Islam and Psychedelics: An Essay on the Issues of Permissibility and Medical Utility
Theology and Science March 20, 2025 Haroon Asghar 1 citation
Classic psychedelic medicines do not meet the defining characteristics of intoxicants prohibited in Islamic rulings. Intoxicants are defined as substances that veil the mind (khamr), intoxicate (Sakr), cause harm and enmity. The paper compares behavior, neuroimaging, psychopharmacology, and the conscious experience of subjects taking psychedelics versus traditional intoxicants. It argues that psychedelics do not produce the same effects and therefore should not be categorized as intoxicants under Islamic law, citing historical precedent from Ibn Taymiyyah on henbane.