Is Reiki/Energetic Healing Permissible?
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
Could you please clarify if Reiki or energetic healing is permissible in Islam? I have seen Muslim businesses offering such services, but I am confused.
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate
Reiki
Some practices might not be explicitly impermissible. However, as there are many other permissible alternatives to healing, one should avoid any form of Reiki as it has some influence of different religions and cultures, so it would be best to avoid and follow other prescribed ways of Islamic healing that are more fitting for our faith (iman), physical and spiritual healing and journey.
Divine Energetic Light and Healing of Allah Most High
In other words, some practices may not be not explicitly impermissible, but manners and implications of receiving the energetic transmission, invoking symbols and letters in Reiki compared to our scholarly and spiritual tradition are connected directly to the light of our Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) is better and free from any doubt.
Example of a Du’a Asking Allah Most High for Light
We should recite this du’a and memorize it, asking Allah Most High for His divine light and spiritual energy to enter each limb and body.
Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) reported: He spent the night with the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace), and he woke up. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) cleansed his teeth, performed wudu, the call to prayer was announced, and he went out for the prayer while he was saying,
اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْ فِي قَلْبِي نُورًا وَفِي لِسَانِي نُورًا وَاجْعَلْ فِي سَمْعِي نُورًا وَاجْعَلْ فِي بَصَرِي نُورًا وَاجْعَلْ مِنْ خَلْفِي نُورًا وَمِنْ أَمَامِي نُورًا وَاجْعَلْ مِنْ فَوْقِي نُورًا وَمِنْ تَحْتِي نُورًا اللَّهُمَّ أَعْطِنِي نُورًا
“O Allah, place light in my heart and light on my tongue. Place light in my hearing and light in my seeing. Place light behind me and light in front of me. Place light above me and light below me. O Allah, grant me light!” [Bukhari; Muslim]
Connection with Allah, His Prophet, and those who Have Followed His Footsteps
As Muslims, we have mindful and righteous scholars, individuals who are connected to the Quran and prophetic guidance through a continuous chain until the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) that includes Quranic healing through its verses, prophetic supplications, litanies (awrads and hizbs) of the pious throughout centuries, all this has brought about change for the better and has been tried and tested.
Mindful and Godfearing scholars say we must learn to weigh issues on our hearts and conscience and act accordingly, looking into healing by daily reciting the Quran, specific, powerful verses, suras, prophetic du’as, and litanies (awrad) of the pious.
Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for a course on
SeekersAcademy (seekersguidance.org)
I pray this helps with your question.
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally-trained scholar who has studied within UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan and Turkey.
He started his early education in UK. He went onto complete hifz of Qur’an in India, then enrolled into an Islamic seminary in UK where he studied the secular and Alimiyyah sciences. He then travelled to Karachi, Pakistan.
He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for a number of years. He has taught hifz of the Qur’an, Tajwid, Fiqh and many other Islamic sciences to both children and adults onsite and online extensively in UK and Ireland. He was teaching at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences.
He currently resides in UK with his wife. His personal interest is love of books and gardening.