The permissibility of energy therapy in Islam is a vital topic as alternative healing methods and Eastern practices become increasingly integrated into modern wellness routines. Many individuals seek out these treatments for physical and psychological ailments, sometimes encountering claims that such practices are merely modern equivalents of traditional Islamic healing methods. Understanding the distinction between scientifically valid medical treatments and practices rooted in polytheism is essential for safeguarding a Muslim’s faith.
The Two Branches of Energy Therapy
Medical science offers various treatments, and prominent scholars categorise energy therapy into two distinct branches. The first branch is offered in specialised medical facilities using clinical methods that are completely free of polytheistic rituals or phrases. There is no harm, as far as Islam is concerned, in a person practising or undergoing this type of clinical therapy.
The second branch, however, encompasses prohibited practices. Certain therapies, such as the Japanese exercise known as Reiki Jin-Kei-Do, fall strictly into this forbidden category because they are composed of Buddhist rituals. Advocates of these methods sometimes attempt to deceive the public by claiming that their therapy—which purportedly treats the body’s electromagnetic field—is merely another form of Islamic ruqyah.
Polytheistic Roots and Disbelief (Kufr)
Scholars clarify that equating such therapies with Islamic healing is a blatant lie. Investigations into the foundational teachings of these specific alternative therapies reveal that they propagate Buddhism, a polytheistic religion based on worshipping entities other than Allah. The literature surrounding these practices often admits that an individual seeking this kind of therapy must be a Buddhist to attain the highest level of benefit.
Furthermore, to fully utilise this kind of treatment, a person is often instructed to swear allegiance to Buddha and his teachings. While the apparent, minor details of the therapy might seem harmless and are readily accessible to the general public, the core principal facts demand daily tasks that include performing yoga exercises, reading Buddhist texts, and repeating an oath of allegiance. Such acts constitute kufr (disbelief in Allah) and must be firmly denounced and rejected, regardless of the therapeutic or medical titles they operate under.
Ruqyah
To claim that such polytheistic therapy is known in Islam under the name of ruqyah is a brazen deception. In Islam, ruqyah strictly involves reciting verses from the Noble Quran or authentic supplications mentioned by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). True ruqyah is anchored entirely in the belief in the Oneness of Allah, not in Buddha or his teachings. This fact draws a definitive demarcation line between monotheism and polytheism, belief and disbelief.
This critical boundary is established in the Prophetic tradition. ‘Awf bin Malik Al-Ash’ari reported that the Companions asked the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) about the healing incantations they used in pre-Islamic times. He replied: “Present your Ruqyah to me; there is no harm in Ruqyah as long as it does not contain polytheism (Shirk)” (Sahih Muslim).
Safeguarding the Islamic Creed
The contemporary world is witnessing a surge of calls to Eastern polytheistic philosophies, particularly manifesting in the areas of medication, physical therapy, and sports. Muslims must remain highly vigilant. It is an obligation to beware of any programmes or new polytheistic trends that threaten to corrupt faith and damage the Islamic creed.
