Does Brainwave Technology Involve Knowledge of the Unseen?
Answered by Shaykh Irshaad Sedick
Question
Is it permissible to research or use brainwave-based technology that interprets thought patterns, or does this fall under prohibited knowledge of the unseen?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.
May Allah alleviate our difficulties and guide us to what pleases Him. Amin.
This is not part of the unseen realm. If there’s a way for us to see it that is accessible using created means, then that means it’s not unseen. It’s just that we weren’t previously able to see it. That said, it is therefore permissible to read such information. As for the type of information derived therefrom or the ethics surrounding the personal details and the like, that’s a separate question and should be examined. But this is certainly not part of the unseen realm, and Allah knows best.
Allah Most High says:
“Say, ‘None in the heavens and earth knows the unseen except Allah.’” [Quran 27:65]
This verse establishes that the unseen is reserved for Allah’s knowledge, but that which is discoverable through permissible means is not part of the metaphysical unseen.
Ethical Considerations
While the technology itself may not be inherently problematic, the use of such information should be governed by ethical considerations. For example, one must avoid violating the privacy of individuals or using such information in ways that harm others or violate Sacred Law.
Practical Guidance
- Researching and using technology that interprets thought patterns is permissible, provided it is not used in ways that harm others or contravene Islamic ethics.
- The ethics of using personal brainwave data, such as ensuring consent and protecting privacy, should always be prioritized.
- Seek guidance from scholars if there are any concerns regarding applying this technology in specific contexts.
I pray this is of benefit and that Allah guides us all.
[Shaykh] Irshaad Sedick
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Shaykh Irshaad Sedick was raised in South Africa in a traditional Muslim family. He graduated from Dar al-Ulum al-Arabiyyah al-Islamiyyah in Strand, Western Cape, under the guidance of the late world-renowned scholar Shaykh Taha Karaan (Allah have mercy on him), where he taught.
Shaykh Irshaad received Ijaza from many luminaries of the Islamic world, including Shaykh Taha Karaan, Shaykh Muhammad Awama, Shaykh Muhammad Hasan Hitu, and Mawlana Abdul Hafeez Makki, among others.
He is the author of the text “The Musnad of Ahmad ibn Hanbal: A Hujjah or not?” He has been the Director of the Discover Islam Centre, and for six years, he has been the Khatib of Masjid Ar-Rashideen, Mowbray, Cape Town.
Shaykh Irshaad has fifteen years of teaching experience at some of the leading Islamic institutes in Cape Town. He is currently building an Islamic podcast, education, and media platform called ‘Isnad Academy’ and has completed his Master’s degree in the study of Islam at the University of Johannesburg. He has a keen interest in healthy Prophetic living and fitness.
