Indonesian researchers Robiatul Adawiyah and Zainal Mukhlis examined sleep paralysis from the perspective of Sufism. They studied the works of al-Ghazālī, an eminent jurist, mufti, philosopher, theologian, and mystic in the history of Islam who was born in the 11th century in what is now Iran.
Al-Ghazālī believed that one could become so frightened in a dream that the pain would feel real. In such a state, dreams turn into chaos. He also believed that nightmares are caused by satanic qualities: the attraction to everything earthly, lust, and evil deeds. According to al-Ghazālī, the events in one’s dreams reflect what is in their heart.
However, the researchers add the perspective of modern psychology to al-Ghazālī’s viewpoints. They acknowledge that sleep paralysis is part of the rapid eye movement (REM) phase of sleep, and it occurs when a dream evokes ambivalent, contradictory feelings. When this happens, the sleeper’s emotions take the form of strange dream imagery.
Have you ever associated sleep paralysis with religion or mysticism?
The article was published in December 2024 in the Journal of Ushuluddin and Islamic Thought.
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