Scientology (the 26th and final part)

Author: Mohajer Azizi

Scientology (the 26th and final part)

1. The Invalidity of the Belief in Extraterrestrial Beings from the Islamic Perspective

Scientology holds those extraterrestrial beings—particularly an entity known as “Xenu”—existed billions of years ago and ruled an advanced space civilization. According to this belief, Xenu gathered many beings that inhabited the cosmic and galactic systems and sent them to Earth. He then destroyed their bodies, after which their spirits wandered aimlessly. These spirits later entered human bodies alongside the original human soul and became a source of disturbance. Based on Scientology’s teachings, these intrusive spirits are the cause of human psychological, mental, and even physical problems.

This Scientology belief is incompatible with the fundamental principles of Islam and can be critiqued from several perspectives:

First, everything related to the unseen (al-ghayb) and metaphysical matters is accepted only on the basis of authentic revelation (the Noble Qur’an and the Sunnah). The Qur’an explicitly states in numerous verses that knowledge of the unseen and matters beyond human senses belongs exclusively to Allah. No one— not even a Prophet (PBUH)— can independently access it. Whatever is considered valid for humanity in this realm must come through revelation: what is stated therein is accepted, and what is not stated is rejected. Scientology’s doctrines are neither grounded in divine revelation nor based on rigorous rational proof; rather, they rely largely on the claims and ideas of Hubbard, the founder of this movement, and on secret texts. Therefore, from an Islamic perspective, they carry no authoritative value and instead stem from the fantasies and speculations of Hubbard and his followers.

Second, from the standpoint of monotheism (Tawhid) and lordship (rubūbiyyah), this belief is invalid. In some narratives, Scientology assigns major and decisive roles to extraterrestrial beings in creation, guidance, or misguidance of humanity. This directly contradicts the principle of Tawhid al-rubūbiyyah, for in Islam the sole Creator, Sustainer, and absolute Ruler of the universe is Allah: اللَّهُ خَالِقُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ Translation: Allah is the Creator of all things. [1]

And in another verse, He says: إِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ اسْتَوَىٰ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ يُدَبِّرُ الْأَمْرَ ۚ مَا مِنْ شَفِيعٍ إِلَّا مِنْ بَعْدِ إِذْنِهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمُ اللَّهُ رَبُّكُمْ فَاعْبُدُوهُ ۚ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ Translation: Indeed, your Lord is Allah, who created the heavens and the earth in six days, then established Himself over the Throne, regulating all affairs. No intercessor can intercede except by His permission. That is Allah, your Lord, so worship Him. Will you not then take heed? [2]

Third, from the perspective of anthropology and moral responsibility, this belief is also refutable. Islam regards the human being as a distinguished, free, accountable, and morally responsible creature whose happiness or misery depends on faith, righteous deeds, and conscious choice. Scientology, however, attributes human psychological and ethical problems to spirits or prehistoric cosmic events. This view effectively strips humans of free will and responsibility and weakens moral accountability, contradicting the Qur’anic principle: كُلُّ نَفْسٍ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ رَهِينَةٌ Translation: Every soul is held in pledge for what it has earned.

From the Islamic viewpoint, a person’s destiny—material and spiritual—is tied to faith and deeds, not to external cosmic entities.

Fourth, Islam affirms the existence of unseen realms and beings such as angels and jinn and emphasizes belief in them. However, this affirmation is not based on sensory evidence or speculative claims, but strictly on authentic texts and clear explanations from the Qur’an and Sunnah. Consequently, Scientology’s belief in extraterrestrial beings—along with detailed, historical narratives such as their existence millions of years ago or the destruction of billions of cosmic beings—has no basis in revelation or in sound rational proof. Rather, it constitutes conjecture and myth-making. Hubbard merely mentioned these beings in his teachings without providing any evidence—and indeed could not provide any—presenting them instead as secret doctrines taught only at advanced levels of the movement. Such secrecy itself indicates the weakness of the underlying arguments.

Conclusion

This study, through examining the roots, background, and beliefs of Scientology and comparing them with the salvific teachings of Islam, concludes that Scientology is neither a divinely revealed religion nor one of the Abrahamic or heavenly traditions. Rather, it is a human-made intellectual movement that conflicts with the essential principles of reason, innate human nature (fiṭrah), and Islamic teachings. From an Islamic perspective, the core beliefs of this movement are seriously deviant. This incompatibility can be summarized as follows:

Islam emphasizes belief in the One God—the Creator and Sustainer of the universe—and that is harmonious with reason and human nature. Scientology, by contrast, lacks a clear conception of God and leaves belief in Him to personal experience. This approach gradually leads to indifference toward, or even denial of, God, contradicting humanity’s innate inclination toward the Divine.

In Islam, divine prophets (peace be upon them) were sent to guide humanity, with the Prophet of Islam (PBUH) being the final messenger. Scientology, however, rejects the concepts of prophethood and divine messenger ship, asserting that humans can attain salvation solely through reliance on their inner powers. This perspective disregards humanity’s need for divine guidance and abandons the clear and merciful path of revelation.

Belief in the Hereafter, accountability, Paradise, and Hell is fundamental in Islam. Islam views worldly life as a prelude to the Hereafter. Scientology, on the other hand, endorses a form of reincarnation and does not accept the Islamic concept of the Day of Resurrection— a belief that conflicts both with reason and with the explicit verses of the Qur’an.

Although both perspectives acknowledge the importance of mental well-being, their solutions differ radically. Scientology attributes psychological problems to “engrams” and seeks treatment through specialized and costly methods. Islam, by contrast, finds inner peace in faith, remembrance of God, supplication, patience, gratitude, good character, and healthy social relations—simple, accessible means aligned with human nature.

In sum, Scientology is founded on the ideas of a science-fiction writer and, despite its religious appearance, lacks any divine or revelatory foundation. It more closely resembles a commercial enterprise that attracts individuals through appealing yet ambiguous slogans. Islam, conversely, is a complete and comprehensive religion from the Lord of the worlds, offering clear, free, and rational guidance for every aspect of human life.

In brief, from the Islamic perspective, Scientology is a mysterious, deviant, and dangerous movement that distances humans from God and promotes excessive self-reliance, thereby obstructing the path to true salvation. True success and happiness are attained only through faith in the One and Unique God and by following the divine messengers—especially the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad (PBUH).

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Sources of the Topic:

Qur’anic References:

[1] Al-Zumar: 62.

[2] Yūnus: 3.