Emotional Healing Therapies

Success of both Dunya and Aakhirah is in Deen. Deen simply refers to obeying the commands of Allah Ta’ala and following the Sunnah of Rasululullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam. This can be further understood from the following narration of Hadrat Abu Hurairah Radiallu Anhu.

Both the Kitaab of Allah Ta’ala and the Sunnah of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam serves not only as a protection during the era of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, or the era of Sahaaba Radiallahu Anhum or Ta’bieen, rather it has been prescribed as a protection until the day of Qiyaamah. We therefore have no need to seek solutions to any of our problems in any other way other than those recorded in the Quraan and Hadith.

We at the Darul Ifta are therefore of the view that we resort to Aa’maal such as recitation of the Quraan Sharif, engaging in Zikrullah, recitation of the Asma-ul-Husna, excessive Durood and Istighfaar, and recitation of the various Duas prescribed in the Quraan and Hadith for various difficulties and in particular depression, and other related illnesses. This simply refers to reciting the verses, Surahs, Duas, etc. and absolutely nothing more.

It is for centuries that the Ummat has been acting upon these prescriptions and by the grace and help of Almighty Allah their problems have been solved. They never resorted to any healing therapies which have become common and rife in this day and age. It is perhaps in the last decade or so that these therapies have become popular whereas the prescriptions recorded in the Quraan and Hadith are in existence and practised upon for the past 14 centuries. It is Allah Ta’ala alone that places effect in these prescriptions, and it is not the prescription itself that can remedy our problems. The

medication prescribed by doctors is only effective when Allah Ta’ala places the effect, and not effective in itself, else every patient would have been cured through medication, yet we find millions of people suffering in the world with various ailments and illnesses in spite of using medication.

We too should therefore resort to these prescriptions recorded in the Quraan and Hadith and thereafter place our trust in Almighty Allah. In conclusion, we at the Darul Ifta are not in favour and do not approve of the various healing therapies which have become common and rife amongst the masses (even though recitation of Duas and Wazaa’if may form part of their therapy and these may even be practised upon in the name of Islam.) We advise to resorting to those prescriptions that are recorded in the Quraan-e-Majeed and Hadith, which is the safest and most cautious way of going about, as understood from the narration of Abu Hurairah quoted below:

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ – صلى الله عليه وسلم – : « إِنِّي قَدْ خَلَّفْتُ فِيكُمْ مَا لَنْ تَضِلُّوا بَعْدَهُمَا مَا أَخَذْتُمْ بِهِمَا أَوْ عَمِلْتُمْ بِهِمَا كِتَابَ اللَّهِ وَسُنَّتِي —

(سنن الكبري للبيهقي)

Abu Hurairah Radiallahu Anhu narrates that Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam is reported to have said, “Verily I have left behind amongst you (two such things) after which you will never be deviated as long you grip onto them or act upon them; The Kitaab of Allah and my Sunnah.