An Islamic Perspective On the Epistemological Significance of a Scientifically Induced Spiritual Experience

The “God helmet” is a product of the newly developed field of neurotheology. Neurotheology is a field that studies religion in general, the spiritual experience in particular through examining the brain and the nervous system. The “God helmet” and its commercially available modified forms, stimulate certain areas in the brain with weak magnetic fields. This magnetic stimulation has been implicated in the initiation of personalized spiritual experiences. A metaphysical sensed presence has been reported by 80% of the experiencers who have used the God helmet. Some of the experiencers have indicated that the metaphysical presence has interfered with their thoughts. If knowledge has been imparted during such experiences, would this knowledge have any epistemological significance from an Islamic perspective? This being the major question of this thesis.The main line of research followed was to look for experiences in the Islamic tradition that could be comparable to the God helmet experience (PISE). If such experiences are to be found, then the epistemological significance of these Islamic experiences could be carried on to PISE. A descriptive methodology was adopted to ‘house’ PISE within the Western scientific worldview and within the field of neurotheology. The same descriptive methodology was used to chart the relevant Islamic landscape forming the needed background for the selected comparable Islamic experiences. Two experiences of the ten levels of guidance in Madārij al-Sālikīn were selected for comparison, namely ᵓilhām and ruᵓīā. A discussion of some of the scholarly opinions on the epistemological significance of ᵓilhām and ruᵓīā was presented.After analyzing PISE, ᵓilhām and ruᵓīā, it was concluded that PISE was not comparable with either ᵓilhām or ruᵓīā since it does not involve imparting of new knowledge. However, if in the future some knowledge is to be imparted, these cases would most probably be similar to those of se’ances or of communicating with jinn. Such similarities can be further analyzed in future studies.