Reading the therapeutic contact in the Quran

On #Narcissism and #Omnipotence

Day #9

In the following verses we see the seeking drive mentioned earlier being activated. So far Adam and Eve lived in a sublime state where needs were met without the experience of frustration which engenders thought and learning. Now as God has assigned them with a task on earth, they needed to become embodied, situated creatures.

We are also introduced to an antagonist, iblees. The story becomes three dimensional in that we are introduced to a vertical relationship between God and his creatures and a horizontal one between these creatures and a third position where conflict arises and is resolved, and I will try to explain this as we go along.

Two transferential currents can be identified, a neurotic and a narcissistic one.

Iblees represents destructive narcissism. His envy towards Adam and fear of loss of his position of favourite in the eyes of God and the angels leads him to a destructive act, that of severing ties with the source of goodness, God.

While we read this as a story, it equally describes a state of mind and a psychological process emanating from a narcissistic wound. The psychic defence or disease of the heart is narcissism, its symptoms are arrogance and omnipotence.

Interestingly, the root of the word Iblees in Arabic means the one who despairs from God’s mercy. So it is a name that describes the action that leads to narcissism and omnipotence.

2:34  When We told the angels, ‘Bow down before Adam,’ they all bowed. But not Iblis, who refused and was arrogant: he was one of the disobedient

2:35  We said, ‘Adam, live with your wife in this garden. Both of you eat freely there as you will, but do not go near this tree, or you will both become wrongdoers.’

2:36  But Satan made them slip, and removed them from the state they were in. We said, ‘Get out, all of you! You are each other’s enemy. On earth you will have a place to stay and livelihood for a time.’

2:37  Then Adam received some words from his Lord and He accepted his repentance: He is the Ever Relenting, the Most Merciful

2:38 We said, ‘Get out, all of you! But when guidance comes from Me, as it certainly will, there will be no fear for those who follow My guidance nor will they grieve

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