I must admit that I don’t know very much about Islam, so when an article concerning Reiki appeared today in an English language Arab newspaper I was sure to take notice. It didn’t say much, but there were two points I found rather interesting and would like to touch upon them here.
The article, appearing in the Sunday 3 August 2008 (30 Rajab 1429) issue of Arab News was called “Having the write stuff“ and was written by Hassna’a Mokhtar. It was mainly concerned with graphology (a type of handwriting analysis), but also touched on Reiki and NLP as fellow “western” sciences.
The first thing I found interesting was the definition of Reiki itself that was given in the article. Per Mokhtar, “Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing.” I found this definition to be rather revealing in and of itself and I assure you that Mokhtar is not the only one who looks at it this way. For many, perhaps the stress reduction and relaxation aspects of Reiki are Reiki’s greatest attributes and there is no reason to hold any other interpretation as more valid or legitimate.
I realized, once again, that my own interpretation of Reiki as a spiritual art that also promotes healing is based on my own needs and perceptions and that these may not be the best way to promote Reiki to others. Those that frequent these pages either have the same (or similar) understanding as I do, or are just incredibly bored. 
In that this forum is not intended to present only one viewpoint I realized I must make a greater effort to diversify so that the more diverse interpretations of others are more welcomed and not put off to the side as invalid in any way.
This epiphany comes on the heals of the second thing I found interesting in the article which was the way Reiki itself is regarded by Islamic people. Per the article, “Some Saudi scholars disapprove of sciences such as graphology, Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and Reiki” and “argue that sciences such as Reiki are not permitted in Islam”. I can’t vouch for the validity of these statements but I did find them quite revealing.
Further, I don’t know whether this viewpoint is the generally accepted opinion of the masses, certain orthodox traditionalists, or limited to certain Islamic sects or a handful of scholars, but the fact that some Muslims feel this way and regard Reiki this way is, in and of itself, reason for a rethink.
For any chance of success Reiki must be presented to each culture it meets in a way that is completely acceptable to that culture. Forcing one culture to assume the attitudes or behavior of another has resulted in discontent (if not outright war) for ages. If Reiki has any chance of proliferating within Islamic cultures it must be done in a way that is appealing and comfortable to them. Since Reiki has no religious component I see no reason it can’t be accepted by Islam, but of course it must be done on their terms since Islam is more than just a religion in that it contains a culture and philosophy and epistemology of its own.
Perhaps what the Reiki world needs, from an Islamic standpoint, is a person like Mrs. Takata, who is not afraid to bend Reiki to the Islamic culture to the degree necessary for its acceptance… luckily Reiki has always been rather flexible.
For further explanation or discussion, your thoughts are most welcome and highly encouraged, please feel free to comment below!!!
6 responses to “Reiki and Islam”
Hi again, Duane!
It just so happens that I have recently been reading about mystical Islam and healing practices and came across an interesting Islamic interpretation of Reiki here:
http://herbnites.tripod.com/islamicreiki/
There do appear to be some parallels between Reiki, Ki and Chakras and Qudra, Baraka and Lata’if.
Ai to Hikari
Colin
(sorry if this comment appears several times – there appeared to be some difficulty in getting it posted!)
I am a muslim and i would like to point two things as reiki appears to have some sort of semblance to the practice in Islam
1The holy Quran says ALLAH ( THE MUSLIM GOD)is NOOR ( LIGHT ) of the skies and the earth ( or the universe ) and we in reiki beleive the reiki is a universal force .
2.The concept of DUA after each prayer by raising both hands up to face level and then rubbing the same on face .Are we not making effort to concentrate the BARAKA on the most sensetive orgon as we have adopted a similar method in reiki
Ipersonally beleive that there is need to analyse the reiki and relegious faiths without any bias and prejuidce and must make effort to shun claims of calling reiki non -releigious .There is all hopes of findind semblance .
I am also a muslim and have been doing energy healing or reiki on myself and children . I was really not well several years ago and began taking natural supliments, acupuncture…..etc….my mother a former nurse, gave me bookson energy healing and i know that it works has been very healing for my family,friends, and myself.!You just feel better and more spiritually connected.
I know that it works and is very powerful. I also know that it helps those who are in pain or emotionally upsett. I have personally as a devoted muslim not found anything against Islam in Reiki. I do not use the symbols any longer i just make dua and recite healing verses.
The main question is ….what would our Holy Prophet Mohammed pbuh would have advized about this type of healing work? I then ventured into studying books on Sufism during my research on Reiki and the Spriitual side of Islam does obtain wisdom and knowledge about energy healing and can quite in depth.
I hope to meet with other Muslims who practice energy healing as i Currently know mostly Christians right now who practice this.
Sr. M
1.ย ย ย ย ย Islamic reiki
The biggest problem or issues that busy the mind of Muslims when they accept the reiki is that why we must use of Indian, Sanskrit and Japanese names and symbols.
And at this part where are the place of names and says of GOD in Islam and how we can use of them in care and attention or meditation.
Mr Babak sorkhpour after 2 yearsย research and meditation or attention and experiment of different methods and styles, can find the key of this secret and with help of new methodย of Islamic reiki that inspiration to him and after going the different attunements on the different masters and students , for the first time in the world , he introduce it to the health festival of Malaysia.
The key points of this method:
1.ย ย ย ย ย Use of God’s says instead of reiki symbols.
2.ย ย ย ย ย Most effect is on the third eye’s canal (chakra).
3.ย ย ย ย ย It does not need to hard excursive.
4.ย ย ย ย ย Guide master and the main attune is Mohammad Excellency (profit).
5.ย ย ย ย ย Most relation is with servant around
6.ย ย ย ย ย It can care and we can send it to far away or the far point.
7.ย ย ย ย ย Never or at all if has not any dependence to master or method or religion.
8.ย ย ย ย ย It is only a very simple technique.
9.ย ย ย ย ย It does not need to draw symbol.
10.ย It increases the relation immediately.
11.ย The material of its energy is very light .
12.ย The teaching of it , is very simple and in the lower most time.
ย
I am a muslim. I have been practising reiki since 1994. I got it from India.ย
from master Martin Nazarette. I read his book. I contacted him and took lesson. But my creed made me not want to use symbols.ย One day he phoned me and wanted to attune me with reiki II.ย He sent me a booklet for it. I didn’t like to use symbols I found it not proper; my heart just couldn’t accept the symbols or mantras.ย Since 1994 I used to treat many people with the energy. I never accepted any pay. If they insisted meย to accept it I gave it to the first needy person. My heart never want to accept the money given.ย Anyway, one day one of my friends wanted a reiki III. I phoned Martin, He sent it to my friend and me together.ย There are exerciseย which goย with No III reiki but I never practised them.ย I went for piligrimage this year and many people who were lodging with me were sick and I treated them and attuned them by just intendingย saying “By the Will of Allahย ย you have the healing energy just like me” I checked the enery flowย and indeed it was flowing in their palms. Then I asked some to pass it to their friends there and then and they also felt the flow of energy through their palms. So they started treating each other and was indeed successful. So they got Reiki I, II and III in a second just by intention.ย They also tried distant healing and it worked too. So you see Allah is the only One Whoย knows what you converse in your mind or heart so He hears and it works.ย Nowadays I am very cool.ย I never want to look at symbols and chant mantras which i never did when I treated people. I read Quran short suras.
Interesting blog post. What would you say was the most important factor in using NLP?