The Kuwaiti Ministry of Health has officially banned energy healing practices across the country. This prohibition covers a range of techniques, specifically identifying Reiki, chakras, crystals, aura, and the law of attraction. These activities are no longer permitted within Kuwait under the new ministerial directive. The directive serves as a formal regulatory measure to restrict the availability and promotion of these specific methods within the public and private sectors of the nation.
Religious and Philosophical Concerns
Critics of energy healing practices argue that these methods are derived from Buddhism and Hinduism and contradict the Islamic doctrine of monotheism. These arguments form the core of the opposition to the adoption and practice of such techniques within the local community. Contemporary Islamic scholars have largely prohibited energy healing due to its association with pagan and Buddhist philosophical origins.
Belkacem Z. A Professor of Islamic Sharia, stated: "Because it relies on rituals and practices taken from East Asian religions like Yoga and Reiki, and includes metaphysical ideas and esoteric philosophies that contradict the doctrine of monotheism, such as attachment to other than God Almighty by attributing benefit and influence to the alleged energy of the universe, instead of God Almighty." This perspective emphasizes the perceived theological incompatibility between these healing modalities and established religious tenets.
Dr. Mohamed Al-Awadi expressed concerns regarding the broader implications of these techniques. He noted that energy healing practices are being used to reinterpret illness, relationships, and religion outside of scientific and factual frameworks. Dr. Mohamed Al-Awadi stated: "The danger in energy sciences and what branches out from them is not just strange claims, but in their transformation into a system that reinterprets illness, relationships, religion, and life itself far from science and reality."
By framing these practices as a deviation from empirical reality, Dr. Mohamed Al-Awadi notes the potential for these methods to alter public perception of health and social structures. The argument suggests that when individuals rely on energy-based systems to define their interpersonal connections or their understanding of medical conditions, they move away from established scientific and factual frameworks. This shift is viewed by proponents of the ban as a significant concern for the stability of social and religious norms.
Amna Aichouni, a family counselor and religious guide, asserts that energy healing practices lack a scientific basis. She maintains that the perceived effects of these practices are often explained by suggestion or the placebo effect. According to Amna Aichouni, the reliance on these methods often obscures the need for conventional medical or psychological intervention. By attributing recovery or improvement to energy manipulation, practitioners may inadvertently discourage individuals from seeking professional care. The Ministry of Health’s decision is thus supported by these arguments, which prioritize the maintenance of traditional religious doctrine and the adherence to scientific methodologies over the adoption of alternative, non-verified healing techniques. The ban is intended to ensure that the public is not misled by practices that lack institutional validation or alignment with the core values of the state.