Document Type : Original Article
Author
Department of Creed and Philosophy, Department of Usul Ad-Deen, Faculty of Islamic and Arabic Studies for Girls, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
Abstract
Alternative Spiritualities in the Balance of Islam:
Reiki as a Model – An Analytical and Critical Study
Rahma Abd Al-Qader Abd Al-Hamid Dwidar
Lecturer of Creed and Philosophy, Faculty of Islamic and Arabic Studies for Girls, Cairo
Department of Creed and Philosophy, Department of Usul Ad-Deen, Faculty of Islamic and Arabic Studies for Girls, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
Email: rahmadwidar.1119@azhar.edu.eg
Abstract:
This study aims to analyze and critically examine what the New Age Movement terms “alternative spiritualities” in order to determine whether it is permissible for Muslims to engage in such practices. These spiritualities have gained widespread popularity, especially in light of the rapid pace and materialism that characterize modern life, which have left many people experiencing spiritual emptiness and longing for inner peace and reassurance. Believing that “traditional religions,” as they describe them, can no longer meet these spiritual needs, many individuals have turned to alternative spiritualities as substitutes for religion. The movement claims that these practices can fulfill the demands of the modern era and, while they have found significant acceptance in the West, the real concern arises from their increasing spread among some Muslims. Due to the wide variety of practices that fall under the umbrella of "alternative spiritualities," the study focuses on one specific example—Reiki, also known in some translations as "universal energy"—to provide a detailed account of its methods and deliver a sound theological ruling. The importance of this research lies in shedding light on the broader concept of alternative spiritualities, and then examining Reiki in particular to assess its legitimacy. The study adopts an analytical and critical methodology.The research concludes that it is not permissible for a Muslim to practice Reiki due to its serious doctrinal violations, such as belief in deities other than Allah The Almighty, attributing influence over the universe to such entities, casting doubt on the miracles of the Prophets and implying that such acts are accessible to anyone, denying Prophethood, rejecting the Hereafter and its associated beliefs in judgment, punishment, Paradise, and Hell, and claiming the ability to know the unseen—among other beliefs that contradict the consensus of Muslim scholars.
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