Epilepsy

Definition of epilepsy:

Doctors have not been able to give a comprehensive and definitive definition of epilepsy, because of the numerous clinical manifestations of epilepsy, including convulsions.

Epileptic seizures: Doctors use the phrase "epileptic seizure" to describe the sudden attack that happens to a patient, characterized by tension and shaking, accompanied by loss of consciousness. Doctors divide epileptic seizures into two types, grand mal and petit mal. Grand mal seizures are accompanied by a loss of consciousness, whereas petit mal seizures may occur in the early stages and may not be noticed by the patient or by those around him. They last for 310 seconds and are not usually accompanied by convulsions. They usually occur suddenly, whereby you will see the patient stop speaking for a moment and then carry on with some loss of focus, or moving from speaking in detail to mumbling. The patient may stare into space for a moment and the go back to what he was doing.

Causes of epilepsy

Doctors link epileptic seizures to three factors, namely:

1- Individual potential and heredity

2- Problems in the brain

3- Changes in neurological activity

But there is another important cause of epilepsy which is that it may be caused by jinn possession. This is something which many doctors do not wish to acknowledge, despite the fact that they admit that there are some kinds of epilepsy for which modern science cannot discover the cause. What is even stranger is that many of those who deny this are from among our own people, whereas many doctors in the West acknowledge this kind of epilepsy. Shaykh 'Abdul-Raaziq Nawfal states in his book 'Aalatn Al-Jinn Wa'l-Malaa'ikah that many western scientists acknowledge this, among whom he mentions Carrington, a member of the American Association for Psychological Research. In his book Modern Spiritual Phenomena, Carrington mentions the case of possession, and says: it is clear that the case of possession is, at the very least, a real phenomenon and science cannot ignore the matter so long as there are many astonishing facts, which support it.[1]

Dr. Bell, in his book Analysis of Unusual Cases in the Treatment of Mental Illness, says: We have many cases where we could lift the veil (i.e., discuss them frankly and openly), especially with regard to matters of spirit possession, in the sense that it is a causative factor in mental and nervous illnesses. It seems that spirit possession is more complex than was previously thought. Then he goes on to say: When spiritual practitioners perform wonders of expelling devils and spirits and treating the sick and depressed, all they get from the doctors is a look of contempt and scorn.[2]

Dr. James Haleson says in his book on possession that it is an extraordinary impact caused by an independent, intelligent entity on the mind and body of a person; it cannot be denied that possession happens.

Other doctors who affirm that possession does happen are Dr. Carl Wakeland and Dr. Baroz of the University of Minneapolis in America, and Dr. Alexis Carrel, the winner of the Nobel Prize in Medicine and Surgery.[3]

In the past epilepsy was called the "divine sickness" or the "holy sickness", because they believed that this sickness was caused by external forces or the touch of spirits (jinn). The ancients explained this sickness, with its violent and sudden symptoms, as being caused by the influence of evil spirits which entered the body or the brain via the bodily orifices. Some sources even state that the holes that have been found in the skulls of cavemen and some Inca tribes were the result of remedies for epilepsy, the aim of which was to expel the devils or evil spirits through these holes. The ancients also used amulets, incantations and written spells to treat this sickness. Studies state that the clergy played a major role in treating this sickness by calling on the evil spirits by name, overpowering them and expelling them from the patient's body.

Experiences proves that and demonstrates definitively, beyond any shadow of a doubt, that in many cases of epilepsy, where they spoke to the jinn and took a promise from them to depart and never return, when the patient woke up, all traces of the sickness had disappeared. This is not a case of split personality as suggested by some psychologists. The evidence from the Qur’an and Sunnah is sufficient.

Epilepsy in children

Most cases of epilepsy among children involve petit mal seizures, which usually begin around the age of five years and last until approximately the age of twelve. The petit mal seizures grow further apart, or disappear at adolescence, or are replaced by grand mal' seizures.

Electronic games and epilepsy in children

Modern studies have proven that electronic games play a major role in causing epilepsy in many children. Medical reports prove that some children have brains that are sensitive to the flickering lights emanating from electronic games. In Britain, between 30,000 and 40,000 children suffer from epilepsy and it was found that 5% of them are sick because of electronic games. In Japan it was found that 200 children did not suffer from epilepsy before, but after medical tests it was proven that they were sick because of electronic games. In France, ten children were recently found to have become sick because of electronic games.[4]

Features by which a case of medical epilepsy may be distinguished:

1- The patient has aggressive tendencies towards others.

2- He thinks that his opinion is the only one that is right, and he does not forgive mistakes on the part of others.

3- His moods and emotions are dull and slow.

4- He sometimes explodes for no reason and with no justification.

5- He often deceives others by his words and actions.

6- He expects others to be kind and helpful.

7- He has mood swings, alternating between love and hate, interest and apathy, kindness and harshness.

8- He is sensitive and easily provoked.

9- He suffers constant anguish because he has no feelings of security or peace of mind.

Treatment of epilepsy

In fact, psychology has a primary role to play in the treatment of medical epilepsy. The doctors are specialized in diagnosing the type of epilepsy and analyzing brain scans, then prescribing the kind of treatment needed, whether it be medication, surgery or counselling, depending on the opinion of the doctor. I feel that it is essential for me to quote some of the advices that doctors think are important in cases of epilepsy:

1- The epileptic patient should refrain from doing anything that exposes him to danger, such as swimming, driving a car or mountain climbing.

2- He should not exhaust his eyes by looking at high-frequency flickering lights, such as electronic games in the case of children, or TVs and cinema screens in the case of adults.

3- The patient's family should not exaggerate about the concerns for the patient, whilst at the same time not neglecting his problem.

4- The family should not resort to provocation, rebuking, pressurizing, scaring or threatening the patient in order to direct his behaviour.

5- The doctor's orders should be followed to the letter, and medication must be taken on time.

6- The patient must avoid all foods and drinks that contain stimulants or triggers, such as smoking and hot foods.

In the case of other types of epilepsy which are caused by the jinn, the remedy is to be found with those who treat sickness by means of the Noble Qur’an.