Islam’s Perspective on Astral Projection
The concept of astral projection became widely known with the popularity of Theosophy. But what is the Islamic perspective about it and is it prohibited and real?
Hello, Dear Readers and followers, welcome back to my new story, I hope all’s well. Today’s topic will be about ‘astral projection’ Out-of-Body Experience as you read in the title.
You’ve probably heard of lucid dreaming, and maybe even out-of-body experiences, but how about astral projection?
There are some other names as well like remote viewing, trance channeling or one other famous is a lucid dream and near-death experiences, etc.
In my and most people understanding that astral projection is an intentional experience in which a person has the feeling that their astral body (spiritual being) is temporarily separated from their physical body.
I’ve recently been researching astral projection and out-of-body experiences after one of my friends had asked about am I believe in astral projection and was wondering and trying to find an Islamic perspective on it.
Actually, most people are interested to know about it and also there are some misunderstandings as well. First of all, try to know what astral projection is and what different people believe.
I will be explaining to you what exactly this phenomenon is. most importantly, as I’ve been raised in a Muslim culture, I have gone through the same question after every Sci-fi theory which is,” What is Islam/ Quran’s perspective about this thing?” So here you go. I did some research on this.
Here’s what to know;
Astral Projection ‘s Facts & Theories
Astral projection is a term commonly used by practitioners in the metaphysical spirituality community to describe an intentional out-of-body experience (OBE) that assumes
the existence of a soul or consciousness called an “astral body” for the human being other than the physical body
The theory relies upon the notion that the soul and body are two distinct entities, and that the soul (or consciousness) can leave the physical body and separates from it in specific and delicate conditions and travel throughout the astral plane.
The most important of which is when the person reaches a stage between consciousness and unconsciousness and is capable of traveling outside it throughout the universe. In metaphysical disciplines, it is believed there are different types of out-of-body experiences: spontaneous, traumatic, and deliberate.
There is some research where we know that the idea that humans can leave their bodies during dream states is ancient. Countless people around the world believe that it is possible to commune with cosmic intelligence through visions and vivid dreams experienced during astral projection, also known as out-of-body experiences.
However, its most recent resurgence has its roots in the spiritual boom of the 19th century and early 20th century. The idea comes from a 19th-century mystical system called theosophy which claims that we have seven bodies from the lowest physical to the highest spiritual and mental bodies.
Astral projection is fun and fascinating — but is it real?
As Astral Projection became a subject of popular fiction, we can see some of the origins of its use in films such as ‘Doctor Strange’. Astral travel can be a big business, and there are many books, seminars, DVDs, and other materials that promise to teach students how to leave their physical bodies and access other dimensions.
Surveys suggest that There are plenty of people who believe astral projection is possible. People who claim to have had something like an out-of-body experience at some point in their lives and even claim to practice astral projection regularly, even when they are from different cultural or religious backgrounds
Some people don’t believe you actually go to another realm but are simply just dreaming.
Astral Projection Experiences
Practitioners of astral travel insist that the experience is real because it seems so vivid, and because some of the experiences are similar, even for people from different cultures. Most intellectuals think that sleep paralysis, hypnosis, and astral projections are the same; although they have major similarities, these things are completely different.
According to many practitioners of astral projection, the spirit leaves the physical body to travel along the astral plane during astral travel. These practitioners often report a feeling of being disconnected, and sometimes claim they can view their physical body from above as though floating in the air. Others have reported a feeling of vibrations, hearing voices in the distance, and buzzing sounds.
In astral travel, practitioners say they can send their spirit or consciousness to another physical location, far away from their actual body.
But it’s not surprising that many people who try astral projection have similar experiences. a sensation of the consciousness, spirit, or “astral body” leaving the physical body. While most experiences occur during sleep or under hypnosis, some people claim to do it while merely relaxing.
Astral Projection Unverifiable Personal Gnosis
According to some people and some studies, Astral projection and out-of-body experiences are examples of unverifiable personal gnosis. The phenomenon of unverifiable personal gnosis is the concept that each person’s spiritual insights are unprovable and, while right for them, may not apply to everyone. Astral projection and out-of-body experiences are examples of unverifiable personal gnosis.
Sometimes, gnosis may be shared. People on the same spiritual path share similar experiences independently of one another and if perhaps, two people both had experiences that were alike, the experience may be regarded as a shared personal gnosis. The sharing of gnosis is sometimes accepted as a possible verification, but rarely a definite one. There is also the phenomenon of confirmed gnosis, in which historical documentation and records relating to the spiritual system confirm the gnostic experience of the individual.
With astral travel or astral projection, one person who believes they have experienced it may have a similar experience to another person; this is not proof of astral projection, but merely shared gnosis. Likewise, just because a spiritual system’s history and lore include the supposition of astral travel or out-of-body experiences, it is not necessarily confirmation.
Astral Projection Scientific Studies
Astral projection proved real by a bunch of scientists and researchers; as they postulated the static number of weight loss after examining 10 individuals before and after death. Well, some scientists repudiated this theory completely. Astral Realm is a totally different world than our physical world.
It may be a profound experience, but the fundamental problem is that there’s really no way to scientifically measure whether or not a person’s spirit “leaves” or “enters” the body. According to some research, there are Few scientific studies have been conducted on astral projection, However, the simplest and best explanation for out-of-body experiences is that the person is merely fantasizing and dreaming. Because there is no scientific evidence that consciousness can exist outside of the brain, astral projection is rejected by scientists.
There is one question even most people are curious about, why hasn’t astral projection been proven scientifically?
Some claim it’s because mainstream scientists are closed-minded and refuse to even look at evidence that doesn’t fit their narrow worldview. However, in science, those who disprove dominant theories are rewarded, not punished. Proving the existence of psychic powers, astral projection or alternative dimensions would earn the dissenting scientists a place in the history books, if not a Nobel Prize.
Scientifically testing the validity of astral travel should be quite simple; for example, you might hide ten unknown objects at different locations and then ask a person to project their consciousness to each place and describe exactly what’s there. Either the descriptions match or they don’t.
According to researchers, “people who experience astral travel “have been found to score higher on measures of hypnotizability and, in several surveys, on measures of absorption, measure of a person’s ability to pay complete attention to something and to become immersed in it, even if it is not real, like a film, play, or imagined event.” Out-of-body experiences are more imaginative, suggestible, and fantasy-prone than average, though have low levels of drug and alcohol use, and no obvious signs of psychopathology or mental illness.
Astral Projection in Islam
First, we all should know and understand that spirituality holds a high position in Islam, and the only spirituality acceptable is that which is mentioned in the Qur’an and Hadith. It is only with the spirituality mentioned in the Qur'an and Hadith that a person can achieve his goal, i.e. closeness to Allah. All other types are mere deception and should necessarily be avoided.
Second, we all should try to understand what is meant by the expression, “astral projection”. As above, I talked about what astral projection is and what different people believe about it. So, its main idea is based on the belief that it is possible for the astral body, which is said to be a “double” of the physical body of a person to consciously leave the physical body at least for a short time and “travel” in the astral dimension.
What is the perspective of Islam about astral travel?
The Answer is Islam has nothing to do with this practice of astral projection.
“And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge. Indeed, the hearing, the sight and the heart — about all those [one] will be questioned.” (Quran 17:36)
During the research, I learned there are some conflicts between different Islamic sects and some Muslims some people talked that there is no claim in Quran and hadith about it and that astral projection is prohibited.
Even some Muslim practice it as well and also some people try to connect The Miraj (in Islam, the Ascension of the Prophet Muhammad into heaven.
In this tradition, Muhammad is prepared for his meeting with God by the archangels Jibrīl (Gabriel) and Mīkāl (Michael) one evening while he is asleep in the Kaʿbah).
Isra and Miraj: The Miraculous Night Journey
The Israa and Miraj (Miraj is an Arabic word meaning “ladder, to elevate, or to ascend”.) refer to, two parts of a miraculous journey that Prophet Muhammad PBUH took in one night from Makka to Jerusalem and then an ascension to the heavens in the month of Rajab before his migration to Madinah.
According to the Islamic faith it is one of the major miracles of the Prophet. It happened on the night of the 26th of Rajab, the seventh month of the Islamic calendar, in the year 621 AD, which is one year before the Prophet’s migration to Medina.
Following is the translation of the first verse of chapter 17, Al-Israa, from the Quran that refers to this journey, followed by a detailed explanation of the verse by Sayyid Abul Ala Mawdudi.
Holy is He Who carried His servant by night from the Holy Mosque (in Makka) to the farther Mosque (in Jerusalem) — whose surroundings We have blessed — that We might show him some of Our signs 1. Indeed He alone is All-Hearing, All-Seeing. (Quran 17:1)
How the miraculous journey occurred is a matter of differing opinions among Muslim theologians. Some maintain that it occurred only spiritually while others assert that it happened both bodily and spiritually.
This blessed journey of ‘Isra and Miraj is of great significance for Muslims for its miraculous nature and, among other things, for its establishment of the second crucial pillar in Islam: prayer five times a day.
Allah Knows better than us and may Allah forgive us. As we got the idea that Astral projection is linked with some sort of sorcery or magic by many scholars. So as Islam has forbidden the practice of magic or sorcery. Astral projection is also Forbidden in Islam. Although there are many similarities between Astral Dimensions and Alam-e-Barzakh (The land of After Life).
Astral Projection: A Multi-Million Dollar Industry
In most people's understanding, it is a million-dollar business industry. There are many movies, books and different courses on astral projection and many people earn a lot of money in this industry.
There are many different reasons behind it. As up my understanding, the prosperity and the accompanying comforts of some aspects of the modern lifestyle have led many people to a kind of spiritual emptiness and meaninglessness.
To fill in the spiritual vacuum generated, different things are used like drugs and astral projection, etc.
As there is money in it, the whole thing is commercialized and globalized now, especially by drug dealers who wish to capitalize on the idea that psychedelic drugs are a great facilitator of the out-of-body experience.
Final Thoughts:
According to my research which I just did, not everyone believes astral projection is an actual OBE. Many have said they’re simply a product of lucid dreaming. Others say they’re real OBEs. So, it may come down to how astral projection is defined by an individual.
Second, in my understanding of this point, Astral projection is derived from Occultism, and the idea of astral travel is rooted in esotericism and occultism and was promoted by 19th-century Theosophists philosophers who explored the mystical and preternatural origins of the natural world. Occultism is the study of occult practices, including (but not limited to) magic, alchemy, extra-sensory perception, astrology, spiritualism, religion, and divination.
Islam has nothing to do with this practice of astral projection. Rather, Muslims must give a wide berth to any persons who practice or propagate this patently pernicious superstition.
It should be understood that spirituality holds a high position in Islam and the only spirituality acceptable is that which is mentioned in the Qur’an and Hadith. It is only with the spirituality mentioned in the Qur’an and Hadith that a person can achieve his goal, i.e. closeness to Allah. All other types are mere deception and should necessarily be avoided. and Allah Knows Best.
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