Is it permissible to use affirmations?

The word "affirmation" comes from Latin, meaning "to confirm, to assert." In psychological terms, it refers to repeatedly telling oneself phrases like: "I am happy, I am wealthy, my soul is healthy, I have a big house" (even if it is not true), in order to convince oneself and fix these ideas in the mind as if they have already come true.

Those who promote affirmations and call themselves psychologists say: "For affirmations to work, you must believe in them 100%. Every wish or goal must be stated with absolute certainty, as if it has already happened. Only by fully believing and repeating it many times will it work[1]." They also try to connect this practice to religion by saying things like, "In religion, we are encouraged to wish for good, and we believe that all good comes from Allah."

However, believing 100% in affirmations and thinking that repeating them will make your wishes come true, or that affirmations are the reason for your wishes being fulfilled, does not align with the foundations of Islamic law. Nothing happens without the will of Allah. Of course, ignoring means and causes is foolish, but believing that the means themselves bring about results is disbelief. Therefore, in all our actions, we must first rely on Allah. In the Qur'an, Allah says:

فَإِذَا عَزَمْتَ فَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُتَوَكِّلِينَ

"When you have decided on a matter, then rely upon Allah! Allah loves those who rely [upon Him]" [2].

In another verse:

إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ

"You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help" [3] – calling us to ask only from Him.

In a hadith narrated by Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him), the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

لِيَسْأَلْ أَحَدُكُمْ رَبَّهُ حَاجَتَه حَتَّى يَسْأَلَهُ شِسْعَ نَعْلِهِ إِذَا انْقَطَعَ

"Let each of you ask his Lord for all his needs, even if the strap of his sandal breaks, let him ask Him" [4]. This means we are encouraged to ask even for something as simple as a shoelace from Allah alone, even though the market is full of them. So why should we use concepts that have no basis in our religion and have only recently appeared?

In a Qudsi hadith, Allah says:

من ذا الَّذي يسألُني فأعطيَهُ...

"Whoever asks of Me, I will give him..." [5]

Therefore, whatever we need or wish for, let us ask only from Allah and turn to Him with all our hearts. May Allah grant all our wishes! Amin.

Zhenis Abibullayev,

Fatwa specialist for Kyzylorda region

• [1] Psychologists use the phrase "it works" to mean that it will definitely come true.

• [2] Surah Al Imran, verse 159.

• [3] Surah Al-Fatiha, verse 5.

• [4] Tabarani, 5/373.

• [5] Bukhari No. 1145, Muslim No. 758.