A few days ago, a client asked me a simple, yet complicated question – “Is manifestation Haram?” The truth is that muslims often view manifestation with skepticism, and sometimes even fear.
This is completely understandable because the word manifestation is relatively new. And because there are so many misconceptions surrounding what manifestation actually is.
The reality is that if done incorrectly manifestation can absolutely go against Islam. But if you follow it correctly manifestation will help you achieve your goals in a way that is completely aligned with Islam.
Related: Is manifestation against Christianity? Read verses from the bible to find out what exactly it says about manifestation.
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What this article will cover
- What manifestation really is
- Why manifestation is viewed with skepticism in Islam
- Why some people believe manifestation is against Islam
- The steps of manifestation (And what Islam says about each one)
- Comparing manifestation to prayer
- Quran verses on manifestation and the law of attraction
What manifestation is
Manifestation is creating the reality that you want, through the use of your thoughts, emotions, and words. We manifest our desires by figuring out exactly what we want and connecting with a higher power to help bring it into reality.
An example of a manifestation is deciding you want a new job, with a higher salary, doing a 5-minute meditation, and then asking the universe (or God) to give you your new job.
That almost makes manifestation sound like regular prayer, doesn’t it? So then why do some Muslims still believe that manifestation go against Islam?
Why some people may believe manifestation is Haram
The Universe Versus God
If you’ve read articles or books about manifestation, you’ve probably come across the word Universe. In fact, most people associate the word universe with manifestation. And manifestation guides will probably encourage you to manifest, by connecting with the universe.
And that naturally turns a lot of Muslims against manifestation. The Quran clearly states that Allah is the creator of the world. And so the word Universe can almost feel like shirk.
But let’s look at what the Universe actually is. The word Universe is just another word people use for a higher power instead of God. It is used to refer to a higher power, that exists beyond this universe.
What is the universe?
So at the end of the day, the word “Universe” is just a spiritual word for a higher power or God.
The fact that some people use the word Universe instead of God, doesn’t mean that it means anything different. The Jews and Christians also use a different word from God. That doesn’t change the fact that there is only ONE GOD. And as Muslims, we all know that the Quran clearly states that all Muslims, Christians, and Jews who believe in 1 God (regardless of what they call him) are believers. And that they are on the right path.
Objectively, it doesn’t make sense to completely ignore manifestation simply because people are using the word “Universe” instead of “God” when you know that the word Universe, is just what some people call God.
Manifesting vs. the Power of God
Some Muslims think manifestation is against Islam because they think that manifestation implies that we ourselves are creating the reality that we want. That when we manifest our goals, we are using our own powers to bring our goals and desires into existence.
This couldn’t be further from the truth. While some people might believe this, most manifestation books (including our 30 day manifestation challenge) clearly state that we manifest our desires by connecting with God (or the universe) and asking for what we want.
The Quran clearly states that God is the provider of everything. And that we cannot do anything without him. Manifestation is aligned with this, because step 3 of manifestation (listed below) states that in order to manifest, you must first connect with God (or the universe.)
If you read a manifestation guide that states that you are creating your reality yourself, then you should probably ignore it, because it doesn’t align with Islam.
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Goes against the Quran
Because I was curious about what the Quran said regarding manifestation, I went through it in great detail to find any verses which say that manifestation is haram. I found none.
In fact, if you scroll down below, you will find all the verses in the Quran which talk about manifestation. While the Quran tells us not to focus on this world at the expense of the day of judgment, it doesn’t say anything against manifestation. There are several verses that actually encourage manifestation if you do it the right way.
We should have faith in God instead of manifesting
The biggest argument some Muslims have raised against manifestation is that you should trust God to do what is best for you, instead of manifesting.
The Quran repeatedly tells us to have faith in Allah and to trust him to do what is best for us. And yet it also repeatedly tells us that when we want something we should immediately ask God for it.
The reality is that by manifesting, you are asking God for what you want, and having faith that he will give it to you. You are simply following specific manifestation steps while praying to God.
Step 5 which is the most important step of manifestation, states that in order for your manifestation to be successful you have to believe that God (or the universe) will do what is best for you. And that’s why after manifesting your goals and desires, you have to let go, and have faith that you will receive it (or receive whatever is best for you.)
The steps to manifesting your goals (and whether each one goes against Islam)
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Step 1: Get clarity on what you want
Contemplation and goal setting are important pieces of the manifestation process. It is impossible to manifest your desires if you do not first take the time to think about what you want. What are your goals for the short term and the long term? How do you envision your life unfolding? What kind of relationships do you want to have? Once you have a clear idea of what you want, you will begin to take steps to make it a reality.
Is this manifestation step against Islam?
Islam actively encourages goal setting and planning. Islam tells us that planning and strategizing our goals increases our chances of succeeding.
Similarly, Islam teaches us to meditate and contemplate our existence and our entire lives, so that we are able to focus on the things that really matter.
Conclusion:
This manifestation step is a normal part of our lives – something Muslims are encourages to do regularly. Therefore it does not go against Islam.
Step 2: Raise your vibration:
The next step in manifestation is to increase your vibration levels.
A lot of people raise their eyes at the word vibration. But to raise your vibration levels simply means to change your emotions to be more positive. To focus on experiencing positive emotions like joy, gratitude, peace, and love, as opposed to negative emotions such as jealousy, hatred, anger, and greed.
You do this through activities like meditation, gratitude exercises, or positive affirmations. You can even do it by repeating a prayer in your mind like “Shukar-Alhamdulillah” or “Allah-hu-Akbar.”
The purpose is simply to clear out negative thoughts and emotions and replace them with positive thoughts and emotions.
Is this manifestation step against Islam?
The Quran repeatedly tells us to practice gratitude and to open up our hearts to feel positive emotions, instead of negative emotions. In fact if you scroll down to the qur’anic verses, you will find the Quran repeatedly encourages us to feel emotions like gratitude, love, and peace. While discouraging emotions like jealousy, anger, and greed.
Conclusion:
This manifestation is completely aligned with Islam.
Step 3: Connect with God (or the universe)
To manifest your desires, the next step is connecting with the universe. Now, this may sound strange, but remember the universe is simply another word for God. So as Muslims we would be connecting to Allah.
During this step of manifestation, you are encouraged to connect with a higher power by contemplating the wonders of the world. By marveling at the beauty of the world, and how easy it was for God to create everything so perfectly.
Is this manifestation step against Islam?
God encourages us to connect with him and to try and be as close to him as possible. In fact, he tells us that if we take 1 step toward him, he will run towards us.
The specific activities used for this manifestation step are also mentioned in the Quran. Part of Islam is actively contemplating on all of God’s creation in awe and wonder.
Conclusion:
This manifestation step is completely aligned with Islam
Step 4: Ask for what you want
Once you have connected with God, the next step is to simply ask for what you want. So if you want a job, ask the God/Universe for it. If you want a child ask God/Universe for it.
Is this manifestation step against Islam?
Whether or not this step is against Islam depends on how you complete it. If you believe that you yourself are bringing your desires into creation, then yes it goes against Islam. But if you manifest your desires by asking God to bring them into creation, and simply having faith that God will listen to you, then it is completely aligned with Islam.
Conclusion
This step is aligned with Islam, provided you ask God for what you want, as opposed to assuming that you are bringing it into existence yourself.
Step 5: Let go, and trust God/The universe
After asking for what you want, you should let go, and simply have faith that you will get what you asked for.
This step simply requires having faith in God/The universe.
Is this manifestation step against Islam?
This manifestation step is completely aligned with Islam. In fact, if you scroll down to the Quran verses you will find several verses which actively encourage it.
God tells us to trust him and have faith in him. If you are a true Muslim, then this step should come to you naturally. You should have faith that God will only do what is good for you. And you should also have faith that he is listening to you.
Conclusion
This step is aligned with Islam, which encourages us to ask God for what we want.
Manifestation Prayer
I manifest 5 times a day when I pray namaz. In fact, I believe the structure of Namaz is very similar to manifestation. The only step that it does not include is step 1, which is becoming clear on your goals. I believe prayer was sent down to us to help us manifest our goals, and create the life we want. After all, prayer is to help us, not for God. God doesn’t need anything.
Prayer allows you to connect directly with God, and to feel closer to him. During Namaz, we express gratitude to Allah. When saying Subhanallah, I always marvel at everything God has created for us and feel amazement at all he has done. This is very similar to all the manifestation steps.
At the end of my namaz, I go down in Sajda and thank God for the specific things I am grateful to him for. And then right after that, I ask him whatever I want. I have faith that he will give it to me, provided that it is good for me. To me, I have just manifested my desires – through God.
Quranic Verses
- “Call on me, I will answer [your prayer]” (Quran 40:60)
- “When My servants ask thee [O Muhammad] concerning Me, [tell them] I am indeed close: I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calls on Me: Let them also, with a will, Listen to My call, and believe in Me: That they may walk in the right way” (Quran 2:186)
- “If you give thanks, I will give you more” (14:7).
- “And your Lord says: “Call on Me; I will answer your (prayer): but those who are too arrogant to serve Me will surely find themselves in Hell – in humiliation! (40:60)
- If any do desire a reward in this life, We shall give it to him; and if any do desire a reward in the Hereafter, We shall give it to him. And swiftly shall We reward those that (serve us with) gratitude. (3:145)
- And for those who fear Allah, He (ever) prepares a way out. And He provides for him from (sources) he never could imagine. And if any one puts his trust in Allah, sufficient is (Allah) for him. For Allah will surely accomplish his purpose: verily, for all things has Allah appointed a due proportion.(65:2-3)
- And He gave you whatever you asked for. If you (try to) count the bounties of Allah, you cannot count them all… 14:34
- “Say: Who has forbidden the Allah’s beautiful things, which he has brought forth for His slaves and the wholesome types of sustenance? Say: They are for those who believe in the life of this world, exclusively on the day of Qiyama. In this way, we explain the signs in detail for a people who know.” [Al-A’raaf: 32]
- Those whom Allah wills to guide, He opens their breast to Islam; those whom He wills to leave straying, He makes their breast close and constricted, as if they had to climb up to the skies: thus does Allah (heap) the penalty on those who refuse to believe.} (6: 125)
- “…Anyone who is grateful does so to the profit of his own soul…” (31:12)
- “If you are grateful, I would certainly give you more; and if you are ungrateful, My chastisement is truly severe.” (14:7)
Hadith
- “Make du’a to God in a state that you are certain that your du’a will be responded to, and know that God does not respond to a du’a that originates from a negligent, inattentive heart” [Recorded in al-Tirmindhi]
- “Verily your Lord is Generous and Shy. If His servant raises his hands to Him (in supplication) He becomes shy to return them empty. (Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi)”
- “The Lord descends every night to the lowest heaven when one-third of the night remains and says: ‘Who will call upon Me, that I may answer Him? Who will ask of Me, that I may give him? Who will seek My forgiveness, that I may forgive him?’” (From: 40 Hadith Qudsi. )
- ‘If you were to rely upon Allah with the reliance He is due, you would be given provision like the birds: They go out hungry in the morning and come back with full bellies in the evening.” [Ibn Majah]
Conclusion
Manifestation is not at all against Islam. In fact God actively encourages it. So start manifesting today, and create the life that you actually want.
