What Allah Say's In The Quran VS What Science Say's | Bilal Assad

Summary

The speaker discusses neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to change and adapt through habits, thoughts, and behaviors. They highlight how this concept applies to personal growth, emphasizing that individuals can rewire their brains by adopting positive habits. The speaker also relates neuroplasticity to Islamic teachings, explaining that we have control over our brain's decision-making areas, like the prefrontal cortex. The speech touches on the development of children's brains, ADHD, and how different childhood experiences shape behavior. The speaker encourages parents and individuals to focus on self-improvement and patience in developing better habits.

Takeaways

• 🧠 Neuroplasticity, or brain plasticity, refers to the brain's ability to change and rewire itself based on experiences and habits.
• 👶 By age six or seven, many neural pathways in a child's brain are already formed, but the prefrontal cortex, responsible for decision-making, continues to develop until around age 25.
• 🛠 Like building with Legos, our brain's neural connections can be built, changed, or dismantled based on the habits we form and break.
• 🔄 Habits, whether good or bad, are formed through repetitive actions. Breaking habits follows the same process in reverse.
• 🙏 Changing negative habits requires willpower, planning, and consistent action, supported by prayer and self-discipline.
• 💡 Thoughts lead to ideas, which turn into plans and actions. Repeated actions become habits, and unchecked habits can become addictions.
• 💪 Overcoming bad habits, such as addictions, requires understanding triggers, removing access, and slowly rewiring the brain over time.
• ⏳ The speaker mentions a personal example of helping someone develop the habit of waking up for morning prayers by creating a structured plan and following it consistently.
• 📚 Parenting significantly influences childhood brain development, and parents should be mindful of different needs, especially in children with ADHD or other attention disorders.
• ❗ People should avoid self-diagnosing mental health conditions like anxiety or depression, as occasional feelings of discomfort do not always indicate a clinical issue.

Q & A

What is neuroplasticity?

Neuroplasticity, also known as brain plasticity, refers to the brain's ability to change and rewire itself. This process allows the brain to form new neural connections, which can help people develop new habits and learn new skills.

How does the speaker explain neuroplasticity to children?

The speaker explains neuroplasticity to children using the analogy of Legos. Just like Legos can be built, dismantled, and rebuilt in different ways, the brain can also form and reform connections between neurons, allowing people to change their habits and thinking patterns.

At what age does a child's brain become almost fully developed according to modern studies?

Modern studies suggest that a child's brain is almost fully developed around the age of six or seven, with significant neural pathways already formed based on their upbringing, experiences, and environment.

What part of the brain continues developing until about 25 years old, and what is it responsible for?

The prefrontal cortex continues developing until around 25 years old. It is responsible for judgment, decision-making, fears, rationality, and controlling impulses.

How does the speaker connect the concept of neuroplasticity to the Quran?

The speaker connects neuroplasticity to the Quran by referencing a verse where Allah speaks about the 'forelock' or frontal cortex, which is responsible for decisions. The verse emphasizes human responsibility for their actions, and the speaker interprets this as aligning with the idea that we can control and change our brains through conscious effort.

How does the speaker explain the development of habits?

The speaker explains that habits develop in stages: they begin with a thought, which if entertained, becomes an idea. The idea turns into a plan, which leads to an action. Repeated actions turn into habits, and if not addressed, habits can become addictions. The process can also be reversed by consciously choosing to develop positive thoughts, ideas, and actions.

What strategy does the speaker suggest for breaking bad habits?

The speaker suggests using willpower and prayer to make the decision to change, identifying when and how bad habits occur, and then creating a plan to avoid or counter them. For example, if a bad habit happens at night, the person could remove access to the source of temptation and create new positive habits.

What example does the speaker give to illustrate the process of habit reversal?

The speaker gives the example of a young person wanting to pray Fajr at the mosque every day. The person starts with the thought, then makes a plan (e.g., going to sleep early, not eating late), and gradually the new habit becomes easier over time, eventually becoming ingrained.

What challenges do children with ADHD face, and how should parents approach this?

Children with ADHD may have delayed attention development compared to others their age, which can lead to difficulties in focusing. The speaker encourages parents to be more understanding and informed, rather than treating all children the same, and to avoid self-diagnosing children or dismissing their struggles.

What advice does the speaker give to young people regarding self-diagnosis?

The speaker advises young people not to self-diagnose when they experience anxiety, depression, or other mental health symptoms. They should not label themselves as sick based on temporary feelings and instead seek proper guidance if needed.

Outlines

00:00

🧠 Understanding Neuroplasticity

The speaker introduces the concept of neuroplasticity or brain plasticity, explaining that our brains can be reshaped, much like building and dismantling Lego blocks. Neurons in the brain form highways and connections that grow and change based on habits. The brain rewires itself constantly, with significant development happening during childhood and puberty, particularly in the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for decision-making and judgment. The Quran refers to this part of the brain as the forelock, emphasizing our control over it and its role in moral decisions.

05:07

🛠️ Changing Habits and Reversing Addictions

The speaker explains how habits, including sinful ones, develop from a simple thought, which turns into an idea, plan, action, and eventually a habit or addiction. They describe how reversing this process works similarly: by introducing a counter-thought, planning, and repeating positive actions, new habits can form. An example of this is given through the struggle to break harmful habits like looking at inappropriate websites, which requires willpower, self-awareness, and practical steps like removing access to the temptation.

Keywords

💡Neuroplasticity

Neuroplasticity, also called brain plasticity, refers to the brain's ability to change and reorganize itself by forming new neural connections. In the video, it is described as a process where the brain can be rewired through habits and experiences, much like Legos being built and rebuilt. This concept emphasizes that we have control over changing our brains, although it requires effort.

💡Habits

Habits are actions or behaviors that are repeated regularly and tend to occur subconsciously. The video explains how both good and bad habits form through repeated actions and thoughts, eventually becoming ingrained in our brains through neural pathways. It also discusses how habits can be reversed by consciously creating new patterns.

💡Prefrontal Cortex

The prefrontal cortex is the part of the brain responsible for decision-making, judgment, and self-control. The video notes that this area continues to develop until around the age of 25 and is crucial in managing rational decisions and fears. It is tied to the Quranic reference to the 'forelock,' which is linked to human accountability for choices.

💡ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)

ADHD is a condition characterized by difficulties with attention, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness. In the video, the speaker mentions how children with ADHD often experience delayed development in attention compared to their peers. The message stresses the importance of understanding ADHD and adapting parenting methods to support these children effectively.

💡Thought

A thought is the initial mental concept or idea that arises in the mind. The video explains that every habit, good or bad, starts with a thought. If a person holds on to a thought, it can evolve into a plan and eventually an action. Thoughts play a critical role in the development of both sinful and positive behaviors.

💡Sinful Forelock

The 'sinful forelock' is a Quranic metaphor for the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for decision-making. The video interprets this verse to mean that we are accountable for our decisions and that poor choices originate from this part of the brain. It highlights the connection between religious teachings and modern neuroscience.

💡Addiction

Addiction is the condition where a person becomes dependent on a particular substance or behavior, finding it difficult to stop. The video discusses how habits can escalate into addictions if not addressed, using examples like pornography. Reversing addictions follows the same process as habit formation but in reverse.

💡Rewiring the Brain

Rewiring the brain refers to changing the brain's neural pathways through new habits and behaviors. The video explains how consistent efforts to change thoughts and actions can help create new channels in the brain, essentially 'rewiring' it to adopt healthier patterns. This process is gradual but achievable with willpower and persistence.

💡Empathy

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. The video encourages viewers to have empathy for themselves when recognizing the impact of upbringing and environmental factors on brain development. This self-compassion is linked to understanding that certain behaviors are shaped by past experiences.

💡Willpower

Willpower is the self-control and determination needed to make difficult changes. The video highlights the importance of willpower in breaking bad habits and addictions, suggesting that strong intention combined with actionable steps, such as prayer and creating a plan, can help individuals overcome challenges and rewire their brains.

Highlights

Neuroplasticity or brain plasticity allows individuals to change their brain structure, similar to building with Legos, by forming and dismantling neuron connections.

Brain development in children is heavily influenced by their upbringing and environment, with significant pathways set by age six or seven.

The prefrontal cortex, responsible for decision-making and rational thinking, continues developing until around age 25.

Allah mentions in the Quran that humans are responsible for their forelock, interpreted as the prefrontal cortex, which governs judgment and actions.

Ibn al-Qaim explains the development of habits: bad habits begin with a thought, then progress to an idea, plan, action, and eventually addiction if not addressed.

Reversing bad habits follows the same process: start with a thought, form an idea, plan, and take action to develop the opposite habit.

A practical example given is overcoming the addiction to inappropriate content online by taking steps like eliminating VPNs and changing device usage patterns.

Building good habits, such as praying Fajr at the mosque, can be achieved by gradually planning and executing small changes, like sleeping earlier and avoiding late meals.

The speaker suggests that it takes around 40 days for a habit to solidify, as demonstrated by the example of a man who successfully made Fajr prayer a habit.

Neuroplasticity also applies to childhood traumas, emphasizing that parents' treatment of their children significantly shapes their brain development.

Children with ADHD experience delays in attention compared to their peers, requiring parents to better understand and adapt to these differences.

Each child in a family grows up with different experiences, even if raised in the same household, due to birth order and varying parental expectations.

The speaker emphasizes the importance of continued learning and reading about modern parenting techniques to improve the way parents handle challenges.

The speaker advises young individuals not to self-diagnose mental health conditions like anxiety or depression without professional help.

Through willpower and consistent actions, people can rewire their brains, undo bad habits, and replace them with positive ones.

Transcripts

Have you heard of a term called neuroplasticity?  Or it's also called brain plasticity. Literally,  

brothers and sisters, the brain that you and  I have, you and I have control over changing  

it in the way we want. It's not an easy task, but  we can. And you can teach your children that they  

are able to change their brains. Just give them  the example of Legos. You can build the Legos,  

dismantle the Legos, rebuild them in a different  way, change parts of it. Here. Like Legos,  

like blocks of Legos. Our brain is right  inside there are little tiny channels,  

all right? Neurons connect to other neurons.  Allahu Alam, 30 billion, 300 billion, I don't  

know, many billions of neurons. They connect and  they make highways and roads and they grow like  

these little roots. They grow and they make new  bridges and connections. When you develop habits,  

these channels grow. Develop other habits,  these channels grow. You stop certain habits,  

the channels get less. Other channels grow. Your  brain gets rewired every time. It's a beautiful  

study. And Allah, he tells us that in the Quran.  He tells us that we are responsible for. For what  

our brains decide. But the ones we're responsible  for is the one right at the front of our brain,  

not the rest of our brain. Does anyone know  at what age the child's brain is almost fully  

complete? Close to adulthood. At what age do  you think it's almost fully complete? Modern  

studies tell us about six, could be seven around  that age. It's true. That means the way the child  

grew up with their parents and their environment  and their experiences. There are those channels  

in the brain have already been set at six or seven  years old. After that, the brain starts to develop  

in a different way. And when you reach puberty,  guess what starts to develop in your brain? The  

front part of your brain, prefrontal cortex, that  keeps growing until about 25 years old. That's  

the place responsible for judgment, decision  making, fears, and so on and so forth. Rationale,  

all that, making decisions through it. Allah says  in the Quran, nay, if he does not desist from his  

oppressive and wrong actions, but in general, to  all of us, the human who oppresses and does wrong,  

we shall take him by his forelock on the day of  judgment. A lying, sinful forelock. Forelock here  

is the frontal cortex, responsible for decisions.  Allah called it lying and sinful because we have  

control over that. Now, what affects that, our  brain development. Now, when you understand this,  

brothers and sisters, you have a bit more  empathy on yourself. You say to yourself,  

Subhanallah, my upbringing was a little bit  like this and like that. Can I change it? Yes,  

inshallah, you can. Ibn al Qaim Rahmatullah  Alayhi writes in his book, he mentions how  

habits develop. Good and bad habits. So he uses  the example of sinse. He says, every bad habit,  

every sinful habit begins with a thought. A what?  A thought. Whisper comes and goes. If you catch  

that thought and hold on to it, it turns into  an idea. If you hold on to the idea and that  

repeller, it turns into a plan. If you hold on  to the plan and you don't repel it, it turns into  

an action. If you repeat the action, the less you  feel sensitive towards it and the more normalized  

it becomes. Then it turns into a habit. And what  do habits turn into if you don't deal with them?  

Addictions. Now, the reversal is the same way.  Come up with a thought to counter it. Then get an  

idea, plan it. Do an action. Get into the opposite  habit again and again, and, inshallah, it will go  

away. Example. A young person reaches puberty and  the hormones begin to ignite. Sexual hormones.  

A friend at school says, there are websites you  can look at to satisfy your desire. He goes and  

thinks, my parents watch me everywhere. They've  got this. Then he gets. He goes, how am I going  

to do it? I've got a thought. A thought I want to  look. How am I going to do. I'll get an idea. The  

idea is, use some kind of software or some way.  Ask my friends. Then a plan. I'll choose the right  

time. This is where I'm going to look. Then the  action happens. They didn't get caught, so they  

remember the pleasure next time. Again and again  and again and again. Then it becomes a habit.  

Then it becomes an addiction. How to reverse that?  Number one, you need willpower. You need to make  

that decision. Make Buddha, pray to Raqqaze  and say, oh, allah, I have made the decision  

to work on myself. Assist me and help me with  your support. So you got to make the decision,  

then move forward. Think you got the thought?  What's the idea? Reverse it. Well, when does it  

normally happen? It happens that night at this  time. Through what? Through my device. Okay.  

Get rid of my VPN, whatever it is that I'm using.  Put an app that stops these websites from coming  

up. And put your phone outside in the lounge  when you go to sleep, and sleep the first time,  

it's very hard. But as you go forward, inshallah,  sometimes you need support. Sometimes you need to  

talk to a friend or somebody and you can reverse  it. It's not easy, but you can. And the rewiring  

in your brain changes, and that's how you find the  willpower. Afterwards. One brother, he said to me,  

brother, I want to pray at the Masjid every  fajr. I said, it's a big task. He said, how  

can I do it? I said, start with the thought, then  get an idea, then plan it, then do it. He said,  

my thought is to pray in Namasjid every fajr.  What's the idea? He said, I'm going to sleep  

a little bit early, because my problem is that  if I don't sleep early, I can't wake up. Next,  

I'm not going to drink coffee, I'm not going  to eat late. My last meal will be 08:00 p.m.  

for example. Whatever he did, he knew himself, he  planned for it. Then he woke up. First time was  

hard. Second time was that. Now I played with his  brain as well, studying neuroplasticity. You got  

to help him a bit. So I said to him, I just gave  him a number. I just gave him any number. I said,  

it will take you 40 days. Maybe it's right, maybe  it's wrong. I just said 40 days. The brother,  

after 40 days, went to give a talk in Sydney. And  when I say after 40 days, meaning like two months  

later or three months later, I went there. But it  was then he comes up and says, brother Wallahi,  

it worked. Wallahi, at 40 days, I couldn't turn  back anymore. Till now I'm doing it. I said, maybe  

I should have said to him 20 days, maybe something  like that. But the point is, brothers and sisters,  

he reversed it and it became a habit. It became  easy. But you can't expect everything to happen  

straight away. It happens slowly, inshallah.  Neuroplasticity, your body all reacts to it,  

everything. Childhood traumas start with the  parents and the way they talk to their children,  

especially children who have something  called ADHD. It's a problem with attention,  

attention disorder. And what happens is that we  don't understand, that. We don't read a lot. We  

tend to make it worse. This child truly is born  with a slight delay at their same age. They're  

just not as attentive as others their age. No  child experiences the same upbringing as their  

sibling. A brother who is the oldest does not have  the same experience as the brother who is second,  

or the youngest, or the middle child or the  girl. It's like each one had their own family.  

Literally, if you have five children, they  had five different families. The older child  

is treated differently. The youngest one. The  youngest one is spoiled. Everything is cute.  

The older one, there's a bit more responsibility  and the middle one is usually neglected. And then  

we come to treat each one of them with the same  consequence in the same words. It's very hard to  

parent and Allah Subhu wa ta forgives us for  our shortcoming. But we do need to read more  

about parenting and these new names. So you  have a child, for example, who is diagnosed  

with ADHD. Now, before I say something, one thing  I tell my young brothers and sisters, my dear,  

my dear. And I'm old enough to be your father.  For some of you, my dear son, my dear daughter,  

my dear brother, my dear sister, never ever ever  remember, never ever self diagnose. Don't diagnose  

yourself as if you're your psychologist. Just  because you had a bit of anxiety or a bit of  

depression or a bit of your chest was a little  bit constricted does not mean you are sick.