Untraditional treatments
6-3-2002 | IslamWeb
Question:
1) What is the clear concept of Chinese acupuncture treatment.2) Explain hypnosis for treatment in Islam. Please give some details.3) What about psychic power and the sixth sense?
Answer:
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the World; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.
A Muslim is allowed to treat himself/herself with everything except what is prohibited by evidence (Qur'an, Sunnah, Qiyas, Ijma' …) such as intoxicants. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: "Allah has made a medicament for every disease, so treat yourselves but not with what is Haram" [Abu Dawood].
Medicaments are not limited in one kind. A Bedouin came to Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) and said: 'O Allah's Messenger! Who are the best among people?' The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: "Those who have the best character". Then, the Bedouin said, 'O Allah's Messenger! Should we treat ourselves (in case of sickness)'. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: "Treat yourselves since Allah has sent down a remedy for every malady, whether such a remedy becomes known by someone or not". [Ahmad]
ِِAs regard acupuncture therapy, it is a method of treatment and curing disease used first in China five thousand years ago after noting that rubbing some parts of body produced positive effect in reducing pain.
Such a method of treatment is carried out by putting special needles into certain parts of the body. This action stimulates that member/part of the body that originally causes pain. Such stimulation, in turn, activates the immune system.
A special needle is used in such a method of treatment. It is normally made of an unbreakable, rustles, and strong flexible needle with different length. It is left in the body according to the patient's need.
For sure, acupuncture is proved as a fruitful method for treating many diseases. Thus, there is no objection to be treated with such a method as long as it is done by an expert in acupuncture, since treatment by unspecialized people may cause harm.
As for hypnosis, if such an action depends on any help of Jinn and Satans through incantations and amulets, then it is prohibited. In addition, such an action will be a form of soothsaying, which is a kind of Shirk (polytheism).
But, if hypnosis is done without any form of prohibitions, then it comes under the rule of 'means are subject to rulings of ends'. In other words, if it is used for some legitimate goal, then it is Halal, and vice versa.
Finally, we know nothing concerning what you have called 'psychic power and sixth sense'.
Allah knows best.