits are reported to have scared Muhammad until his wife (the first, ever, Muslim) convinced him that they were divine communiqués. That's right . . . Muhammad's wife was the first Muslim - Muhammad was the second to believe.

There is only anecdotal evidence that Muhammad was an epileptic. It's just a theory. But, due to the preponderance of evidence, many historians and researchers believe it. The first to suggest it was the Greek monk, Theophanes. Theophanes (752-817) wrote, in his "Chronography", that Muhammad suffered from epilepsy. In 1869, Sir William Muir, made the same connection in his book, "The Life of Mahomet". More recently, Clifford Pickover writes:

Dostoevsky, another famous epileptic whose works are filled with ecstatic visions of universal love (and terrible nightmares of uncanny fear and radical evil), thought it was obvious that Mohammad's visions of God were triggered by epilepsy. "Mohammad assures us in this Koran that he had seen Paradise," Dostoevsky notes. "He did not lie. He had indeed been in Paradise - during an attack of epilepsy, from which he suffered, as I do."

I guess it takes one to know one.

So . . . what do you think?

[stardust]

You happen to be one of those people who literally go to any extent to disprove any believe system that simply dosen't float their boat and dosen't coincide with their views. Prophet Muhammad(s.a.w) didn't suffer from Epilepsy or any such mental problem. As you very clearly mentioned in your post, the notion of him being epileptic is nothing more than just a theory. People find Prophet of Islam an easy target when they find their own goodselves completely unsuccessful in disproving the former's message of Islam.

[Jack]

Asking valid questions about historical religious figures is hardly an attempt to disprove a belief system. If Muslims can't counter the possibility that Muhammad had a natural and fairly common disorder, they should offer substantiation beyond "nuh-uh". If it did turn out that he was an epileptic, would that somehow destroy the faith that Muslims have in him? Can the religious tell the difference between skeptical inquiry and religious persecution?

[AtheistExile]

Quote by: stardust You happen to be one of those people who literally go to any extent to disprove any believe system that simply dosen't float their boat and dosen't coincide with their views. Prophet Muhammad(s.a.w) didn't suffer from Epilepsy or any such mental problem. As you very clearly mentioned in your post, the notion of him being epileptic is nothing more than just a theory. People find Prophet of Islam an easy target when they find their own goodselves completely unsuccessful in disproving the former's message of Islam.

What a crock!

NOBODY knows if he had epilepsy or not. At least I stated the facts as they are. You, on the other hand, pretend to know things you can't know. This clearly shows that it is YOU who wants to "disprove any believe system that simply dosen't float their boat and dosen't coincide with their views". The lack of rational integrity is all on you.

Many historians and scholars absolutely believe the evidence is compelling. Look it up for yourself. And leave your closed mind at the door.

[Cruella]

Incidentally, seizures are (can be) epileptic, people aren't. People have epilepsy, they don't suddenly become the condition simply because they suffer from it.

[Jack]

Sorry, I was using the Time Magazine style guide:

Medicine: Rights for Epileptics An epileptic living in Delaware is prohibited from driving a car, is branded a criminal if he tries to marry, and can be sterilized on the decision of community or state officials, none of whom need be doctors. His plight, duplicated to some extent in nearly half the 48 states,-is caused partly by the fear that he will have a seizure endangering others (e.g., while driving), partly by the belief that epileptics are mental defectives and that their illness is hereditary. The truth is that, while it is rarely cured, the use of modern drugs, and sometimes brain surgery, makes it possible to control epilepsy.

Medicine: Rights for Epileptics - TIME

[Ender]

Correlation will never equal proof. Anything is possible, but without a reason to believe Muhammed suffered from epilepsy, I could never side with that view.

[Jack]

How about speculation that Paul suffered from epilepsy?
St. Paul and Epilepsy

[AtheistExile]

Quote by: Jack How about speculation that Paul suffered from epilepsy? St. Paul and Epilepsy

Yes! I've heard it speculated that Paul suffered either migraines or epilepsy. If you keep in mind the hyper-religiosity of those who suffer temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), then there appears to be a strong link between many spiritual visionaries and TLE.

Moses, Paul, Muhammad, Buddah, Joan of Arc and Ellen White (Seventh-Day Adventist Church) . . . all reported visions very much in keeping with the symptoms of epilepsy. I'm sure there were more; these are just the ones I've read about. Also, there was a BBC documentary on TLE that mentioned many of these same people. If not epilepsy alone, then some of them might have suffered from neurological disorders that have symptoms similar to TLE.

Anyway, wouldn't it be natural for spiritual leaders to arise from those who suffered TLE? Their hyper-religiosity would predispose them to the calling. I think that's a fair hypothesis.

The following comparison, from Ali Sina, comes from a known ex-Muslim and anti-Islam web site. However, his personal position on Islam is secondary to the facts he relates. His points aren't invalid just because of his beliefs: they stand on their own.

The following is from Faith Freedom International's website. Click the link for the full article:
Muhammad and Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (TLE)

By Ali Sina
The Physical Effects of Muhammad’s Ecstatic Experiences:
Here is how Muhammad described his mystical experiences:

“The Revelation is always brought to me by an angel: sometimes it is delivered to me as the beating sound of the bell -- and this is the hardest experience for me; but sometimes the angel appears to me in the shape of a human and speaks to me.”

“Those who saw the Prophet (pbuh) in this state relate that his condition would change. Sometimes he would stay motionless as if some terribly heavy load was pressed on him and, even in the coldest day, drops of sweat would fall from his forehead. At other times he would move his lips.

Ibn Sa'd says, "at the moment of inspiration, anxiety pressed upon the Prophet, and his countenance was troubled: "He fell to the ground like one intoxicated or overcome by sleep; and in the coldest day his forehead would be bedewed with large drops of perspiration. Inspiration descended unexpectedly, and without any previous warning. "Then Allah's Apostle returned with that experience; and the muscles between his neck and shoulders were trembling till he came upon Khadija (his wife) and said, "Cover me!" They covered him, and when the state of fear was over" . . .

All these are symptoms of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy. The following is a partial list of the Temporal Lobe Seizure Symptoms & Signs as defined in AllRefer Health

• Hallucinations or illusions such as hearing voices when no one has spoken, seeing patterns, lights, beings or objects that aren't there
• Rhythmic muscle contraction Muscle cramps are involuntary and often painful contractions of the muscles which produce a hard, bulging muscle
• Abdominal pain or discomfort.
• Sudden, intense emotion such as fear.
• Muscle twitching (fasciculation) is the result of spontaneous local muscle contractions that are involuntary and typically only affect individual muscle groups. This twitching does not cause pain.
• Abnormal mouth behaviors
• Abnormal head movements
• Sweating
• Flushed face
• Rapid heart rate/pulse
• Changes in vision, speech, thought, awareness, personality
• Loss of memory (amnesia) regarding events around the seizure (partial complex seizure)

All the above symptoms were present in Muhammad during the moments that he was allegedly receiving revelations.

• He had visions (hallucinations) of seeing an angel or a light and of hearing voices.
• He experienced bodily spasms and excruciating abdominal pain and discomfort
• He was overwhelmed by sudden emotions of anxiety and fear
• He had twitching in his neck muscles
• He had uncontrollable lip movement
• He sweated even during cold days.
• His face flushed. His countenance was troubled.
• He had rapid heart palpitation
• He had loss of memory. (There is a tradition that states Muhammad was bewitched and used to think that he had sexual relations with his wives when he actually had not.

[GHook93]

But he was definitely a child raping, mass-murdering, political assassinating, jingoist loving, xenophobic expansionist promoting, ethic cleansing utilizing, violent and destructive warlord and cult leader!

[AtheistExile]

Quote by: GHook93 But he was definitely a child raping, mass-murdering, political assassinating, jingoist loving, xenophobic expansionist promoting, ethic cleansing loving, violent and destructive warlord and cult leader!

Amen, GHook93,

The truth is a beautiful thing. Denial is a poor substitute.

[Night]

There are some forms of epilepsy which don't cause seizures. Instead, they can cause altered states of consciousness, hallucinations, unconsciousness, etc.

[stardust]

Quote by: GHook93 But he was definitely a child raping, mass-murdering, political assassinating, jingoist loving, xenophobic expansionist promoting, ethic cleansing utilizing, violent and destructive warlord and cult leader!

I wonder on what bases exactly are you ascertaining all that. Prophet Muhammad(s.a.w) actually dragged Arabia out from its Primitive and unhuman lifestyle. Maybe you should revise History a bit; and read about the Saracens and the Caliphates.

[Cruella]

If you keep in mind the hyper-religiosity of those who suffer temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE),

Sweeping generalisation. Not all people with TLE, are "hyper-religious" nor is "hyper-religiosity" limited only to those afflicted with TLE. It is entirely possible to have TLE without "hyper-religiosity" just as it is entirely possible to be "hyper-religious" without TLE. The one does not equal the other.