Quran Rejects Secular Spirituality, 'Law of Attraction,' Says Islamic Scholar
This is according to Hojat-ol-Islam Mohammad Jafari, a professor at the Jamiat al-Zahra Seminary and a lecturer in Islamic studies, who made the statements while speaking at the academic forum “A Quranic Perspective on Secular Spirituality” held on Thursday. He argued that spirituality rooted in secularism contradicts core Quranic teachings and principles.
“What we understand from the verses of the Quran,” he stated, “is that spirituality without religion, belief in monotheism, the afterlife, and submission to divine guidance is not accepted—and often leads to harmful outcomes. Secular spirituality has no alignment with Quranic spirituality.”
Jafari explained that while divine religions have historically guided humanity toward spiritual growth, the rise of modernity has altered this trajectory. “Modernity introduced new tools and reshaped human life and worldview. This transformation affected even the domain of spirituality,” he said.
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Describing secular spirituality as a worldview that separates itself from religion, Jafari noted, “This form of spirituality dismisses revelation, prophethood, and religious beliefs. It disregards the afterlife and obligations of divine law. It seeks only to improve present-day life and provide meaning for the modern individual who constantly chases pleasure and gain.”
He linked this trend with the rise of the “Law of Attraction” and similar psychological approaches, asserting they cater to material gain rather than genuine spiritual elevation. “In our society too, some believe that secular spirituality can relieve stress, depression, and financial problems. These systems market psychological packages—like the Law of Attraction—and profit from them.”
Criticizing efforts to portray secular spiritual teachings as rooted in the Quran, Jafari warned, “Some have tried to attribute these ideas to the Quran. But they strip away key spiritual concepts—like the metaphysical reality, the role of divine guidance, and the sanctity of prophets and imams.”
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He cited the Quranic verse: “O mankind! You are the ones who stand in need of Allah, and Allah—He is the All-sufficient, the All-laudable.” (35:15) to show that spiritual elevation, in Islam, begins with the recognition of one’s dependence on God. “True spirituality,” he said, “requires seeking help from God even for worldly matters—not relying solely on oneself.”
Jafari also addressed misinterpretations of Quranic verses by proponents of the Law of Attraction. “They cite the verse, ‘Whoever desires this transitory life, We expedite for him therein whatever We wish, for whomever We desire’ (17:18), claiming it supports the idea that focusing mentally on desires will make the universe respond. But this is a misuse. The verse clearly states that only what God wills will be granted—and only to whom He chooses. It does not promise universal fulfillment of personal desires.”
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