The Rukhsa of Psychedelics in Shariah: Neural Correlates of Religious Experience and the Issue of License
Figshare March 17, 2026 DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.31768987.v1 (opens in new tab) via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractPsychedelic medicines are distinct from intoxicants (khamr) because they do not impair moral judgment or rational faculties. Although unsupervised use remains impermissible due to psychological risks, therapeutic application may be justified under Islamic law through rukhsa (legal concession). Because psychedelics can mimic neural and phenomenological states produced in prayer or meditation, their clinical use may be permitted when such spiritual practices would otherwise serve as treatment, provided a threshold of disease severity or functional impairment is met.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | Psychedelic medicines |
| Keywords | Religious experience License Prayer Consciousness Islam |
| Key finding | Argues that psychedelic medicines may be permissible under Islamic law for therapeutic use when disease severity or functional impairment thresholds are met, as they are distinct from intoxicants and can mimic spiritual states. |
Abstract
A previous paper by the same author demonstrates that psychedelic medicines differ from intoxicants (khamr) as they do not induce moral impairment or “veil” rational faculties. While unsupervised should remain impermissible due to psychological risks, their therapeutic application may be justified under Islamic law through rukhsa (legal concession). Since psychedelics can mimic neural and phenomenological states which are produced in prayer or meditation, the paper suggests permitting their clinical use when such spiritual practices would otherwise serve as treatment, provided threshold of disease severity or functional impairment is met.